While Nikki Finke is still in a tizzy about how CBS’s new show Kid Nation is going to cause the downfall of CBS and its board, the New York Times went ahead and figured out that when it comes down to it, viewers are tuning in just to spy in on interpersonal relationships. The interpersonal relationships of 10 year olds, sure, but interpersonal relationships nonetheless.
That’s something important to keep in mind. Survivor wasn’t really about the challenges, it was about Susan ranting about how she hoped to come across a dying Kelly in the desert. NBC knows this too - with the upcoming revamp of American Gladiators, they’re going to be focusing more on the competitors backstories and interactions with the Gladiators themselves.
It’s about making these real life people into characters. The success of shows like these relies on the ability of its producers to influence participants into the character roles and traits that have worked so well in the past.
One more note - Matthew Gilbert of the Boston Globe described the Kid Nation child labor controversy that has been in the news over the past month or two as “anti-hype,” which couldn’t be further from the truth. Instead, CBS has proved a wise practitioner of “There’s no such thing as bad press,” just so long as everything is technically legal.
Photo from CBS via the NYTimes article. I don’t understand the whole western theme of the show, I would’ve preferred a Rome motif - you know, “Kid Empire.”
There’s a new Daily Show set, an update of their original design following the boring set that so polarized fans back in Summer 05. Let me just say: Yes yes yes yes yes.
It’s incredible! Shiny things! Bright lights! A perfect parody of the ostentatious sets that Couric, Blitzer and O’Reilly hang out in. My favorite touch: at certain points during the fakenewscast, the video on the giant screen behind Jon Stewart has shadowed “reporters” in their virtual “workplace” - overlooking their fakenewsroom. Photos coming in as soon as they’re available online. (Isn’t this classic blogger? Waiting for content to show up so I can co-opt it?)
Interesting note: the Bill Bradley interview is either prerecorded or they simply haven’t figured out how to have the guest walk in on the new set. Perhaps there’s a locked door somewhere that they haven’t gotten the key to yet.
I may have spoken too soon in the last post, because here’s some even better news: Keith Olbermann’s contract with NBC has been extended through 2011.
But even more exciting than four more years of Countdown is this:
In addition to his nightly newscast — which counts down the day’s top political and entertainment stories with Olbermman’s signature wit — the MSNBC host will contribute occasional “essays” to the “Nightly News with Brian Williams” and host two “Countdown” specials a year on NBC.
No plans have been announced for the specials yet, but now Olbermann is even closer to accomplishing what his idol, Edward R. Murrow, did for CBS News back in the 1950s. With the enormous boost in viewers that appearing on NBC will give his message, he’ll have the ability to produce something as pervasive and important as Harvest of Shame. All Olbermann needs to catch up to Murrow now will be a year of reporting from the roofs of Baghdad.
Even better, maybe now Hollywood will finally greenlight my screenplay about Olbermann and Brian Williams on a motorcycle trip through the deep South, looking for America.
Picture courtesy of j-archive.com.
