Remember the "Seinfeld Curse"? All the stars of that highly successful sitcom went down in flames later when they fronted their own shows, except for Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Similarly, apparently advertisers are hoping that former Today anchor and The View panelist Meredith Vieira will succeed where her predecessors have failed: transitioning from a multi-participant format to a talk show helmed by a solo host.
Kate Couric lasted just two seasons; Jane Pauley only one.
The Meredith Vieira Show launched last Monday and it'll take a miracle for it to stay on the air for even half of one season. While she was well-liked in her previous roles, the critics weren't generous in their reviews of her new daytime chatfest.
Newsday 5 days ago
Vieira's new show: a swamp of saccharine and good vibes and real down-home-just-like-you-and-me baloney.
In most markets, Vieira inherited the coveted timeslot vacated by the Couric cancellation. Here in Metro Atlanta, Dr. Oz got the treasured 3 PM berth, while Vieira's talker was consigned to 2:07 AM; hardly a ringing endorsement guaranteed to garner big numbers.
I forced myself to watch the debut, painful though it was. In what seemed like a mission statement, Vieira proudly proclaimed that the show would incorporate "a little bit of everything" that she'd done and experienced in her 40-year broadcasting career. Nice concept, but did she have to squeeze it all into the first 15 minutes of the very first show? There was everything but the kitchen sink as she crammed in: highlights of multiple Broadway musicals; two insipid audience participation games; celebrity gossip with Jennifer Lopez; "car-aoke" - a vehicular sing-along with J-Lo and Hoda Kotb; family videos and "surprises," plus a warm and fuzzy segment on kids with physical challenges fulfilling their dreams of dancing at Lincoln Center.
Phew! It was exhausting just watching all that. I had to force myself to stay awake. It's not a good sign when you're constantly looking at the clock and wondering "why isn't it over yet?"
From the tacky set, complete with a ratty old armchair that Vieira said came from her own home (picture the atrocious, lumpy Lazy Boy that Martin Crane plunked down in the middle of Frasier's beautiful apartment) to wardrobe ("mom jeans" paired with a "designer blazer" that looked like someone had mugged Captain Crunch), this was a snooze-fest from start to finish. Comfortable is not the same as bland. Vieira looked uncomfortable and ill-at-ease; as if seeking an escape. Trust me, she wasn't alone in that desire.
It was one and done for me, especially after reading the descriptions of shows for the remainder of the week. Just as some cable networks once had a "Disease of the Week" movie, Vieira's eponymous talk show featured a Disability/Dysfunction of the Day. Way too depressing! The only advantage is that at 2:07 AM, The Meredith Vieira Show is an inexpensive, non-addictive cure for insomnia.
Have you seen The Meredith Vieira Show? What do you think of it?
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