The Greatest Show Never Made (2023) User Reviews

"BONKERS!"

[paul-allaer · 6/10 · 23 October 2023]

As Episode 1 of "The Greatest Show Never Made" (2023 release from the UK; 3 episodes ranging 42 to 49 minutes) opens, we are reminded that reality TV was exploding everywhere, and the biggest show was of course Big Brother, making stars out of the contestants. One day an ad appears in a London publication called The Stage, calling for contestants for a year-long new reality show. A number of candidates apply, and show up for the first audition... At this point we are 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: this mini-series is directed by Ashley Francis-Roy, an up and coming British talent. Here the director reflects on the madness that was Britain in the early 00's, including reality TV. This mini-series looks at how a con-man tries to make a reality TV show out of nothing, literally. One of the talking heads appearing in this observes today: "Back in 2002 people were more trusting, today it would be called for what it is: a scam." That just about sums it up. It nevertheless is fascinating ton see how the contestants take it all, and even more so, how they reflect on this now 20 years later. That said, the 3 part mini-series could've probably been deal with in a regular 90 min. Documentary.

"The Greatest Show Never Made" started streaming on Amazon Prime just this past weekend. I read an interesting review about it in Friday's NY Times. If you are a fan of reality TV, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

Interesting, didn't need to be 3 episodes

[thesuefunke · 6/10 · 12 November 2023]

3rd episode is the best, you can honestly skip to that cause that is where it all comes together. The style of documentary might be the best part because it's old footage, and new footage recreated in the flat all the original footage took place in.

As an American, I don't know how much this made news when it occurred but it's interesting the levels of fame it illustrates.

If you're looking for a different type of documentary that is kinda cult mentality/ what people will do for a piece of fame / somewhat of a redemption story - This show will itch that scratch quite well.

TLDR: just watch the final episode.

Bloated docuseries that just keeps repeating itself

[bczech-46-485595 · 5/10 · 28 February 2024]

The current trend of docuseries, covering a single topic over several episodes, has caused series like this one. While the topic is intriguing it appears that the producers felt compelled to stretch this topic, painfully over 2 hour long episodes. In truth, the subject could have been edited down to a tight 60 or loose 90 and, in turn, have been a more successful production.

Unfortunately, the direction taken was to repeat footage, interviews, etc. Again and again to fill an unnecessary void in order to achieve 3 episodes. If that was not the case, then perhaps the producers should reconsider there choice in career path.

Sympathy for the con artist?

[ThatDoesntMatter · 3 November 2023]

This show ended differently to what I expected.

Because it ended with none if the hard questions asked or answered, instead leaving the wishywashy 'explanation' of the pathological liar just hanging in the rooms they recreated.

Were the initial contestants a bit stupid for falling for his con? Yes, they were.

But their stupidity is forgiveable, especially as they did see through it once confronted with the big 'producer'.

Even if I am the only person on Earth to read Mr Russian as I did, I stand by my truth o meter readings, and they are waaaaaay in the red.

He wanted to get rich off of his grand idea somehow, and he knew it was a lie from the start.

Imagine how much time and thinking he put into the creation of that 6 page contract. Its content alone screams deliberate fraud.

Makimg up people as employees in his production company. Yeah, sure, Nik, that was all for a good thing.

He was so deluded that instead of saying no thank you to London Tonight he let them interview him and presented the audience with more of his deranged nonsense.

How were these people to make £ 100,000 each in a year starting with nothing? Beg some coins and win in a casino? Rob a bank? Marry and then off a millionaire?

Nik was not asked that question.

I don't even believe him when he says he was homeless.

Or anything really.

I have known pathological liars and con artists. They don't lie All The Time. They spin in truth, and they are very convincing, and charming, they are lightning quick in adapting their lies.

Of course they are all troubled. Everyone's troubled.

So I was disappointed that it was not about truth after all.

I know all life is about stories, the stories we create ourselves about our experiences and interpretations.

But whether you are genuine or not, i.e. Whether you are true to your inner story, that shines through.

And Nik, to the very last, was always first thinking about what to say next. 'Humility works best here', was his inside choice. 'Sticking to my story works best here, makes me just seem stupid, not vicious'. A sociopath, was all I thought.

I do not care whether I may be a little (not all) wrong there. Maybe he is reformed, or just awkward and still self-delusional. I saw no real contrition, no reality, just a show of reality. Haha.

And the would be contestants saying their lives changed for the better? How about it might have been even better without having been conned? You make the best of situations, don't make correlations out of chronological occurances.

