This weekend Donald Trump will be hosting Saturday Night Live. A 40 year old institution Americans turn to for its take on the issues, SNL is known for its impact on elections. But in this case instead of going after the political agenda they're inviting one of the candidates to do it themselves. The reason they're doing this is hardly a questionable matter, ratings baby. People are going to watch Donald Trump on SNL. A trick that might be expected from any other show but from SNL? An institution that prides itself on its content and voice above cheap tricks, well so a seasoned comedy fan like myself would like to believe. But what's more upsetting is the lack of outrage surrounding his appearance. Donald Trump is known for his famous remarks, where he called illegal Mexican immigrants "rapists". Imagine instead of Mexican immigrants it was replaced with Jews or black people? Would NBC so quick to allow him onto one of their shows? Of course not. Because advertisers would be fleeing left and right. However because Trump's remarks were towards a group of people our country deems fitting to criticize without limit, there he will be on Saturday night, being as welcomed into our homes as Alec Baldwin or Steve Martin.
That's not to say there aren't some people taking a stand against his appearance. According to a report on the Huffington Post "Several dozen activists gathered Wednesday in front of NBC’s
headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Center demanding the network rescind an
invitation to GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump to host “Saturday
Night Live" on Nov. 7 and vowing to pressure the network's advertisers
to join their cause." The activists have gained over 500,000 signatures on their petition to get him off the network but to no avail. SNL has never been one to bow to pressure and with the network and the anticipated ratings on their side they're not likely to start now. As SNL fan myself, I just hope they have a few tricks up their sleeves, and knowing SNL they're likely to as well.
NBC is taking a step out of the norm to bring us a new type of game show that will involve viewers right at home. You've probably heard of the widely popular trivia app, QuizUp, but now you can get addicted to it in an entirely new way (as if we needed another activity to suck up all our time). Just yesterday, NBC announced an interactive game show competition that will allow contestants to compete with people at home in real time. The series will be called QuizUp and contestants will get the opportunity to win cash prizes up to one million dollars. The in-studio contestant must win eight trivia battles against eight different players at home. If the at-home player wins a round, they will receive a monetary prize of the equivalent of what that round is worth. Potential contestants must qualify ahead of time, but even those who aren't part of the show can still play along at home.
NBC is trying out this new game show format after having success with other alternative competition shows like The Voice, America's Got Talent and America Ninja Warrior. These shows give viewers at home the opportunity to vote for their favorites and feel a sense of participation. QuizUp will give the audience an even more interactive way of participating. With less and less people watching live television, trying to get people in front of a TV at the same time every week is getting harder and harder. QuizUp will most likely not be the type of show that you will find online the following day to stay caught up on. Instead, it will push for people to sit in front of a real cable television and play in real time. Even Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune doesn't have that kind of audience involvement. This creative new trivia game hopes to bring a new, engaging type of challenge to American television.
While sports fans have their fantasy leagues, TV buffs are placing bets on which pilots will actually make it through a season. In a mix of comical book adaptations, spinoffs, and a few original programs, the Network's have chosen who will stay, who will get a chance to premiere more episodes, and who is already kicked to the curb. This year adds in more competition with Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon creating their own scripted programming. Out of ABC's 14 comedies that were pitched, four were chosen to continue. Surprisingly, not on the list of picked up pilots was Chevy Chases' comedy (called Chevy) about grandparents who suddenly have to raise their grandkids alone. In addition, ABC saved 7 of 12 pilots in the drama category, with an equal mix of political and social plot conflicts.
In the other neck of the woods, CBS only secured 2 out of 9 comedy projects, while 4 are still being reworked in order to see another day. CBS had 9 drama as well, and gave 5 of them a series order. FOX only had 8 comedies to show, giving half of them a chance to premiere their seasons. And with only 7 dramas, FOX decided to order seasons for 5 of them, and have yet to cancel the other two. Meanwhile, NBC came out hot with 14 comedies, 6 have ordered more episodes and 5 are stilling fighting to stay alive. With 10 dramas, NBC has decided to continue 6 of them, leaving two on the bubble.
