The TruTV part is probably the most important. That's a channel I only became aware of because of Adam Ruins Everything. It rebranded at a time people were cord cutting, so who was going to know CourtTV rebranded?
I'm about your age and have similar comic sensibilities (I pay for this Substack, after all). I have literally never even heard of this show, which I think goes most of the way to explaining why it failed.
I'd just like to chime in and say that continuing your "World Is Wrong" series is one of the best decisions you've made. I've enjoyed every single one.
My stumbling block was that the main character seemed like an above-average teenager with friends and prospects and I just couldn't get myself to care about her alleged challenges. One of the main storylines is that she might not get into NYU -- if that's not a first world problem, what is?
Yeah, I get that. I did laugh when her family's house, which was supposed to be relatively lower- to lower-middle class, was well above the average for Western Europe.
If you want a real show that is tailor made for a cult following, try Saturday Morning All Star Hits on Netflix. It’s my all time favourite, but I’ve yet to find someone who can last more than five minutes without going “…Sorry, what the f***?”.
And if you want a show that both has and deserves a cult following, try Tear Along the Dotted Line on Netflix (I’d recommend the English dub unless your Italian is good). Easily the best show I watched in 2022.
Usually the online people angrily typing "we demand more shows with [fill in the blank]" have no intention of watching any resulting show, no matter how closely it meets their demands.
I could never get into the show, even at a basic humor level. Just wasn’t for me.
Also, though, I wonder if leaning too heavily into the Martha Stewart vibe (I am 39 and have watched close to zero minutes of her show in my life) and not drawing enough from the HGTV/Food Network/Magnolia shows from the last 10 years (thanks to my mid-30s wife I’ve watched roughly infinity hours of these shows) kind of limited its appeal and made it way too niche and hipster. That wouldn’t explain the lack of cult following though.
When the show aired, Stewart was probably more well known for her prison time than her her second show, which had already stopped airing a couple of years earlier. Her show with Snoop Dogg didn't start airing until 2016. The height of the very specific vibe this show was parodying was the 90's, so this parody was probably past its sell-by date for most people.
I feel like a major reason why it never developed a cult following is because it was on a cable channel that was originally best known for the OJ Simpson Trial (which was seen by many as "commentary with a few jokes tossed in) and then morphed into a channel running shows that were normally seen in segments during sweeps week on your local news broadcast. I had no idea the channel did any sort of original programming that was didn't feature Chris Hansen or was not predicated on serial killers.
Was pumped to see you mention this is on Prime Video but appears to be fake news?! Says “show unavailable due to expired rights” which is a fitting coda to your points above.
You’re right — sorry about the fake-out! I looked for it on Prime, found it, and did not notice that the Prime page was just telling me “we are aware of this show’s exist but you cannot watch it.” And I can’t find it elsewhere…a lost show, at least for the moment.
(1) You should talk to some of the Dropout writers & cast, they all rave about At Home.
(2) Dr. Hadassah Olayinka Ali Youngman, pre-PhD was one of the greatest characters in recent comedy history. A Black Lady Sketch Show was inconsistent, but the good ones were so damn funny.
My personal favorite thing that withered on the TruTV vine was "Jon Glaser Loves Gear". Truly hilarious. Only available now in 2-minute bits on YouTube. Another one of those shows that got awesome reviews, but nobody ever watched. The episode where he adopts a dog is still one of the funniest things I've ever seen on TV.
The TruTV part is probably the most important. That's a channel I only became aware of because of Adam Ruins Everything. It rebranded at a time people were cord cutting, so who was going to know CourtTV rebranded?
I only know of truTV because that’s where they stick the downmarket games during the NCAA basketball tournament.
Thank you. Ms. Lucidamente and I thought Ladybird was wildly overrated and now we don’t feel so alone. And Amy Sedaris is a goddamn national treasure.
I was going to post a comment literally saying "Amy Sedaris is a goddamn national treasure" and then I saw your comment. I shit you not.
GMTA?
I'm about your age and have similar comic sensibilities (I pay for this Substack, after all). I have literally never even heard of this show, which I think goes most of the way to explaining why it failed.
