Okay, so maybe that headline is a bit harsh. But honestly: Washed-up R&B crooner Brian McKnight is getting his own weekly variety show? At this rate, who else of his ilk can we expect to come out of the woodwork next with half-baked plans for some sort of TV-fueled rebirth: K-Ci & Jo Jo? Seal? Blackstreet? Hell, Montell Jordan? Monifah? Or wait: Maybe these folks will just be the guests on McKnight’s show. That actually sounds about right in context.
Truly, my uneasiness about this news comes from a place of love and concern. I respect Brian McKnight. "Anytime" was one of my jams in high school. The guy has a discography that goes on for days, if not weeks. (Another gem: "Back at One.") He’s worked with everyone under the sun — Mary J. Blige, Mase, Diddy, and Christina Aguilera, to name just a few. He’s been nominated for dozens of awards and taken home statues from the American Music Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and the Soul Train Awards.
But, while I do still respect him, I’m wondering if he respects himself enough to realize how pathetic such a move seems. I was a fan back in the day. Repeat: Back in the day. Like, nearly 10 years ago. The show is set to feature comedians, musicians, and entertainers. Sounds very familiar. So myquestion is: If Rosie O’Donnell can’t revive the variety format, whatmakes Brian McKnight — who’s got far less cultural cache than her, especially now — thinkhe can?
The only thing that quells my fears about this truly bad ideais that it’s weekly and it’s syndicated. Translation: It’s easily avoidable and probably won’t make much of a splash.When the news was released, the show’s executive producer Dave Morgan was quoted as saying, "We think television needs a fresh, hip face predisposed to succeed with millions and millions of built-in fans." Oh, the delusion. And, oh, if it were only 1999.
But, now that I’ve ranted, I’m interested in what you guys think: Good, bad, or inspired? When’s the last time you even thought about Brian McKnight? And a larger question: Do you think it’s worth trying to even revive the variety format? And is Brian McKnight really the person to do it?
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either give arsenio hall a new show or give wayne brady the opportunity to show all he can do. but brian mcknight? the last time i thought about him was when i noticed al b sure! at the bet awards. we started talking about all the people we liked way back when.
Washed-up, Tanner? It is better to be a hasbeen or washed-up than a never was. As a writer, you really need to watch the words you choose. There are struggling artists, hundreds of thousands of them, who would kill to be Brian McKnight or any other one hit wonder. A career is a lifetime not just one moment. The greatest stars in the history of the world had downtimes and moments where they were on the downside of their careers. Washed-up is a word of an ignorant person, not a person who knows how difficult it was and is to succeed in the creative world. By the way, in terms of journalism, where are you in the pecking order?
This show might not have a large U.S. audience but in the Philippines, Brian McKnight is huge
Very few can pull off a variety show. It takes a natural talent for comedy, timing and diversity which few possess. Brian McKnight does not fit this bill. He can sing, but the real question is if anyone, at all, really cares about this show. Doubtful. BTW, the Rosie Variety deal was absolutely awful, and I was just hearing it from another room. Could not imagine actually viewing it!!
I liked Brian McKnight until he was on the Oprah show a few years ago on a panel of “what guys are thinking” and he kind of ditched the sensitive crooner thing and just ended up looking like a bit of a pig.
Ok, your first paragraph was just harsh. Unnecessarily so. Yes, Brian Mcknight hasn’t been on the fore-front of things for a while, but the man deserves a little respect. He defined an era in RnB, and I feel he still has something to offer his fans. Now, about a Variety Show – thats a whole different ball game. Variety shows are so yesterday, NOBODY should even attempt them. This is a terrible decision by Brian. I bet even I will have lost my respect of him by the time he’s done with this madness.
For the record, Brian not only hosts his own radio show, but he continuously sells out concerts in major venues with $100 tix. So, he may not be on YOUR radar, Tanner, but he’s far from “washed-up.”
I think “washed up” is pretty harsh for a talented guy like Brian. He is consistant in his music and style, and does churn out a hit every 2 or 3 years. Is he bland, yes. Should he have a variety show, not at all, but he’s still a very talented, and in some R&B circles, relevant artist.
First up: what a rude way to slam a talented artist. Tanner, grow up, step outside your narrow mind, and learn to be respectful. As for your article, put it this way: one Brian McKnight variety hour is worth five nights of Leno.
Monifah….ha!
Anyone who remembers the Michelob Sunday night show from about a decade ago hosted by Dave Sanborn won’t have a problem with this. McKnight was solid on the David Foster and Friends PBS special. I think there is a market for adult contemporary music on TV. I really don’t think this is a stupid idea.
I have all of Brian’s Cds..including one released in 2006 (not 1999) and I LOVE his music. I’m hopeful this variety show might replace the void the decline of Soul Train has left in my life, but I fear it won’t. I’ll give it a chance just because I think Brian has never gotten the full amount of respect for his talent that he deserves. And PW items such as this one proves that point.
Maybe per EW standards Brian McKnight is a wash-up… Brian isn’t Britney… He can sing, play multi instruments, produce and also host shows. I am a HUGE fan of his since his 1st album and I am under 30 and live NYC so he is STILL relevant. If he centers it toward the urban music market that doesn’t have an outlet to showcase music it could be great. Something like an Arsenio Hall show meets TRL but with live performances (not BS lip-synch Britney et al. crap). There is tons of music that gets pushed out this no promotion and it would be great to have a spotlight show to showcase them.
Wow, this is kind of cruel and mean. I mean it’s an odd thing for sure, but I’m willing to give any new idea in syndication a chance that is not suffixed by Judge… or involves yet another “chairs and stage” talk show. The genre has been suffering for years because no one has come up with an original idea, and though a Brian McKnight reality show isn’t a slam dunk idea, it is an original idea.
Plus it wasn’t like McKnight did anything to lose his fame; he would be doing well if his style of music was still doing well and the focus of MTV and radio, but they’ve moved on to different things (for the worse). There will be a demand for this show and I think it’ll do pretty well. I’m willing to give it a shot.
Also, don’t be hating on mid-90′s R&B. I loved it and it’s certainly more creative than what Usher and his ilk call “music” these days.
Um, Brian McKnight can still sell out concert venues and he is a very well respected artist. I think that AC and Adult Urban market is in desperate need of more entertainment outlets. TV One is trying, but they have no music element. I think Brian is perfect in terms of his appeal to those markets, so I am totally open to the idea. I think the challenge is his personality, which at times seems aloof. Not what you want from a TV host, but maybe he can pull it off.