TV Pilot Show Previews at Bally's and Miracle Mile Shops
April 1st, 2012 at 3:19:17 PM
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I watched a couple of TV Pilot show previews last week.
All in all, it takes about an hour, maybe a little less. The
marketing research company in Bally's was very organized
and professional. The one at the Miracle Mile Shops ( Planet
Hollywood ), not so much.
It was kind of fun and something different to do for a
while.
The first show was a new sitcom for Sarah Silverman, and
while it had some genuinely funny lines in it, I think it needs
work.
The second one was a cross between "Antiques Roadshow"
and "Shark Tank". I think this show is ready for the History
cable network and I wouldn't be surprised to see it on the
air sometime.
Compensation was $ 15 at Bally's and $ 10 at Miracle Mile.
All in all, it takes about an hour, maybe a little less. The
marketing research company in Bally's was very organized
and professional. The one at the Miracle Mile Shops ( Planet
Hollywood ), not so much.
It was kind of fun and something different to do for a
while.
The first show was a new sitcom for Sarah Silverman, and
while it had some genuinely funny lines in it, I think it needs
work.
The second one was a cross between "Antiques Roadshow"
and "Shark Tank". I think this show is ready for the History
cable network and I wouldn't be surprised to see it on the
air sometime.
Compensation was $ 15 at Bally's and $ 10 at Miracle Mile.
There's emptiness behind their eyes
There's dust in all their hearts
They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
April 1st, 2012 at 3:33:13 PM
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Sarah Silverman is one of my favorite comedians and one of my first trips to Vegas was to see her perform. I thought The Sarah Silverman program was really funny. Too bad it was cancelled after only 3 seasons.
100% risk of ruin
April 1st, 2012 at 3:54:24 PM
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I was in the pilot audience for the TV show "Lost." After it was over, they called my house and asked me a ton of questions about what I thought. I told them I thought it would make an interesting mini-series but nothing more...
.... oops....
.... oops....
"One out of every four people are [morons]"- Kyle, South Park
April 1st, 2012 at 4:06:19 PM
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Quote: JohnnyQIt was kind of fun and something different to do for a while.
The first show was a new sitcom for Sarah Silverman, and while it had some genuinely funny lines in it, I think it needs work.
George Clooney made 15 unsold pilots before he was cast in ER at the age of 33. And the TV shows that he had extended parts on were not that good. So it just goes to show you that even the biggest stars sometimes make a lot of bad television early in their careers. I actually kind of like that about him. Most of the A-list stars made it big in their 20's. I think it humbled him a little to work for 12 years and not to make it big. But it's all relative. Most actors would kill to have that much work in their 20's. But it is unusual for an A-list star.
1993-1994 Sisters (TV series)
19 episodes
1992-1993 Bodies of Evidence (TV series)
16 episodes
1988-1991 Roseanne (TV series)
11 episodes
1991 Baby Talk (TV series)
5 episodes
1990 Sunset Beat (TV movie)
1990 Sunset Beat (TV series)
2 episodes
1985-1987 The Facts of Life (TV series)
17 episodes
1984-1985 E/R (TV series) Not the ER that made him famous
22 episodes
I think DeNiro is one of the few big stars to never do any television.
April 1st, 2012 at 4:22:01 PM
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Quote: pacomartinGeorge Clooney made 15 unsold pilots before he was cast in ER at the age of 33. .
It took Clooney a long time because he's not really
a very good actor. He usually plays himself. People
like Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp made it much earlier
because of the broad range of characters they can play.
Here's a frightening TV fact. Barry Williams of Brady Bunch
fame says in the almost 40 years since the show was
canceled, every ep has been shown in syndication over
225,000 times. There is no time of the day that Brady
Bunch isn't being seen somewhere in the world. He and
the rest of the cast get paid every time its shown. He's
rich because of it. He does a stand up act in Branson
thats about the show.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
April 1st, 2012 at 4:22:59 PM
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Quote: pacomartinMost of the A-list stars made it big in their 20's. I think it humbled him a little to work for 12 years and not to make it big. But it's all relative.
And actually, in his case, it was largely relative... or should I say a large relative... Rosemary Clooney, best known for her singing and starring role in the movie White Christmas is an aunt. It doesn't hurt to know somebody in the business, which is probably why he got the work he did at that time...
"One out of every four people are [morons]"- Kyle, South Park
April 1st, 2012 at 4:39:57 PM
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George Clooney's father, Nick Clooney was heavily involved in
the TV news business for decades. Thats where George got
his left wing whacko views from, his show biz family. I went
to HS with a kid who's father had big bucks and the kid went
to Hollywood and became a producer. His family is very conservative,
but now he's as left wing as they come. He told me at the
reunion that in Hollywood you'll never get anywhere if you're not.
the TV news business for decades. Thats where George got
his left wing whacko views from, his show biz family. I went
to HS with a kid who's father had big bucks and the kid went
to Hollywood and became a producer. His family is very conservative,
but now he's as left wing as they come. He told me at the
reunion that in Hollywood you'll never get anywhere if you're not.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
April 1st, 2012 at 4:51:25 PM
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Quote: TiltpoulAnd actually, in his case, it was largely relative... or should I say a large relative... Rosemary Clooney, best known for her singing and starring role in the movie White Christmas is an aunt. It doesn't hurt to know somebody in the business, which is probably why he got the work he did at that time...
Relatives help you get small roles. His looks got him repeated casting. Like I said, your average 20 something would kill to get TV series after TV series like he did. He certainly wasn't poor.
