“The View From the Phlipside” is a media commentary program airing on WRFA-LP, Jamestown NY. It can be heard Monday through Friday around 7:30 AM. The following are scripts which may not exactly match the aired version of the program. Mostly because the host may suddenly choose to add or subtract words at a moments notice. WRFA-LP is not responsible for any such silliness or the opinions expressed. You can listen to a live stream of WRFA or find a podcast of this program at wrfalp.com. Copyright 2013-15 by Jay Phillippi. All Rights Reserved. You like what you see? Drop me a line and we can talk.
Program scripts from week of December 21, 2015
My name is Jay Phillippi and I’ve spent my life in and around the media. TV, radio, the movies and more. I love them, and I hate them and I always have an opinion. Call this the View from the Phlipside.
Steve Harvey and TV Hosts
The
Steve Harvey/ Miss Universe flap has me thinking about a group of
people that I’ve always thought didn’t get enough credit for doing
their jobs well. The role of program “host” for a show, whether
a special like the Miss Universe pageant or a series, is a job that
is a lot harder than most people realize.
Steve Harvey/ Miss Universe flap has me thinking about a group of
people that I’ve always thought didn’t get enough credit for doing
their jobs well. The role of program “host” for a show, whether
a special like the Miss Universe pageant or a series, is a job that
is a lot harder than most people realize.
I
feel sorry for the flak that is surrounding Steve Harvey. The
mistake took place at the worst possible moment, with the
announcement of the pageant winner. He’s working off of two pieces
of information, the teleprompter and a card in his hand with the
names on it. As near as I can tell from the reports, the
teleprompter, which would have been his primary, may have been wrong.
His backup card had the information printed very small. That’s
important because he needs to be able to glance down, read the words
and look back up in less than a second. No one wants to watch
someone reading off a card. Once the word got to Harvey of the
mistake you can see him slump. He just looks like he wants to be
ill.
feel sorry for the flak that is surrounding Steve Harvey. The
mistake took place at the worst possible moment, with the
announcement of the pageant winner. He’s working off of two pieces
of information, the teleprompter and a card in his hand with the
names on it. As near as I can tell from the reports, the
teleprompter, which would have been his primary, may have been wrong.
His backup card had the information printed very small. That’s
important because he needs to be able to glance down, read the words
and look back up in less than a second. No one wants to watch
someone reading off a card. Once the word got to Harvey of the
mistake you can see him slump. He just looks like he wants to be
ill.
For
hosts of award shows, beauty pageants, even game shows, the ability
to work without a script is mandatory skill. That skill to be able
to take anything in stride and keep the show rolling is actually much
harder to come by than you think. We think about it most often when
the discussion of who will host the Grammys or the Oscars comes up
each year. A great host can make or break these programs because
they are inevitably ponderous and dull.
hosts of award shows, beauty pageants, even game shows, the ability
to work without a script is mandatory skill. That skill to be able
to take anything in stride and keep the show rolling is actually much
harder to come by than you think. We think about it most often when
the discussion of who will host the Grammys or the Oscars comes up
each year. A great host can make or break these programs because
they are inevitably ponderous and dull.
But
a great host can make all the difference in the world. At my house
ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” is watched almost religiously by
my wife and daughter. In fact, the Kid re-organized her work
schedule so she could see the latest season. I drift in and out
depending on which star is on. But I am a devoted fan of the primary
host, Tom Bergeron. Erin Andrews does a nice job too, but Bergeron
is the complete package. He has to adjust, on the fly, to whatever
the judges decide to say or do and react to the often utterly
unpredictable responses of the contestants. The poor guy had to try
and make sense out of Gary Busey this last season.
a great host can make all the difference in the world. At my house
ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” is watched almost religiously by
my wife and daughter. In fact, the Kid re-organized her work
schedule so she could see the latest season. I drift in and out
depending on which star is on. But I am a devoted fan of the primary
host, Tom Bergeron. Erin Andrews does a nice job too, but Bergeron
is the complete package. He has to adjust, on the fly, to whatever
the judges decide to say or do and react to the often utterly
unpredictable responses of the contestants. The poor guy had to try
and make sense out of Gary Busey this last season.
Bergeron
does exactly what a host is supposed to do, keep the show moving,
provide a little laugh here and there and do it all while not
upstaging the supposed “real” stars of the show. For me, Tom
Bergeron is the unsung star, just like any great TV host.
does exactly what a host is supposed to do, keep the show moving,
provide a little laugh here and there and do it all while not
upstaging the supposed “real” stars of the show. For me, Tom
Bergeron is the unsung star, just like any great TV host.
