"Careful
with that axe, Eugene!"
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Pure
Joel, Pure Genius.
by
Jon Dunmore © 24 April 2004.
THE TV WHEEL involves a large circular studio set with a camera in the middle, able to rotate and capture sketch performances in segments of the circular set. As one sketch is performed in one segment of the set, another segment sets up the props for the next sketch, camera rotating to capture that sketch, and so on. All done in real time. No cuts, no mistakes, no slowing down.
THE TV WHEEL was created by Joel Hodgson, the genius behind MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000.
When
a person is successful at anything (be it sports, music, writing, or simply making
money), they sometimes get lauded as "genius" if they are either exceptional at
it, or if the manner in which they made their mark was uncommon. Joel
Hodgson is a genius - let's get that straight from the outset - an unassuming,
Middle-American Everyman who has a grasp for the uncommon idea and the uncanny
ability to assemble a spirited team to put those ideas in motion.
Conversely,
when a genius hits upon an idea that does not sell - i.e. an idea that
is not embraced by the executives who buy it and promulgate it to make money for
themselves - then the genius is unfortunately held in contempt and scoffed at
for no reason other than that his idea was not properly handled by the team of
promulgators once it was surrendered to them.
This
does not make the idea any less ingenious.
THE TV WHEEL may not be wholly original, but the energy and creativity Joel brought
to this simple concept outweighed any kind of composite plagiarism. As with his
legendary MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000, Joel once again combined a wealth
of simple ideas into one strong, sellableconcept. Unfortunately, the cul-de-sac-minded
programmers who run the airwaves thought differently. Isn't it astounding how
this man who was responsible for creating and raising MST3K to worldwide
cult status was not given the simple courtesy by the morons with the money to
expand on another of his incredible ideas?
Had
Joel's idea been allowed the opportunity to find its niche, it would have developed
into a well-loved quirky sketch comedy show, probably spawning a few well-known
characters, not unlike other more accessible sketch-comedy shows such as NOT THE NINE-O'CLOCK NEWS, SKETCH COMEDY TV, KIDS IN THE HALL, or even that deplorable
excuse for a comedic institution, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. In their turn,
each of the above-mentioned shows was once ranked as raw-edged and non-commercial,
investors pondering whether the market would hold up these "dangerous" shows.
(Oh my! Insurrect thoughts running rampant through our society!)
An aura of desperation pervaded THE TV WHEEL's cast and sketches,
but that was the nature of the beast; this was meant to be a frenetic serving
up of old-school theatrics - no pre-taped segments or special effects were going
to intrude upon Joel's vision of everything being performed live in real time.
I
was shocked and very disappointed that Joel did not get the opportunity to run
at least one season with THE TV WHEEL. One can only imagine the frustration
he and his cohorts and funders experienced as network after network must have
passed on this idea, with Comedy Central opting to air the pilot (obviously to
test the ratings waters) and then definitively axing it.
We
are left watching the skies in anticipation of Joel's Next Big Thing.
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