Here's what I thought about Rove McManus and ABC's The List!

Alright! Let's get right to it!


It hard to say how I feel about ABC's the List and how Rove did. I thought it was a good end of the year count down show - and arguably the only one I'll watch; let alone blog/tweet about. However, it paled in comparison to Rove's chat show in Australia. And just because I can, here's a fancy list format!

What Worked and What Didn't:

1. 3 formats in one show! For me watching, it was like watching Rove try to host a live chat show (including studio audiance), host 5th Grader, (the graphics, logos and set kinda sorta reminded me of 5th grader), and do a Entertainment Tonight type show, with a shit ton of voice over, all in one show.
   
   I didn't think it was at all necessary to have a live audience. No fault to Rove, but I don't think they fully understood what was going on - the at home viewers never saw the audience, but from what I can tell, it wasn't a laugh track because the laughs were mild.
   
   How can Rove improve? Work on better blending these TV styles together. Americans like their Celeb related anything fast paced, punchy, and full of shiny graphics and obnoxious music. You had it all Rove, the graphics, the jokes, the punchy music - they just didn't flow together. I felt like the pacing was really slow... Rove...be your fast, funny self - we can keep up - I promise.
   
2. Lack of Energy. I don't know, maybe it was the pace of the show but Perez Hilton wasn't hyper, Rove was mildly hyper, and frankly I'm used to hyper Rove. It's 10pm at night. I want hyper, witty, and energy or I'm going to bed.
   
   How can Rove improve? Just be your wacky, lovable self.
   
3. Jokes and their levels of funny: There were a LOT of jokes that WERE FUNNY, but there were equally a lot of jokes that fell flat.
   
   Here's why: most of the celeb jokes worked fine, and jokes where Rove was making fun of himself were 50/50. I laughed at a lead in joke after a commercial break: "if you're just joining us; I have no idea who I am either." It's funny because yup, most of America don't got a clue who you are - and that's funny. That works.
   
   Starting the show off with a quasi monologue about how it's a great time to be Aussie and how an Aussie is the sexiest man alive, hosting the Oscars and in this season's number one romantic movie is great - I laughed loudly when you said, "oh sure they're all Hugh Jackman."
   
   However, when you pulled out a pillow that you were sitting on to show us how short you were - didn't. America doesn't know you're pint-sized yet. We've never seen you standing next to someone else. There were no guests. And camera angles are deceptive.
   
   I know the short jokes are a comfort zone, because if you can't laugh at yourself who can you laugh at?! But - this was your chance to stand and sit tall because the TV behind you and the desk weren't THAT big. ;)

It's an interesting experiment. All in all, I think Rove did okay. Ratings will probably not fair well because 10pm is a tough time slot. Just ask Eli Stone. You pushed him out of his this week. ;) It was something ABC wanted to try in this time slot, I think in part because Leno is going to be filling it next year on NBC. None of the networks really have a handle on what to do with 10pm right now.

If anyone in Hollywood is listening.... sketch comedy show like Roundhouse on Nickelodeon in the 90s... it's been a while since we've had a good one.


There's a place for Rove on American TV, I just don't think counting down lists is the right place.