And at least one person's life was affected negatively.

The song at the end was the best thing.

Could have been much more real.

Interesting insight into non-materialising Big Brother spin-off

[wellthatswhatithinkanyway · 7/10 · 12 November 2023]

STAR RATING: ***** Brilliant **** Very Good *** Okay ** Poor * Awful

In 2002, the 'reality TV' craze was riding high, after Jade Goody's victory in Big Brother, but for those who didn't get through to that, an ad was placed in a personal column for a reality show to rival that. A group of distinctive, quirky personalities were asked to give up their homes, lives and jobs for a year to appear on a new show to rival BB, only for the show to never materialise, leaving each of the individuals without their dream moment. Twenty years later, the group are reunited, while the failed producer, who now goes by the name of N Quentin Woolf, looks on.

With the recent resurrection of Big Brother, the original 'reality TV' production, on ITV (I think), it's timely that this intriguing little production from Amazon Prime has risen up, documenting a production that wasn't so lucky. It caught my eye to begin with given the dark edge it seemed to possess, given this was a group of people who were asked to give up everything about their lives, but as it turns out, this is a largely light hearted and fluffy piece that looks back with a sentimental glint.

The group on display are the usual type of exhibitionists and extroverts, who in one way or another have to show off and stand out, but none are particularly unlikeable or overly narcissistic in any way, and even as their dilemma was unfolding, they seem to react to the situation with humour and resignation, which is much the way they appear in the present, without much in the way of bitterness. The man behind it all, Woolf, seems genuinely contrite and regretful over everything that happened, just a situation that spiralled out of control. The apparent naivety of the participants comes off as a reflection of the time, as one of them laments, a column ad like that in the present day would scream alarm bells, but at the time, it's more conceivable that people could get sucked in.

Director Ashley Francis-Roy condenses everything into a neat and succinct three episodes that ensures everything doesn't become overwhelming. It's a fact-is-stranger-than-fiction tale, that is fitting for the modern reality TV obsessed world we live in. ***

Booooooooring!

[schweinrich · 1/10 · 6 November 2023]

I am almost 20 minutes into the first episode. And I think that is as far as I am going to get.

It is so long drawn, and mindnumbingly boring, that it´s impressive. I think they are trying to set the scene, for what is about to come. But get to the point, FFS!

I have watched shows on Netflix mostly, before. And some of them suffer from the clear fault, that they are reminescent of when someone has to write a X letters essay for school, but can´t really come up with enough content for it. So it just becomes a matter of being as long winded as possible, without having any actual meat on the bone.

And it seems to be the same for this show.

Started off thinking they were all idiots, but ended up wanting to hug them all, including Nik.

[prestonmick-975-597748 · 8/10 · 22 October 2023]

Stuck this on while having a slobby Sunday and wasn't expecting much but I'm so glad I stuck with it.

A group of people seeking fame and fortune end up leaving home, careers, relationships to be on a year long reality TV show and end up having reality bite them instead.

What's great about this show is that it treats everyone with the utmost respect and it really shows. You'll care about them and I love how they recreate the flat while they're interviewing individual 'contestants' now in 2023. And then it cuts to footage from 2012 while they're all in Tim's pad.

The final episode is the best and it's fascinating. You couldn't wish for a sweeter group of people who all have big hearts and it's a joy to see.

Well done to the team that made this, edited it and put it all together in such a kind, heartwarming way.

This was not what I was expecting... in a good way!

[beth_curtis11 · 10/10 · 17 November 2023]

I really enjoyed this crazy and bizarre story. If you like really interesting bizarre pop culture stories like I am, you'll love this docu-series.

At its core, this story is about the bringing together of some lovely but vulnerable young souls in the strangest of ways...and a few little lies- where the bad guy isn't always a bad guy. Maybe just a broken kid who was trying to make something of his life and unknowingly and irresponsibly dragged others down and under in his wake.

A side note, I really loved the production of this show, the recreation of the apartment was so clever and was a really fun way to tell the story. Kudos to the production team for that one.

Slow start, but gets you in the end

[spate_expenseq · 9/10 · 26 January 2024]

The first episode takes way too long a time to state the obvious about reality TV in the late 90s and early 2000's.

Persist anyway. It's worth it.

In episodes two and three the characters start to come out more and the tale develops into a very interesting drama.

Finally in episode 3 the series builds into a story about young people reaching for their dreams, facing disappointment and then looking back at how our decisions make us who we are.

It all came together in a welcome closure by the end.

Finally in episode 3 the series builds into a story about young people reaching for their dreams.