“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 2013-16 by Jay Phillippi. All Rights Reserved. You like what you see? Drop me a line and we can talk.
Program scripts from week of January 11, 2016
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.
Super Bowl Excitement
I
can feel the excitement building already. The football playoffs are
under way. Teams are getting eliminated. Who will get lucky? Who
will get blown out? Who is going to get hot at just the right time
so they can make it to the big game? It is only a matter of weeks
now till one of the grandest sports events of the year takes place.
The Super Bowl averages about one hundred fourteen million viewers
each.
can feel the excitement building already. The football playoffs are
under way. Teams are getting eliminated. Who will get lucky? Who
will get blown out? Who is going to get hot at just the right time
so they can make it to the big game? It is only a matter of weeks
now till one of the grandest sports events of the year takes place.
The Super Bowl averages about one hundred fourteen million viewers
each.
Of
course, more often than not the game is an enormous bore. So it’s a
good thing that we’ve got the commercials to get excited about. I
can hardly wait.
course, more often than not the game is an enormous bore. So it’s a
good thing that we’ve got the commercials to get excited about. I
can hardly wait.
Once
again, prices for the big game commercials have gone up. In fact,
between 2000 and 2014 prices for a thirty second spot rose by seventy
five percent. This year a single thirty second spot set advertisers
back a cool five million dollars. That means it was a huge decision
for first timers like Colgate and Sun Trust to dip their toe into
those commercial waters.
again, prices for the big game commercials have gone up. In fact,
between 2000 and 2014 prices for a thirty second spot rose by seventy
five percent. This year a single thirty second spot set advertisers
back a cool five million dollars. That means it was a huge decision
for first timers like Colgate and Sun Trust to dip their toe into
those commercial waters.
Most
of the advertisers list is pretty familiar. You’ll see Budweiser,
Bud Light, Shock Top, Coke, Pepsi, and Mountain Dew. Want some
snacks to go with that? How about Doritos, who have been inviting
viewers to vote for which spot actually makes the big game, Skittles,
Snickers, Butterfinger, Taco Bell – who is launching a new menu
item, and Avocados from Mexico.
of the advertisers list is pretty familiar. You’ll see Budweiser,
Bud Light, Shock Top, Coke, Pepsi, and Mountain Dew. Want some
snacks to go with that? How about Doritos, who have been inviting
viewers to vote for which spot actually makes the big game, Skittles,
Snickers, Butterfinger, Taco Bell – who is launching a new menu
item, and Avocados from Mexico.
As
always, the auto industry is well represented. Buick is a first time
advertiser. They continue to try and lose their “old people’s car”
reputation. Toyota, Hyundai, Mini, Honda, Acura and Kia all have
something planned for us when the game gets out of the way, and the
important stuff comes on the broadcast.
always, the auto industry is well represented. Buick is a first time
advertiser. They continue to try and lose their “old people’s car”
reputation. Toyota, Hyundai, Mini, Honda, Acura and Kia all have
something planned for us when the game gets out of the way, and the
important stuff comes on the broadcast.
There
has been an interesting rumor floating around concerning the Super
Bowl commercials. Apparently Steve Harvey was approached by several
advertisers looking to tie in with his now infamous Miss Universe
announcing blunder. That moment has already become a staple of
Internet memes, so it will be interesting to see how that might get
adapted for the big game and by which advertiser or advertisers,
maybe. I said before that I think Harvey handled that situation
professionally. So if there’s a chance for him to cash in on it, I’m
just fine with that. It will undoubtedly be a much discussed moment
after the game.
has been an interesting rumor floating around concerning the Super
Bowl commercials. Apparently Steve Harvey was approached by several
advertisers looking to tie in with his now infamous Miss Universe
announcing blunder. That moment has already become a staple of
Internet memes, so it will be interesting to see how that might get
adapted for the big game and by which advertiser or advertisers,
maybe. I said before that I think Harvey handled that situation
professionally. So if there’s a chance for him to cash in on it, I’m
just fine with that. It will undoubtedly be a much discussed moment
after the game.
After
last year’s occasionally grim line up, do you remember the Nationwide
dead child spot, things should stay on the lighter side. That’s
probably a wise decision all round.
last year’s occasionally grim line up, do you remember the Nationwide
dead child spot, things should stay on the lighter side. That’s
probably a wise decision all round.
In
less important news, the halftime show has been announced. Coldplay
got the nod in December but apparently that didn’t generate the kind
of buzz the network wanted. So Beyonce has now been added.
