NBC's Rosie O’Donnell variety show disappoints
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
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 product-placement-themed striptease for
Critics were not kind. The NY Times described it as "hokey comedy with an enemies list." TV Guide called it a "ghastly ego trip." And the LA Times asked, "Rosie, what on earth were you thinking?" ….
Hibberd’s entire report’s here.
As for what on earth Rosie was thinking, I’d guess it was that her basic cheap and nasty programming that’s worked for her in the past will work now.
1 comments:
Poor Rosie:
It has to be a tough world for her right now - what she believed were her adoring fans have left for greener pastures. The View managed to find a kooky replacement and Behar has assumed her role of the Quee of the Nasties.
It seems that her fifteen minutes of fame is coming to an end...and not a minute too soon. She does not need another forum for her mediocre talent.
cks
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