Ru Paul's Drag Race is a very colorful, energetic show about very different and interesting artists being very creative. It's upbeat and doesn't rely on "Ms. Tawdry Histrionics" to make it entertaining. The show is extremely formulaic, with basically the same string of events in each episode. That provides the show with a reliable, reassuring format. Ru Paul drives home many catch phrases, and that's an important aspect of the show's success.
Katie P will use the same consistent format for her show, only changing the culture being represented and therefore the specialty segments will be varied.
Like Ru Paul,
Katie P. is the omnipotent host.
Katie P will use the same consistent format for her show, only changing the culture being represented and therefore the specialty segments will be varied.
Like Ru Paul,
Katie P. is the omnipotent host.
The Lawrence Welk Show was a home-spun, family oriented show... and is as hilarious today as it is sincere, and chock full of talented artists. Each week there was a different musical/cultural theme.
Link: Neil Patrick Harris,
satirical Bollywood number
A talented group of singers and dancers made regular appearances on The Lawrence Welk Show.
Try as they might, though, the performers always wreaked of uncool, in the very best ways.
Katie P's Suburban Dancers are also uncool.
They will host specialty segments and perform specialty numbers.
In the same way that the Welk Family was out of touch with progressive culture, the Suburban Dancers maintain a conservative ignorance that makes their grappling with other cultures humorous and relatable.
Saturday Night Live recently had an ongoing series of sketches that parodied Lawrence Welk's vintage, musical variety show. Here, American actor James Franco is playing along.
Link: Neil Patrick Harris,
satirical Bollywood number
A talented group of singers and dancers made regular appearances on The Lawrence Welk Show.
Try as they might, though, the performers always wreaked of uncool, in the very best ways.
They will host specialty segments and perform specialty numbers.
In the same way that the Welk Family was out of touch with progressive culture, the Suburban Dancers maintain a conservative ignorance that makes their grappling with other cultures humorous and relatable.
Dancing with the Stars brings celebrity amateur-dancers together with seasoned professionals who raise the bar on what the celebrities are capable of... in a limited amount of time. Viewers learn about different dances, enjoy the costume pageantry and look fwd to their favorite celebrities mastering their new choreography.
Similarly, Katie P will pair Dance Professionals with her group of relatively challenged dancers, in a limited amount of time, to create an exciting dance presentation. Viewers get the joy of watching their favorite Suburban regulars improving as the season progresses,
and will watch the rehearsal process of Celebrity Dancers grappling to keep up.
PEE WEE'S PLAYHOUSE had a twisted, vintage aesthetic that relied as much on the zeitgeist of shows like MR. ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD as it did on the propensity for Pee Wee's viewers to have imbibed in some sort of mind altering drug along the way. The show's quint and slightly racy sensibility ensured it's cult classic appeal.
Katie P's Suburban Dancers will have this same blend of nostalgic lovability and titillating naughtiness that will keep viewers wondering what Katie P and her dancers will do next. All the while, a predicable format, like the one on Pee Wee's Playhouse, will maintain a reassuringly reliable context.
