Modified On November 14, 2008
Is there a TV genre that has been pronounced dead more often than the variety show? The treatment of the sitcom is kind compared to the way TV writers and historians regard the variety show. (And both genres diproportionately benefited standup comics… hmmm… could there be a correlation?)
Rosie O’Donnell will host Rosie Live on NBC at 8 PM the night before Thanksgiving. The network is saying that they’ll see how the ratings are before deciding to grant O’Donnell a regular slot on the schedule.
O’Donnell will bring back the grand tradition of the variety show format to television, like such iconic series as The Carol Burnett Show and The Ed Sullivan Show, while including brand-new elements for a new generation of fans. The special will feature a topical monologue, musical production numbers and hilarious comedy sketches.
NBC has hired a medical examiner to be on hand to quickly pronounce the genre dead.
Critics will anxiously cite Dolly Parton’s ill-fated attempt at firing up the variety show twenty years ago as evidence that no one wants to see this kind of program. It’s like they almost hope it will fail.
Announced guests include Kathy Griffin, Jane Krakowski, Ne-Yo and Alanis Morissette. Sounds like a lineup the entire family will enjoy!
The commercials promoting the special are actually funny (we saw them during Life and during 30 Rock), so maybe there is hope.