Upfront Update: IFC Hails "Upfront-Landia"; GSN's Game Plays - Simon Applebaum

Upfront Update: IFC Hails "Upfront-Landia"; GSN's Game Plays - Simon Applebaum

A year ago, IFC entered the Manhattan Upfront event scene with a press lunch anchored by the Onion News Networkgang. Meantime, GSN maintained its absence from the event cycle. Let's see what a difference a year makes.

IFC

Venue: Graduating from press-only lunch to evening function for all comers, IFC came to New World Stages, the underground multi-theater complex on W. 50th St. that usually plays home tomovies or off-Broadway theater, and earlier was home base to the annual New York Television Festival. In keeping with the channel's off-kilter bent with original comedy series, the stage had a grunge Saturday Night Livelook, with musical instruments all over and doors on either end reminding you of 1950s apartment buildings in Bronx, Queens or Brooklyn. However, the venue was not ready to get IFC's presentation off on time (more than a half-hour late), and that takes the grade down a peg. Grade: 4 Jacks

Presentation: Subtitled "Upfront-Landia" in honor of the hit satire Portlandia, IFC cut its showcase down the middle - 30 minutes for speeches, program clips and pitches, 30 minutes for comedy featuring current and future show talent. "It's a network upfront combined with the only show you've ever heard from them," mock warned Scott Aukerman, host/creator/producer of upcoming IFC series Comedy Bang! Bang! (which was a winning New York TV Festival pilot two years ago). IFC president Evan Shapiro nixed the idea of he or his executive colleagues not playing their side of the hour straight. "This was the original home of Avenue Q and a bunch of foul-mouthed puppets," he reminded the audience. "I thought about doing an Avenue Qsong, but that would be career death." Shapiro, general manager Jennifer Caserta and crew held up their end of the bargain, while Aukerman and his guests supplied the yuks. Highlights: an hysterical Portlandia film bit on watching Battlestar Galactic DVDs in the living room, followed by Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, the show's co-stars, exchanging text messages and warbling Do You Wanna Dance?, Ramones-style; playing "Fix This Animal" with comedian contestants from new game parody Bunk. How do you fix a snake? "Speech therapy," responded in classic deadpan by one contestant. Grade: 5 Jacks

News: Let's make thePortlandia crowd happy first. You won't have to wait until next January for a third IFC season. There will be a one-hour summer special, and a Christmas half-hour. Now the unhappy news for Onion News Network fanatics. You won't get a third season, unless it's on another channel. In between, look ahead to Out There, a new animated comedy from South Parkproducer Ryan Quincy; a Marc Maron production based on his popular WTF podcasts, and new episodes of Whisker Wars and Trapped In The Closet.Grade:4.5 Stars

Host: Aukerman came off unflappable, charming and ready to zing the situation when needed. Do we have a rising talent here? We'll see when Comedy Bang! Bang! debuts this summer, teamed with Bunk. Grade: 4 Stars

Overall Grade: 4.5 Stars Emphasis on the funny, IFC's new strength as a commercial network, was the strong way to go. Nice result for a first-timer to upfront evening efforts.

GSN

Venue: GSN's first event in years was a natural to be quartered at the swank Sony Club along Madison Avenue, given that Sony is the channel's co-owner (with DirecTV). Posh room with bright bold colors, decorated with GSN's logo and posters from series soon to premiere or indevelopment. The breakfast served was good, but in small portions. Grade: 4 Jacks

Presentation: GSN's big problem in recent years has been crystallizing its public profile beyond offering game show replays. Is it original game shows? Is it reality? Is it poker? The big accomplishment here: Houston, we've got clarity, elaborated by CEO David Goldhill and new programming executive vice president Amy Introcaso-Davis. The transformation "from a museum of game shows to a contemporary TV network...is still a work in progress," Goldhill acknowledged. Still, under Introcaso-Davis, previously at Bravo and Oxygen, that transformation involves three types of series: classic in-studio games, reinvented "iconic" nature game shows, and reality series about "choice, risk and reward, the joy of winning" at life, she said. From here on, every GSN original will be in one of those categories. Grade: 4.5 Jacks

News: There's a lot on GSN's plate. The issue is the plate is largely development, which although promising, infers shows may or may not happen. The only sure new thing now is Beat The Chefs, a cooking competition where amateur and pro alike bring family recipes to life, premiere date to be announced later. On the in-studio game portion of the plate is American Bible Challenge, an Old/New Testament quiz with Jeff Foxworthy as host and contestants playing for faith-based organizations. The first reinvented game icon in play is The $100,000 Pyramid. With original Millionaire executive producer Michael Davies on board, this remake should be far better than the Donny Osmond-hosted version last decade (Osmond great, winning a Daytime Emmy nomination/the show itself a botch). Reality series are emphasized this development go-round, including Pure Gold, The Family Tradeand Crowning Glory (offbeat pageants). Grade: 3 Jacks

Host: Introcaso-Davis did most of the speaking, keeping things lively and on point. Grade: 4 Jacks

Overall Grade: 3.5 Jacks We've got focus about what GSN wants to consistently offer. Too bad only one original series in this bunch is a go. Next time, let's see more programs certain to see daylight.

Next up: Cartoon Network

5 Jacks – Excellent
4 Jacks – Very Good
3 Jacks – Good
2 Jacks – Fair
1 Jack – Poor
0 Jacks – Worse than bad

Until the next time, stay well and stay tuned!

Simon Applebaum is producer/host ofTomorrow Will Be Televised, the weekly Internet-distributed radio program covering the TV scene. Simon cal be reached at simonapple04@yahoo.com.

Read all Simon’s MediaBizBloggers commentaries at Tomorrow Will Be Televised.

Check us out on Facebook at MediaBizBloggers.com
Follow our Twitter updates @MediaBizBlogger

The opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaBizBloggers.com management or associated bloggers. MediaBizBloggers is an open thought leadership platform and readers may share their comments and opinions in response to all commentaries.