Reviving the long-dormant variety show format is not for the faint of heart or the anonymous, but then Neil Patrick Harris is certainly neither (you did see him in 'Gone Girl,' right?) He'll host a new ten-part variety show -- name and launch date to be set -- for NBC. It will be based on a long-running British variety series, 'Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.'
In a statement, Harris said: As I watched the show, I couldn't stop smiling. Now that I've seen many seasons, my face hurts. It's a game changer,' said Harris. 'Nothing like this has been done before, and its unique structure fits right into my random skill set. I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and have some fun!'
Harris -- who long ago put the 'multi' in 'multi-talented' -- has spoken often of his desire to revive the format for a network. For more background on this, go to New York Magazine's 'Vulture,' which broke this story earlier today.
'All of us here at NBC have been dying to work with Neil, as we've watched him brilliantly host the Tonys and Emmys,' said Paul Telegdy, President, Alternative and Late Night Programming, NBC Entertainment, in a statement. (Telegdy is himself British.) 'This series will suit his extraordinary talents perfectly. He is a versatile and thrilling talent for us to welcome into the NBC family.'
As you no doubt NBC well knows, variety shows are tough bets -- that ill-fated one with Rosie O'Donnell is just one brief and vivid example. Why should this be so when there were so many great ones from the past -- hosted by everyone from Judy Garland to Ed Sullivan?
Mostly because unscripted series like 'The Voice' or 'American Idol' have filled the role; and also because tastes have been balkanized and splintered a million different ways; consumption now is instant; in the old days, you'd have top wait until Sunday nights or whenever to see some favorite or soon-to-be-famous act.
But this sounds different, certainly. What do I know about 'Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway?' Absolutely nothing! But that's what Wikipedia is for...and of course Youtube.
Posted by Unknown on Monday, October 27, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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