Step back, drop the metaphor, and reconsider what you have just said. Embrace this?
Posted on 11/27/2008 10:17:57 AM PST by My Favorite Headache
November 27, 2008 NBC's Rosie O’Donnell variety show disappoints Rosie O'Donnell gave NBC a real turkey.
The network's attempt to revive the primetime variety show failed to draw an audience Wednesday night, tying for the evening’s lowest-rated program.
A mere 5 million viewers tuned in for the 8 p.m. premiere of “Rosie Live,” with the program earning a 1.2 preliminary adults 18-49 rating. The telecast matched ABC’s recently canceled “Pushing Daisies” as the night's lowest-rated program on a major broadcast network.
NBC had high hopes for the special and planned to expand the program into a series should viewers re-embrace the decades-old variety format. Other networks, too, were watching closely since several are developing variety shows of their own.
“There’s a notion that the climate is right for the genre to make a comeback,” emailed one executive at a rival network. “I guess we now know what not to do, thanks to Rosie.”
Segments included Kathy Griffin impersonating Nancy Grace, Alec Baldwin hitting Conan O'Brian with a pie, O'Donnell singing "City Lights" with Liza Minnelli and Jane Krakowski doing a striptease while showing images of product placement.
Critics were not kind. The NY Times described it as "hokey comedy with an enemies list." TV Guide called it a "ghastly ego trip."
Networks have been chasing variety show programming as a low-cost option to revive the genre. But the idea has been sought by executives due the format’s rock-bottom low cost, cross-promotion possibilities and advertiser-friendly format rather than being a genre that's bursting from the creative community or demanded by viewers. In other words, the neo-variety show is a product designed to solve financial woes rather than an inspired act of programming creativity and therefore had the odds stacked against it drawing large numbers.
NBC’s variation in particular, starring O’Donnell with appearances by Alannis Morrisette, Ne Yo, Griffin, Rachael Ray, Harry Connick Jr., Clay Aiken and Gloria Estefan seemed pretty niche, skewing heavily female for a show broadcast the eve of a family holiday, and some observers thought the lineup was better suited for daytime than primetime.
Given the holiday week, programming was lower rated last night than average. One special that did perform well was Barbara Walters’ interview with president-elect Barack Obama (11.6 million, 3.0 rating), which nearly matched "CSI: NY" in the 10 p.m. hour and gave ABC its highest non-awards show rating in the time period in more than a year.
Re: “...what NBC needs is Barack Obama all the time. :D “
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I watched two minutes of O’Donnell out of curiosity and nearly threw up.
Later, tuned in to see a bit of Baba Wawa’s special with B.O. and M.O. Walters’ opening comments were gag-worthy —but I must say the actual interview was not that bad when compared against Rosie O’Donnell’s horrifying “show.”
Obambi and Meeshell seemed almost normal by comparison, seriously.
Rosie O’D can harangue all she wants about gun control — I just bought a gun and will be picking it up Monday!!! Can’t wait to go practice at the local indoor facility. This is purely for protection since I live here in the insanity of L.A.
Re: “ANYONE notice who the sponsors were???”
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I didn’t watch long enough for them to go to commercial break!!! Minnelli and O’Donnell leaping about in black and white outfits and hats was enough for me to change stations immediately.
Here’s what I know about LA. If you rent a car at the aiport they include a GPS, child car seat, and handgun. Shotguns extra charge.
I’m watching 2 and a half men right now. The Detroit Lion run defense.
my hubby tivoed it so I could see how horrible she looked..and wow..she did not disappoint. In the five minutes I got through, she insulted Donald Trump, Nancy grace and Sarah Palin. It was truly awful.
She is a tank.
“Rosie” O’Donnell? You’ve got to be kidding. Someone actually thought this would be a good idea?
Step back, drop the metaphor, and reconsider what you have just said. Embrace this?
We have nearly the exact same views and practices in regard to the entertainment industry. What shocks me is that people find my views to be overboard or petty. I suppose that is just their rationalizing their support of Socialist jerks. So be it. :)
Yet another example of why the networks are going the way of the Dinosaurs.
It is actually a good idea to bring back the variety show. The format is good solid family fare that if done properly would be a ratings boon.
But GE went about it all wrong, which is not surprising considering just how inbred NBC/Universal is. These coastal dwellers know more about what might be entertaining to tribes in the Amazon rainforest then what might be entertaining to all of us “bitter Klingons” out here in “Jesusland”.
They picked a hostess that is little more then an insane, untalented longshoreman in drag. What audience did they test that would have given them the impression that Rosie O’Doughnut would appeal to anyone? A Code Pink convention? Epic Fail on the host, NBC.
Second the guest stars. Who the hell wants to watch the people they had on unless you wanted to induce a migraine. Epic fail on that too, NBC.
The problem is that there is really no one in Hollywood who could pull off a variety show. There is no “Carol Burnett” or an “Ed Sullivan” there. The closest they might get is Jimmy Kimmel-his late night show is funny when he isn’t worshiping at the Obamaltar, he can do skits and the musical segments are good for the most part.
I enjoyed the Carol Burnet show - My favorite was the Dean Martin Variety Hour...Dino with a cocktail and smoke in hand, the “Gold-Diggers” in the background...Loved it.
I just spit my milk...... still laughing..... Thanks for the belly laugh..
Rosie will NEVER have an entertaining variety/guest show as does Ellen DeGeneres. Ellen is talented and a great comedian!
I had it on in the background as I was doing some stuff.
Jane was by far the only thing worth watching!
Is it just me or is that gal flat out gorgeous?
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