According to reports, the premiere episode had less than one million viewers and were down to 772,00 in mid August when the time slot was changed to 11:30 PM. It seems we will not see any more episodes until Oct. 7th, when they dump the remaining episodes on the air and wash their hands of the show. Well, we had a good run of 7 weeks anyway.
We are not sure what we will do with the blog. Watching 5 episodes all at once may be more than we can bear. What do you think? Will you watch all five in the planned marathon? Would you like to read recaps of the shows? I can already picture Marina’s reaction and I will not be sorry to see her gone most of all.
Russian Dolls Cancelled? Get The Smelling Salts!
It is very sad that the show did not have enough viewers. I liked the show and, as a russian, I originally heard about it from the russian press. But when asking
ReplyDeleteAmericans about it, I found that they had never heard of it. It seems that Lifetime's marketing strategy of little advertising on other networks, no reruns, and an airing time in the middle of Jersey Shore have not paid off. To make matters worse, the network saw the low number of viewers and decided that airing the show even later would help...it didn't. I liked the show because I saw within it the character my friends and neighbors. There are both good and not very good people, interesting and boring people, and everywhere in between. The people portrayed are real. I love your blog, Nina. I find it fair, funny and smart. And I will at least enjoy the five episodes together more than one short airing. Hope it will be good.
Sue I love your comment and I would like it if you tried my blog "Pet Peeves" where I write about everything under the sun. You can find the link on the right hand side of the screen under blogs we write. You may enjoy the varied topics. Lifetime did many things that went against common sense, the first being airing it opposite Jersey Shore. I really should blog Lifetime's mistakes! Thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteThere is certainly a lot of missed opportunities. But I think the root cause has to do with the fact that there is nothing original about this show that mainstream America would care to see. If they kept the name Brighton Beach, and instead of sticking the word Russian this and Russian that into every sentence, they could have made a fun show about Russian speaking inhabitants of Brighton Beach, many of them Jewish, with a sense of humor that will make Jackie Mason pale in comparison. Instead, they went for the vulgar and the banal. There are other shows like that, there is no room for one more...
ReplyDeleteYes Anon, you have very valid comments and I agree with all of them. The Russian comments seemed forced into every situation and was one of the big problems about the show.
ReplyDeleteNina, glad you agree with me! The Russian thing bordered on the ridiculous. They created some contrived proverbs that I personally never heard of. And those stupid phrases, like "in the Russian community, you have to watch what you say" LOL Does it mean that in other communities you DON'T have to watch what you say.:-)? They even managed to stick the word Russian in the cemetery visit. As a Russian and as a Jew, I can confirm that there is nothing Russian about this traditional Jewish ritual. And the conversations in the English language between the older characters were so forced, staged and un-natural...It was like pulling teeth. They indeed could have made a good Borscht Belt show that mainstream America may have accepted, like they accepted Jackie Mason or even Yakov Smirnoff...
ReplyDeleteLeo, first I have to tell you I adore jackie Mason and saw him on Broadway! I have watched him since I was child when he was on Ed Sullivan. Maybe they should have invited him on the show? One of the things I noticed was the way they were complaining about Russian parents being so demanding and hard to please. I know my parents could be described that way also, they wanted the best for us. And I will add, they would have never put up with the likes of Anastasia, switching majors and adding all those extra years of tuition. That is just disgraceful!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nina! I enjoyed reading your blog! Too bad I discovered it too late. Actually just two days ago, right when this travesty of a show got cancelled... :-( I will follow your other blog. Will still watch the remaining 5 episodes (at least I will fast forward through them on my DVR:-) just to see if the remaining episodes are any better. I doubt it though:-) I share your views on Renata, but I am partial - she has been a dear friend of my family for a long time, and I am a big fan of her - even on this show. Hope the exposure will give her an opportunity to launch show biz career and help her other ventures.
ReplyDeleteWe'd like to read your recap bc chances are we'll never watch the eps ourselves.. what a shame. we had really high hopes for the show and it really could have been great had there been better producers and more promotion.
ReplyDeleteI am not Russian, and enjoyed the show for the entertainment value. Obviously, I would never believe that the majority of Jewish-Russian people making their home in America would be that greedy, selfish, and utterly vain. But as a train wreck the show was a hoot!
ReplyDeleteHi1 I've watched every episode of Russian Dolla and loved it. I grew up in the middle of NYC, so I could relate to the tight knit community.
ReplyDeleteI think that the angle of the show could have focused a litle more on the community to get viewers more involved. Young old, rich, middle class and poor....perhaps take them through the neighborhood and give people the real feel....I know the show was not well received by the community, so perhaps incorporate that aspect into the show...get people to discuss their emotions on tv...that's real t.v.
I'm a writer with a background in marketng, public relations, law and other areas....If you need a good writer....contact me at seowriter365@gmail.com -- my name is Nina...no not the Nina that's posted here, but another one. Yes, I do have Russian blood running through my veins :)!
i liked it!
ReplyDeleteHello Nina and Melissa! I'm a university student who is doing a report on the Russian Dolls tv show- I would like to interview you both. Is there an email I can contact you guys at?
ReplyDeleteDashofgold send me your email and I will contact you privately. You may want to speak to the Russian Dolls themselves, depending on the slant you want your report to take.
ReplyDeleteHi Nina - how can I send you my email privately? And yes, I would very much like/need to speak to the Russian Dolls as well, it will be necessary for my report.
ReplyDeleteThanks God
ReplyDeleteIt cancelled!!!! Yes
I am american also and I loved the show!My husband is Bosnian and tho the culture is very different from the russian culture I did see many similaritys...Im sad to see the end of it although Had it not been for on demand I wouldnt have even known the show existed!
ReplyDeleteWhy is this show called "Russian Dolls" when everyone on the show is Jewish? I am an ethnic Russian, NOT jewish, and it upsets me that all these jews are calling themselves Russians. I am glad that this show was cancelled. I am sick of jews pretending to be Russians.
ReplyDelete^ Antisemitic much? The show was called Russian Dolls, not Jewish Dolls. If it had then maybe you'd have an argument. So basically you're saying it's impossible to both and they're wrong. If you don't like it, go back to your own country. We never liked Russians anyway. Can't you tell by the ratings?
ReplyDelete