Hit Me, Baby, One More Time

Network: NBC; Genre: Remake, Game, Reality; Content Rating: TV-G; Perspective: Contemporary (star range: 1 - 4);

Seasons Reviewed: season 1

With one quality show after another being ignored by the people or ripped off the air by the network it feels wrong to publicize, and worse, praise the kind of cheap, effortless shows that are so mindlessly hogging that airtime. While "Hit Me Baby, One More Time" and "Deal or No Deal" are not fit to polish the shoes of "Arrested Development" or "Rescue Me", the unfortunate truth is that it is apples and oranges.

From everything I read and hear it seems that is a huge gap in the audience between people who don't care about anything they watch (watching what's easy or popular) and those that do care, the "TV snobs" that demand everything be "The Sopranos". Here comes a lesson in simply meeting a show on its own terms. That not everything on TV needs to be taken seriously, and not every bit of criticism needs to take it seriously, for a show to achieve its purpose; to be entertaining.

The success of both of these shows goes, in large part, to NBC's pitch-perfect scheduling. As much as I'd decried NBC in the past, I will say they know where to put their reality shows - out of the way, in the summer or during a week-long winter break as in both these cases.

"Hit Me Baby One More Time" is not quite as embarrassing as its Britiney Spears inspired title may indicate, but it is camp in its highest form. The show gives washed-up, one-hit-wonder performers another chance in the spotlight, competing against each other for… well, nothing. Not another record contract, just a donation to their favorite charity and the opportunity to get one last minute in the sun. The show consists of 5 or so of these performers. We get a brief history of their time in the spotlight and then they rise up from the bottom of the stage to perform their hit once again and… hold onto your hat: they're old!

Ah yes, the ravages of age are a source of laughs for the audience, but it is refreshing to see that the show itself actually treats its celebrities with a respect that you don't see on game shows like "The Surreal Life" that are based on a cynical hope for audience rubber-necking. "Baby" is a boisterous, infectiously fun and tuneful celebration of nostalgic music, that reminds us for a brief moment why we liked these goofy songs in the time that we did. It is a blast watching people from Tommy Tune to Vanilla Ice getting a chance to take the stage and rock the house one last time.

* * ½ / 4

"Deal or No Deal" has got to be the most mindless game show since "Card Sharks". Hosted by an unrecognizably bald Howie Mandel, contestants choose a suitcase and then pick numbers of the remaining suitcases hoping the highest amount of money is in the one they choose. As the amounts in the suitcases are revealed "the banker" - a mysterious shadowy figure sitting in a sky box in the studio rafters - calls Mandle and makes an offer that the contestant can take or pass to get what is in her suitcase. "Deal or No Deal", Mandel says as steely-eyed and dramatic as possible. In a particularly dramatic moment, Mandel will pause at great length, then spit out "Open the case" and shimmy backward off the stage. It is all done with such straight-faced over-seriousness that you'll be hard pressed not to laugh at it.

The thumping dramatic music. The every day scheduling. The over-the-top design of the set and lighting that is 10 times the spectacle then anything on the show warrants. "Deal" comes straight out of the "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?" vein. Apparently, it has been long enough since "Millionaire's" cancellation that networks think it is safe to go back to this well.

* * / 4

Both of these shows are overseas imports of show which are, themselves, of questionable quality. Both include an audience going completely nuts over the action. Family members on "Deal" scream advice like overzealous umpires calling the World Series and a crowd camera in "Baby" plants itself on a cute girl dancing around in the front row and doesn't move the entire hour. Both shows have hosts perfectly suited to the tone of their series. Vernon Kay's heavy English accent may be overpowering for some American viewers, but fits right in with every other odd thing going on. Both are ridiculous shows that are best enjoyed on their own level, without a hint of seriousness, and manage to be fun in spite of themselves.

Vernon Kay keeps asking me to take a swing at him but the gangly metro-sexual host of this prime time line up would surly fold like a pack of cards with one hit -- to me he doesn't look like he could take a punch ! Ironically despite that, Vernon Kay's puss and his annoying northern English accent is not the problem with this show; it's the acts themselves.

Rock n Roll has been around for about 50 years, but it might as well as be 250 years pop/rock stars seem to age much quicker than any other profession. In acting, child stars often struggle to make it as adults, but some do make it, and as actors age they can often reinvent themselves from former leading men and women to patriarchal/matriarchal figures or else become the bad guys. Sports stars can often go into broadcasting or coaching! For rock stars if you want to perform and remain in the spot light there is simply very few options. Rock n roll/pop longevity seems to work providing the performers stay around in the public eye and they manage to change with the times. IE Paul Macartny, Elton John, Rod Stewart,and Madonna have successfully stood the test of time by re marketing themselves or alternatively changing their style of music despite the fact that none of them have contributed any thing meaning full to the music industry for about 25 to 15 years. In other words I remember them for all of their best work in the 1970's and 1980's respectfully not the stale and boring stuff since.

Imagine if after a 20 year absence Elton John and Stewart both tried to make a come back with their acts from the 70's with old fashions and tried to perform the way that they did back then, you would hear the laughter half way around the world. They would simply look ridiculous! To some extent this is the problem with this show! (Come to think of it I know now why the "rolling stones" have never broken up. To spare us the shock, nausea and horror as well as a rush to the kitchen sink if we were to see them decomposing on TV after a twenty year absence.) It's not that I'm against old music, on the contrary, but I'm happy just to listen or watch remastered old archive footage of them in their primes on VH1 or TOTP2 not waddling about on a live TV show 20 years later. Consider for a minute what it would be like watching the "Spice girls" and boy bands "Take That" and "NSync" in 15 -20 years time, just imagine them shuffling around a stage set in an attempt to turn back the clock, they would be the laughing stock --- and in all honesty it doesn't bear thinking about.

Rock n roll is by nature rebellious and performance is for the youth; seeing middle and old age rock stars prancing around is undignified and embarrassing (the 60 year old Blondie comes to mind). Seeing the 1980's retro group the "Bangles" now middle aged mothers trying to act like they were 20 years younger is sad.

Even if former groups dress and act like they are middle age to me it still doesn't work! For example "the eagles" looked very dignified when I saw them strumming classical guitars while perched on top bar stools on their last TV appearance but to me the whole act was simply dull and lacked the energy that they once had! In that case if you are die hard fan of an old band dish out the cash and go to one of their reunion concerts, but spare the rest of us from this spectacle on prime time TV.

With "hit me one more time " most of the groups and singers don't look or sound as good as they once were but to watch bloated and graying musicians trying to reprise their music from their heyday cheapens the accomplishments from their past. For example Duran Duran and Flock of seagulls were not very good! I'd be surprised if this show lasts another full season.If you are feeling nostalgic or want a blast from the past,then buy the DVD or get a digitally remastered CD!

I actually saw every episode of 'Hit Me Baby' and I really enjoyed it for the most part. The only thing that I would have changed is that I would've preferred to not have each band do a contemporary cover, unless that was their personal choice to do so. I would have liked in its place , perhaps, another hit song of their's from back in the day or maybe a new song of their's, in each case.

Also, in regard to the person who mentioned that Duran Duran were not very good on this show: They weren't ever on this show (and I don't expect them to be.) But, I did see them live and in person at a sold-out 20,000-seat arena, earlier this year, and they were quite good.