Defamer has FX President John Landegraf talking about how he'd rather have a hit than a well-done television show. Which Dirt isn't. Well, at least he's honest.
The Eye called yesterday's Dirt panel one of the "most anticipated" of the week, as bloodthirsty critics would finally have a chance to confront the people responsible for a show they've taking great glee in savaging, and recounts FX President John Landegraf's (shocking!) admission that he'll take ratings over praise, as well as his hopes that audiences will hang around long enough to see the series get better:Having a new series draw critical praise and high ratings is ideal, he said, but if he had to choose, at the end of the day the man wants a hit.
The "Dirt" premiere was the second highest-rated debut in FX's history, mainly due to Cox's star wattage, but its tough to believe the viewership will hold. Landgraf said he expects the second episode to drop in the ratings as well, and possibly the third episode as well.
More blatant television honesty after the jump.
(WENN)
One point of criticism Landgraf conceded is that "Dirt" lacks a sense of humor about itself. That was one of his notes too, he said, and starting at about the fifth episode, the show significantly improves. "I really love the show from about midway through the season on," he said. "Whether the audience sticks around that long, we'll see."Addressing the note about the troubling self-seriousness of a show about celebrity gossip, the president promised that critics who make it to Episode Five would be pleased by a recalibration of Dirt's attitude, when Courtney Cox's take-no-famous-prisoner's tabloid editor hilariously "catches" schizophrenia from her mentally ill photographer, kicking off a running gag where she hallucinates that her vibrator comes to life each time she fires it up, becoming a wisecracking sidekick with whom she can dish about Jennifer Aniston's love life.
So they're going to improve the show....by making her vibrator talk. It's still gotta be better than Laguna Beach. That show is full of talking vibrators.
lisa says:
How many successful series are perfect right out of the gate? I've watched both episodes of Dirt and I think it has a lot of potential. Give it a chance to develop and find its groove. It has the possibility of being great; imagine if the celebs clamoured for guest roles, what that could do to the story line.
I think Courtney was a bit stiff and really, I could have lived the rest of my life without seeing the mastrubation thing and literate boy toy looks like he needs a good rinsing off with the garden hose, but I hope this shapes up into a great series. It's got the basic ingredients to take it there.
Dardoz says:
Hi guys, Darren from Ireland here, first post :) This looks like a great place for gossip!
This Dirt show, I did a quick google and found the site for it but it doesn't really give you much of an idea of what goes on in it. Is it worth watching? Whats the gist of it...
dana says:
I am addicted to this show - and love it.
Patsy says:
I am quite enjoying the show though, I have to agree with the above poster, I could have done without the masturbation scene myself.
Robyn says:
I LOVE the show! You have got to give it time, I thought "Friends" was so stupid when it first started-then it turned out to be my fav show of all time!
scorp69 says:
I've been watching it too, and i really like how it's done. There should be no problem with keeping the story lines fresh, considering the subject. I did however, fall asleep half way through the other night, but only because I was out the night before and was really tired....but I look foward to seeing more episodes.
Jackie says:
I love this show...... its great i will keep watching.........
mica says:
I love it. What gossip magazine's will do to get the scoop on celebrities. That is what you call Dirt!!!!!!!!!
mica says:
I love it. What gossip magazine's will do to get the scoop on celebrities. That is what you call Dirt!!!!!!!!!
Freaky American Girl says:
Dardoz - WELCOME my Little Irish Virgin.... Please, step into the lair.... Just so you don't get your feelings hurt, ASL is usually NOT a nice place, so you shouldn't expect people to answer your questions or to be very nice to you or most of the stories posted. (Except Courteney Cox as it appears that Courteney has a wide fan base). Some people can get really NASTY here. That said, as far as I can figure, it's about a smut magazine, or website, much like A SOCIALITES LIFE. COM. It's about the gossip that circulates around the rich, beautiful, famous and of course, the plebes like you and I that like to read about them and fantasize. It's also about Freaky American Girls that masturbate and view their vibrator as a friend, someone to have a converstation with, maybe nice glass of wine, a romantic interlude with at the end of the day...... If I phone home now, maybe Big Boy will put the wine on ice for later... Nuf said?
courvid says:
well, if dirt is really so bad, then why its already sure there is coming a 2nd season which will air in september?! dirt is great, and also is courteney!