Phil Cooke

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Posted On
12/08/2009

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Wonder Where Robert A. Schuller Ended Up?

If you’ve wondered where Robert A. Schuller ended up after leaving the Crystal Cathedral, it’s American Life Television, a new network run by GodTube founder Chris Wyatt.  Check out the first episode of Robert’s new TV series Everyday Life.  We didn’t produce this but I’d love to know what you think of the show.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 at 10:26 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • norma jean

    interesting … it kind of slides into a feel good ending.  Pretty well done (acting, tech stuff, etc) but didn’t really engage my feelings or mind greatly.  I don’t know if I’d watch another episode or not. 

  • Ken

    Phil,  Almost did not watch it because I am simply not a fan of the narrator. Glad I ended up watching it. Actually I thought it was good. It held me through the whole story, and now I am late for work !

  • Rick Morrison

    First, let me say I am pulling for Schuller. It was probably best the elder’s baton did not pass successfully.

    The new show…it starts with writing. The writing was the beginning of the slide. Pacing was too slow. Robert’s narrative too deliberate. Did not seem natural. Even his smiles. His director needs to work with him to have more of a conversational tone. 

    Once again, I want him to hit it out of the park, whatever he chooses to tackle. But this just doesn’t reach the level of excellence that I associate with anything with the name “Schuller” attached to it.

    The bar is high. But beyond that, the audience’s bar is even higher.

    Retool and go at it again. Robert A., you’ve got what it takes. Don’t play it safe.

  • nancy r

    overall i liked it..great music, good intro and he acting was acceptable. very twilight zone though. maybe mr schuller could narrate without being on screen?

  • Jack

    Good production values. Dramatic structure needs work, but this IS a pilot – and a promising one at that.

    Producer-writer should study story arcs of Twilight Zone/Night Gallery and how Rod Serling fit in; that’s the role I see for Schuller here.

    I would spend time retooling this episode to develop a prototypical story arc for this anthology series before going into first season production.

    Once the pilot is retooled, test it with focus groups comprised of unchurched viewers to see how it is received.

    I watched this after reading “The Last TV Evangelist” and thought this program offered an interesting way forward (parables instead of preaching) based on the points raised in the book.

    I’d be extremely interested to read your take on this, Phil.

     

     

     

     

  • Shawn

    To be honest, I liked the show a whole lot!  Especially, the face that it wasn’t preachy.  Also seems like ALN is trying to get God’s message out there in a different way.  Yes! 

  • Ed

    I thought the concept was great!  I could relate as a man who often feels overwhelmed with responsibilities.  Okay, I’m a workaholic.  That being said,  I’d definitely watch again.  Can’t wait for the next episode.  Does anyone know when it’s going to air?    

  • Jonathan W

    Not usually into shows like this but I have to admit… I was surprised in a good way.  I usually work on Sundays so I don’t always get to church.  

    Might sound strange but watching “Everyday Life” might help me get through through the week. 

  • Malcolm

    On a scale of 1-10.  I’d give it a big 8.5 thumbs up.  Good venue for RAS.  

    Was it Christian enough?  I don’t need to have scripture quoted to be moved by the message.  This message is Christian.  I wish there more uplifting programs like this one. 

    Good luck going forward!

  • joesindorf

    I just watched the show, and then read all of the comments in this thread.  I’m just amazed, dumb-struck, and yes, pissed.

    Listen to yourselves… “slides into a feel good ending” (I guess it would be better if it had rocketed to a feel bad ending);  ”Pretty well done” (yeah, it can be better, but the production values were pretty sweet);  “I really got BORED with it the first 2 minutes of it and started skipping scenes” (guess you’d prefer “Hour of Power”); “Just what we need high quality production, bad acting, and bad theology” (as opposed to Christian TV’s   normal low quality production, good preaching and bad theology); “script is poor, pacing is glacial and narration seemed cumbersome and intrusive” — this makes me crazy… here we have someone trying hard to create something new, fresh, innovative; trying to do it with excellence; and the majority of the comments about it are negative.

