I grew up on The Lawrence Welk Show (during visits to my grandmother) and Donny and Marie, so my affinity for the variety show started young. I was always a little bit rock-and-roll, which is why I couldn't help but like the Nick and Jessica Variety Hour specials when they aired several years back; it was in my blood.
So I was curious to check out Rosie Live! tonight. I expected some goofy skits, like from Laugh In (or Nick and Jessica), but instead we got some authentic conversation with the guests, some horribly executed guest visits, some unknown talent that was almost painful to watch and ... show tunes.
I liken Rosie Live! to a parade. You wait through the whole broadcast for those special floats that don't come until the end, and of course for the bigger-than-life balloons. The balloons never came, folks.
I appreciated the little-known talent in some ways. It was very cool of Rosie to give them their big chance, and her giveaways were really generous and fun. I also liked that she chose a small theater, not a big TV studio, as her venue.
Here's a rundown of the show, piece by piece:
Monologue
She didn't seem very relaxed, for Rosie, who could normally be comfortable in a biker bar or a debutante ball. l liked her persona on her talk show better. The best part of the monologue was the high heels joke.
Liza Minelli duet
I know my grandmother really must be enjoying this number. This one was definitely aimed at the octogenarian audience. It got better when they added the guy backup dancers; we definitely needed another focus.
Alec Baldwin
Yeah, I'm biased, but Alec can do no wrong. Such a natural conversation, seemingly between two friends. I liked it. It was cute when he brought her the door for her special guests, and even when he talked into her cleavage.
Conan O'Brien
Got a pie in the face and that was it. Not really funny, but he's definitely a good sport.
Tap dancing with the kids
Again, my grandmother was definitely "awwww"ing at the screen during this number, from her favorite TV viewing chair. So glad they kept it short ....
The Lumbar Twins
Never heard of them, didn't appreciate them. I get that their feet went really fast, but what they really needed to do was stomp on the fiddlers. And I wrote that before the accordion came out.
Jane Krakowski
She looked healthy, as opposed to the emaciated look she's been sporting on 30 Rock. She's always entertaining and can really belt it out.
Clay Aiken
I just don't know what to say about that.
Ne-Yo
This couldn't be further from the kind of music I like. He has a nice voice and all, but yuck.
Nancy Grace live feed / Kathy Griffith
If you are someone who knows Nancy Grace and her broadcasts, this may have been funny to you. This show and I don't seem to be on the same plane ....
Harry Connick Junior
I always had a little crush on Harry, and he still looks great. So glad they let him sing, and who doesn't love a Christmas song? One of my favorite parts of the show so far.
Anti-Gravity
Seriously? Part circus, part parade (see above), I just couldn't get into the remixed '80s music with the hula-hooping. Yes, their stomach muscles are superior to mine and they've just shown that on national television.
Lame police officer skit
Funny that they acknowledged the skit was dying within the skit.
Alanis Morissette
You don't have to be a fan to appreciate her amazing voice and talent, world's above any of the previous entertainers who performed tonight. She's a true professional with presence. Thanks for inviting her, Rosie.
Gloria Estefan
So not funny, and she was underused with the corny show tune styled Thanksgiving number. Next time (if there is one), let her sing "I Live for Lovin' You." I'll get up and dance. C'mon, she's more than just elevator music; Gloria Estefan is a real talent, who should never be on stage with dancing food. And I don't mean Rachel Ray.
I'm clearly calling my grandmother tomorrow to see what she thought of Rosie Live!, because even with my unfortunate upbringing, this variety show was not for me.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-26-2008 @ 10:29PM
Cathy said...
Rosie is a musical theater wanna-be. She just doesn't get it. The reason the variety show format worked, when it was big, was that people like Carol Burnett had a lot of talent. Rosie is just full of herself. Talent, she has little if any. Make that none...
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11-27-2008 @ 9:02AM
Bob said...
Television at it's worst. From Rosie's Madame Tussaud makeup job to the lame performances, it gave me douche chills. If you are over 90, it may be entertainment. If Elvis were alive, he would destroy his TV with a shotgun while trying to watch this fiasco. For the rest of us, it was torture. My advice to any celebrities thinking of appearing on it (if it lasts more than a week), avoid this like the plague. Watching FOX News or CNN and hearing all the bad news out there is more pleasant than this debacle.
11-26-2008 @ 11:47PM
Vince said...
I gave up when the tep dance kids showed up.
What was Rosie thinking? What is NBC thinking?