All I could think of was stranger with candy and her book - which I guess was part of her show
I'd just like to chime in and say that continuing your "World Is Wrong" series is one of the best decisions you've made. I've enjoyed every single one.
You didn't like Ladybird? That surprises me. It wasn't exactly my subject matter but it was perhaps the best-paced movie in the past 20 years.
My stumbling block was that the main character seemed like an above-average teenager with friends and prospects and I just couldn't get myself to care about her alleged challenges. One of the main storylines is that she might not get into NYU -- if that's not a first world problem, what is?
(and then she gets into NYU)
Yeah, I get that. I did laugh when her family's house, which was supposed to be relatively lower- to lower-middle class, was well above the average for Western Europe.
I liked it too! Cute little "flick"
with a great script!
It doesn't tug at my heart like
"Chasing Amy," mote like it reminds me my ex-wife was a complicated person.....
If you want a real show that is tailor made for a cult following, try Saturday Morning All Star Hits on Netflix. It’s my all time favourite, but I’ve yet to find someone who can last more than five minutes without going “…Sorry, what the f***?”.
And if you want a show that both has and deserves a cult following, try Tear Along the Dotted Line on Netflix (I’d recommend the English dub unless your Italian is good). Easily the best show I watched in 2022.
Love this show, glad to hear that someone else saw it too! We watch the holiday episode (s1e7) every year.
I didn't even know this show existed. And I loved Strangers with Candy.
Stupid TruTV.
Usually the online people angrily typing "we demand more shows with [fill in the blank]" have no intention of watching any resulting show, no matter how closely it meets their demands.
I could never get into the show, even at a basic humor level. Just wasn’t for me.
Also, though, I wonder if leaning too heavily into the Martha Stewart vibe (I am 39 and have watched close to zero minutes of her show in my life) and not drawing enough from the HGTV/Food Network/Magnolia shows from the last 10 years (thanks to my mid-30s wife I’ve watched roughly infinity hours of these shows) kind of limited its appeal and made it way too niche and hipster. That wouldn’t explain the lack of cult following though.
When the show aired, Stewart was probably more well known for her prison time than her her second show, which had already stopped airing a couple of years earlier. Her show with Snoop Dogg didn't start airing until 2016. The height of the very specific vibe this show was parodying was the 90's, so this parody was probably past its sell-by date for most people.
It was honestly just oddly executed too. Good on them for trying something but I kinda just don't think it worked.
I feel like a major reason why it never developed a cult following is because it was on a cable channel that was originally best known for the OJ Simpson Trial (which was seen by many as "commentary with a few jokes tossed in) and then morphed into a channel running shows that were normally seen in segments during sweeps week on your local news broadcast. I had no idea the channel did any sort of original programming that was didn't feature Chris Hansen or was not predicated on serial killers.
Was pumped to see you mention this is on Prime Video but appears to be fake news?! Says “show unavailable due to expired rights” which is a fitting coda to your points above.
You’re right — sorry about the fake-out! I looked for it on Prime, found it, and did not notice that the Prime page was just telling me “we are aware of this show’s exist but you cannot watch it.” And I can’t find it elsewhere…a lost show, at least for the moment.
Whoops! Did I include the wrong link maybe? Let me look into this…
Thank you for pointing out the lameness of Lena Dunham and Mindy Kaling.....
(1) You should talk to some of the Dropout writers & cast, they all rave about At Home.
(2) Dr. Hadassah Olayinka Ali Youngman, pre-PhD was one of the greatest characters in recent comedy history. A Black Lady Sketch Show was inconsistent, but the good ones were so damn funny.
Amy Sedaris and her brother David are amazing and hilarious. Side note: what’s wrong with the Black Lady Sketch Show? I think it’s really funny.
My personal favorite thing that withered on the TruTV vine was "Jon Glaser Loves Gear". Truly hilarious. Only available now in 2-minute bits on YouTube. Another one of those shows that got awesome reviews, but nobody ever watched. The episode where he adopts a dog is still one of the funniest things I've ever seen on TV.