HYPE
CONCEPT
Topical sketch comedy from some newcomers, including
Jennifer Elise Cox, and some Mad TV vets.
THE SCOOP
The
show's distinguishing trait is that it plays off media coverage
of pop-cultural events, so shows like Entertainment Tonight are
spoofed as friskily as the movie and TV stars they cover. Says
coexec producer Lanier Laney, ''We are going to be much more
impersonation and celebrity driven than SNL and Mad TV. Our cast
is great at celebrity impersonations.'' Adds colleague Terry
Sweeney, a former SNL regular, ''[Hype] is our way of immunizing
ourselves against the constant media bombardment.''
BOTTOM LINE
Seems like SNL and Mad TV do an awful lot of impersonation and
celebrity skewering, doesn't it? And based on the presentation
tape, this looks like more of the same — only paced like Laugh-In.
We hope it's funny, but to paraphrase Public Enemy, we don't
necessarily believe the Hype.
NIKKI
CONCEPT
Vegas showgirl (Unhappily Ever After's Nikki Cox) marries a would-be pro wrestler (Nick von Esmarch)
THE SCOOP
The pilot reveals that, while individually
ingratiating, Cox and von Esmarch together have less chemistry
than Pam Anderson and Bill Nye the Science Guy. Still, this is
one of the more expensive new shows of the season. ''There are
relatively big production numbers every week,'' says Cox. ''Twenty
dancers, a week of rehearsal, elaborate costumes, and lasers and
lights and smoke. And also the wrestling — that's a big deal.'' Is
she a fan? ''I have to be honest — I don't know much about it....
[But] I was a GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) fan as a
little girl.''
BOTTOM LINE
Inspires poetry: Just how low can
lowbrow go?/Tune in once and watch this show.
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Add Your Comments
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