Last but not least, the CW produced 5 drama pilots, and only 2 made the cut.
If you're looking for your next new favorite show, some to look out for include Dr. Ken(ABC comedy with Ken Jeong), Angel From Hell (CBS comedy with Jane Lynch), Minority Report(FOX drama), and The Player (NBC drama).
Click here if you want your complete guide to the 2015 pilot season.
I love Saturday Night Live. Ask anyone I know and they'll tell you I'm the ultimate SNL nerd. I collect the merchandise, I've camped out to get standby tickets and I've absorbed every bit of knowledge and trivia I could about the show. I often encounter people who tell me that the show isn't funny or that "it used to be really funny but now it sorta sucks". I try to take these comments in stride and to squish my normally argumentative disposition down into my gut. Truth be told most of the people who make these comments often don't or rarely watch the show and are parroting things they've heard from their parents or the endless amounts of op-eds you can find online. However this is as good a medium as any to finally tell them they are wrong and why (one of my favorite things to do).
Saturday Night Live is often referred to as a dinosaur. It relies on more old fashioned ways of producing, especially those popular when live television was a more consistent form of broadcast, and it costs a million dollars an episode because of it. Because of these methods, some of which many deem archaic, it is called a dinosaur, a beacon of the "old ways of doing it". But SNL isn't a dinosaur. Dinosaurs go extinct because they can't face new environments or refuse to evolve. SNL instead is an alligator. Sure it existed in the time of the dinosaurs, or as I like to call it, the 70s, but they learned to adapt and were unafraid to do so, they became ready to enter dangerous situations and tread unforseen territory. While many networks have seen a steep decline since the dawn of the streaming age, SNL was already built for the internet, especially making digital shorts their mark on the web. In addition they have consistently called for innovation, circulating in new players to keep the show fresh and capture a new younger audience. Yes each episode cost a million dollars to make but it doesn't matter because SNL, because of it's nature, almost always captures their time slot in terms of ratings. In a television landscape that calls for the survival of the fittest, SNL has proved to be the head of the foodchain.
If you haven't heard about this show yet, you may be able to guess what this series is about from the title. The Slap on NBC, is a revamp of the Australian series The Slap, but the American version is not receiving the same good reviews that the original did. The first time I saw the trailer for the show, I didn't think they could make a series about a single incident. I also didn't think the show would work because they were promoting it as if the audience would decide if Harry (Zachary Quinto) was right or not to slap someone else's child. So I thought the whole series would be about Harry going to court for a long trial, and the jury would decide his fate based off of the audiences tweets about their opinions.
Here is the trailer for the series:
As planned I didn't watch the pilot of this show when it aired two weeks ago [Feb. 12, 2015]. Then the days following the premire I mostly heard bad reviews about this show. I was shocked to hear that there were rumors that this series could get canceled. I thought this show couldn't be very good if it's a mini-series with 8 Episodes and it might get cancelled!
When I saw the pilot on Hulu, I just had to see it for myself. Something I like about the show that I didn't know before watching, was that each episode is narrated and follows a different character. The first episode follows Hector (Peter Sarsgaard), "The Slap" happens at Hector's house while celebrating his 40th Birthday. After seeing the first episode I thought it was good enough where I wanted to see the next episode. Maybe I went into this show with such low expectations that I enjoyed it more. I saw the second episode that is about Harry, and I don't want to reveal any spoilers but you learn a lot about Harry's character after the episode. I thought the second show was better than the first and I am planning on watching the third episode after it premiers tonight. There are other conflicts happening in this show besides just "The Slap", which I'm glad about. There seems to be more drama building up, and I want to see what happens! The Slap is a decent drama, that is good enough for me to want to keep watching. This isn't one of my new favorite shows but I am planning on seeing the next six episodes.
