Blog – Page 3 – Brianne Larson

Stop slicing bread. The Maya Rudolph Show is here.

Monday, May 19, 2014, The Maya Rudolph Show premiered on NBC. Of course, critics were indeed very critical of every component of the show, being that it had a lot to live up to from variety shows back in the 70s. Ratings weren’t as great as they could have been, so the question remains whether a variety show is what us Americans really want these days.

Ok. But remember. IT’S MAYA RUDOLPH. THE INCREDIBLY TALENTED MAYA RUDOPLH.

The show captured the corny song and dance numbers, slipped in some funny (and raunchy) jokes, and did what any variety show is meant to do: entertain the audience.

Now I can’t say I am a variety show expert. That was all a bit before my time. However, I understand the variety show flow – and how it’s surely challenging to keep the audience laughing throughout the entire hour.

That’s why Rudolph leading the pack is smart.

Rudolph brings to the variety show years of entertaining experience from her days on SNL. She can sing, dance and improvise. Sean Hayes, Andy Samberg and Fred Armisen joined her on stage—three amigos I was very happy to see. I loved the SNL-esque sketches. I would definitely watch the show just to feel like I’m getting a second dose of SNL on a weekday before 10:30 pm CST. And if you’re a fan of Hayes, then this was having your cake, eating it, and licking the plate.

And don’t forget about Kristen Bell. She delighted us with her voice in a musical number about a sequel for Frozen. Bell was also in a sketch where Rudolph and Armisen had voices like GPS systems. This was perfect.

The Maya Rudolph Show has its work cut out for it. The demo watching this type of programming today likely didn’t get a lot of exposure to variety shows back in the day (me included). There hasn’t been a true variety show success in many years, however plenty of attempts (Wayne Brady, Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson, and the Osbournes come to mind). And when you put Rudolph, Hayes, Samberg and Armisen together, the bar for funny gets set really high.

But I do think this could work. Jimmy Fallon has been living it up in the late evenings for years now, and in some ways his show is just like a variety show. It’s always featuring goofy sketches and musical numbers. Hollywood Game Night is also just a fun program, where celebrities get together to play games and make us laugh. Being outrageously silly is becoming the new norm of sketch comedy. All on NBC.

I say, let Rudolph find her focus. Let’s get another episode scheduled. I need more. Just imagine what we’re going to get when Kristen Wiig sashays in…

Click to watch the episode.

Image courtesy NBC

Why I never gave up on the TV show Parks and Rec.

You know, because it almost got cancelled…multiple times.

I’ve always been in Parks and Recreation’s corner. Ready with the water bottle and rag for blood. I remember this one time in college (circa 2009) when I was taking a TV production management class. The professor was discussing new TV shows and making predictions on which ones would stick around. He was not too keen on the newbie Parks and Rec.

First off, that is an offense, because Amy Poehler. Second, did he not realize the geniuses behind the show, Greg Daniels and Michael Schur? Come on, sir.

But just because Amy Poehler was in the cast, along with many other super funny and good looking people, didn’t mean the show was guaranteed to be successful. I know, I know.

In fact, Parks and Rec saw a lot of struggle with its ratings and viewership numbers most seasons.

A decline in Thursday night comedy for NBC can be attributed to Parks and Rec’s continual low ratings. But overall, Parks and Rec just did not do well when compared to the lineup of other programming. By the end of the third season, the show had an average rating of 5.1 million households, being the 116^th ranked network series for 2010-11. Thank you Wikipedia.

So, why the struggle?

Any new TV show’s first season is always the trial run. Think of it like the beginning of any new relationship, whether romantic or casual for dining out on sandwiches and side salads. I think it’s great when producers listen and respond to audience feedback. Sometimes characters need alterations. For Parks and Rec, the audience thought that Leslie Knope seemed too ditsy. I would agree with that.

Her ditsy-ness made the similarity with The Office all too alike. Leslie Knope wasn’t supposed to be another Michael Scott. The show was already very comparable to The Office because of its mockumentary style. But as Poehler said, “…We had to prove we weren’t a spinoff. We had to prove Leslie wasn’t trying to be Michael Scott. And that this wasn’t ‘Saturday Night Live.’ We had to prove all that.”

But here’s the thing: there were/are a lot of dedicated people behind this show. And despite all of the difficulties faced, they have persevered. Earlier this year, Poehler won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy. And at the even more recent American Comedy Awards (if you missed it, you missed out!) Poehler took home Outstanding Comedy Actress and the show won Outstanding Comedy Series.

So, here are my reasons for always being loyal to Parks and Recreation:

Amy Poehler. No question.

Guest star appearances. A star-studded cast is an excellent thing. And star-studded guest stars are also excellent things. Parks and Rec has had many of these. Shows with “not hot” ratings can benefit from featuring guest stars. Some of my favorites:

Megan Mullally as Tammy 2
Ben Schwartz as Jean-Ralphio
Mo Collins as Joan Callamezzo
Jay Jackson as Perd Hapley
Louis C.K. as Officer Dave Sanderson
Kristen Bell as Ingrid de Forest
Paula Pell as Ron Swanson’s mother
And many, many, many, many more

The show is hilarious. There are so many good quotable lines from the script. And the writers aren’t afraid to take chances. Really, what have they go to lose?

The cast is full of talented, funny people. Nick Offerman is also a highly skilled carpenter.
You can tell the cast loves what they do. Just look up some videos of them at PaleyFest. Then imagine being on set with everyone. What a dream job. You’d laugh every day, sweat so hard from laughing, and then take a nice shower to rinse off.

