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ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread — Page 7

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#151

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/27/08 at 11:55pm

Did anyone catch the very brief "reference" to The View? It wasn't really a positive one. If I remember correctly, it was in the lyrics to the production number she did with the dancing chorus boys. I was a bit enhanced at the time (Thank God!) but I remember hearing it and having to tell the person next to me that they said The View.
Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder
#154

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/28/08 at 10:14am

The thing that's funny is that people thought any sort of variety show would fly. The target demo was people in their mid-40s and up who remember only the highlight (ie rare watchable) moments from 1970s variety shows and forget the dross that made up the bulk of these shows. And people in that age bracket are hardly coveted by advertisers.

The Ed Sullivan Show was a true variety show, and it went off the air because the format was kaput. Carol Burnett was a sketch comedy show with musical guests. Merv and Mike were talk shows.

So it's funny to watch people get nostalgic over bits and pieces of their memories culled across these genres. (Seriously, anybody who has fond memories of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour doesn't actually remember watching a complete episode of it). There is no reason a variety show would work now.
Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none
#155

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/28/08 at 10:48am

I still think it could. But she'd have to get talent from each of them demographics that would at least engage the curiosity of the other demographics, the was Sullivan was able to get the people who liked Topo Gigio and the Moiseyev Dancers to watch Elvis and the Beatles and a 10-minute medley from Flower Drum Song.

You have to book the best and let them do what they do best. She could do that, if she just didn't need to be so CUTESY.

Just book the best and get outa their way.


The Beatles on Ed Sullivan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k23OX_p4VvY


Eydie Gorme on Ed Sullivan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lpzsNRJdzw


Flower Drum Song on Ed Sullivan

http://www.bluegobo.com/video.php?var=10128


Dick Van Dyke does "Put on a Happy Face" on Ed Sullivan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kCAlvYOQrA


Louis Armstrong on Ed Sullivan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9FIT9n9VH8


Jim Morrison and The Doors on Ed Sullivan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXlS8qWxptU
#157

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/28/08 at 11:02am

It wouldn't work today, Peej. Ed Sullivan's show began as the pop culture market was just beginning to skew younger. The older demographic was still prized. Now the niches are so fragmented and distinct there just aren't clear ideas of what "the best" in any genre are. And people define themselves by what they HATE about other genres. You see it on here all the time. If high school aged Broadway nerds define themselves as being "against" an artist like Ne-Yo, they turn off the TV when he comes on and go Twitter or whatever. And they don't turn the TV back on when they think the Ne-Yo segment is over. They're gone.


Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none
#158

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/28/08 at 11:24am

Well, she killed its chances, but I think you could get the audience segments to watch the other segments out of curiosity waiting for their targeted segment to come on.

You'd have to make the show Destination Watching, the way Target and Wal-Mart and Costco make their big-box stores Destination Shopping.

I believe it COULD work...but then again, I believe in lots of losing causes. Losing causes give my pitiful and empty life meaning, like Don Quixote titling at windmills.

Speaking of which...Rosie could represent the opera world by having Bryn Terfel on, singing "The Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG5wRdYcaCc
#159

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/28/08 at 11:51am

I could get behind that. And vice versa.
Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none
#160

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/28/08 at 3:28pm

Another pan from Hollywood Reporter:

The program started on an awkward note--O'Donnell's discussion of the shape provided by her undergarments--and never regained its equilibrium. It's 8 p.m. start signaled a family show but O'Donnell's monologue and running gags about her sexual preference gave off an entirely different vibe.

There were duets with Liza Minelli, Gloria Estefan and a troupe of little kids, all of which might have benefited from a couple more rehearsals.

Clay Aiken showed up in his Spamalot costume for a lame joke about how much he and O'Donnell had in common, ending with, "We're both Ga...briel Byrne fans." Honestly, where are Waldorf and Statler when you really need them?


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/tv-reviews/tv-review-rosie-live-1003917676.story?imw=Y


#161

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/28/08 at 3:32pm

Another review:

NBC's Rosie O’Donell 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.

"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."

http://www.thrfeed.com/2008/11/nbcs-rosie-odon.html

Updated On: 11/28/08 at 03:32 PM

#162

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/28/08 at 3:35pm

Ouch! Another pan from Variety:

If Rosie O’Donnell and company were consciously determined to strangle the rebirth of variety shows in the crib, they couldn’t have done a better job of it than this pre-holiday turkey. Bearing an uncanny resemblance to a particularly awful Vegas revue, “Rosie Live” awkwardly trotted out one celebrity after another before culminating with a big number featuring dancers dressed as food.

