Dude Tube: Going Viral

Oh, the Internet – uniter of people, creator of trolls … and spreader of viral videos.
What would life on the Interwebs be were it not for people making fools of themselves (whether intentionally or not) for the amusement of others? Certainly YouTube wouldn’t have nearly the popularity it enjoys today. And chances are, far fewer people would actually know who Daniel Tosh is.
But right now I know you’re asking yourself, “Self..why isn’t there a television show that combines my love of viral videos with my nostalgia over America’s Funniest Home Videos?”
First off…you and your self should probably get out a little more. Second, your prayers have been answered by the folks at Syfy with their new show Viral Video Showdown. Featuring former Attack of the Show host Kevin Pereira in his first post-AOTS gig, the “showdown” is what you’d expect it to be. Teams of contestants do their best to create a viral video sensation based on a central weekly theme, all vying for a chance at a $5,000 cash prize – and presumably a slice of Internet fame.
One quibble: Is it really a viral video if it’s made for the purpose of becoming a viral video? Sure, many people have tried…and some have even succeeded. But aren’t viral videos a little more satisfying if they’re organic? No matter. The show should have some promise with Pereira behind the wheel. After all, he did a fair job holding the increasingly manic show together during his tenure there. I also don’t think it’s a complete coincidence that AOTS is saying goodbye not long after he left.
Regardless, if you’re interested in seeing what videos your friends will be flooding your email inbox or clogging your Facebook timeline with, here’s your chance to watch the sausage being made. And if it’s not educational, hopefully it’ll be tasty.
Series premiere – Tuesday, 10:30 p.m., Syfy
This week’s Dude Tube Picks to Click
NBA season tip-off – Tuesday, 8 p.m., ET, TNT
Much has happened in “The Association” since LeBron James and company hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy in Miami. Jay-Z helped put a team in Brooklyn, the Los Angeles Lakers added every superstar imaginable and they’re starting to grow beards in Houston. It’s with that backdrop that we welcome the NBA back for another season – and what a way to start! The season kicks off with the Boston Celtics visiting the defending champion Miami Heat before the Dallas Mavericks drop in on the Lakers. But the best part might be the return of Inside the NBA, which is undoubtedly the best show on TNT. They may claim to know drama, but they do comedy pretty well, too.
Ghosts of Ole Miss – Tuesday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
There’s a joke that says in parts of the south, football isn’t a religion … it’s far more important than that. But what happens when that cultural staple meets up with changing cultural taboos? It’s the subject of the latest in ESPN’s incredible 30-for-30 series. This latest documentary examines the dichotomy of a university’s pride over its undefeated football team while dealing with the realities of integration among its student body.
Animal Practice – Wednesday, 8 p.m., NBC
This show was one of the first to feel the cancellation ax, which was easily predictable considering the ridiculousness of the premise. At this point, NBC is just playing out the string and airing the last episode or two left in the hopper. But there is one reason you should check it out: Years from now when people are talking about the worst ideas for television shows, you can say you actually watched this one. I mean, if you’re into that sort of thing.
Undercover Boss (season premiere) – Friday, 8 p.m., CBS
For everyone who’s ever griped that their boss doesn’t understand what they have to put up with on their job – which is pretty much all of us – this show is for you. Not only has it spawned a rise in CEOs getting a glimpse at how their companies are really run (and hopefully doing something to improve them), but it’s led to a corresponding bump in everyday people having an idea of what the people who sign their checks look like. Oh, Internet…what would we do without you?










Comment