Television Review: Online Nation - Pilot
by R.J. Carter
Published: September 19, 2007
CW's Online Nation is a blending of America's Funniest Videos and the G4 network. Each half-hour segment -- hosted by Joy, Stevie, Rhett and Link -- showcases brief videos that have been uploaded to the Internet, allowing not only for home movies spontaneous goofs, but also films edited with special effects, pranks, and some humorous bits of animation. In short, it's YouTube TeeVee.
Highlights of the first season opener include an animated episode of "Britney's Having a Breakdown," a few "Mac vs. PC" skits, a video demonstration of the human slingshot, and a fairly convincing reason why the Department of Homeland Security should start cracking down on the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles as quickly as possible.
ON Hosts. Joy, Stevie, Link and Rhett.
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Given the longevity of the AFV franchise -- both in continuing seasons and syndicated reruns -- as well as the mass-market for Jackass and Punk'd style pranks and humor, Online Nation may actually find a niche. The videos need very little setup time, allowing for quite a bit of funny to be crammed into the half-hour slot. And the producers have the added benefit of not having to finance any shooting beyond the introduction and editing of submissions, as viewers are encouraged to send in their finished videos of pranks and skits to the CW Online Nation Webpage.
The only real consideration is, if you can find the videos for free on the Internet, what impetus is there for a sponsor to spend money on the rebroadcast of them over television?
Online Nation premieres September 23 on The CW at 7:30pm, 6:30pm CST.
Read our complete look at the Fall TV season at Network Programming Falls Into Place for 2007/08 Television Viewing Season
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