Best Week Ever
Encyclopedia
Best Week Ever is a weekly television program
on the United States
cable
/satellite
network VH1
. It started airing in 2004 and was put on hiatus in the summer of 2009. In January 2010, it was announced that the show was cancelled.
On the show, comedians analyzed the previous week's developments in pop culture, including then-recent happenings in entertainment
and celebrity
gossip
.
The show's tagline was, "It's everything you love, everything you missed, and all the stuff you need to see again."
).
Each new episode aired on Friday evening at 11:00 PM, and repeats were usually broadcast several times over the weekend. At the end of every episode, the show would name which celebrity, group of people, or object had "the Best Week Ever".
When the series started, VH1 ran a special once-a-month episode called Best Month Ever, but episodes have ceased production. Similarly, there was also a Best Summer Ever.
The program's original Typepad-hosted blog
bestweekever.blogs.com originally served as an ersatz online writer's room, mainly used to preview the events in the news which would end up in the Friday episode. In 2006, BestWeekEver.tv was launched to serve as more of a daily blog mostly separate from the program itself (beyond promotions and tie-ins for the show), detailing humorous stories in the news, odd television and YouTube
videos, and features main contributors Michelle Collins, Dan Hopper, and (formerly) Sara Schaefer's observations on pop culture and other items. Despite the show's cancellation, the site is still currently active in its daily format.
The humor on Best Week Ever can best be described as ironic, as comedian
s assess the week in pop culture. Sometimes actor
s and musician
s also had guest spots on the program. Several panelists were members of the improvisational comedy troupe Respecto Montalban
.
. Tompkins introduced topics from behind a podium, summarizing the week's events. Tompkins occasionally threw to panelists (usually Jessica St. Clair
, Paul Scheer
, Mike Britt, or Doug Benson
) who offered their own take on a particular subject. Tompkins, a long-time panelist, had been with the show since its inception. However, fan reception was not always warm to the new format.
discussing the "hot" celebrity gossip. This section was formatted to satirize celebrity tabloid shows such as The Insider
. Next was "In Case You Missed" which briefly showcases several short clips from the week's television (and occasionally the Internet and radio). The show ended with somebody being awarded "the Best Week Ever", an ironic prize usually given to somebody or something which had been featured extensively on news programs, a viral video
(or any new meme
), or prominent reality show contestant of the week. Recipients include Barack Obama
(after beating out Hillary Clinton for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination), the Dramatic Prairie Dog
, and Midget Mac
.
and IPTV
elements, including Best Night Ever, where a host went through the night or weekend in television in a four-minute segment, and extra footage and segments on VH1's VSPOT online channel. In 2006, Best Week Ever became the first Viacom property to offer complete, free episodes for download.
For sometime before the format change, VH1 began to have "Best Day Ever" episodes that aired Monday through Thursday for about five minutes and had different comedians go through the pop culture events of the day. Additionally, at the end of each calendar year, the show prepared a Best Year Ever special filled with "clips of celeb horrors of the past year".
In January 2010, the show's website, BestWeekEver.tv announced the show's cancellation.
anchor Brian Williams
said: "We have such short attention spans. Heck, VH1 has a show about last week". In an article on the Pipe Dream website about VH1's decade-retrospective shows, writer Jeanette Duffy noted that "VH1 has moved on from exploiting entire decades to making us reminisce over events that happened just days ago in the Best Week Ever", jokingly suggesting that cable networks might eventually produce the "Best Five Minutes Ever".
had been Larry Kenney
, though in some weeks Leer Leary, a Kenney sound-alike (or a panelist doing an imitation of his voice) was used when he wasn't available.
Panelists included:
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
on the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cable
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
/satellite
Satellite television
Satellite television is television programming delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by an outdoor antenna, usually a parabolic mirror generally referred to as a satellite dish, and as far as household usage is concerned, a satellite receiver either in the form of an...
network VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
. It started airing in 2004 and was put on hiatus in the summer of 2009. In January 2010, it was announced that the show was cancelled.
On the show, comedians analyzed the previous week's developments in pop culture, including then-recent happenings in entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment consists of any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time. Entertainment is generally passive, such as watching opera or a movie. Active forms of amusement, such as sports, are more often considered to be recreation...
and celebrity
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
gossip
Gossip
Gossip is idle talk or rumour, especially about the personal or private affairs of others, It is one of the oldest and most common means of sharing facts and views, but also has a reputation for the introduction of errors and variations into the information transmitted...
.
The show's tagline was, "It's everything you love, everything you missed, and all the stuff you need to see again."
