I watched at least part of every episode of Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris, which is not to say I enjoyed much of what I saw. I was impressed with a lot of the logistics — how they were able to do what they did…though I still don't understand how they incorporated people watching at home, being transmitted via Skype, into a live sing-along in the studio. How is there not a huge delay with Skype?
As I've mentioned before, I don't like prank shows and I don't like some stunt shows…but I do like live shows and Neil Patrick Harris so I had to check it out. I guess I didn't like it but I'm still rooting for it to be picked-up, the premise being that the more they make, the more new things they'll try…and there's a value just in doing things that haven't been done on television before. At least, it's different and a little daring.
I suspect there's a slim chance of Season Two. The first batch haven't performed well in the ratings, especially since they lost their cushy time slot following The Voice. If the producers sell the idea that they've got a lot of new ideas and big events planned and if NBC doesn't have anything too promising in the "on deck" circle, it might get renewed. If it does go away, I hope the industry doesn't take that as a warning to stay away from live TV or shows of unusual formats.
This is the finale of the last show, which impressed the hell out of me with Mr. Harris's performance, the skilled direction and camerawork, and the technical expertise involved. I would guess that 90% of the people in television couldn't do this…and I don't mean that they couldn't do it as well. I mean they couldn't do it at all. What a nightmare of rehearsal and planning this must have been…
