Will Maya Rudolph bring back the TV variety show?

I kind of think she is exactly the right person to bring it off at this time.

Tucked at the end of a NYTimes blog post about SNL auditioning black women this week:

And then there is the pilot [Lorne Michaels] is working on for NBC’s prime-time schedule, a new take on the traditional television comedy-variety show. The star of that one: the S.N.L. alum Maya Rudolph.

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Yes, please.

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Rose McGowan giving a bit of Peggy Lee action?
I think so

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I would like to see Cynthia Nixon do a salute to Bonnie Franklin in a number from "Applause".

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I STILL have the Rosie special on my DVR but haven't watched since the night it aired ("LIZA MINNELLI! What are YOU doing here???").

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It is being produced by Loren Michaels. I believe it is going to be like a Prime Time SNL. Eugene Lee was called out there to help get the Sets, production design in order.

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Ok, that GPS sketch was fantastic.

That's hyperbole but it's a good show.

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She was kind of great. I love how previous attempts at revivals of the variety show have promised an update of the format but just did throwbacks. But this one had bits like the clams and nuts.

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We will see. Lorne sent Eugene Lee and others out to the West Coat. I was hired to help them through one segment. Maya is an awesome person and very talented! If anyone were revive this format, I believe she is the one!

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Updated On: 5/19/14 at 11:51 PM

Will she bring back the variety show? Lord, I hope so. Kids today need to see that there is much more substance and artistry available when they watch TV, than all those dreadful reality shows.

Haha, I loved the GPS sketch, too, esp. since I am a voiceover talent and do a lot of IVR (speech-rec/on-hold) jobs. Hilarious.


Moral of the story: get in with Lorne Michaels, or fail on TV...? Seriously, after mentoring Conan, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Maya, and others I can't recall, what on earth will happen to the state of television when he retires or dies... Lordy.

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Updated On: 5/20/14 at 01:15 AM

Found it on NBC.com

Oy! I had to turn it off after that lame, "A Day At The Beach" skit.

This ain't going anywhere.

Just watched it and liked it better then I thought I would have. Yes, some sketches fell flat, yes there was just too much of Sean Hayes and Andy Sandberg for my liking. A little goes a loooooooooong way with both of them for me. However I thought Maya was wonderful. She was funny charming and genuine.
They would need to retool the format a bit to make it work, tighten up the writing, the sketch to musical number ratio and maybe include a funny monologue or two.
It was nice to see Chris PArnell again. Thought the "I Love you " number was phenominal. Actually brought a tear to my eye. Hope NBC gives it a chance over the summer to develope. I do believe the Variety Show is due a comeback.

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