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Back to title - Alpha Listing THE TV WHEEL (2003)
Produced by: Joel Hodgson, Javier Winnik.
Writers: Judd Apatow, Nick Bakay, Morwenna Banks, Paul Feig, Joel Hodgson, Nell Scovell.
Starring: Joel Hodgson.

"Careful with that axe, Eugene!"
THE TV WHEEL Joel Hodgson as Joel Robinson
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.


END


Back to title - Alpha Listing THE TV WHEEL (2003)
Produced by: Joel Hodgson, Javier Winnik.
Writers: Judd Apatow, Nick Bakay, Morwenna Banks, Paul Feig, Joel Hodgson, Nell Scovell.
Starring: Joel Hodgson.

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Added: 2005, Sep 16