My
heart goes out to Steve Harvey. At the same time he handled the
situation, one where he wasn’t at fault but he was responsible, with
class and professionalism.
heart goes out to Steve Harvey. At the same time he handled the
situation, one where he wasn’t at fault but he was responsible, with
class and professionalism.
It’s
a tough gig.
a tough gig.
TV Ad Complaints
You wanna know what a Christmas present looks like to a media
commentator? It looks like this story. Running across this one was
like opening the greatest present you ever got as a kid. It’s the
ultimate “Red
Ryder Carbine
Action
200-shot Range Model air
rifle with
a compass in the stock” kind
of a story.
commentator? It looks like this story. Running across this one was
like opening the greatest present you ever got as a kid. It’s the
ultimate “Red
Ryder Carbine
Action
200-shot Range Model air
rifle with
a compass in the stock” kind
of a story.
In
Australia, they have a government organization called The Advertising
Standards Bureau. They are charged with responding to complaints by
viewers about commercials and making sure that the regulatory
standards for that advertising is met. They can even force a station
or network to remove advertising that violates those standards.
Australia, they have a government organization called The Advertising
Standards Bureau. They are charged with responding to complaints by
viewers about commercials and making sure that the regulatory
standards for that advertising is met. They can even force a station
or network to remove advertising that violates those standards.
What
I didn’t know is that each year they issue a “Most Controversial”
list. There’s not a lot surprising to the reasons people objected.
The difference between American advertising and most of the rest of
the world’s can be pretty amazing. But the complaints tend to be
pretty much the same.
I didn’t know is that each year they issue a “Most Controversial”
list. There’s not a lot surprising to the reasons people objected.
The difference between American advertising and most of the rest of
the world’s can be pretty amazing. But the complaints tend to be
pretty much the same.
Some
were for “inappropriate language”, although I’ll bet most
Americans won’t understand why some Aussies got upset about a small
boy using the word “bloody” in a car commercial. There might not
be much furor here about the paper towel ad that repeatedly used the
word “sheet” leading to the tag line “This is the good sheet”.
And yes, I’m ultra careful with my pronunciation here. A bikini
trimmer ad that involved trimming small shrubberies. No, I’m not
going into any more detail than that. What’s another word for shrub?
The snack food ad where the woman loved the flavoring so much she
“kissed” it off her husband’s lips. Or the Hyundai commercial
where a lady defends herself from a snake by flicking her belt at it
to scare it off. No actual violence is shown, in fact the woman and
the snake never appear on screen at the same time, but there were
concerns about animal cruelty. Although one of the complaints read,
and I quote “…if she did the same thing to a puppy that would be
OK…”. Sorry, can’t explain that one.
were for “inappropriate language”, although I’ll bet most
Americans won’t understand why some Aussies got upset about a small
boy using the word “bloody” in a car commercial. There might not
be much furor here about the paper towel ad that repeatedly used the
word “sheet” leading to the tag line “This is the good sheet”.
And yes, I’m ultra careful with my pronunciation here. A bikini
trimmer ad that involved trimming small shrubberies. No, I’m not
going into any more detail than that. What’s another word for shrub?
The snack food ad where the woman loved the flavoring so much she
“kissed” it off her husband’s lips. Or the Hyundai commercial
where a lady defends herself from a snake by flicking her belt at it
to scare it off. No actual violence is shown, in fact the woman and
the snake never appear on screen at the same time, but there were
concerns about animal cruelty. Although one of the complaints read,
and I quote “…if she did the same thing to a puppy that would be
OK…”. Sorry, can’t explain that one.
There
were several that even my ability to tap dance verbally can’t be made
into anything air-able. Let’s just say they were feminine products
and leave it at that.
were several that even my ability to tap dance verbally can’t be made
into anything air-able. Let’s just say they were feminine products
and leave it at that.
The
most astounding ad was for the extramarital affair service named
“Ashley Madison”. It involved several dozen men singing “I’m
looking for someone other than my wife” to the tune of the old
Climax Blues Band hit “Couldn’t Get It Right”. It was the second
year in a row that Ashley Madison’s advertising had been near the top
of the pops for viewer complaints. Curiously, there were more
complaints about the little boys language than the big boys’
behavior. In the end only the Ashley Madison spot was ordered off
the air.
most astounding ad was for the extramarital affair service named
“Ashley Madison”. It involved several dozen men singing “I’m
looking for someone other than my wife” to the tune of the old
Climax Blues Band hit “Couldn’t Get It Right”. It was the second
year in a row that Ashley Madison’s advertising had been near the top
of the pops for viewer complaints. Curiously, there were more
complaints about the little boys language than the big boys’
behavior. In the end only the Ashley Madison spot was ordered off
the air.
