You have to hand it to NBC -- the network has chutzpah.
What else do you call it when they title a show Best Time Ever With Neil Patrick Harris? We'll find out if the label fits when the live series debuts at 9 p.m. Tuesday.
The series moves to its earlier time of 7 p.m. beginning Sept. 29.
Why the switch? Tuesday's early premiere allows the show to bask in the finale glory of America's Got Talent. The second episode on Sept. 22 comes after the season premiere of The Voice and will hopefully help the show avoid the mad program stampede when the official fall season begins Sept. 21.
Once Best Time Ever settles into its regular 7 p.m. Tuesday slot, it'll be up against the venerable NCIS on CBS, the new "mocumentary" comedy The Muppets on ABC, and two new sitcoms on Fox (Grandfathered starring John Stamos; The Grinder starring Rob Lowe). I can't blame NBC for trying to get some attention early.
What can we expect with a live hour of variety hosted by Harris? NBC publicity has been just as gushing as the show's title.
The network promises the program will be "unlike any other on American television." The series "will feature appearances by A-list stars, stunts, comedy skits, incredible performances, mini game shows, audience giveaways and hidden camera pranks."
The show is based on the popular British variety show Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway. The format is labeled "genre-busting" and Harris is called "fearless."
Ant and Dec are the British comedy duo of Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly. Their show is a sort of hybrid comedy/game offering with audience participation and the occasional celebrity.
Is all this NBC hype really hyperbole? We'll find out together because the show will air live and that means there's nothing to preview except a couple of frenetic 30-second teasers.
I do know that if there's anybody who can pull something like this off, it's the multi-talented Harris.
America first got to know the 42-year-old New Mexico native as the title character in Doogie Howser, M.D. That comedy/drama was created by Steven Bochco and David E. Kelley and aired on ABC (1989-1993).
Later audiences came to love him as lovable womanizer Barney Stinson in the long-running (2005-2014) CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother. Harris earned four Emmy nominations for the role (never winning).
A talented singer and dancer, Harris comes by his hosting duties naturally, having presented the Tony Awards in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013; hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2009 and 2013; and hosted the 87th Academy Awards in February.
For the record, Harris has five Emmys -- four for the Tony Awards show and one as guest star on Glee -- and won the Tony for Best Actor in a Musical (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) in 2014.
And the really, really hip among us will recall that Harris won the 2009 Streamy Award as Best Male Actor in a Comedy Web Series in the groundbreaking Joss Whedon production of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.
Few of us saw all that coming with 16-year-old Doogie.
At last month's TV critics' summer press tour, Harris said he sees his role on the show as more of a ringleader, according to Variety. He also said he wants to attract guest stars such as comics Sarah Silverman and Louis C.K.
"I want [stars like Silverman and C.K.] to think our show is fun and might be fun to play a part in," he said. "My job is to show you as an audience all these cool things that we're doing," Harris said.
Harris noted that every episode will have a celebrity guest announcer. Up first will be Reese Witherspoon. And each of the episodes will close with a segment titled, fittingly, "The End of the Show Show."
The closing segment will be one of Harris' signature big production numbers and last longer than four minutes.
"We're holding a lot of cards close to our vest because that's what's gonna make it fun to watch live," Harris said. "I really do think it will be fun, and I'm hoping a little bit game-changing. Its unique structure fits right into my random skill set. I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and have some fun."
NBC has ordered eight episodes of Best Time Ever. As usual, if it's a hit, we'll see more. If not, well, at least they tried.
Style on 09/13/2015