TV Show spotlight
The New Show
The New Show is a NBC sketch comedy show produced by Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels, which ran for only one season from January 6 to March 23, 1984. Apart from being 60 minutes in length and entirely pre-recorded, the show is similar in format to SNL. It was the lowest rated of 94 programs that aired during the 1983-84 television season, averaging a dismal 7.81 household rating. It was opposite 20/20 & Falcon Crest.
Insights
Plot Summary
A short-lived sketch comedy and variety series that aired on NBC in 1984. The show featured a rotating cast of hosts and a mix of satirical sketches, musical performances, and celebrity guests, aiming to capture the zeitgeist of the mid-1980s.
Critical Reception
The New Show received largely negative reviews from critics, who often found its humor to be unfocused and inconsistent. While some individual sketches or performances might have been praised, the overall consensus was that the show struggled to find its identity and deliver sustained comedic impact.
What Reviewers Say
Lacked a clear comedic voice and direction.
Inconsistent humor with hit-or-miss sketches.
Struggled to compete with established sketch comedy shows.
Google audience: Audience reception for The New Show is not widely documented, but its short run suggests it did not resonate strongly with viewers.
Fun Fact
Despite its short run, 'The New Show' featured a variety of notable comedians and actors in its early stages, some of whom would go on to greater fame.
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