It’s
all just the sort of thing I was hoping for this Christmas.
all just the sort of thing I was hoping for this Christmas.
Star Trek and Star Wars
With
the debut of the seventh Star Wars movie having taken over the world
this past weekend, I thought it was an appropriate moment to take a
look at one of the great debates among movie geeks. Star Wars vs
Star Trek.
the debut of the seventh Star Wars movie having taken over the world
this past weekend, I thought it was an appropriate moment to take a
look at one of the great debates among movie geeks. Star Wars vs
Star Trek.
Now
there are four basic positions in this debate. The Star Wars Only
group, the Star Trek Only Group, the I Like Both Group and the Please
Go Away And Stop Bothering Me With Your Silly Drivel group. For the
record, I fall into the “I Like Both” group.
there are four basic positions in this debate. The Star Wars Only
group, the Star Trek Only Group, the I Like Both Group and the Please
Go Away And Stop Bothering Me With Your Silly Drivel group. For the
record, I fall into the “I Like Both” group.
What
appeals to me in this question is that they are not the same. At
their best they are very different approaches to the same territory.
“Star Wars” was inspired by the old movie serials, things like
“Buck Rodgers”. It’s an adventure movie series, the bad guys are
very bad and people need rescued and heroes come from unlikely
places. It’s blasters blazing and spaceships whooshing out of hyper
drive to save the day.
appeals to me in this question is that they are not the same. At
their best they are very different approaches to the same territory.
“Star Wars” was inspired by the old movie serials, things like
“Buck Rodgers”. It’s an adventure movie series, the bad guys are
very bad and people need rescued and heroes come from unlikely
places. It’s blasters blazing and spaceships whooshing out of hyper
drive to save the day.
Star
Trek, on the other hand, is intended to be “smarter”. Before the
Star Wars fans storm the radio station, I don’t say that as any
criticism. The reality is that from the start Gene Roddenberry
intended the show to make the audience think about issues and
concepts. While the movies haven’t always done a great job in
carrying on that tradition, what made Star Trek something we keep
coming back to is the history of thoughtful story lines. Star Wars
has nothing to offer that can match The Original
Trek, on the other hand, is intended to be “smarter”. Before the
Star Wars fans storm the radio station, I don’t say that as any
criticism. The reality is that from the start Gene Roddenberry
intended the show to make the audience think about issues and
concepts. While the movies haven’t always done a great job in
carrying on that tradition, what made Star Trek something we keep
coming back to is the history of thoughtful story lines. Star Wars
has nothing to offer that can match The Original
Series
episode “City At the Edge of Forever”, or The Next Generation’s
episode “Darmok” or Deep Space Nine’s “The Visitor”. Those
are just a few of the many episodes that take a much more cerebral
approach to science fiction.
episode “City At the Edge of Forever”, or The Next Generation’s
episode “Darmok” or Deep Space Nine’s “The Visitor”. Those
are just a few of the many episodes that take a much more cerebral
approach to science fiction.
Both
movie series have spotty track records. It’s interesting at the
moment that both series find themselves in the hands of the same
producer, JJ Abrams. I just saw the Star Wars movie and came away
deeply impressed. On the other hand I’m growing increasingly
concerned about his vision for Star Trek. The first two movies have
moved markedly in the direction of the “blaster and swoosh”
territory of Star Wars. I was disturbed when I read that Simon
Pegg’s script had been trying to make next summer’s installment “less
Star Trek-y”. And the trailer for the new movie feels an awful lot
like “The Fast and the Furious”.
movie series have spotty track records. It’s interesting at the
moment that both series find themselves in the hands of the same
producer, JJ Abrams. I just saw the Star Wars movie and came away
deeply impressed. On the other hand I’m growing increasingly
concerned about his vision for Star Trek. The first two movies have
moved markedly in the direction of the “blaster and swoosh”
territory of Star Wars. I was disturbed when I read that Simon
Pegg’s script had been trying to make next summer’s installment “less
Star Trek-y”. And the trailer for the new movie feels an awful lot
like “The Fast and the Furious”.
Making
Star Trek more like Star Wars would be a colossal mistake, especially
for the older franchise. It is their differences that makes them
great.
Star Trek more like Star Wars would be a colossal mistake, especially
for the older franchise. It is their differences that makes them
great.
In
the end we need both a galaxy far, far away and the ability to boldly
go where no one has gone before.
the end we need both a galaxy far, far away and the ability to boldly
go where no one has gone before.
Call that the View From the Phlipside
Copyright Jay Phillippi, 2015
Theme music for “The View From the Phlipside” and “TVFTP – Podcast” is “Hustle”
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Stories Are My Life 
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