Rick Reynolds video blog

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on August 24th, 2006

Or is it a pilot? Or both? Either way, comedian Rick Reynolds has so far created two episodes, co-produced with Tom Scheuber, of “Rick Reynolds Gets Happy,” a weekly video on his pursuit of happiness without the use of “meds, God or psychiatry.” Episode One is described thusly:

Rick sits down with another suicidally depressed guy, comedian Larry “Bubbles” Brown, to discuss the ups and downs (and ins and outs) of life, romance, and happiness. Funny and uplifting, in a sort of “Gee, I thought I had problems,” kind of way.

It’s a well-shot, well-miked and well-edited “series.” Is it a series? Hmmm… What we are witnessing is significant. Because of the relative high quality of this project, we are seeing the very beginnings of that blurring of the line between a network-produced television show and a handmade video podcast. As Reynolds and others like him venture further into the frontier, the viewers (the “visitors?” the iPod users? What shall we call them?) will be less and less able (or inclined) to make the distinction. And the cost/benefit analysis types will tell you eventually that the Rick Reynolds of the world will find it less and less appealing to give up autonomy for so-called “sick money.” Where will the nets be then? Stay tuned.