Next Action Star (2004– ) User Reviews (4)

Loser Parade

[fortey · 17 June 2004]

So I've watched a few episodes of this now and I couldn't resist the urge to look up these judges, these pillars of talent who know the score and are using their boundless talent to pick the next action star... and look! They're losers.

One of our superlatively talented judges directed such feature film hits as Bats and Carnosaur 2. Are you kidding me? If I were an actor, I'd work with this man because you need to work to make a living. However, barring my abuse of very potent substances, I can't imagine ever relegating myself to a position where my talent would be judged and my future in the industry, as it were, would be in this man's inept hands. He badly directs bad movies, how does that qualify him to judge this competition?

But fear not, another judge produced such hits as Double Dragon and Fair Game. So he's basically as important in the movie biz as that first judge I mentioned. Are you impressed yet.

But I'm not done, how can we forget the biggest judge of all? Big time casting director Victoria Burrows. My, what a long and splendid resume she has. The LOTR trilogy is actually impressive...if impressive is a word you can use for a casting director's resume. Casting director is an important job. They have to talk to agents and tell them they need Hobbits and Gandalfs and then agree with agent decisions. It must have been hard for her to decide on Ian Mckellan.

But let's ignore her LOTR experience and focus on the rest of her career. Like Vampires: Los Muertos. or Max Keeble's Big Movie. Bordello of Blood. How the West Was Fun. And back in the day, Macgyver and 21 Jump Street. Ooh.

I suspect this was the best Joel Silver could get, which is tragic, sad and depressing. One thing I do notice though is that, between them all, these people have exactly no experience in good action. Barely any action at all, in fact, but none good.

If I were on Next Action Star, and thank God I'm not, I'd be offended beyond belief to have this group of people judge me. They are about as qualified as I am to judge this competition, since the only way these people know action is from watching it, which is what I do. This show wasn't good before, now I find it even worse knowing the "skills" of the people behind the scenes.

Car Crash TV on Steroids

[modius · 17 July 2004]

Are you a loser who wants to be the next action movie star? Do you have the talent to stand in front of cardboard boxes, do 'some' act, and jump out of the way of CGI explosions? Then - we have a 'wee-iner'.

This reality TV show puts a bunch of nobody, wannabe's into a TV show that promises to make them the next action star. You get to perform stunts, act/cheesily ridiciousily at the judges and if you win you get to be directed by action supermeo Joel Silver.

What could possibly go wrong?

Well, nearly everything. The judges are way too much like the ones in American Idol. The bits they show on the 'casting call' are the most hilarious and borders upon being silly and full of parody potental.

I haven't watched all the episodes of this reality TV show, but it is like car crash TV in that you can't help but watch but you know you shouldn't.

Ratings Grab

[Puke Bag · 23 June 2004]

I was fairly interested in the concept early on, being a bit of an action junkie myself. People don't often realize that the show isn't too far away removed from the actual Hollywood audition process -- it's nothing to do with talent whatsoever. It's who can sell more tickets, or in this case, whoever can boost the ratings.

There are a few interesting characters those who are interested in the film-making process will find a few things to like in it. But don't expect the most talented or deserving player to win.

Just take a look at Viviana, who is passable in terms of looks, although clearly mediocre in terms of acting talent. Plus, she clearly does not get along with the cast mates, speaks out of turn with coaches and instructors, and is careless when handling dangerous weapons. She's clearly the Omorosa of the group.

Never quite cut it...

[stoccata · 1 August 2004]

Let me open by saying I generally have found all reality shows to be utterly predictable and something I avoid. This is cheap "entertainment" requiring no writers or actors... just a lot of footage to try to edit into some sort of narrative.

That said, I actually thought Next Action Star would be different. Wrong! They used the standard formula but what did I really expect from network TV?

Early on, they cut a guy who had real actor training. He went to the Yale School of Drama and despite that impressive credential they bumped him for all those people who looked "right". Very Hollywood, very network, very predictable. I knew from about episode 3 that Sean had the best shot of the men. Right look, good physical ability, good personality. The women were a toss up for me depending upon the need for a blonde, brunette or sizeable chest. I knew Viviana needed medication.

Instead of showing us what it might take to make it in the action genre, we saw very little of the training, the safety precautions built into each gag, how the real stunt players "sold" each fight sequence. We got to see personal interactions reminiscent of the senior prom, murky casting decisions and the overly melodramatic callbacks set to ridiculously moody music. And now the final product turns out to be a made for TV movie. I guess Joel Silver had to cut his losses somewhere.

And it turns out I'm still right about reality TV but as long as there are bad story ideas and a few bucks to be made, it will continue.