On the one hand you have to give these guest hosts a few days to settle into the job. On the other hand, if you get a bad one (like Oz) you’re stuck with him for two weeks. And you figure with so many guest hosts you’re going to get a few duds (although in the case of Dr. Oz, how could you not see it coming?).
But it brings back memories of writing on shows where an actor is not up to the material (isn’t that a nice way of saying he/she sucked?). You spend an inordinate amount of time trying to hide him, trying to give him lines he won’t kill or scenes he won’t ruin. It’s such a dance. And exhausting.
More times than not these are actors the network forced upon you. Forget that he’s an enemy of comedy, he “has a good look.” And if the show is ultimately on the bubble, do you think you’ll get picked up because you have this network darling? No. Never. The bad actor drags down the show, it gets canceled, and who gets blamed?
You got it on the first guess.
Casting is the most important decision a producer or show runner will ever have to make. Everything else can be fixed. So getting the right people is crucial.
I look forward to a new JEOPARDY guest-host, whoever it is.
from By Ken Levine
Comments
Post a Comment