Krista Allen, Bryan Greenberg and Jennifer Hall of HBO’s Unscripted
Credit: HBO.com
This just in: Film is significantly different from television.
OK, such a broad, overgeneral statement probably isn’t the best way to open a column review of one specific show, but I can get myself out of this.
Film is especially different from television in that there are so many other kinds such as short films, independent films, animated films and especially experimental cinema where small films more abstract in their storytelling reach small, specific audiences who might appreciate them more. With all the different kinds of theaters, art houses and film festivals out there, movies can reach all sorts of audiences and have different effects.
But television? Completely different.
While different genres and sub-genres of movies exist that can be at least somewhat successful, television has to conform to the masses. It’s extraordinarily difficult for television to take many risks in its programming because it reaches a wide variety of people whether it’s a factory worker from Athens, Ga., a stockbroker from New York City, an aspiring screenwriter in North Hollywood or a conservative political science professor at the University of Texas. They all watch the same shows on the same channels.
Television executives need to find some sort of balance that appeals to those different kinds of people and that means taking creative risks isn’t as high of a priority as critics might like it to be. And since making money is the name of the game in a society built on capitalism, it becomes a lot easier to churn out spin-offs of Law & Order and CSI then it is to come up with winning concepts like Desperate Housewives or Lost.
Cable channels like HBO, FX and USA have helped buck that trend to some degree, taking a lot of risks with shows like The Sopranos, Nip/Tuck and Monk but the point is still there: there’s no such thing as experimental television. If too many people don’t get it or don’t like it, it won’t generate a large audience or any significant buzz. Without either of those…dead man walking.
Despite the somewhat grim picture I’m painting about television programming in general, I’m actually an advocate for creativity in the industry. I respect writers, producers and the networks for taking risks and airing shows that differ from the norm. It’s refreshing and enlightening to see what the creators of television series can do when given the freedom.
With that said, I respect George Clooney, Steven Soderbergh and HBO tremendously for taking a risk with their new series Unscripted because the series is wild, different and largely unpredictable. The ten-part series follows three struggling actors as they attempt to solidly establish themselves in the entertainment industry in Hollywood, at least enough where they can support themselves acting. Krista Allen (George Clooney’s ex-girlfriend, star of several Emmanuelle softcore porn movies), Bryan Greenberg (a series regular on One Tree Hill) and Jennifer Hall (All My Children and the TV version of Legally Blonde) star and essentially play themselves, but less successful versions of themselves as it appears they’ve all had some fairly significant experience in front of the camera.
Casting these three is an outstanding idea simply because they have enough experience where they aren’t too green but they are largely unrecognizable, therefore making it more realistic that they play struggling actors. After all, they aren’t far off from the life they are portraying.
For those who look up the three actors on IMDB.com or read an article or two mentioning their names, they might see what’s unfolding on screen and think it’s actually a multi-part documentary following three struggling actors trying to get work in Hollywood. In actuality, the show’s format merely pulls events from their lives and positions various scenes and stories that make it appear like they are real.
Also, the scenes that are filmed in Unscripted are just that…unscripted. The actors improvise, and scenes are filmed only once, therefore making it feel even more like real life. This coupled with the shaky, documentary-esque directing that Soderbergh has perfected and has been nominated for Academy Awards for (but Clooney actually practices in this show) and it’s remarkably difficult to decipher what’s actually real and what’s not. For that, Clooney and Soderbergh deserve a lot of credit.
Unfortunately, that’s where the praise ends.
While Unscripted generates such a sense of realness, Clooney and Soderbergh fail to realize that reality is often not all that funny or interesting. Sure, there are many times when the cliche “You couldn’t write this stuff, folks.” comes out loud and clear. But for the other 98 percent of people and their lives, reality just isn’t that interesting, even if it is for struggling actors as they try to make it big in Hollywood and have brushes with celebrities at various studios.
So, while there are some very funny scenes in Unscripted, it’s really more excruciatingly boring and tedious than it is fun and entertaining, despite its daring premise. Any time a show makes me feel that I should watch it because it’s good for me, but the sooner it’s over the better, it’s still not good. It’s got that “liver and lima beans” feel to it, which no one is going to latch onto. People can get their daily source of vitamins in other ways than liver and lima beans.
How can this be? It’s amazing that a series with (very brief) cameo appearances from such stars as Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Garry Marshall, Sam Mendes, Bonnie Hunt, Hank Azaria and George Lopez still is as about as interesting as a package of blue pens. Yet, Clooney and Soderbergh are so in love with the concept, they apparently forgot to draw up interesting stories and scenarios to follow. Even though the general public is fascinated with Hollywood and its celebrities, that doesn’t mean that as soon as one shows up on screen, it’s automatically interesting.
Some critics appreciate the Hollywood reality being portrayed because it’s accurate. The problem is accurate isn’t always interesting. There are ways to convey a sense of solid, believable reality without making a story so boring, it makes viewers want to click over. Clooney and Soderbergh instead focused on the concept, the direction and the assumption that everyone will be interested in anything Hollywood.
Overall, Unscripted isn’t worth your time. It’s terrible to say that because I do appreciate the bold nature of the show. But it’s neither amusing nor very witty and about as stimulating as a copy of Hustler would be for Carson Kressley.
Oh well…back to the drawing board.
