Wacky new Kellner fact!

[The Mad Hatter]

Another fun tidbit I just learned about the man we all love to hate. According to the TV columnist in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Jamie Kellner prefers shows with laugh tracks. Really.

"I believe it stimulates and triggers my own laughter," he told TV critics gathered in California in July. "I just think that we've been trained for so many years, that if it's done properly, it allows us to think that we're not in a room alone, but in a room with a bunch of other people, which is a very comfortable feeling for me."

Columnist Michael Storey goes on to say that "As long as they guys in expensive suits feel that way, there will always be traditional sitcoms." Much of the thrust of the column being that "traditional sitcom" (as in, filmed before a live studio audience) is largely synonymous with "crap."

It ain't just the world of cartoons this guy's out to wreck...

[DR. BELCH]

Great shades of Pavlov. I wonder if he goes "aww" at the sappy moments as well along with the track audience. Quick, someone ring a little bell and see if he slavers! Or at least holler the word "repugnant" a few times....

[don Jaime]

So, he's a sheep who can't think for himself. This explains much. Should we go to his house, set up a TV with the old Warner Brothers Revival shows on it, like TTA and A! and P&B, and laugh at them until he puts them back on the air?

[BourgeoisBuffoon]

That's pathetic. I agree with EVERYTHING don Jaime said. I'm sorry, but if Kellner saw everyone jumping off a bridge he'd do it along with them! One more reason he cancells the Silver Age shows, I'm inclined to say.

And this guy becomes head of KWB....(shakes head sadly)

[Psycho Fox]

Originally posted by BourgeoisBuffoon
That's pathetic. I agree with EVERYTHING don Jaime said. I'm sorry, but if Kellner saw everyone jumping off a bridge he'd do it along with them! One more reason he cancells the Silver Age shows, I'm inclined to say.

And this guy becomes head of KWB....(shakes head sadly)

I think his tie cuts off the air to his brain.

[Dante Bunny]

Originally posted by Psycho Fox

I think his tie cuts off the air to his brain.

Either that or he's worse than The Mayor of Townsville.

[Anthonynotes]

*Ouch*. Typical Hollywood executive mentality, I suppose...

Though I note that sitcoms usually aren't the WB's main stronghold anyway; their two sitcoms that approach being successful seem to be "The Steve Harvey Show" and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" (the former popular among African-American audiences ratings-wise, the latter an ABC import with its own following). Though of course, they *are* sticking on a sitcom with *Reba McEntire* as the star of all things .... wonder if this is worse/better than Emeril getting his own sitcom....

Either way, sounds like future fanfic joke material to me :-)
-B.

[James Harvey]

Personally, I can't stand laugh tracks. They're annoying and don't make me laugh. Hell, laugh tracks ruin some shows. And this Kellner guy, sounding like an idiot, heads KWB...oy...

[Roman Legion]

Originally posted by Brainatra
Wonder if this is worse/better than Emeril getting his own sitcom...

I'm afraid to ask... is this in jest, or are you serious? You do realize that you have a talent for predicting the future. ;-)

Romey
--Who would actually consider watching such a show...

[James Harvey]

I wonder why he's getting a show. His show on the FOOD NETWORK is only seen by a couple million people - that's barely UPN numbers!

[Anthonynotes]

Originally posted by Romey
I'm afraid to ask... is this in jest, or are you serious? You do realize that you have a talent for predicting the future. ;-)

Romey
--Who would actually consider watching such a show...

No joke....it's actually supposed to air starting...um....soon, I guess... on NBC this fall. *Why* it exists, I have no idea (though I'm still wondering why "Family Guy" and "The Cat and Bunny Muppet Babies Flinstone Kids-y Tiny Toons-y Big Age Regressed Adult Characters Show" had to, for that matter....).

-B.
Notes that this year is apparently the 15th anniversary of "The Flintstone Kids" debuting on Sat. mornings...anyone ever see that "Just Say No To Drugs" special where Nancy Reagan and "Michael Jackstone" showed up (and Wilma turns down some prehistoric pot)? Hmm...maybe an "Emeril" TV sitcom doesn't seem as far-fetched, after all... :-\

[Craig Marinaro]

Yep, Emeril has his own sitcom, which I hear is pathetically bad (although I haven't witnessed it myself--I think it came on last night). Jason Alexander and Ellen DeGeneres are also getting new sitcoms, which the critics at large have zilch hope for.

Am glad The Tick is finally going to premiere, though. The five-minute preview I saw (about a year ago at this point) was hilarious. I'd advise the A! / F!-type fans who aren't familiar with "The Tick" franchise to give it a glance.

-C

[The Mad Hatter]

Strangely enough, the Tick isn't being savaged by the critics... quite a few of them even like it. Here's hoping the audiences feel the same way...

And yes, I've noticed that there are WAY too many sitcoms coming out that are focused on one celebrity. Add Reba McIntire to that list.

[Joe Tully]

Chalk this up to the fact that many of last season's new sitcoms bombed. They think that star-power can compensate for poor writing. I don't expect this season to be any better. I've pretty much given up on sitcoms. Which is fine, cuz cartoons suit me plenty!

[Psycho Fox]

Well due to the punishment the stock market is taking, entertainment experts say that all networks execs will be going back to the drawing board to maximize their ratings so we may see changes take place. What these changes are is anyones guess