Eddie Murphy was in 48 Hours at age 21
Tom Cruise was in Risky Business at age 21, and Top Gun at age 24
Johnny Depp's first movie was Nightmare on Elm Street at age 21, and at age 24 was doing 21 Jump Street
Tom Hanks was in Bosom Buddies at age 24, and Splash at age 28
Robin Williams was in Mork and Mindy in his 20's, and Popeye at age 29
Harrison Ford was in American Graffiti at age 31
Morgan Freeman and Samuel Jackson are probably the latest bloomers of the superstars.
Freeman never acted until his late 20's, and was age 34 before starring on children's TV. He over 40 before his first movie role, and over 50 for his break out "Driving Miss Daisy".
Samuel Jackson was age 43 before his break out role in Jungle Fever
April 1st, 2012 at 5:41:03 PM
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Quote: Tiltpoul.... oops....
Why? You were asked for an opinion, not a prediction.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
April 1st, 2012 at 6:50:57 PM
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This sounds fun. I saw an indie pilot once, no compensation but I actually got to go to dinner with the actors and director after. They were doing a road show. This one never went anywhere, but was neat to see it from the inside.
"You see the people who pick shows have them make one show. On the stregnth of that one show they decide if they will make more shows. Some become shows, some become nothing. She starred in one that became nothing."
"You see the people who pick shows have them make one show. On the stregnth of that one show they decide if they will make more shows. Some become shows, some become nothing. She starred in one that became nothing."
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
April 1st, 2012 at 7:07:42 PM
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Pulp Fiction. And it was "I", not "She".
But nice quote.
But nice quote.
April 1st, 2012 at 7:11:41 PM
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April 1st, 2012 at 7:22:32 PM
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Well, dadburnit! I hate it when people prove me wrong so easily. I was thinking the quote was from Mia's conversation with Vincent at the 50's themed restaurant.
My apologies to AZ.
My apologies to AZ.
April 1st, 2012 at 8:37:11 PM
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Quote: DocWell, dadburnit!
Watch the language Doc!
April 2nd, 2012 at 12:02:49 AM
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Alot of actors register at marketing research companies. Not famous actors, just good character actors. Often the company tells them what to say in these focus groups. I went to several years ago. You get a few bucks, you meet a few people.
April 2nd, 2012 at 1:31:41 AM
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Quote: TiltpoulI was in the pilot audience for the TV show "Lost." After it was over, they called my house and asked me a ton of questions about what I thought. I told them I thought it would make an interesting mini-series but nothing more...
.... oops....
I think you were right. It would have made an absolutely awesome miniseries. Sure, it turned out to be a cash cow but that wasn't to the viewer's benefit. I really hate when networks just drag shows out because they're profitable. I'd much rather have a concise, dramatic short run then have show just drag on, leaving the creators to make things up as they go.
April 2nd, 2012 at 6:25:38 AM
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I tried to do this once Ballys. They solicited me near the burger place, gave me a number and said "come back at 4pm and we'll give you $20 to watch a 30 minute new show and give us your opinion on a questionnaire after". I show up at 4, get whisked downstairs at Ballys into a little room with TV monitors set up in little booths and I'm all excited to take part, then they ask for my ID and tell me I'm not eligible because I'm a local. Turns out they set up in Vegas just to get a slice of America's opinion from visitors only.
Wish they'd've told me that in the beginning.
Wish they'd've told me that in the beginning.
"Poker sure is an easy game to beat if you have the roll to keep rebuying."
April 2nd, 2012 at 8:23:21 AM
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I saw a movie called The Wedding Date (2005) with Debra Messing, Amy Adams, Dermot Mulroney, and Holland Taylor . All these actors have done very good movies, and received many acting awards. The movie Wedding Date was a disaster according to most critics. Debra Messing was describing all the changes done to the movie as a result of focus groups. It was pretty clear that she thought the producers ruined the movie by pandering to the lowest common denominator.
Despite the horrible review, the movie which had a $15 million budget, grossed $31.7 million domestically, and $47.2 million worldwide.
Despite the horrible review, the movie which had a $15 million budget, grossed $31.7 million domestically, and $47.2 million worldwide.
April 2nd, 2012 at 8:56:47 AM
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Quote: pacomartinDespite the horrible review, the movie which had a $15 million budget, grossed $31.7 million domestically, and $47.2 million worldwide.
Well, then, according to what I know of Hollywood's accoutning standards, that means the great-great-great-grandchildren of the original producers should be paying off the losses well into their 90s :)
Seriously, focus groups can only do so much. Marketing types should remember they're a tool, not an absolute standard against which to measure everuthing. Sure, some products have flopped due to bad or nonexistent marketing research (the Ford Edsel comes to mind). But simply drawing an average on what a focus group thinks stifles innovation and creativity.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
June 7th, 2012 at 7:33:58 PM
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Quote: JohnnyQI watched a couple of TV Pilot show previews last week.The second one was a cross between "Antiques Roadshow"
and "Shark Tank". I think this show is ready for the History
cable network and I wouldn't be surprised to see it on the
air sometime.
Compensation was $ 15 at Bally's and $ 10 at Miracle Mile.
So, flipping through the cable channels tonight,
guess what I see ?
Yep, "FINAL OFFER" on the Discovery channel.
Very cool.
This is the show I previewed in Vegas back in
March. The segments were flipped around, but
it is definitely the show I watched out there.
There's emptiness behind their eyes
There's dust in all their hearts
They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