Despite negativity with poor ratings, the show basically got better and better as seasons went on. I know of other shows where the opposite happened. Then you can’t wait for it to be over.

Honestly, I could come up with 100 reasons for liking the show. I’m just so happy that it didn’t get the boot years ago. Mike Schur announced that the next season will be Parks and Rec’s last. While I’m not happy about this, I totally get it. Poehler is super busy anyways. She’ll be producing and acting in many shows coming up, so I’m not too worried. Next up: please someone give her a late night talk show.

Image courtesy emertainmentmonthly.com, Wikipedia, nerdjoyblog.blogspot.com, the-hedgepig.blogspot.com

What does it take to get me hooked to your TV pilot?

I love TV. And I still love watching scheduled television programming on an actual TV. Does that make me weird? Oh absolutely! When I hear about new TV shows that are set to debut, I get really excited.

The TV pilot is the first glimpse into a new series. It’s what network execs use to determine the likelihood of success for a new TV show. If the network likes what it sees, we get to see the pilot too, and usually an order of first season episodes.

As I’ve analyzed TV over the years—for educational requirements and sport—I’ve come to find that good writing is key. Mix that with the people—on camera and off—and the production components and promotional elements, and you’ve got a complicated equation of what will make it and what gets the cut. Remember, some shows don’t even get to showcase episodes beyond the pilot.

I occasionally get critical in my assessments, so here is my list on getting me hooked to your TV pilot:

Don’t feature a cast of entirely new faces. A big name star needs to be part of the foundation.

Somebody in the cast has to be well known – and let’s hope it’s the main character. I’ve seen shows where the cast doesn’t feature any names with equity. It just doesn’t work. If that famous actor is known for his/her work on another program, the role needs to have a clear distinction from the previous job.

A love interest needs to be intertwined in the midst of all the action.

Three words: Jim and Pam.

It doesn’t need to be the focus of the show. Just there to reassure us that everybody is human and has feelings, too.

Promotion – I need to feel some heat before this thing airs.

A consistent marketing schedule needs to take place leading up to the premiere of the show. Don’t be afraid to mix it up from traditional media. That leads into my next item:

Twitter is your new best friend.

Twitter is officially the social network of the second screen. Knowing that the actors, producers, writers and crew care about the show, and seeing their tweets, makes me want to tune in. Don’t discount the value that social media can have for your show’s big premiere.

Introduce me to the characters and don’t get too complicated on the plot just yet.

Cast chemistry is essential to a successful television program. Rushing the plot won’t get you anywhere in the pilot. Your audience can only focus on so much. Just assume they are using at least two other technological devices while tuning into your program.

Don’t let weaknesses show in the pilot.

Worried the show might get cancelled? Don’t let it show in your pilot. I like shows that move ahead with the assumption that season 2 is a given. Whatever the faults may be of that show, push another strength (ahem writing) to the limit. Prove that the series has longevity. As a viewer, I want to return to my couch at the same time every week to watch the latest episode. I am that type of viewer. I just need reassurance that it’s worth my time and attention. With that said, leave me wanting more at the end of the pilot. Like I’m standing at the edge of a cliff with a hanger in my hand.

And finally…

Good writing and producing.

These are the anchors that you want made of steel. And if Amy Poehler or Tina Fey is producing the show, you have my heart.

Kids and their smartphones. YOU GUYS.

I have a worry. Just one worry. Ready for it? Kids and their smartphones. What are we doing.

Now, I work in a field where my smartphone is pretty crucial to my organization and success. I use it everyday for email, keeping track of my calendar, phone calls, and testing/learning about the web through the small screen. But I was 21 years old when I got my first smartphone. Up until then, I managed just fine without mobile Internet access. My thought process was, “I don’t need to check my email on my phone. I can go home and do that on my laptop.” Oh how things have changed.

The other day I got a haircut. This is something I do from time to time. It’s prom season for the high schoolers, so on this day, there were lots of teenage girls also at the salon getting fancy up-dos and fantastic face paintings (makeup) done.

I noticed one girl getting her hair done, and her faced was glued to her phone the entire time. Neck pointed down, thumbs tapping away like fire. First of all, how is that helpful for the stylist trying to fancy up her hair? COME ON, SHELLY.

Sorry, this is not about the hair.

But this was ridiculous. It’s out of the habit stage of checking your phone, to being a full-blown obsession to stay connected AT ALL COSTS.

Why are kids getting smartphones at such young ages? What ever happened to using pay phones or calling from the front office of your school? Or how about, just having good communication with your parents, and leaving the need to check in out the door?

The term “App Generation” comes from a book written by Howard Gardner and Katie Davis: The App Generation: How Today’s Youth Navigate Identity, Intimacy, and Imagination in a Digital World. While I haven’t read the book, I got the details from a Huff Post article explaining the main issue at hand: Are smartphones hurting our kids?

We use apps to solve many of our problems, such as getting directions to the new restaurant we’re meeting our friends at for lunch. Kids are adept at using smartphones to solve these problems, but when it comes to real life, they’re behind at defining or solving problems for themselves.

What’s at risk here is building relationships, and not using your phones’ camera as your primary method of eye contact.

I fall guilty to the ease of texting and snapchatting, too. I love the convenience that these modes of communication offer. So even I must make time to grab someone’s face, hold it two inches from my own, and make plans for lunch. (Kidding, I would want a solid three inches of separation.)

My goal is to not get suckered into gifting my future kids with smartphones too soon. That’s quite a ways down the road, so I can’t say what the norm will be at that time. But for now, if you are a parent, could you just relax for a sec?

Image courtesy techmortal.com