Format
The show follows a similar format to that set by the popular miniseries I Love the 80s and its successors (which was based on a format put together by the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
).
Each new episode aired on Friday evening at 11:00 PM, and repeats were usually broadcast several times over the weekend. At the end of every episode, the show would name which celebrity, group of people, or object had "the Best Week Ever".
When the series started, VH1 ran a special once-a-month episode called Best Month Ever, but episodes have ceased production. Similarly, there was also a Best Summer Ever.
The program's original Typepad-hosted blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
bestweekever.blogs.com originally served as an ersatz online writer's room, mainly used to preview the events in the news which would end up in the Friday episode. In 2006, BestWeekEver.tv was launched to serve as more of a daily blog mostly separate from the program itself (beyond promotions and tie-ins for the show), detailing humorous stories in the news, odd television and YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
videos, and features main contributors Michelle Collins, Dan Hopper, and (formerly) Sara Schaefer's observations on pop culture and other items. Despite the show's cancellation, the site is still currently active in its daily format.
The humor on Best Week Ever can best be described as ironic, as comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
s assess the week in pop culture. Sometimes actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
s and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s also had guest spots on the program. Several panelists were members of the improvisational comedy troupe Respecto Montalban
Respecto Montalban
Respecto Montalban was an improvisational and sketch comedy troupe associated with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City from 1998 until September 2005....
.
Format change: single host
Beginning October 24, 2008, the show adopted a new format with a single host who summarized the week's events. The show was renamed Best Week Ever With Paul F. TompkinsPaul F. Tompkins
Paul Francis Tompkins , best known as Paul F. Tompkins, is an American actor and comedian.-Life and career:Tompkins was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a receptionist mother and railway worker father. He started out in stand-up comedy in 1986 at The Comedy Works, Philadelphia, PA, where he...
. Tompkins introduced topics from behind a podium, summarizing the week's events. Tompkins occasionally threw to panelists (usually Jessica St. Clair
Jessica St. Clair
Jessica St. Clair is an American actress, writer, sketch comedian and comedy improviser who often performs at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York and Los Angeles, usually as a member of the improv group Mother. Jessica has been a regular on the show Best Week Ever, offering her...
, Paul Scheer
Paul Scheer
Paul Christian Scheer is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He co-created and starred in MTV's sketch comedy series Human Giant and currently co-stars as Andre on the FX comedy The League. He also currently stars as Trent Hauser on the Adult Swim show NTSF:SD:SUV:: which he created...
, Mike Britt, or Doug Benson
Doug Benson
Douglas Steven "Doug" Benson is an American stand-up comedian and actor who has appeared on Comedy Central Presents, Best Week Ever and was a contestant on Last Comic Standing in the show's fifth season....
) who offered their own take on a particular subject. Tompkins, a long-time panelist, had been with the show since its inception. However, fan reception was not always warm to the new format.
Weekly format
In both the original and latter format, each week consisted of four main segments and at least one peripheral segment. The first segment had no specific title and featured the biggest news stories of the week. The second segment was "The Sizzler" (originally titled the Buzz Saw). It featured Chuck NiceChuck Nice
Chuck Nice is a stand up comic and radio personality from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Nice was heard on The Radio Chick, a comedic show formerly on 92.3 Free FM in New York. The RadioChick is now a featured show on Shovio.com's TalkBackTV...
discussing the "hot" celebrity gossip. This section was formatted to satirize celebrity tabloid shows such as The Insider
The Insider (TV series)
The Insider is an American tabloid television news program covering events and celebrities. It debuted on September 13, 2004 as a spinoff of Entertainment Tonight and started as a popular segment that took viewers "behind closed doors" and gave them "inside" information...
. Next was "In Case You Missed" which briefly showcases several short clips from the week's television (and occasionally the Internet and radio). The show ended with somebody being awarded "the Best Week Ever", an ironic prize usually given to somebody or something which had been featured extensively on news programs, a viral video
Viral video
A viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites, social media and email...
(or any new meme
Internet meme
The term Internet meme is used to describe a concept that spreads via the Internet. The term is a reference to the concept of memes, although the latter concept refers to a much broader category of cultural information.-Description:...
), or prominent reality show contestant of the week. Recipients include Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
(after beating out Hillary Clinton for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination), the Dramatic Prairie Dog
Dramatic Chipmunk
Dramatic Chipmunk, also known by the more accurate title Dramatic Prairie Dog, is a popular Internet comedy viral video. The video is a five-second clip of the "chipmunk" turning its head while the camera zooms in and dramatic music is played.-Origins:The clip became widely known through uploads...