As many people know, this year marks the 40th season of Saturday Night Live. Saturday Night Live, better known by its abbreviated title, SNL, was created by Lorne Michaels, and first aired on October 11, 1975. Each show is fronted by a celebrity host, and a musical guest, along with a handful of permanent cast members. Each week they produce a 90-minute show consisting of comedy sketches that parody anything from pop culture to politics.
To celebrate the fact that the show has been on the air for 40 years, SNL produced a special anniversary episode on Sunday, February 15, 2015. Studio 8H was filled to the brim with former cast members and hosts, who were each given time to announce segments, or even appear in a sketch. Not surprisingly, the program opened up with an intro by everyone’s favorite pair, Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake. The rest of the show consisted of former cast members reprising their roles in timeless sketches, and even featured celebrity hosts taking on some well known characters. Former Weekend Update hosts, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Jane Curtin came back to the news desk to provide current events and introduce a few characters. The show also featured musical guests including Paul McCartney, Miley Cyrus and Kanye West. One of the most memorable moments in my opinion was when the program featured short clips from the audition tapes of multiple former cast members. This served as a nostalgic point that worked to tie the whole show together, and reflect on where many of the now successful comedians got their start. All in all, this special was a pretty solid representation of 40 years of late night comedy.
My favorite comedy show by far is the sitcom, "Parks and Recreation" starring Amy Poehler and many other hilarious actors. The style that is used in Parks and Rec is "mockumentary" and the cinematographer, Michael Trim, conducts it in such a way that is so entertaining and flows beautifully. Many people compare the style of the show to "The Office," but I believe that "Parks and Recreation" exceeds the cinematography of "The Office" and makes it smoother and funnier.
The shots are sometimes rough and shaky, but that is an aspect of the mockumentary style that really makes it come to life. Throughout every episode there are several times where characters break the fourth wall and stare straight at the camera. The actress who stands out the most when doing this is Aubrey Plaza who plays the character of April Ludgate. In many scenes she makes hilarious faces and reacts to things that other characters say by breaking the fourth wall and it adds to the humor of the show perfectly.
The excellent zooms, pans, and various other camera movements follow the characters in a way that is intriguing and entertaining. There is never a dull moment because the camera is basically always moving. "Parks and Rec" has come a long way since its pilot episode, which was not the strongest, to their seventh and final season where I'm going to bawl my eyes out because this show became a television phenomenon. The mockumentary style was a perfect way to go about filming this series, and it really makes it easier not only to connect with characters but to be involved with the various different plots. The writing for this show is absolutely hysterical and the style of it keeps viewers entertained for hours on end. I highly recommend that everyone take some time out of their days and watch this show.
Hey guys, short post today because if I make it much longer it will be me just going on and on about why Parks and Recreation is currently my favorite TV show. If you haven't seen it, you definitely need to check it out, it's great.
I just started watching this show a week ago and I've gotten through four seasons already. It's extremely addicting, but more than that it's really well crafted!
If you haven't seen this show, or you don't know what it's about I'll give you a little summary. The show follows Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), the Deputy Head of the Parks and Recreation Department of the Pawnee, Indiana, and her many coworkers at City Hall.
For the most part I'm not a huge fan of comedy television. I usually either find it crude or plain unfunny. The other problem a lot of comedy TV seems to be plagued with, is that while the show itself may be funny, the characters are only comic relief and you don't care about them at all.
Parks and Rec doesn't have any of these issues. The show is genuinely funny, while never need to move into territory that could be considered "crude" or "offensive". The characters, while sometimes sensational, all have qualities that are relatable and as an audience you find yourself actually caring about their struggles, even if they may be ridiculous and comedic in fashion.
The show is shot much like Office, in a "Documentary" style, although the show's events are fictitious. One of my favorite things about the show is the video confession parts, where the characters break the fourth wall and talk seemingly to the viewer. Not only is this usually to reveal some hilarious insight into what the characters are thinking, but it also helps the audience feel engrossed and a part of the show as they are watching it. It's almost as though you, the viewer, are one of the characters.
The show also explores important social issues. They use comedy to do it, but important issues such as feminism, politics, and government never feel like a punchline, even though this would be easy to do. This is something I applaud the shows creators for.