Actually, reviving variety isn’t a bad idea in theory — especially for NBC, whose primetime cupboard has become inordinately bare. Still, the “disaster” description applies creatively, and unless the network can afford to dole out free GPS systems and Blackberries to bribe the TV audience along with those in the studio, one serving of “Rosie Live” should be more than enough.

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117939122.html?categoryid=32&cs=1



Updated On: 11/28/08 at 03:35 PM

#163

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/28/08 at 3:57pm

Pj and Namo, and why does Rosie even have to be the one to bring back the variety show? She's not even talented as a hostess. Let's start from scratch!
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
#164

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/28/08 at 4:09pm

I agree, Jane!
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#165

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/28/08 at 4:21pm

I say, based on his recent Christmas Special, that we let Steven Colbert have a go at it.
Art has a double face, of expression and illusion.
#166

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/28/08 at 4:27pm

I'm laughing to myself thinking about Ed Sullivan's on air persona!

Anyone but Seacrest.....out.
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
#168

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/29/08 at 3:26pm

""there will b no more. no ratings. bad reviews. yet still – a thrill 4 me." "

Was Prince her English teacher?

And her st8ment here in "license plate speak" is the whole problem. She didn't do the show to entertain us. She did the show for her. It was all about "a thrill 4 me," as she puts it. And that's the most important thing here. It was quite evident.

Maybe, if anyone dares to try the variety format again, they will think of the audience first. Try to figure out what THEY want to see instead.

Do you think for a minute that Ed Sullivan killed himself to get the Beatles on his show because they were his favorite group? No. He gave the audience what they wanted to see. That was his genius.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

Updated On: 11/29/08 at 03:26 PM

#169

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/29/08 at 3:54pm

You hit the nail on the head. The show was nothing but Rosie indulging Rosie. A self-indulging homage to and for herself. And it landed flat the same way TABOO landed flat. Both had potential and both failed to find an audience. They alienated an audience.
Rest in peace, Iflitifloat.
#170

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/29/08 at 4:43pm

Best, did you coin "license place speak"? It literally made me laugh out loud.
#171

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/29/08 at 7:17pm

Well, I'm glad it made you laugh, Phyl!

No, I didn't "swipe" that one. Not that I know of. It popped into my head when I read her crazy, minimalist post.

I felt like I was trying to decipher a license plate.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

Updated On: 11/29/08 at 07:17 PM

#172

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/29/08 at 7:35pm

I don't get what's wrong with wanting to put a show on for yourself. IF you're not going to enjoy yourself, how can anyone else? I thought the show was dreadful, but it wasn't even the worst thing I've seen in the last three months (the remake of Kath and Kim was miles worse for instance), and the venom spewed at RO is just absurd. People just need to find fault with every little thing (beyond just the quality of the show) so they can feast on her failure for years to come.

As for the ratings, I would not have known she had a special if I didn't frequent her site and read a thread on here. I don't watch NBC and I never saw any ads for the program. When I mentioned the poor reviews for Rosie's show, my aunt said, "What show??? I didn't even know she had a new show."
#173

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/29/08 at 10:06pm

I do believe the network gave her that spot because they were expecting low viewer-ship. The night before Thanksgiving, people are bustling preparing for the next days dinner or traveling. I am sure television viewer-ship was down period.

Also, live TV is a difficult thing. Like it or hate it SNL makes it look easy but it is not! I can applaud their attempt at Live TV and having it come off without any noticeable screw ups (other then flubbed deliveries).

A friend of mine once said," To be remembered you have to be the very best or the very worst, mediocrity is soon forgotten." . Rosie tried her hand at a Variety Show and it won't soon be forgotten!
Those Blocked: SueStorm. N2N Nate. Good riddence to stupid! Rad-Z, shill begone!
#174

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/30/08 at 12:38am

Honestly, I wouldn't have even known it was on if not for BWW. Now I kind of wish I hadn't known it was one, but...
Pretty pretty please don't you ever ever feel like you're less than f**ckin' perfect!
#175

re: ROSIE LIVE! Reactions Thread

Posted: 11/30/08 at 2:39am

I think I may have seen a couple of commercials on television for it, but I did really only know abotu it from here. And of course, that still did not make me want to watch it.

And of course, there really is nothing wrong with doing a show like this and enjoying performing it, but it has to be done right. To me, Rosie O'Donnell just has a huge ego now, and that is the problem. I couldn't even stand her when I saw her on the Rachael Ray show a few months back.
"I don't want the pretty lights to come and get me."-Homecoming 2005 "You can't pray away the gay."-Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy. Ignored Users: suestorm, N2N Nate., Owen22, master bates

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