April 27, 2005
THE RACE IS ON
Gentlemen! Start your Production Agencies!
The end of the urge to do "makover" TV shows is drawing to a close. It remains to be seen which network make the "makeover" that will make the "makeovers" move over and admit the absolute utmost in makeover manufacturing has been achieved. The show you will produce is the absolute utmost of the genre and will send "Makeovers" into the happy haven of old TV shows - not with the weary whimper we read about, but, rather, with a rewarding blending of fine on-set talent with exceptional directing skills.
Haven't we had enough "Makeover" shows?
Most of us can remember when the first of these make over shows came to TV, One of your favorite daytime talk or variety shows would introduce a special guest or they would make a big thing of transporting her to the studio as a surprise. In the studio within minutes, she was a told she would receive a free make over. It was done by means of a new hair style, the proper cosmetics, new clothing items and accessories such as she never had before. At the end of the hour she was presented to the audience which responded well time-after-time on seeing a wall-flower transformed into a bouquet of bright, happy blooms.
It worked well with studio people and with the dotted-line signers who paid the bills. The makeover became a special part of the format; then a routine part in show after show.
The next phase centered on real estate.
At first the general method was to seek out someone in need of better housing and to fashion a program to supply that need. The timing element had to be maintained, as well. It required
large groups of qualified workmen working around the clock to do the job overnight or over a long week-end. This series went along even better than the first, especially when a strong sense of humor was added drawing on the fast timing and human foiables.
As the format grew and was copied the type of homes changed. Only occasionally did we see families in need of improved homes. The program emphasis veered away from what people needed toward what some people wanted or desired. The concept of making-do was dying out and the workers were re-focused, first on total, absolute destruction of the old house and the quick construction of a new house on the site.
To my way of thinking, "Makeovers" have changed to "Replacement". They are not the same.
A.L.M. April 30, 2005 [c444wds]
