I Haven’t A Clue

Rosie Live – a real turkey –plus what’s up this Saturday on IHAC

Posted on 11/26/2008 at 10:17:00 PM

There are many different genres that started in old time radio that were lucky enough to cross the divide to television.  Among some of these are the situation comedy, the soap opera and the daddy of them all the variety show.  This genre was hosted by many greats- Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Rowan and Martin, Ed Sullivan and Carol Burnett to name a few.  These people knew this genre and knew it well.  They were also supported by incredible writers that also knew the genre and it’s origins.  Some had a company of regulars while others paired up many celebrities who, too, knew this genre.  So, when I heard that Rosie was going to revive the lost American television tradition of the variety show, I thought – It’s time, but will it be of quality?

There are several rules to follow to perform this genre.  The host must just be that- a host.  If the host is of musical nature, you can expect to see them sing a few songs maybe one at the top and one at the end.  Rosie O’Donnell cannot sing.  Her writers should know this.  The musical arranger should know this but Rosie desperately needs to realize this.  She even went farther that just trying to sing.  She upstaged everyone that she was onstage with.  However if the writers were instructed to make it all about Rosie then I don’t fault them as much.

If I’m correct, I think that she even went on the Today Show and said that she was a big fan of Variety Shows.  Perhaps Rosie, the producers and other powers should have invited writers who wrote for the great variety shows to write for her and her guests.  Her writers missed the boat with hokey sketches (hokey is alway bad even with Mel Brooks) one that even included a striptease while the performer was singing about what the audience received as gifts and another was with Rosie playing a police officer.  Perhaps, the biggest piece of advice I could offer (as a historian of old time radio) would have been to make a run to the The Paley Center and get hooked up with kinescopes and video tapes of the genre.  If NBC and the viewing public forgives her and the crucial writers to make this genre work then maybe this is what she and the staff around her should consider.

I hope that all of you have a great Thanksgiving.  Hope you see some fresh television with no stale TV Specials.

Also, we’re pre-recorded this Thanksgiving —Johnny Carson in the spotlight!  This is a new show that we recorded in my home about two months ago.

Enjoy and see ya back next week.

Arthur