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Rosie O'Donnell's NBC Variety Special

C

Corky Marlowe

Apparently it aired Wednesday night...Anyone see it? I didn't even know anything about it till after the fact, and based on the reviews, calling it a trainwreck would be an insult to fine trainwrecks everywhere.
 
i believe it - apparently, this thing took a hit in the ratings - came in last - hmmm... :)
 
Didn't watch it - can't stand Rosie. And the guest list looked like solid B-listers all. Absolutely no interest.
 
I grew up, like many of us, watching variety shows on TV. So, I was looking forward to it. Some called it a trainwreck. I think trainwreck with mass casualties and carnage is more fitting. Disappointing.
 
Saw a few minutes of it...it was horrible television at its finest. Pictures of fecal matter would be more entertaining.

NBC has worse problems...the CW is beating them now. NBC is now fifth place at times. NBC is screwed.
 
Rosie is such a hateful person that I wouldn't watch any program she was in and I know others who feel the same way.

If the variety format is ever going to make a comeback, it will take someone with true talent that also can appeal to a wide variety of people like Carol Burnett did in the 1970s.
 
The host of a variety show is important, no doubt, but the main attraction for viewers remains the guests. Unlike the "old days" there are precious few professional and interesting entertainers with mass appeal these days. Like most other entertainment there appear to be only niches left. And virtually none for the older generation.
 
My fiancée and I caught it. Absolutely painful to watch. C-listers all the way. Irritating, unfunny sketches. I asked outloud, "Who thought it was a good idea to give her a variety show?". Alanis Morissette was also terrible, singing some self-indulgent ballad. The whole cast was full of people who were B-listers in the 90s. No energy, and Rosie is just obnoxious, indulgent, and the show slivered through the hour at a snail's pace. The great variety shows I remember moved fast and were at least sort of "awwwwww" funny. This was pitiful.
 
I'm not surprised "Rosie Live" finished at the bottom of the television ratings,
until a great concept and a host that can appeal is developed, the chances
of a "variety" show returning to television are slim and none.
 
So they took off Knight Rider and put this on instead without telling the KR viewers on-screen when it will be back on? This is what I get for watching NBC. At least Fox tells when my other show, House, will be back on if it's going to be preempted.
 
I grew up on cheesy shows like this back in the 70's but we only got 4 channels so you had to watch because you have very little choice. The problem with this show is that they need to book some better acts or get a cast that people will like, much like Carol Burnett. As for Rosie, I'm not a fan, but I can tolerate her to a point, but I do wish she would just HOST the show instead of trying to entertain. She should be more like Ed Sullivan and just announce the acts and quit trying to be funny and interacting with the guests. Don't sing along with them, she can't sing. Just get out of the way. If this show flops it will be Rosie's fault. She comes off as shrill and annoying. Please Rosie, just get out of the way. If she wants to derail her own show, I guess thats her business, but don't expect us to enjoy it
 
Why do the networks always recycle the likes of Rosie O'Donnell? It is like they find a crude, objectionable personality and try in vain to make a forum that works for them.

If the broadcast networks want to do variety, a look at Ellen would be much better than Rosie. Ellen is genuinely funny, and she doesn't try to be controversial. I haven't seen her TBS show (not much on variety since the end of Carol Burnett,) but it has to be better than Betty Flintstone with a bad attitude!
 
Preacherdude said:
If the broadcast networks want to do variety, a look at Ellen would be much better than Rosie. Ellen is genuinely funny, and she doesn't try to be controversial. I haven't seen her TBS show (not much on variety since the end of Carol Burnett,) but it has to be better than Betty Flintstone with a bad attitude!
Click to expand...

I saw last year's variety show with Ellen, and I thought it was pretty good. Had some great acts in it, and Ellen did a great job. I think she would be great as a Variety show host.
 
It was dreadful. I like Rosie and was shocked that this show was so bad featuring guest stars nobody cares about anymore. Liza, Gloria Estefan, Alanis Morrisette? The red flag went up for me at the very beginning when Alec Baldwin came out and spoke into Rosie's cleavage and then hit Conan O'Brien in the face with a pie. I repeat, It was dreadful.
 
tothedj said:
I'm not surprised "Rosie Live" finished at the bottom of the television ratings,
until a great concept and a host that can appeal is developed, the chances
of a "variety" show returning to television are slim and none.
Click to expand...

All a good variety show needs is a great host, great guests and, of course, great time slot. Rosie had neither.
 
OK, I am a betting man. I think this crazy network owes her something and that's why she got the show in the first place.

Here's the kicker. When she appeared on ELLEN she eluded to 6 more episodes, possibly beginning in January.

What does she have on the network and will the additional shows go into production? My bet is YES.

And I thought radio was a political business.
 
I can't imagine what she could "have" on NBC or what they would "owe' her that would persuade them giving the blind green light to a series before the first show had even aired. Like I said earlier, I like Rosie and I actually had high hopes for this show. I was very disappointed. If they do order 6 additional shows, they need to abandon the LIVE aspect, move it to a television studio (the Broadway theater venue does not work for this kind of show) have better guest stars and scripted sketches ala the Burnett show. Also, don't try to appeal to kids. Enough already with the dancing cherubs in cupcake costumes. Bring in Bruce Villanch to write some good jokes for her. And PLEASE, do not let Rosie sing and dance.
 
Interestingly you would think NBC would not hesitate to have the show available online with the rest of their shows. In fact, they have one solitary clip from it featuring the very pudgy and overweight Alec Baldwin and Conan O'Brien and you have to LOOK for it.

She must have "something" on NBC and GE to have them produce six more episodes of that absolute dreck. I recall about a half-year ago she was openly negotiating some kind of deal for a show on MSNBC (Mess NBC).

I remember many years ago Dana Carvey had a very short-lived summer show on ABC that was on the "dreadful" top 10, although I think Rosie O'Donnell is now the queen of dreadful.
 
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