January 8, 2007
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I was watching "You're the One That I Want" last night marvelling at the British judge delivering the contestant's exit line that should've been so great but was a bit of a tongue twister for him. "You're the one that we want," he would say -- then pause -- then continue, "... to go to Grease school." And then when he was eliminating people he was saying "You're NOT the one that we want ... to go to Grease school." (I may have screwed up the line somehow but that's the gist.)
The point is that it isn't easy coming up with exit lines on reality shows, and it's even harder to spit them out.
"You're Fired" is fantastic, even delivered under a cloud of Trump cotton candy. I am blurring on Martha Stewart's exit-line from her Apprentice, but I am thinking it was "'I'm afraid you just don't fit in," and I'm afraid I am thinking that line sucks. "Survivor" has been going so well for so long that they've created a new phrasebook and it all sounds impactful, from the goodbye -- "the tribe has spoken" -- to the following throwaway, "grab your torch and head back to camp."
Comments
David wrote:
So, you never said what you thought of "You're the One that I Want." I tried to watch it...but just got so turned off by the smarmy Billy Bush that I had exit stage left and watch The Family Stone on tape. I just don't think it'll hold the nation's attention b/c of its slow pace and basically boring judges.
BTW, can't wait for Top Design!
posted on January 8, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Allan wrote:
Project Runway. Blow Out. Survivor. Amazing Race. I even like Top Chef ... there are not a lot of options there. These are great reality show TV titles. And the best you can come up with for the new one is ... Top Design???????? Should we expect more "Top" shows?????
posted on January 8, 2007 at 1:00 PM
Jew 'mo in the Midwest wrote:
Please pack what few aesthetics you have and go.
That's unintelligent design, please leave.
Please design your way to the exit.
posted on January 8, 2007 at 1:20 PM
"top" watcher wrote:
How about...
"You don't have what it takes"?
Its so to the point, its almost cruel. Almost.
p.s.
I'm not sure if its the delivery of the hostess, padma, or the line itself, but "please pack your knives and go" does not work. Its very limp and is a weakpoint in the show (highpoints are Tom's visits to the kitchen during the elimination challenges). Katie Joel did not deliver the line well either. The line undermines the great dramatic tension because it really sounds like a line. Compared to, "you're fired" and "you're out" which don't dilute the tension and the resolution. These lines sound natural and native to the context of their respective shows.
Andy, I hope you read this otherwise I'll be the one feeling stooopid.
posted on January 8, 2007 at 7:37 PM
Josie wrote:
Speaking of Top Chef, is there no reunion episode this year? I don't see one on the schedule.
posted on January 9, 2007 at 12:58 AM
Kathryn wrote:
Andy...QUESTION!
If you did go with the dog waving goodbye idea, how would the dog know WHO to wave goodbye to? And how would the "out" designer know if the dog was really waving to them or somebody else?
I can just picture the designers looking at each other and saying, "Hey, that dog's waving at you," "No bitch, he's waving at you!" And so on...could be pretty funny actually.
Obviously, I'm putting off painting my back door.
posted on January 9, 2007 at 3:29 PM
Graciela wrote:
How about "sorry, you did not make the cut?" I think the whole dog waving is hilarious, clearly you ate a brownie on that one.
posted on January 10, 2007 at 8:05 AM
DK wrote:
WEEEAK!
THE DOG WAS A GREAT IDEA!
HOW COULD YOU NOT PUT HIM UP?!
posted on January 11, 2007 at 11:44 AM
jere wrote:
I agree with "TOP watcher", last seaon and this season "please pack your knives and go" is awkward and does NOT work. I actually think the way you , Andy, suggested with the name at the end is better. Last season it sounded very rude, and this season it is just there. I do not think it is the speaker, but the line itself.
posted on January 12, 2007 at 12:04 AM
meliblu wrote:
So, Andy, have you ever seen the movie Scrooged? Do you remember the Robert Mitchum t.v. exec character talking to Bill Murray's character about how many cats and dogs watched t.v. and about putting something in the programs like a detective dangling string to get cats to watch t.v.? Somehow the dog waving reminds me of that little part in that movie. Trying to get the pets to watch t.v. now? Can't believe that someone else watched You're the One That I Want. I was bored and exercising and just couldn't be bothered to stop exercising long enough to grab the remote and nothing else was on all the same.
posted on January 12, 2007 at 12:14 AM
TITO wrote:
It should be "Please pack your knives." or simply "Pack your knives." The 'and go' part is redundant, and indeed, does not do anything except prolong the agony by two syllables.
posted on January 14, 2007 at 2:00 AM
Wanda wrote:
With Top Design--why not a shot of the dog's hiney with the tail waving--that seems more natural. Or the paw lift ala "Lassie."
JMHO
posted on January 21, 2007 at 9:18 PM