My Reality TV Show Concept Involving Stand-up Comedians
I have registered a new reality TV show concept focused on stand-up comedians with WGA (Writers Guild of America). And this concept actually has a significant measure of real credibility attached to it, as opposed to many of the reality TV offerings you may have seen on the boob tube.
While I can’t give all the specific details about the concept, I can tell you this…
Most every comedian who has been performing any amount of time has been involved in some sort of stand-up comedy competition. And the person who ultimately wins one of those comedy competitions is many times NOT the funniest comedian.
There are usually other “factors” such as politics involved.
The same is true with reality TV shows involving stand-up comedians. Take Last Comic Standing for example. The outcome of that program didn’t necessarily focus on which comedian was actually the absolute, drop dead, make an audience choke to death, funniest comedian in many cases. The participants and the winners were known in advance and the “story line” was more based on predetermined dramatic situations, presentation and production values to grow and maintain viewership.
And I have to say that I understand why completely.
Reality TV (or any television program for that matter) is dependent upon profitability to survive, no matter what the reality TV concept is about. TV show profitability is directly related to viewership.
Limited viewership = limited advertisers = limited income = a dead show
If you cannot build a large enough TV audience, you simply do not have a viable TV show, no matter how great a relatively few people may think that it is.
But what would happen if…
There was a reality TV show that DID focus on the actual skill and ability of stand-up comedians — specifically focusing on and determining which comedians were THE funniest comedians?
I’m talking about a reality TV show that’s not focused on:
- Politics or whose relative or “buddy” is in the line up
- Judges who make subjective determinations
- Audiences who make subjective determinations that are not reflective of their actual laughter response
- Post performance audience applause
- Whether or not a comedian has that “TV look”, or can exacerbate some sort of predefined dramatic situation on camera
- How many of the comedian’s friends or family are in the audience
What I am talking about is determining a comedian’s true skill and ability to generate big laughs, based on actual measured audience reaction during their performance (laughter, cheering and applause). Needless to say, I would recommend that this accessment be determined using my patent pending Comedy Evaluator Pro software.
So, now the big questions are these:
Would a reality TV concept that determines who really is the funniest comedian based on measured audience reaction generated during a performance be a viable reality TV concept for a show?
Would such a reality TV show attract and retain viewers? Would it contain all the drama, anticipation, controversy and excitement needed to engage an audience and keep them watching when the next show arrives on the air?
I am very interested in hearing your opinion because…
I am going to find out soon whether or not my new reality TV concept involving stand-up comedians actually has what it takes to make it on TV.
And I will tell you this — I think it does. 
I will keep you informed as this adventure progresses!
Cheers,
Steve Roye
The Professor of Funny for Money
About the Author/Founder of The Stand-up Comedy Professional
Steve Roye is the author of the Killer Stand-up Comedy System and author of the content made available in the Comedy Pro Membership Program available on this site. Over the past decade, Steve has established himself as a leading, globally recognized expert in the field of stand-up comedy material development, delivery and entertainment business strategies for comedy entertainers as well as speaking professionals.
For more information about Steve, please check out the About The Author section on this site.
Steve, that is a really great Idea and would love to see it on TV. The way I see it working is if you have the comedy evaluator as a scoreboard on bottom of screen. So and make it so that the comedians behind has to see score and try. To beat it. Almost like an olympic event and then the audience viewing can have some drama built up. Then people can have the drama and you can have a REAL comedy competition based on material and not politics.
You nailed it!
The most Important thing to me is that, besides potentially being a long term show like American Idol, it would also be a “franchisable” vehicle for showcasing a ton of stand-up comedians on multiple television networks at low cost with high entertainment value.
The Prof
steve it is true,comedy is complecated
I wonder, Steve, whether like some reality shows a la Dancing With The Stars (in Australia anyway) where the judges and the viewers votes both count towards the outcome. Maybe the combined scores of a PAR Score (which counts for 2/3 to 3/4 of the score) and viewer vote (the other 1/3 to 1/4) might be a useful way ti draw viewers?
That said, I love the concept. Even if audience vote counted for more, how cool for a ‘no name’ to out-PAR a big name comic on TV!! And as you said, the winners are rearely the funniest and, in my experience, rarely go on in the field.
By the way, I met a guy tonight (I am on a short tour in Canberra) who came to the show to see whether Killer Stand-Up works (eg. he wanted to see if a) I was real – he heard of me through my testimonial on your website! – and b)if what I said was true). The verdict is, I think he’s gonna order it!
Will contact you in about 2 weeks when I start to blog the writing of my new show.
Cheers,
MG
I also agree, pretty much all of the contests are political or biased televised or not. Additionally selling the show concept may take a little creativity. I like the man against the machine model. Comedy Evaluator PRO against the voting audience. Which is going to agree or disagree, and in that concept really educate people on the value of a quality, laugh your butt off comedian.
I can admit I’m not there yet, but it is my goal. It may also be interesting to have not judges, but pros in for advice, or commentary but that may be straying enough from the “Packaged Reality TV” drivel to cost sponsorship and viewership, but it would be pretty cool for the comics.
After all how many of us watch the olympics, and wish the commentator would just shut-up and let us enjoy the competition, without realizing we are also becoming “experts” because if their commentary?
Looking forward to the Big Show
Tim
Awesome comment! Comedian vs Machine is certainly one aspect of my reality TV show concept.
So here’s my question: Do you think an audience would be able to select a comedian accurately without the use of Comedy Evaluator Pro?
That is the $64K question. And I suspect we will be find out shortly.
Again, great comment! Keep ‘em coming!
The Prof
I like the idea Steve. Normally networks attempt to gain viewership by participation in the judging or voting process.
Maybe its part of your details, but I’m not clear how you would gain your viewers.
I can relate to your opinions on LCS. It was very political and skewed. Most of the competition shows were in LA. There tends to be a specific type of comedy that does well in LA. Usually unfunny political material that garners applause, but no laughs.
It would be good to see how comedians do in clubs or other venues across the nation; not just LA and NYC. Most of the comics getting regular work in these cities would bomb in any other part of the country.
.-= Russ´s last blog ..Family Picture =-.
Russ, I would have to agree with your comments.
From a production cost perspective, one venue is the best. And that venue wouldn’t necessarily need to be right in LA.
One of the reasons that Jay Leno works out his material at the Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach is because it is closer to “the rest of America” and away from what you are referring to.
One other note…
My concept does not exclude audience members from casting a vote to see if they could nail who was funniest. But the winner would not be determined by that.
I do know this…
It will cause some controversy, especially among name comedians who really aren’t that funny (comparatively speaking). And we all know…
Controversy is the root of all major publicity
Great comments Russ!
The Prof