Basically the show is just really awesome, and everyone should watch it. There are 6 seasons so far (they are all on Netflix, fyi) and the 7th season premieres this August.
I'm a sucker for sitcoms, especially sitcoms done mockumentary style. Shows like Parks and Recreation, Modern Family, and Trailer Park Boys are among some of my favorite mockumentary-style sitcoms. One of television's greatest sitcoms, The Office, also took advantage of the comedic spin this style offers shows. Michael Scott (played by Steve Carell) is a regional manager at Dunder Mifflin, a paper company in Scranton, PA. The show follows him and his employees through their day-to-day lives in and sometimes outside of the office.
Over the years, there has been much debate between TV fans over the "better" version of The Office: the US or the UK version? Perhaps it's because I first watched the US version, but I prefer The Office: US over The Office: UK. This is not to say one is better than the other. They're both excellent shows, and the UK version contains (in my opinion) better acting and a more realistic setting/reactions. Despite this, I find myself drawn to the American version. They illustrate a more present/in-your-face type of humor, versus more subtle comedy in the UK version. I enjoy the silliness of the characters; Michael Scott is quirky, ignorant, and sometimes downright stupid. His employees have contrasting personalities all over the board, from Angela's strict charisma to Dwight's nerdiness to Kevin's idiocy. In comparison to the UK version, the characters in the US version are much more dynamic and exaggerated. This creates hilarious dilemmas and causes ago clashes within the office.
While both shows have almost identical settings, characters, and story-lines, they're completely different in terms of tone. The Office: US hooks viewers by layering moments of sincerity within the humorous structure. The show transitions focus to the characters and their personal lives as the seasons progress. We follow Pam Beasley's love life as she struggles to choose between Roy Anderson and Jim Halpert; we watch Jim build up his dream business; we see Michael obsessively strive to create friendships and relationships.
The last episode aired almost a year ago, on May 16, 2013, and The Office: US unfortunately came to end. Luckily, Netflix has all 9 seasons ready to be watched! It also has the UK version of the show. The length of The Office: US series would make one believe that is was the better (or at least more popular) show, but that's for you to decide for yourself. The first season of both versions of the show are nearly identical (literally -- script, blocking, framing, etc. is all the same). Try watching the different versions back-to-back and you'll see the differences in the tones of the show. Which version do you prefer?
Two of the largest US TV providers are planning on forming a merger that seems a bit... illegal? Comcast a proposed to purchase Time Warner for a staggering $45.2 billion making it the largest network TV provider in the US. It sounds an awful lot like a monopoly is being formed yet for some reason the deal is going through. It really makes you wonder if this is actually a fair merger or if politics are involved. It leads one to wonder who is getting a nice paid vacation to allow for this to happen. At the same time there may be an angle of this that I'm overlooking and this agreement is perfectly savvy.
This new conglomerate would allow for Comcast to hold a lot of power amongst any media contract that could be formed. Comcast seems to believe this merger will prove beneficial to the customers in that it will allow for them to impliment their new cloud system and faster broadband speeds. Personally I could live with out these new benefits if that means not increasing my monthly cable fee but I don't think that really matters. It seems that anything really is possible in this country if you have enough money and power. This isn't the first time Comcast has pulled a stunt like this. A few years ago they ventured to purchase NBC for $17 billion dollars and were successful. Where is the line drawn? When it comes to this kind of control it's not just about the the viewers but also the advertisers. I'm assuming you understand that by practically having a monopoly Comcast can charge advertisers virtually any price they want to be on their programs (or as much as the law allows). In conclusion it I am not a fan of this acquisition and hope that someone puts a stop to it. An example needs to be made showing that there is a limit to how large a market an individual business can control.
