So dinner for 9 last night turned into two babies with fevers (102.5 and a pedestrian 99). Much more crying than we originally planned for with dinner. Taking the opportunity to catch up on the theater, I turned on the television only to find this lineup:
ABC - The One - Making a Music Star
CBS - Rock Star Supernova
NBC - America's Got Talent
FOX - So You Think You Can Dance
Creativity is officially dead. The new worst job in Hollywood is to be a writer. (just down from -Trims Wolf Blitzer)
ABC is trying to rip off American Idol
CBS is trying to rip off American Idol
NBC is ripping off...Star Search? Every high school talent show?
FOX is trying to make American Idol into a dance thing
All you have to do is audition people, film it, and then have people call in and vote - voila - all that's left to do is sit back and count your money.
Now they don't even go after folks with the most talent. On Last Comic Standing they left some great comedians at home opting instead for a diverse cast that would create some crazy shenanigans in the house for the "reality" part of the show. Turns out people stopped watching it and the show lasted about four episodes.
All of this is happening while they're canceling shows like Ed, Love Monkey and Northern Exposure (ok, that one's been gone for awhile now)
Let's bring back the situation comedy. Perhaps they could come out with one about a group of grad students all trying to find their way amidst the daily grind of teaching classes, finding love and grading papers. There would be a recurring gag about the goofy guy that offered to not sleep with a teacher if they gave him an A. At some point they could steal every Urban Legend about things that have happened on college campuses. This thing is practically writing itself.
I'd do it, but I'm off to watch Hasselhoff tell someone they aren't talented...
yeah, i don't really like the 'let's combine ripping off talent competition shows with ripping off the real world' thing.
ReplyDeletei do like so you think you can dance because it makes me wish i could dance that well, and i feel like i learn something while watching the different styles. i'm a little more critical while watching musical talent shows like rock star: supernova, so it's a little less fun (like when a guy went on rock star and sang a nirvana song but sounded really twangy and a bit nasal, not even trying to sound like cobain, and then he ended up staying another week... urgh).
personally, i can't wait until october when lost comes back...
There's always Dance Your Pants Off where people come in and dance/strip to music videos on national TV for $200 and then get interviewed about how degraded or proud of themselves they feel. While the person is removing their underwear, there is a freeze frame and the audience is encouraged to see their full monty on the channel's internet site.
ReplyDeleteIt's gaining a large audience. I wonder when the networks will try to rip off that idea.
Oops, I forgot. I heard that Bob Saget's onscreen daughter, Stephanie, will be hosting the show soon.
ReplyDeleteOoops again, I'm told it's called "Pants Off, Dance Off" (Same Thing)
ReplyDeleteIn times of boredom I used to turn on the major networks first and then go to PBS as plan B but found that plan B was always where I ended up so I inverted it. Now I go to PBS first where I have a 50/50 shot of seeing either the most interesting thing I have ever seen in my live long life or the f&%cking Lawrence Welk Show. Ironically if Lawrence Welk is on I'll turn the TV back to commercial TV where I find some 'roided up version of the Lawrence Welk Show on every channel!!
ReplyDeleteI want to start a new show called "America's Got Problems" where any and everybody on all of those shows has to take the SAT again and get over a 500. That would be one long running series.
are you forgetting that i read this blog and live in branson? where the "lawrence welk theater" is alive and kicking. and one of my good friends is married to the son of a lennon sister??? easy on the anti lawrence welk chatter there MISTER!!!!!!!!!!!!! someday it could be someone saying the same kind of thing about the marshwiggles. we don't want that now DO WE! : )
ReplyDeleteA lennon sister? One of Yoko's daughters?
ReplyDeleteI already do that with the Marshwiggles. If they were on PBS every week I would certainly switch the channel. I might even call the station and threaten to pull my extensive donations.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever actually watched an episode of the Lawrence Welk Show? ....please say no, please say no, please say no.
oh I get it. You thought I was talking about people on the Lawrence Welk Show taking their SATs over. .... I meant anyone from ...lets say "Rockstar Supernova".
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt Lawrence Welk was a mad genius who would make Jeopardy contestants look like 4th graders. I mean they are still playing his show several times a week 50 years after the fact. That's voodoo.
i was just kidding dave. and to be totally honest i think the lawrence welk show is HORRIBLE. i have seen bits and pieces but usually only as long as it takes to switch to the next channel. but, hey, i live in branson. i have to stand up for the people. you know how it is. and murph...you are funny. yoko...that was funny.
ReplyDeleteWhen are we going to write "Grads?"
ReplyDeleteLet's plan some time...kinda like Jerry and George when they were writing "Jerry."
that's what I'm saying!
ReplyDeleteWe'll meet at the diner...