Apparently Bruno Mars will be shoe horned in somewhere too.
less important news, the halftime show has been announced. Coldplay
got the nod in December but apparently that didn’t generate the kind
of buzz the network wanted. So Beyonce has now been added.
Apparently Bruno Mars will be shoe horned in somewhere too.
Oh,
and a couple football teams as well.
and a couple football teams as well.
New Media Business
Once
upon a time, Youtube was a place for poorly conceived, badly shot
videos that no one seemed to care all that much about. It was a
place for silly stuff, pointless stuff. Founded 11 years ago by a
trio of former Paypal employees, a year later Google made them
multi-millionaires by buying them out. Turns out they were just the
first.
upon a time, Youtube was a place for poorly conceived, badly shot
videos that no one seemed to care all that much about. It was a
place for silly stuff, pointless stuff. Founded 11 years ago by a
trio of former Paypal employees, a year later Google made them
multi-millionaires by buying them out. Turns out they were just the
first.
When
I talk about the “new media” and discuss new business models in
the media what’s happening at Youtube is a prime example. Things are
going well enough for some folks there that no less than Forbes
magazine did an article on Youtube’s top earners.
I talk about the “new media” and discuss new business models in
the media what’s happening at Youtube is a prime example. Things are
going well enough for some folks there that no less than Forbes
magazine did an article on Youtube’s top earners.
And
the numbers are not small.
the numbers are not small.
The
bottom of the list includes Rosanna Pansino, who does cooking videos,
Roman Atwood who does pranks a la “Punked” and Lily Singh, a
comedian and singer. The bottom of the list isn’t a bad neighborhood
since Forbes estimates those three brought in two and a half million
dollars each in 2015. There are video game commentators, makeup
experts, several more comedians, plus a pair of brothers who made
more than eight million dollars doing videos of people watching other
videos. Ever wonder what’s meant by the word “meta”? This would
be it.
bottom of the list includes Rosanna Pansino, who does cooking videos,
Roman Atwood who does pranks a la “Punked” and Lily Singh, a
comedian and singer. The bottom of the list isn’t a bad neighborhood
since Forbes estimates those three brought in two and a half million
dollars each in 2015. There are video game commentators, makeup
experts, several more comedians, plus a pair of brothers who made
more than eight million dollars doing videos of people watching other
videos. Ever wonder what’s meant by the word “meta”? This would
be it.
I’ve
only ever heard of two people on this list. Around the middle of the
list you’ll find Lindsey Sterling, a violinist who also dances while
she plays. I’ve seen a couple of her videos. At the very top of the
list you find Swedish Felix Kjellberg, better known as Pewdiepie who
raked in twelve million dollars last year. I mentioned Pewdiepie in
one of the very first programs last fall. He is currently viewed by
about forty million subscribers.
only ever heard of two people on this list. Around the middle of the
list you’ll find Lindsey Sterling, a violinist who also dances while
she plays. I’ve seen a couple of her videos. At the very top of the
list you find Swedish Felix Kjellberg, better known as Pewdiepie who
raked in twelve million dollars last year. I mentioned Pewdiepie in
one of the very first programs last fall. He is currently viewed by
about forty million subscribers.
One
way the new media business model is just like the old one is that for
every headliner there are dozens, even hundreds of folks who are
still doing it even though they aren’t making enough money to pay the
rent. What is surprising is when you realize that some of those
people have hundreds of thousands of viewers but still can’t make
even enough money to pay all their bills. Part of that is the larger
Internet culture where viewers expect to get everything for free.
Adding a commercial to your videos often results in people dropping
their subscriptions. That attitude among consumers may be the single
biggest obstacle to broadening the business success for content
creators.
way the new media business model is just like the old one is that for
every headliner there are dozens, even hundreds of folks who are
still doing it even though they aren’t making enough money to pay the
rent. What is surprising is when you realize that some of those
people have hundreds of thousands of viewers but still can’t make
even enough money to pay all their bills. Part of that is the larger
Internet culture where viewers expect to get everything for free.
Adding a commercial to your videos often results in people dropping
their subscriptions. That attitude among consumers may be the single
biggest obstacle to broadening the business success for content
creators.
At
the same time, no small business is guaranteed success. Depending on
the statistics you use, somewhere between twenty five and eighty
percent of small businesses will close within a decade of their
launch.
the same time, no small business is guaranteed success. Depending on
the statistics you use, somewhere between twenty five and eighty
percent of small businesses will close within a decade of their
launch.
In
that, the new media model isn’t that different at all.
that, the new media model isn’t that different at all.