After a 22 year run Jay Leno is no longer running the The Tonight Show. He will be replaced by the infamous Jimmy Fallon to continue the show's longtime success. Prior to Jay Leno, it was run by the one and only Johnny Carson. Mr. Carson held one of the greatest talk shows of all time, his personality and suave was arguebly unparalleled by many till Jay Leno came along. I am a huge fan of talk shows, especially Jay Leno's. He is known for being a fair guy when it comes to interviews, he just tries to have a nice conversation that gives us insight into the interviewee. In comparison to other talk shows, he is considered an easy going guy who isn't out to get you. A lot of the time you will see people such as David Letterman who will say and do whatever not considering the feelings of who he's talking to just for entertainment value. Don't get me wrong, I love the Letterman show sometimes, but other times it seems as if he is a bit to insulting to the people he's talking to. Jay goes into his interviews with very little bias and tries to make is a fair conversation. Depending on who you are what you prefer, you may like David more based on his craziness or willingness to call you out on your BS.
All of these shows have there ups and downs, pros and cons, it just depends on what you like more. Jimmy Fallon will has some big shoes to fill but I feel he is up for the challenge. Hopefully I can make my way to his set to see him speak in person or at least watch it on NBC.
Tina Fey is at it again. The comedy genius, known for her
funny impersonations on SNL, her role
as Liz Lemon on 30 Rock, and writer
and teacher in the movie Mean Girls, has signed a contract with NBC for a new
single-camera comedy show called Tooken. Written by Tina Fey and her 30-Rock collaborator, Robert Carlock, right after ending
their Emmy winning comedy ended its last season, they got together to make this new
series. Its going to center around a
woman who escapes from a doomsday cult and starts her life over in New York
City, where the show is going to be shot. Tina will be playing the role of a character ,of
course, as well as Ellie Kemper, who many know from the very popular, very
funny show, The Office.
“Tina and Robert have created a new signature comedy for us
that is audacious, emotional, and clever,” said NBC Chairman Robert Greenblatt.
“While tapping into very relatable themes, there isn’t anything like this
anywhere else on television.
As a big Tina Fey fan I am very excited to see what new
comedy she will be bringing to the table. Tooken is expected to make its debut in
the Fall of next year. I Can’t wait!!
You've got the X-Factor, America's Got Talent, American Idol and too many more to list: so how is The Voice any different? Some could argue it's just another money-making, knock-off of other popular "reality" entertainment, but I wouldn't be so sure to knock it off your list before you try it. Sure, it's a singing competition and ultimately there's a winner but I have to take a moment and tell you why it's probably my favorite "reality" show out there. Yes, it's no Keeping Up with Kardashians but it brings a sort of realness that most television shows fail to give us.
I'll admit, the first time I turned it on in the darkness of a shady Boston hotel (in the midst of a college visitation) I was not entirely impressed. I had thought, "it's just another American Idol but with Adam Levine" and I easily brushed it off. But, something about it had me coming back and convinced me to stay.
I don’t think this show gets enough appreciation as it should.
Let’s start with how they go about getting their competitors: with a thing aptly named the “Blind Auditions” because well, the judges are figuratively (and literally) blind about the person who is about to step onto the stage. There is no bias. There is nothing to see. Someone, anyone, can come on knowing none of the coaches will look at them and think “I won’t choose him or her because she looks like that” or “he or she looks like a [blank] therefore is not a good fit” (not saying that any of the coaches would think that otherwise). It is a wondrously unique aspect that a lot of people look for on a day-to-day basis. It's inspiring to see someone having the freedom to throw aside society's standard of beauty, with the confidence to know they are only being appraised on their skill as a singer.
Looking at shows like American Idol, it emphasizes the cruelty of humanity. So many people will jump on how someone presents themselves, and more often than not they'll watch it only to mock those who fail. Even the show itself will highlight the "freaks" as it portrays, to a snickering audience. It's disheartening and one of the reasons why I'd never delved into this side of entertainment.
But The Voice is everything we don't see in its competition. Not once have I ever heard a contestant get laughed at, for any reason, and the concept of its live studio audience is something that really puts things in perspective for me. Sure, they're there for the sole purpose of being lively, loud, and affectionate but something about it makes it seem like their intentions are true. When they cheer and whistle as that guy hits that one note, or applause as that woman puts all her soul into belting out that one part, I can't help but join in. Because it's a celebration more than anything. It's a celebration of character, of talent, of skill, of hard work, of determination, and most importantly of the courage from every single person that steps up to the microphone.
