CHAT WITH KELLY
USA TODAY’s Kelly Lawler chats with readers Mondays at 2 p.m. ET at facebook.com/ USATODAY. Read edited excerpts below, email questions to askbianco@usatoday.com or tweet them to @biancorobert and visit live online.
Q I just read that Downward Dog has been canceled. Once again, I beg the question: Why do inane laugh-track shows get renewed and thoughtful, creative shows get prematurely axed? A I’m also quite broken up about Downward Dog, which was a surprisingly insightful and affecting show, especially since it revolved around a talking dog. But I would say that it’s not that all multi-camera sitcoms (shows filmed in front of an audience) are renewed while all single-camera shows (filmed, like Dog, without an audience) are canceled. It all comes down to money, and ratings and acclaim aren’t the only factors in a series’ renewal or cancellation anymore. A multi-cam show such
as The Big Bang Theory gets renewed because it’s still raking in ratings and money. Q How do you feel about Steve Harvey’s many shows? I do like them, but on some, the producers constantly keep showing his response to the acts. ... I want to see the act, not so much of his reaction. A I’m not a huge fan of Steve Harvey in general, in part because when he hosts anything it becomes more about him than anything else. But that is a big part of his brand and appeal to his loyal fans. If you’re looking for a game show or a reality show that focuses more on the performers, I’d recommend Amer
ica’s Got Talent or American Ninja Warrior.
Q What happened to I’m Dying Up Here? It’s terrible! A I’m Dying Up Here, a Showtime series about comedians trying to make it in the 1970s comedy club scene, is a drama that deals with darkest parts of trying to make it as a performer. If you were intrigued by the first few episodes, the persistent melancholy can start to get depressing as the season progresses. This might be one of those shows where the format and subject matter just don’t quite mesh.