    [why is the preacher running zig zag out of the church parking lot?  shut up and reload]

    Yes there’s lots of stuff to fix to make this truly a superb show.  But they are well on their way. I wish I was a part of it.  I’d be incredibly proud if I produced this.  (and yes, I know something about producing good shows — I have one national emmy, two regional emmy awards, G.F.Peabody award, etc…)

    There’s a difference between speaking the truth in love and just being an idiot.   For one, I am celebrating this great effort, and hoping it keeps improving and becomes successful.

    Of course, we could just get the young Schuller behind a pulpit and do another preaching show… now that would be some great TV.

  • mike

    Would like to watch the show…or even better act on some of the episodes.  I’ve always enjoyed RAS teachings.

  • Anne H

    Really appreciated this show.  Reading some of these posts and their criticisms makes me wonder if these people would like anything.  Mayonnaise?  I think not.  There is nothing like this on TV, at least that I’ve seen.  

    Some people just need to criticize everything.  Is the show perfect?  No.  Is it very good?  Yes.  Will it improve with time?  My guess is absolutely.  Thanks to RAS for spearheading this honorable Christian effort.

  • james leon

    WoW!!! U probably got a HiT here but not that it deserves to be because I really got BORED with it the first 2 minutes of it and started skipping scenes. Don’t worry MOST christians will WATCH it because we will DRiNK the KOOL-AiD if we are told.

    seriously, SO MAYONAiSE. (I’m not trying 2 B rude or controversial…just Xtremely bored with this and I’m being BRuTALLY honest with U)

  • Larry Nobles

    Loved the production values and attention to detail. Slow to get started…but I stayed long enough to hold my interest. Like many Faith Based programs, the principles underlying the ability to surrender and “aplogize” are evident, but the struggle to get there is rushed to fit the program time-limit.  Nature of the beast, I guess. Left be wanted to hear a deeper Scriptural understanding for why the human feelings, the need for placing family above the other things in life.  Story line made assumptions without giving the faith foundation, it seemed to me.  I understand the desire to attract those who are turned off by any reference to words used in the Christian faith, but we can’t sustain these surrendered and humbled attitudes on our own.  At least I can’t without Christ. Just my thoughts as I watched.  I would watch another…. lots of positives here…..but it must have cost a fortune and doing that each week would take a bank heist! HA

  • Truett Hancock

    Great production value. Hope all that hard work doesn’t go for not.

  • JOSH

    Awesome! Just what we need high quality production, bad acting, and bad theology. Pass the “God-sprinkles” this is a bitter pill. 

  • Brendan

    It seems like a good idea, but the web implementation is just poor (same achilles heel of GodTube). First, they need to hire a web designer. The white borders around everything tell me they didn’t. Next, a site featuring video can’t have black bars around everything. Even the stuff shot in 16:9 doesn’t take up the entire player window. The program itself looked like it had good production quality, similar to Fireproof. Hope they succeed in this tough economy.

  • steve

    after almost getting into a fender bender last night while checking emails, I thought for a minute the storyline was about me…guys who are A types might relate to Dave more so?

    a little bit cheeseball, but I like a little cheese…I’ve seen worse…gee wiz no sinners prayer? I’d give it a second chance and watch another.

  • http://rmjcommunications.com/ Rick Wilson

    Phil,

    Mixed bag.  Production values decent.  Acting was better than average.  Script is poor, pacing is glacial and narration seemed cumbersome and intrusive.  “Please respect me enough,” I kept saying “to let me decide.”  “Story” by Robert McKee is a great reference point – he’s death on any kind of narration even voice overs.  Always better to write more scenes …

    Black guy as mystical messenger (“are you ready?”) seemed like the “magic negro” characters similar to Will Smith in “Bagger Vance” or Morgan Freeman in “Bruce Almighty.”  Essentially it’s incompletely drawn black folks whose only value is the help they give to white people.

    Also – the town seemed to be locked in “Whitopia” – very white, very Pleasantville.  All we needed was Sarah Palin as a next door neighbor to be a fishing buddy.


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