Broadcast: The Review Show (Research)

The Review Show- Youtube Link

As I have to design a series of broadcast pieces to promote the new Lifestyle TV programme, I decided to look at another way of promoting a programme on TV. I decided to analyse how the 'The Review Show' promoted a new TV programme, which I may be able to use as one of my ideas for a broadcast piece.

The Review Show

The Review Show is a programme on BBC 4 (used to be shown on BBC2) where a new programme is described and reviewed by a small group of people. There is a main presenter and the show is set in a studio. Clips from the new programme being reviewed are used as well as dialogue from the main presenter and the other people- all of which are female- which gives an insight to the new show. Each programme being reviewed can take up to 20 minutes.

Setting/ Mise-en-scene:

Studio. The background is screens which show ‘The Review Show’ and clips from the programme. Presenter and reviewers are sat on sofas, with a table in the centre which has folders, papers and drink glasses on.

Features of the Show:

The main presenter introduces the new programme. She tells the audience the name of the new programme, the channel that the programme is on and provides background information on the setting and context. Furthermore she uses descriptive language to inform the audience. A CU shot of the main presenter is used whilst she introduces the programme so that the audience is focused on what she has to say. However ‘The Review Show’ is on the background screen which reminds the audience what the show is about and provides a simple background which promotes the show whilst the presenter is speaking.

After the introduction from the presenter, the screen transitions to show a clip of the new programme. Throughout the clip there is text at the bottom left of the screen which informs the audience of the programme name and production company. At the beginning of the clip there is presenter dialogue over the clip which sets the scene and informs us of characters and the actors. Whilst the presenter speaks, music from the programme clip can be heard but no dialogue. Then, the clip changes and focuses on dialogue from a scene which shows a theme that the new programme addresses (the presenter doesn’t provide dialogue). Dialogue from the presenter then introduces further characters (sound from the clip is muted) by showing a different scene. Another scene addressing a new theme is shown with the characters dialogue.

After the audience is shown the clip of the new programme a LS of the people and presenter reviewing the show is shown. The presenter influences the discussion and the three other reviewers give opposing opinions which provides a range of viewpoints and insights into the new programme. There are CU shots of the speaker and MCU shots of the other reviewers’ facial expressions- do they agree or disagree? One last scene of the programme is used to back up a significant point; text is again at the bottom left of the screen however the presenter doesn’t provide dialogue over the clip. The discussion is wrapped up by the presenter providing a final positive point. Also mentions the context, producers, information about the production, genre and theme which the presenter has on a cue card.

Costume/Makeup:

The presenter and the three other reviewers all wear smart-casual clothing. This suggests that they hold importance but also review the programme in the same which a ‘normal person’ may do. Their makeup is simple as are their accessories; however there is emphasis on the eyes with eye shadow.

Evaluation & Relating ‘The Review Show’ to an idea:

I could do a 1 minute TV spot similar to The Review Show which promotes my Lifestyle TV idea. The presenter would introduce the Lifestyle programme, addressing the name, channel, genre and what it is about. A short clip (around 30 seconds) of the Lifestyle TV programme could then be shown with text informing the audience of the production company (Synopticity Productions) and title of the programme in the bottom left of the screen. Instead of reviewing the programme, the presenter relates the programme to the present climate and comments on what the programme offers- incorporating the target audience into what he/she says. This is because reviewing the programme would take longer than the set 2 minutes. The setting would be similar to the studio which The Review Show is set in and have a screen in the background with the title of the show on. The screen will then show the clip of the new programme.