Saturday, March 25, 2006

Incredible Shrinking Show

Phil Cornell of the NY Daily News pretty well summed it up when he said that the setting for the Ken & Nicole Show "had all the charm of a warehouse" and that the "ringers" solicited from the audience in the story line were nothing more than professionals trying to act like amateurs trying to be professionals.
The big winner in the whole affair tho has to be Mlle. Shamsheeva, never in her wildest dreams did she ever think that her house cats would be the most outstanding act in any circus much less The Greatest Show on Earth.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

"The Lamest Show on Earth"

Anonymous said...

Once upon a time, over a decade ago, I was a large box of French Fries at Disney’s Pleasure Island. It was a very weird summer on the island that year with an interesting array of sway pole acts, loud motorcycles in globe cages, high wires motorcycles, a hula hoop act, street jugglers, and Disney dancers. The act that got top billing was a kitty cat act from Key West. Well, anyone who has had a house cat can imagine what the act was like, somehow being in a cage with cats the can and may want to eat you has a better show appeal.

Anonymous said...

l.j. You need to meet my eleven cats. The best clown act as they keep me in stitches.They have a tv with video player. I put a tape on every night when I turn lights out. The same tape just fasinates them. They all line up and stare at the tv. Don't think anyone would pay to see this.

Anonymous said...

I don't know Mr. Feld, but everything I've ever heard about him would lead me to believe that a New York review calling the Blue Unit "The Lamest Show On Earth" means that somebody has to be the fall guy and something has to change. I suppose the question is, does he keep this one out for two years and try to fix it? Or do they reinvent the circus all over again before the scrap books are filled with like reviews? Now that New York has weighed in, nobody else has to be nice in lesser markets. Seriously Buckles, you know Feld Entertainment, what will they do?

Ben T

Buckles said...

The Times being liberal will probably be more kind but the real test is the box office. From what I hear business has been pretty good overall but what happens next year after seeing the poor man's Kaleidoscape.
Being extremely wealthy has many perks one of which is never having to admit to making mistakes. Kenny was forced into making this one tho, since business continues to decline he is trying the old "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull shit" approach, compounded by tossing his bewildered daughter into the mix.
A lot of this is brought on because of the show's predictability since you only see the type acts that Kenny enjoys personally as well as the music and other production values.
This operation has to support the Vienna offices, the Elephant stud farm, the Palmetto shops, etc. and what gets cut? the performance, the only thing the public sees.
Why it takes 50 railroad cars to move this dog and pony show is another expensive mystery.
I believe the shows could return to their previous stature if the right people put it together. How about a school for Olympic class athletes and fill the place up with spectacular acts (aerial bars, vaulting, iron jaw, etc.)Forget the audience participation and the dysfunctional Ringmasters.