The One: What did you think?
So I just watched the east-coast feed of The One, the American singing reality show which tapped George Stroumboulopoulos to be its host. I have two immediate thoughts:
These contestants can not sing. Can. Not. Sing.
- Uh, what’s with the dude with the blue moustache, turquoise soul patch, and purple beard? I guess the casting agency was out of cranky Brit judges so they sent the next wackiest guy they had in line?
Anyway, Stroumboulopoulos seemed like a natural on set — even bold enough to cut off the judges (Favourite Strombo line: "Okay! We get it, we get it, we get it, we get it!") . In the show message boards, he was pretty much ignored, though, except for one chatter who liked him.
ABC, on the other hand, managed to screw up the critical opening minutes of the live show with major production glitches like mics shutting off, the video feed dropping right out, and levels between singers in the opening song varying wildly. It looked like a show that had been rushed into production without much opportunity for rehearsal. The crew seemed to get it together in the last half.
True to its promised strategy, CBC Television heavily promoted itself and Newsworld during the commercial breaks, especially its prime-time movie lineup. It sent an occasional crawl across the bottom of the screen reminding viewers that The National was still coming. Really, it was. (It did.)
I was especially looking forward to the Big Brother show nature of having the contestants living together. But with the singers’ introductions and songs, there wasn’t much room for the antics of "The One Academy" (the set/house the contestants live in) except for watching one contestant get in trouble for sleeping in and two contestants flirt with each other. Another showmance. {yawn} (Although, it seemed as if the girl had been caught by surprise watching her flirtatious antics on screen — she’s got a boyfriend at home. Uh oh…)
Speaking of invented storylines, it seems the show producers are have goaded the female judge into flirting with one contestant, with lines like "You’re fooling around" and "Don’t be hot for teacher" and "You can be sexy." {sigh}
I’ll keep watching, but I’m glad I’ve got a PVR, ’cause if I had to decide between this show and finding out if Diane or Nakomis would be evicted (go Nakomis!)… well, sorry Strombo. You did a great job; I just don’t have the time to learn a whole new set of reality-show characters.
Anyway, that’s just my opinion. What did you think?
Blogosphere/Media Reaction So Far:
- The Stroumboulolouli: "One things for sure, its going to be interesting to tune into US morning shows tomorrow and see how many hosts actually pronounce his name right." (True dat.)
- Toronto Sun: "Stroumboulopoulos? He did OK. A little wooden off the top, but he became visibly more relaxed in the show’s second hour, demonstrating a little more of that casual cool for which he was presumably hired. More of the Strombo we know and love, or love to not love."
- Off On A Tangent: "One thing that bothered me was that you couldn’t hear the contestants singing. Over on Rockstar, you can clearly hear those contestants ROCK!"
- Teamakers: "Good lord, those kids cannot sing. They dance like zombies. And not the Thriller kind of zombies. Despite this, I think the show will do well. The point seems to be that they will teach these kids to be rock stars, and it’s still early days yet."
- The Tyee: "As the contestants live together 24 hours a day, we get to see all the tensions arise on camera in between ghastly — all ghastly — performances. We see a budding (clearly choreographed) romance between two guitar players: Aubrey, a rock chick with a boyfriend and Nick, a moptoped axeman who somehow makes John Mayer seem threatening and more likeable."
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I just watched the westcoast feed for the one of course on cbc. The show stinks. And what’s with ABC not showing even a glimpse of George in any promos. That’s a load of cow dengue. He is the only good thing going for the show. And what is this website? O’My osh kosh b’gosh, I am not alone in my adoration for CBC. Someone took the time to do their own website about the CBC, or is this a marketing scheme that is produced to simulate a CBC lover like myself….nahhh….its the CBC — that’s too low, that’s something Global would do heha lol. So true.
So glad you posted about this. I NEVER watch these kinds of shows, but I have some weird need to know what happens on them. They have become part of our cultural (gasp!) landscape.
Haven’t we seen this show a million times before? I forced myself to watch 10 minutes of this and my opinion remains the same.
It is a clone of what has already been done to death and hiring a charismatic host is not going to make a whiff of difference. It gobsmacks me that people still have an appetite for this type of show, but I guess people have a huge capacity for mediocrity.
It was great to see George on stage — he’s so much more relaxed and even interested (or at least portrays interested) than most hosts of shows like this — but you’re right about the terrible singers and truly sad production problems at the beginning. It was interesting to see that judges picked the songs the contestants sang and that they weren’t all happy with the choices. Hopefully when there are less singers to get through we’ll get more of the backstage parts.
I’m a big fan of “Strombo” (hey, anyone that can seriously call themselves “Strombo” is someone to reckon with) but never in my life did I ever imagine hearing him say “You can vote by calling… sending a text message…phone lines open at the end of the show…” It’s bad enough when Benidict Mulroney does it. And where oh where is that lovely nose ring? Too “hip” for our American friends?
I was predisposed to be positive about this show, because I do support the idea that CBC Television must attract more viewers. I think it was a terrible mistake to lose “Canadian Idol” to CTV. The Idol shows — as well as being incredibly popular — have a kind of sweetness to them; the contestants are unsophisticated and charming.
But “The One” was grotesque. I should say I only watched about 10 minutes of it, but I found the contestants completely lacking in charm or talent. The show was the worst type of reality TV; edited to highlight conflict and a kind of gamey sexuality that I found very off-putting.
George was very good, but the show was so over-hyped and over-produced, that he was a bit swallowed up by the format.
All this while there’s a war brewing in the Middle East.
This was not public broadcasting.
Rather then watch live, I decided to fire up my VCR and tape the show. Much nicer to fast-forward through the annoying parts (which in my opinion accounts for the majority of the show), and I was able to compress the whole 2 hours into about 30 minutes.
I agree the contestants can’t sing. I can find better singers in the local Karaoke bar every week.
If I can find better singers, why can’t ABC? And the judges all seem to be overly positive
On the other hand, George did a good job hosting.
And what is up with all of these types of shows (the one, idol, etc) focusing entirely on how well people sing covers of other people’s songs?
To me the artists and people I respect the most:
1) Write their own material
2) Play their own instruments
3) Sing their own songs
Why can’t just one of these reality shows actually require real talent of their contestants. Make the contestants write their own material (both lyrics and music), and perform it for the audience (using their own musical instrument of choice). Then see who has the real talent. No covers at all. Let us hear unique music, let us find out if someone has real talent as both a songwriter, singer, and musician. Even the bad singing would be more tolerable if the songs was stuff we’ve never heard before.
The single worst program in the history of television. It has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. This is a train-wreck of a show, designed for advertisers and to make network executives feel as if they’re doing good television. Alas, this program is so poorly done, it’s laughable. Literally. Why CBC would associate itself with this mess of a show is beyond me. A regrettable choice regardless of its familiar host. I’d rather watch the WWE.
Hello Canada!
Thanks for the link to my Off On A Tangent blog.
Hi Amber and Casey!