Let's Big Happy

The last two days have added a lot of new TV shows on Netflix, though primarily children's shows. Here's the list:


The Adventures of Chuck and Friends, 2010, 2 seasons, Toddlers
Blue Water High, 2005, 3 seasons, Teen Drama
GI Joe: Renegades, 2010, 1 season, Cartoon
Jane by Design, 2012, 1 season, Dramedy
Johnny Test, 2005, 4 seasons, Cartoon
Ken Burns: Baseball, 1994, 1 season, Documentary
Lost Tapes, 2008, 3 seasons, Reality
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, 2010, 1 season, Cartoon
Pound Puppies, 2010, 1 season, Cartoon
Transformers Prime, 2010, 1 season, Cartoon
World of Quest, 2008, 1 season, Cartoon

     Netflix is one of several outlets where the new web series Let's Big Happy is premiering. All seven episodes of the first season came on line at once, last Wednesday and started on Netflix a week ago, March 30th. Let's Big Happy may push what we think of when we think of television, since each of the episodes only run eight to thirteen minutes, in fact the entire season is barely only an hour. As we start to move away network commercial television model, but also the basic cable model, I think we're going to be seeing more shows that tell their story in the amount of time they want to, rather than conforming to the twenty two and forty four minute templates. Since I'm often looking for something to fill those ten minutes before bed, or if I got ready to early, and need something to do as I wait for my wife to get ready, I thought a ten minute show may be right up my alley.
     Each episode features a new band. These are actual bands that are looking to get some exposure through the show. The show's basic concept is that a music blogger, Olive, discovers these bands and tries to get them exposure through elaborate stunts. The fun of the show is watching Olive and the band pull off the stunts, while listening to some new music each week.
     The problem is that the show must be sponsored by Taco Bell, so while watching what basically amounts to a commercial for a band, I get to be reminded that someone actually invented the Dorito Taco, several times. In fact the "stunt" for this episode involved driving people to the band by advertising "Free Tacos," although apparently Google wouldn't pony up since the show's internet searches happen on Goochle.
     Angela Sarafyan who plays Olive, is just wacky enough that you would happily call her your friend, and inhibits the character with just the kind of energy you need to make an eight minute show work. At the end of the episode, the bottom line is I liked the show. It was fun, laid back and never took itself seriously. The next time I'm waiting to leave for dinner, I know exactly what I'll be doing.

Verdict: Put in in the Queue