Next is the coaches’ actions, themselves.
One of the most endearing and most honest thing about this show is the interaction between the coaches: Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera, and Cee Lo Green. It was a huge risk for the producers to choose four big stars such as themselves (who from interviews hadn’t been previously engaged before) and hope they clicked. But they did. I don’t think I’ve ever smiled as hard and for as long as I’ve had when watching a show other than The Voice. They're funny, they're witty, and they hold this aura reminiscent of Friends in the sense that I would be content with an hour of watching them banter. They have a better dynamic than is written in most scripted shows.
And I think this is because while they are competing against each other for participants, they are still completely okay with “losing.” They joke and fool around but there is no perceived maliciousness (usually) and that’s wonderfully incredible. Judges are there to, obviously, judge but The Voice never reaches that animosity. They really fall into the coaching definition: they care about their contestants, both during and long after the show has finished.
Yes, it is a competition but it's the way that this show goes about it that makes it so much more than that. When a coach loses a person or has to unfortunately cut them from their team, they don't end on a bitter note. In fact, they try their hardest to really showcase every single person to the point where "elimination" doesn't smite that person's presence. If anything, each person makes a mark and every coach makes sure it stays.
Which leads me to the fact that I am such a sucker for a good personality and I love how every contestant gets a background highlight. It’s probably why I get so excited when someone turns around for them. It's a sort of viewer-show connectivity that really pulls you along for the ride. It's like meeting a friend. To see proud crying mothers, fathers, sisters, lovers, grandparents, etc., just really hits me deep. It makes me so proud for the person even though I don’t know them personally (although I feel like I do).
And while I can go on and on about this show the concept that they (the coaches) have to compete to get a person on their team is absolutely fantastic. It’s not about the judges, it’s about the singer. An unbiased and completely passionate cheer for them to be on his or her team. Their praise is entirely genuine and, even when a person gets no chairs to turn around, the coaches make a very heart-felt and honest attempt to say "you've got skill, you'll go far."
I can't really explain it in words, but I've never seen a show (in this genre) like this. It's a triumph of the human spirit and a celebration of individuality. It's heartfelt and entertaining. It'll make you cry and it'll make you grin. It'll open you up to music you never thought you liked and voices you never thought you'd hear.
This show will make you fall off the edge of your seat, it'll make you jump up with joy, it'll make you stomp your feet in frustration, but it'll show you that nothing is beyond your reach. No matter where you come from, what has happened, or what you look like: you'll be accepted. And sure, maybe there's a winner but there is certainly no "loser." Just a bunch of voices, laying their hearts in the rhythm and their minds in the beat.
Hannibal is an American
thriller television series developed by Bryan Fuller for NBC. The series is
based on characters and elements that appear in the novel Red Dragon by Thomas
Harris and focuses on the budding relationship between FBI special investigator
Will Graham and Doctor Hannibal Lecture a forensic psychiatrist destined to
become Graham's most cunning enemy. The series received a 13-episode order for
its first season.
The pilot was excellent. The cinematography is
unreal in the show. The camera they use (unsure of the actual type) uses a very
shallow depth of field, which really adds to drama of close up shots. There is
also a very cool amount of color correction and grading that goes into the
production. A lot of the time the changes in color correction matches with
interesting edits.
Beside the visuals of the show, the script is
amazing. The dialogue is so well written and is very intriguing. I really enjoy
psychological thrillers and there have already been a ton of twists in the plot
that has kept me wanting more. The acting performances are great and they are
so convincing. The character development is amazing and there has only been two
episodes premiered. I simply cannot wait for the show to continue.