Rocky Horror Redux
As
a general rule, I am not a fan of re-makes. I just don’t see the
upside to it. If you are re-making a classic, the bar is set very
high. The fans will walk in with an attitude. More often than not
all you can hope for is equalling what was done before. And what’s
the point of that? If you’re re-making something that wasn’t the
good the first time, my question is – why?
a general rule, I am not a fan of re-makes. I just don’t see the
upside to it. If you are re-making a classic, the bar is set very
high. The fans will walk in with an attitude. More often than not
all you can hope for is equalling what was done before. And what’s
the point of that? If you’re re-making something that wasn’t the
good the first time, my question is – why?
So
what do you do with a re-make of a movie that is both a classic AND
not very good? If we’re being honest then we have to acknowledge
that from a purely movie making point of view “The Rocky Horror
Picture Show” is not a very good movie. Not only was it panned
when it first came out, the audiences were so small that the planned
New York City opening was canceled all together. It was only after
it became a staple of midnight shows that it became the cult movie
classic it is today.
what do you do with a re-make of a movie that is both a classic AND
not very good? If we’re being honest then we have to acknowledge
that from a purely movie making point of view “The Rocky Horror
Picture Show” is not a very good movie. Not only was it panned
when it first came out, the audiences were so small that the planned
New York City opening was canceled all together. It was only after
it became a staple of midnight shows that it became the cult movie
classic it is today.
So
what does Fox Network hope to get from re-making it? Right off the
bat I see a problem. The re-make, current title seems to be “The
Rocky Horror Picture Show Event”, will air on broadcast TV. That
puts it in the land of FCC regulations. Which is a problem. For a
re-make you can either go bigger or get more subtle than the
original. There’s nothing subtle about this show, so that leaves
going bigger. I can’t imagine the Commission being thrilled about
that.
what does Fox Network hope to get from re-making it? Right off the
bat I see a problem. The re-make, current title seems to be “The
Rocky Horror Picture Show Event”, will air on broadcast TV. That
puts it in the land of FCC regulations. Which is a problem. For a
re-make you can either go bigger or get more subtle than the
original. There’s nothing subtle about this show, so that leaves
going bigger. I can’t imagine the Commission being thrilled about
that.
Tabbed
to direct is veteran TV director Kenny Ortega. His credits include
“Allie McBeal”, “Gilmore Girls” and a couple “High School
Musical” TV films. While I’m certain he can bring some polish to
the show, I’m just not convinced that “Rocky Horror” will be
improved by polish.
to direct is veteran TV director Kenny Ortega. His credits include
“Allie McBeal”, “Gilmore Girls” and a couple “High School
Musical” TV films. While I’m certain he can bring some polish to
the show, I’m just not convinced that “Rocky Horror” will be
improved by polish.
The
cast isn’t particularly interesting, either. Brad will played by
Ryan McCartan, whose slim resume is highlighted by a recurring role
on the Disney series “Liv and Maddie”. Victoria Justice will
play Janet. Most of Justice’s credits are from series on
Nickelodeon. Riff Raff will feature actor Reeve Carney, who
currently plays Dorian Gray on Showtime’s “Penny Dreadful”. The
role of Rocky once again goes to a model, in this case Staz Nair, a
failed contestant on the show “X-Factor”. While the original
featured generally unknown young actors, this current crop doesn’t
seem to be ready to take on a cult classic on a broadcast network
schedule.
cast isn’t particularly interesting, either. Brad will played by
Ryan McCartan, whose slim resume is highlighted by a recurring role
on the Disney series “Liv and Maddie”. Victoria Justice will
play Janet. Most of Justice’s credits are from series on
Nickelodeon. Riff Raff will feature actor Reeve Carney, who
currently plays Dorian Gray on Showtime’s “Penny Dreadful”. The
role of Rocky once again goes to a model, in this case Staz Nair, a
failed contestant on the show “X-Factor”. While the original
featured generally unknown young actors, this current crop doesn’t
seem to be ready to take on a cult classic on a broadcast network
schedule.
The
only interesting thing about this project is the casting of
transgender actress Laverne Cox, from the critically acclaimed
Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black”, as Dr. Frank N. Furter.
only interesting thing about this project is the casting of
transgender actress Laverne Cox, from the critically acclaimed
Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black”, as Dr. Frank N. Furter.
“The
Rocky Horror Picture Show Event” is scheduled for the fall of this
year.
Rocky Horror Picture Show Event” is scheduled for the fall of this
year.
We’ll
see if they can pull off the time warp again.
see if they can pull off the time warp again.
Call that the View From the Phlipside
Copyright Jay Phillippi, 2016
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/
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