, and Midget Mac
I Love New York 2
I Love New York 2 is a reality television show on VH1 that stars Tiffany "New York" Pollard who is on a quest to find her true love. Her relationship with season one's winner, Tango, ended shortly after the season concluded. Unlike the first season, Mauricio Sanchez did not return as "Chamo", New...
.
Additional programming
The show had podcastPodcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
and IPTV
IPTV
Internet Protocol television is a system through which television services are delivered using the Internet protocol suite over a packet-switched network such as the Internet, instead of being delivered through traditional terrestrial, satellite signal, and cable television formats.IPTV services...
elements, including Best Night Ever, where a host went through the night or weekend in television in a four-minute segment, and extra footage and segments on VH1's VSPOT online channel. In 2006, Best Week Ever became the first Viacom property to offer complete, free episodes for download.
For sometime before the format change, VH1 began to have "Best Day Ever" episodes that aired Monday through Thursday for about five minutes and had different comedians go through the pop culture events of the day. Additionally, at the end of each calendar year, the show prepared a Best Year Ever special filled with "clips of celeb horrors of the past year".
Regular segments
- "Eight Words or Less", Doug Benson reviewed popular movies in eight words or less.
- "Paul F. Tompkins: Celebrity Defender.", In this segment Paul F. TompkinsPaul F. TompkinsPaul Francis Tompkins , best known as Paul F. Tompkins, is an American actor and comedian.-Life and career:Tompkins was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a receptionist mother and railway worker father. He started out in stand-up comedy in 1986 at The Comedy Works, Philadelphia, PA, where he...
attempted to comically defend celebrities while they are on trial. - "Doug Benson: Pop Culture Bachelor", comedian Doug Benson gave roses to events of the week he wanted to see more of, in a similar manner to the ABC show The Bachelor.
- "Blind Item": A panelist offered clues as to the identity of a mystery celebrity, only to give a false answer contradictory to the correct identity.
- "Doug BensonDoug BensonDouglas Steven "Doug" Benson is an American stand-up comedian and actor who has appeared on Comedy Central Presents, Best Week Ever and was a contestant on Last Comic Standing in the show's fifth season....
TSI: Trailer Scene Investigator". Doug Benson discussed recent movie trailers. - "The Express Lane", a quick review of the biggest pop culture stories.
- "Five Good Reasons", coming up with reasons to do one particular unfavorable act, such as voting in the 2004 elections or see the worst movie of the week.
- "Upgrade/Downgrade", giving a thumbs-up or -down on items in a certain category.
- "What Your Purchases Say About You", decoding the hidden messages in your spending.
- "Idol Worship", a recap of events on American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
that week. - "Ask Best Week Ever", a segment in which a man would answer questions from fans.
- "Hot/Not Hot", a summary of three weekly stories; the third was always of an odd theme.
Extended hiatus and cancellation
Normally, Best Week Ever would leave for a summer break during July and August and return in September. New York magazine reported that Best Week Ever was on an extended hiatus until January 2010 and that it would return in the fall with Paul F. Tompkins hosting. However, the staffers feared that the show would never come back. The last episode aired June 12, 2009, with Dan Moschella named as having had the Best Week Ever.In January 2010, the show's website, BestWeekEver.tv announced the show's cancellation.
Criticism
In its recounting of the events of the past week, Best Week Ever had been seen as a sign of the short attention span of millions of Americans. In a 2005 interview on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, NBC Nightly NewsNBC Nightly News
NBC Nightly News is the flagship daily evening television news program for NBC News and broadcasts. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is located in the center...
anchor Brian Williams
Brian Williams
Brian Douglas Williams is the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News, the evening news program of the NBC television network, a position he assumed in 2004...
said: "We have such short attention spans. Heck, VH1 has a show about last week". In an article on the Pipe Dream website about VH1's decade-retrospective shows, writer Jeanette Duffy noted that "VH1 has moved on from exploiting entire decades to making us reminisce over events that happened just days ago in the Best Week Ever", jokingly suggesting that cable networks might eventually produce the "Best Five Minutes Ever".
Cast
Since its premiere, the show's announcerAnnouncer
An announcer is a presenter who makes "announcements" in an audio medium or a physical location.-Television and other media:Some announcers work in television production , radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in...
had been Larry Kenney
Larry Kenney
Larry Kenney is an American radio personality and voice actor.In 1963, Kenney began his radio career at the age of 15 as a disc jockey at WIRL in Peoria. After WIRL, he worked at WOWO, Ft...