This week I've started to watch a fan-cultivated show Community. The NBC sitcom centers around an eccentric Spanish study group at a community college. The show was created by writer Dan Harmon and premiered in 2009. The show focuses on comedian Joel McHale and his fellow group of actors getting into crazy situations, and often referencing and parodying pop culture. I'm now on the 6th episode and enjoying it quite thoroughly. Despite it's critical acclaims and cult following, the show is not very popular among viewership. Ratings have been above 4 million viewers but did not reach much more than that. This has caused much controversy over the show, since NBC would not proclaim the show a success, however it has a very big core fan-base that really enjoy the show. Season 4 which was scheduled to premiere in October was delayed to premiere in February and Dan Harmon stepped down as show-runner.
I am enjoying the supporting characters more than I enjoy the main 2 characters. Joel McHale (Jeff) who host's The Soup on E! is a hilarious comedian and I really enjoy him, but his character is not very likable, and he's sneaky and kind of mean. His leading lady Gillian Jacobs (Britta) I do not find very likable either. I find her snarky and annoying, and find it hard to connect with her. Hopefully as the show goes on, these characters will grow on me. The supporting characters are all wonderfully developed. Of course Chevy Chase is a comic classic and can't do wrong, Danny Pudi and Donal Glover are remarkable, and Yvette Nicole Brown is hysterical. My personal favorite is Alison Brie of Mad Men. I find her character refreshing and love seeing her span of talents from a show such as Mad Men to a comedy like this one.
Their show is filmed in a single-camera format, and was even picked up into syndication in 2013 by Comedy Central. It's been noted that some of the actors like to improvise lines while on set. Chevy Chase has been particularly noted to improvise and Joel McHale and Donald Glover are known to like to come up with their lines as well.
What I really enjoy about this show is that it is based off of creator Dan Harmons actual life. This is just like my ICTV show I created that is based off of my own life. I was always told to "write what you know" so I was very pleased to see that other people follow that rule as well. I'm sure it was a lot of fun to produce a national television show based off of your life. I will continue to watch the show and maybe they will convert me to becoming a cult follower.
Season 2 of NBC's musical-drama SMASH premiered 2 weeks ago, to an average size audience. The premiere was a 2 hour spectacle full of guest starts like Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson and Tony winner Harvey Fierstein. The show was largely revamped from last season's disastrous mess of characters that no one liked, story lines that were too ridiculous for soap operas, and writing that was so over the top even greeting card companies would have made fun of it. Show creator and writer is Theresa Rebeck a well known playwright. Add executive producer Steven Spielberg, actresses Debra Messing and Angelica Houston and you would think the show could survive right? Well last weeks episode was rated an all time low for the series with 3.3 million viewers and .9 million in the 18-49 age range. But what makes this show so undesirable?
A musical TV show is obviously a very difficult task to accomplish, having rarely been successful. For example, Viva Laughlin, the Hugh Jackman casino themed musical TV show which was canceled after 2 episodes. Smash aims to take viewers into the world of Broadway while following a young singer who dreams of singing on the big stage, as well as the crew and producers who try and turn their dream musical into a reality. But this is no Glee where a bunch of 30 year old professionals attempt to play 16 year olds in a mis-fit Glee club. This show uses real broadway experienced actors, performers and names in their show to really portray the world of show biz, in NYC. It's sexy, sophisticated and the original music is phenomenal. It's main song "Let Me Be Your Star" was nominated for an Emmy and a Grammy. The music is written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (of Tony winning musical Hairspray and Catch Me If You Can)
So what makes this show so unlikable by viewers? My guess would have to be the characters. I can't say there is a character whom I wouldn't care if they died or were written out of the show. They already have written a few characters off of the show since season 1, but they still have a lot more work to do if they plan on maintaining viewership. I think characters are what keeps the audience for a Tv show, you come back each week to check in on your favorite characters. They should be relatable and dynamic characters the audience can follow and cares about. New to season 2 is Jeremy Jordan an Ithaca College grad. He graduated IC with a BFA in musical theatre. I'm so proud to see an Ithaca alum on the TV screen, even if I do happen to hate his character. I think Smash needs to get it's act together before NBC cancels yet another one of it's shows.
