Frank TV (Caliendo)

[Mass Haas]

Anybody else looking forward to Frank TV's debut (finally) on WTBS tonight?

 

I'm not sure if I'm a fan of Seinfeld 2027 below, but give him credit for trying.

 

http://www.tbs.com/video/index/#/all-video/shows/frank-tv/125269/page-1/

[Brian the Automator]

Seems like the kind of show that would get old pretty quick. He's funny as heck, but it just doesn't seem sustainable to me.

[sbrylski]

His promo's were hilarious, but so far his show is a bit "eh". Its just the first show though, and because I do think he's quite funny, I'll keep tuning in for a while.

[iluvlamp]

Sucks.

[Principessa21]

I made my boyfriend watch the beginning because I wanted to see what ths show was about after all those teasers. I thought it stunk within 2 minutes. He does great impressions, and the Seinfeld bit was right on, but I couldn't watch a full 1/2 hour, let alone a season. Poor Frank.

[Schlitz001]

Watched about 10 minutes of it. To bad for Frank, but he's a funny guy and he'll be alright. "Brett Favre!"

[gypcasino]

But come on, he does Bill Clinton. It's so fresh.

[jwill535]

the problem with his act is that it is dependent on the voices. It all seems forced and not all that creative and funny. Since he only does so many voices skits would be very limited. He is a good supporting cast member for a skit show but not one that can carry a show.

[bretsky07]

I very much dislike Frank, but that Seinfeld sketch wasn't half bad. I turned it off about halfway through because it was about as bad as I expected after that.

[Fatter than Joey]

He sort of reminds me of Dana Carvey -- who has never been successful outside of SNL. Dana Carvey though had a

lot of original material -- Church Lady, Hanz/Franz, Choppin' Broccoli etc..

 

I think this Frank guy should just do segments on NFL and NBA where his material is understood by sports geeks.

[PeaveyFury]

The Dana Carvey comparison might be good, as the Dana Carvey Show aired about 6 episodes before getting cut.

[jwill535]

Like mentioned by Joey, Dana was talented in that he made up characters, where as Frank's characters are fixed. I also feel that Dana was a better comedian then Frank, if you have ever seen each others acts, Carvey is a comedian with an act that can do impressions, where Frank is an impressionist that uses them to have an act.

[Fatter than Joey]

as the Dana Carvey Show aired about 6 episodes before getting cut.

 

In fairness Dana didn't have the 11pm time slot on WTBS -- he had prime network time.

 

Frank is more like Rich Little -- sort of a Vegas act.

[JJHardy7]

After all the hype this had (every other commercial during the baseball playoffs), I expected more. I didn't mind the Dana Carvey show all that much.

 

I think Frank is talented, but not as a one man show. His Charles Barkley impression is hilarious thought. Almost as good as Madden.

[sbrylski]

I think it would be interesting, and better for the show, for TBS to do something like 15 minute shows twice a week - 2 sketches each. Or something like 3 times a week, one sketch each. TBS could even turn it into like a prolonged commercial for their station, which Frank's "show" ending each time with his character saying, "TBS...very funny," like the opening scene of SNL always says "Live from New York"...ect Just throw these 5 minute "commercials" in randomly.

 

Probably horrible ideas, but I agree its not a show that will last long in the 10 o'clock time slot. I think it is worthy of being on TV in short spurts, however.

[PrinceFielder28]

i watched first 15 minutes or so and only really liked the Seinfeld skit...the rest was kind on boring

[Fatter than Joey]

Probably horrible ideas,

 

Not really -- sort of like Robot Chicken. I think it makes more sense than a traditional 30 minute run.

[bjkrautk]

The Dana Carvey comparison might be good, as the Dana Carvey Show aired about 6 episodes before getting cut.

 

How do I not even remember Dana Carvey having a show? What / when was it on?

I had to IMDB the show just to know that it actually existed; then I look at the writers for the show:

 

Carvey

Louis C.K.

Steve Carell

Stephen Colbert

Dave Chappelle

Robert Smigel

 

(I'm leaving out other names I've heard of, just to narrow things down.) Why wasn't the Dana Carvey show a hit; were there enough people like me that didn't even know it was on TV?

[patrickgpe]

carvey's show was awesome. It is the only show in my recollection that got cancelled midshow. Can]t find confirmation of that, but i am pretty sure i recall that.

 

http://danacarvey.franklinsites.com/

[brettac1]

I remember him taking a lot of heat for the show. It was a little "racy" at the time (so it obviously wouldn't fly now, either). It was funny, though.

[TooLiveBrew]

Racy? With Chappelle, Carell, C.K., Colbert, & Smigel writing? No!

 

Seems like the kind of show that would get old pretty quick. He's funny as heck, but it just doesn't seem sustainable to me.

It got old after the first skit for me. The guy is top-notch at impressions - he has the mannerisms of his targets down pat, which imho is just as or more important than the voice/appearance. It just, well, Automator said it best - just isn't really sustainable.

[Mike Felder]

I thought the old Dana Carvey show was hilarious. I remember how he used to just rag on whoever was sponsoring his show, which usually led to that sponsor dropping him and someone new picking it up next week (Taco Bell and Mountain Dew were two for sure, can't remember the other ones).

 

Come to think of it, that may have played a role in him getting canned.

[PKBadger]

If I recall correctly, the "straw that broke the camel's back" was a sketch where Dana was doing an impression of Bill Clinton, and he opened up his shirt and had 8 nipples (like a dog) and was feeding a bunch of babies.

 

This is what we considered "racy" in the mid-90s? It was a sham. That show was hilarious and never should have gotten cancelled. But of course, you've got fanatics that get offended by anything ("he's our president, you can't do that!") so unfortunately, comedy suffers as a result.

[patrickgpe]

oh i remember that kegstand, i am still fuzzy though if it was taken off mid-show. i seem to remember that happening.

 

Watched frank tv last night and it was pretty unwatchable, i like him on mad tv or fox nfl sunday for 5 minutes, but that show is going to die quickly i think