William Shatner and the Masterminds behind the "Joe Schmo Show" take on an entire town in the Spike TV miniseries "Invasion Iowa" and deliver an entertainment package that combines two elements sorely lacking in most TV today - hilarity and heart. Too bad this gem won't get a chance to capture the audience it deserves.
When I first heard about this project last summer I was excited at the prospect of another entry from Reese/Wernick Productions. After "Joe Schmo 2", fans were left with the promise of an uncensored DVD release of the first season and little else to look forward to. Then word got out about the giant hoax, which had been perpetuated on an entire town. At first the media attempted to play it up as an offense against an unsuspecting community but it turned out that the entire town of Riverside, Iowa were good sports and flattered to have been the focus of so much attention.
No one was hurt during the filming or aftermath of this experiment in improvisational comedy. With the early buzz and a brilliant team behind it, Invasion Iowa promised to be a real event. That was until I learned that Spike TV was once again the only network willing to gamble on the project.
They had dropped the ball with the two seasons of "Schmo", spending little on promotion and scheduling the series on dates and in timeslots almost guaranteed to insure their failure. I looked for the name "Max Bialystock" in the Spike TV Programming hierarchy because it seemed only that infamous character from "The Producers" might have come up with such a boneheaded plan for a potential hit.
As the premiere date for Invasion Iowa loomed, it looked like shifts of power at the network might bring this show better scheduling and backing. The promotion for the series was unprecedented for Spike. William Shatner, riding the wave of success that has marked the past year for him, did his part to spread the word. Heck, even though my only vested interest is insuring further output from the creative geniuses behind this project for my own viewing pleasure, I signed up for every William Shatner fan club and Star Trek message board to herald the upcoming event. With the Star Trek connection (Riverside's claim to fame is as the "Future Birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk) there was a chance to add a wider audience than the usual reality TV junkies who discover and cling to these smaller productions. Plus William Shatner has an enormous fan-base of his own who would gladly tune in to listen to him read ticker-tape on C-Span.
It wasn't until last week that the reality of the situation became apparent. Not only was the premiere of Invasion Iowa scheduled against some of the highest rated shows on the major networks, but it was also being presented over four consecutive nights, denying the series any opportunity to create a stir and build an audience. Somewhere along the line it seems it was decided that scheduling the "Big Reveal" for April Fools Day was a brilliant programming maneuver. This April Fools Day we'll know where the fools congregate -in the programming offices of Spike TV. Sure, those of us determined to watch the series would find a way to do so. However, anyone who might have been interested in the series but unaware of what fun it promised to be and already committed to following other shows, most likely won't go through the trouble of setting their recorders four nights in a row. It's a shame because, judging from the first episode, Invasion Iowa is a refreshing, funny and surprisingly heartwarming show that deserved to be a success.
I plan to enjoy the series in its entirety, foregoing the other guilty pleasures offered up on the networks till the wee, small hours, after I have savored the genuine pleasure that I derive from watching Invasion Iowa. Because this show and its predecessors have done something amazing, they have captured the true spirit of America, the foibles of human nature but the ultimate goodwill and good sportsmanship that still exists despite what other "reality" shows would lead you to believe. Taken off guard, unaware that they are the subjects of such scrutiny, the people who are the "victims" of these hoaxes become the victors. They show their true colors and, strangely enough, they shine more brightly than anyone who signs on to make a spectacle of themselves on national television. As Mr. Shatner says in the first installment of Invasion Iowa, you can't help but get involved with the people of Riverside, to be touched by them and laugh with them - not at them. Ironically, Kevin Kay, EVP of Programming and Production for Spike TV said "We were amazed by not only the kindness and openness of the townspeople, but their understanding of the complexity and comedy of this project." Unfortunately the enthusiasm Mr. Kay had for the show did not carry over into giving it a viable placement in their programming line-up. The real Schmos here are the execs that didn't recognize a chance to sponsor a breakout hit.
OK, enough rant against TPTB at Spike. The damage is done. Hopefully there will be additional outcry (I'll gladly lead the charge!) and the network will heed the demand to bring the series back at a time where it might find the audience it so richly deserves - might I suggest somewhere in the wasteland that follows May Sweeps?
Eleanor is about to take the leap from "writing to keep out of trouble" to "Writer with Resume". With a little luck you will be seeing her name in some of those credits by the end of 2005. She'll still take time to comment on everything RTV - it's cheaper than therapy!
You can contact Eleanor at ifyouaskme@msn.com
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