AHC: Save the variety show

Hadley

The variety show was everywhere on US television from the 50s through the 70s, but pretty much died in the 80s for the most part (with Pink Lady being the last notable one). How would you save the format and keep it going?

(note: even though SNL has several elements of variety shows, it doesnt really count for this challenge. Also, im mainly talking US television, no foreign shows like Sabado Gigante).
 
Brainbin

Brainbin

This is extremely difficult to pull off, because variety shows were, by design, intended to please everybody watching. They made for a good "compromise" choice back in the days when there were only three channels, and one set, with the whole family having to choose what to watch. It's no coincidence that the variety show died out when most families were able to own more than one set (even if the second was an old portable black-and-white model), and the widespread adoption of cable enabled people to have far more options in what to watch beyond the traditional three networks. These both happened at about the same time (the late 1970s and early 1980s).

Pink Lady merely hastened the decline into an utter collapse. This very often happens with dying genres and formats.
 

Mike Stearns

Daztur said:
Merge them with late night talk shows?
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Maybe merge them with talk shows in general? Afternoon chat shows in particular can get pretty intense sometimes. It might not be a bad idea to have a little bit of light comdey or some music to lighten things up.
 

Hadley

Mike Stearns said:
Maybe merge them with talk shows in general? Afternoon chat shows in particular can get pretty intense sometimes. It might not be a bad idea to have a little bit of light comdey or some music to lighten things up.
Click to expand...

With that you pretty much have morning talk shows like ellen and the like where you may have some serious talk, but you also have musical performances and light talk with celebrities and such.
 

EAF602Whizz

Merging

Merging with late night talk shows is a good idea. Chat to the guest and then watch their live performance. Maybe inject some sketches from contemporary comics like Ben Elton or later on the likes of Harry Hill (as host), contemporary pop music etc. It could work if it was edgy enough but not too edgy.
 
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