I grew up with Ed Sullivan. He had no talent but all his guests did.
This show is dead man walking...
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11-26-2008 @ 11:58PM
JD said...
I didn't watch it, but I know you're wrong about the balloons. I know the head balloon has enough hot air in her, but she's naturally tethered.
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11-27-2008 @ 12:22AM
Martha said...
Alanis was the best part, despite not the best performance of "Not As We," she's still true as ever.
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11-27-2008 @ 12:21AM
Julie Eames said...
Worst variety show EVER.
And I'm a fan of Ro.
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11-27-2008 @ 4:54AM
KenMo said...
Oh no, it’s not a Variety show. It’s Rosie's Vanity Show.
11-27-2008 @ 1:45AM
Kyle Moss said...
I couldn't hang past the Liza duet. Rosie cannot sing, Rosie should not sing. Carol Burnett had talent. Rosie is just a loud annoying person.
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11-27-2008 @ 12:59PM
Lois Levy said...
For those of us who grew up with Ed Sullivan this was a huge disappointment.
And Rosie, who I love, was absolutely awful. Don't do Live if you have to read the prompter. She was so uncomfortable the whole show. I watched the whole thing just because I couldn't believe how bad it was.
Nothing was funny, the variety was scarce. The stars coming out for two seconds was lame and forced.
Really, really bad. Almost beyond belief bad.
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11-27-2008 @ 3:55AM
Barry, NYC said...
"Rosie Live" was such a waste of time. The 30 second TV commercials touting the show were more original than the show itself. Ed Sullivan must be rolling in his grave!
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11-27-2008 @ 4:35AM
patty said...
Call me corny & cheesy, but I enjoyed it. I would suggest she get better writers, tho.
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11-27-2008 @ 7:02AM
DMD said...
Let's not be so harsh, a little light and fluffy entertainment never harmed anyone...
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11-27-2008 @ 8:59AM
freedom55 said...
my brain hurts!
11-27-2008 @ 7:42AM
Robert D Flach said...
If the Variety Show wasn't already dead it was just killed for sure by Rosie O'Donnell! A total waste of potentially good guest stars.
Rosie, a supposed stand-up comic, was stiff and unfunny. Alec Baldwin, Jane Krakowski, Harry Connick Jr, Clay Aiken, and Kathy Griffin, who could have made for a good show if properly used, were paraded on and off in seconds while prime time was given to bland and boring pop tunes from Neo (wtf?) and Alanis Morissette (unintelligible – I couldn’t understand a word she was singing) and weird unknown vaudeville-type acts.
Let us hope that this universally-panned debacle is not brought back, as promised, as a weekly show. A total insult to the much-missed variety shows of the 50s–70s.
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11-27-2008 @ 8:53AM
Jimmy said...
I can't come up with words to describe how bad this show was. I am speechless.
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11-27-2008 @ 8:57AM
freedom55 said...
I actually like Rosie, but this thing was a piece of crap! I am sad to admit that I watched it! I hope there are no more of these to come?
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11-27-2008 @ 9:13AM
pamel said...
C'mon, quit picking on us grandma's.I am a grandma and found the numbers (actually all of them) you said would appeal to grandma's annoying, amateur and embarassing.
The writing was juvenile. The dance numbers looked like a talent night on a cruise ship. The talent some of her guests do have were not staged and presented well. Why does R have to put herself in every number. What a mess!
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11-27-2008 @ 10:33PM
pinball said...
Absolutely unwatchable after 10 minutes. A rival network could have killed it simply by airing an old episode of 'The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour'.
O'donnell has to learn that its not all Rosie, all the time. And the writers who came up w/ the dreck dialogue should be fired. Please lets all hope that this fiasco doesnt kill the idea of bringing back variety shows.
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11-27-2008 @ 12:16PM
Jim said...
I tried to watch during the hockey intermissions but just couldnt when Rozilla began going on about obama, then the gay comments and her little digs on her enemies. NBC thinks she's a life jacket but if they continue with another show like this, they may as well be wearing a brick, it sucked. I'm looking forward to Ellen Degenerous on TBS this Saturday, now she is funny. See ya!!
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11-27-2008 @ 12:12PM
hugeliver said...
Seriously?? THIS is what TV Squad is reviewing these days??
I was sticking around to see if there was ANY improvement. No review on 24: Redemption, no reviews on shows like last year...it's just sad.
How the mighty have fallen!!!
Good bye TV Squad. It was fun while it lasted.
PS. F#CK YOU AOL!
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