, though in some weeks Leer Leary, a Kenney sound-alike (or a panelist doing an imitation of his voice) was used when he wasn't available.
Panelists included:
|
Pete Holmes Pete Holmes is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and cartoonist based in Los Angeles, California.-Early life:Holmes was born in Lexington, Massachusetts, United States.... Rob Huebel Rob Huebel is an American actor, comedian and writer best known for his sketch comedy work on the MTV series Human Giant. He currently co-stars on the Adult Swim series Childrens Hospital.-Early life:... Chris Jericho Christopher Keith Irvine , better known by his ring name Chris Jericho, is an inactive Canadian-American professional wrestler, musician, songwriter, radio personality, television host, actor, author, and dancer... Lisa Kennedy Montgomery Lisa Kennedy Montgomery is an American political satirist, radio personality, and former MTV VJ... Jessi Klein Jessi Klein is an American comedy writer and stand-up comic based out of New York City. She has regularly appeared on shows such as The Showbiz Show with David Spade and VH1's Best Week Ever, and has performed stand-up on Comedy Central's Premium Blend. She provided commentary for CNN in the... Nick Kroll Nick Kroll is an American actor and comedian best known for appearing in television shows such as Best Week Ever, Cavemen and Sit Down, Shut Up. He co-stars in the shows The Life & Times of Tim and The League.... Miss Info Minya Oh, known by the stage name Miss Info, is a radio presenter.Formerly a writer and reporter for BET, Miss Info is currently an on-air radio personality at the New York hip hop and R&B station Hot 97. She is also a journalist who has worked for the notable hip hop industry publication The Source... John Mulaney John Mulaney is an American comedian and writer for Saturday Night Live .In addition to writing for SNL, Mulaney has appeared on the show's "Weekend Update" segment. Mulaney also previously made regular appearances on Best Week Ever on VH1. Mulaney appeared multiple times on Late Night with Conan... Chuck Nice Chuck Nice is a stand up comic and radio personality from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Nice was heard on The Radio Chick, a comedic show formerly on 92.3 Free FM in New York. The RadioChick is now a featured show on Shovio.com's TalkBackTV... Patton Oswalt Patton Oswalt is an American stand-up comedian, writer, actor and voice actor. He is best known for portraying Spencer Olchin in the popular sitcom The King of Queens, voicing Remy from the film Ratatouille and Thrasher from the Cartoon Network original series Robotomy.-Early life:Oswalt was born... Melissa Rauch Melissa Ivy Rauch is an American actress and comedian. She is best known for her role as Bernadette Rostenkowski on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory.-Early life and education:... |
Mo Rocca Maurice Alberto "Mo" Rocca is an American writer, comedian and political satirist.-Early life and work:... Jessica St. Clair Jessica St. Clair is an American actress, writer, sketch comedian and comedy improviser who often performs at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York and Los Angeles, usually as a member of the improv group Mother. Jessica has been a regular on the show Best Week Ever, offering her... Paul Scheer Paul Christian Scheer is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He co-created and starred in MTV's sketch comedy series Human Giant and currently co-stars as Andre on the FX comedy The League. He also currently stars as Trent Hauser on the Adult Swim show NTSF:SD:SUV:: which he created... Danielle Schneider -Career:Schneider appeared regularly as a panelist on Best Week Ever and various other VH1 commentary programs. She has played a Paris Hilton-like debutante on Fox's My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss, she starred in Trio's The Pop Culture Round-Up: White Noise, Comedy Central's Contest Searchlight with... Jenny Slate Jenny Slate is an American actor and comedian best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2009–2010 and for her recurring role as Stella on the HBO comedy series Bored to Death.-Early life:... Sherrod Small -Early life:Small was born and raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York by his mother and two sisters. He is the cousin of comedians Chris Rock and Tony Rock.-Career:... Paul F. Tompkins Paul Francis Tompkins , best known as Paul F. Tompkins, is an American actor and comedian.-Life and career:Tompkins was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a receptionist mother and railway worker father. He started out in stand-up comedy in 1986 at The Comedy Works, Philadelphia, PA, where he... J. Keith van Straaten J. Keith van Straaten is an American actor, host, and writer. He was born in Chicago, Illinois.On TV, he hosted the first season of the game show Beat the Geeks in 2001. In 2006, he began appearing as a panelist on VH1's Best Week Ever... David Wain David Benjamin Wain is an American comedian, writer, actor and director. He is most widely known for the feature films Role Models and Wet Hot American Summer, the 1990s' sketch comedy series The State and for producing/directing/writing the Adult Swim series Childrens Hospital... |