Barely Famous

Barely Famous is an American reality television parody on VH1. The first season was 6 episodes broadcast on Wednesday nights at 9:30, starting March 18, 2015.[2] On April 28, 2015 VH1 announced that the show had been renewed for a second six-episode season which premiered on June 29, 2016.[1]

Barely Famous
Genre
Created by
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producers
  • Erin Foster
  • Sara Foster
  • Jason Carbone
  • Nick Lee
  • Oly Obst
  • Josh Lieberman
  • Kimberly Carver
  • Jill Holmes
  • Kristen Kelly
  • Fernando Mills
  • Tricia Biggio
  • Susan Levison [1]
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companies
Release
Original networkVH1
Original releaseMarch 18, 2015 (2015-03-18) –
July 27, 2016 (2016-07-27)

Background

The show was created by sisters Sara and Erin Foster who stated via a press release that they were influenced by The Larry Sanders Show, Extras and The Comeback and that "By design, the show pokes fun at the reality show genre as we play these stereotypical, delusional sisters who find themselves shooting a reality show".[3] Erin said, "I wanted to sell a show about fame and celebrities and wealth and vanity and Hollywood".[4] According to Susan Levison, VH1's Executive Vice President of original programming, the goal of the show was "to present a humorous take on reality TV and the rarified world of Hollywood".[5]

Premise

The show follows quasi-famous sisters Sara and Erin Foster around in a reality show format, but it is scripted and they play exaggerated satirical versions of themselves, and get into various predicaments.[5]

Celebrity appearances

Cameos

The show has had brief appearances by Amanda de Cadenet, Ashley Benson, Milla Jovovich, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Rachel Zoe, Courteney Cox, Nicole Richie, Kevin Connolly and Molly Sims as themselves.[2] In addition to return appearances by Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson, in the second season Chris Martin, Chelsea Handler, Zach Braff, Kate Upton, Cindy Crawford, Brooke Burke, Dr. Phil, Ali Larter, Lauren London and Joey Fatone have appearances as themselves.[6] In an interview, Sara Foster said that they'd originally wanted Mindy Kaling to play the part of a TV doctor but after Kaling was not available for filming, they offered Upton the part and it was accepted.

Guest roles

Comedian Esther Povitsky played a receptionist at an exclusive private school in the 3rd episode titled "Favorite Socks". In the 6th episode titled "Bananas Foster", Kay Cannon appeared as a lesbian director version of herself who was considering casting Sara for a part, and Sara falsely says her sister is both single and still a lesbian in order to get Cannon to attend her house party.

In the 4th show of the second season "Death of a Relationship", Jonathan Goldsmith plays a much older love interest of Erin who dies from a heart attack after taking up power lifting.

Episodes

Season 1 (2015)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
11"Barely Famous"Jason A. CarboneUnknownMarch 18, 2015 (2015-03-18)0.122[7]
22"Not a Booty Call"Jason A. CarboneUnknownMarch 25, 2015 (2015-03-25)0.065[8]
33"Favourite Socks"Jason A. CarboneUnknownApril 1, 2015 (2015-04-01)0.081[9]
44"Be More Likeable"Jason A. CarboneUnknownApril 8, 2015 (2015-04-08)0.127[10]
55"The Foster Sisters' Sisters"Jason A. CarboneUnknownApril 15, 2015 (2015-04-15)0.146[11]
66"Bananas Foster"Jason A. CarboneUnknownApril 22, 2015 (2015-04-22)N/A

Season 2 (2016)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
71"Career Goals"UnknownUnknownJune 29, 2016 (2016-06-29)0.217[12]
82"No Scrubs"UnknownUnknownJune 29, 2016 (2016-06-29)0.130[12]
93"The Vacation Episode"UnknownUnknownJuly 6, 2016 (2016-07-06)0.244[13]
104"Death of a Relationship"UnknownUnknownJuly 13, 2016 (2016-07-13)0.168[14]
115"Love & Upton"UnknownUnknownJuly 20, 2016 (2016-07-20)0.188[15]
126"Breaking Blonde"UnknownUnknownJuly 27, 2016 (2016-07-27)0.220[16]

Reception

Amy Amatangelo, writing for The Hollywood Reporter, called the show "Part mockumentary, part reality show, part sitcom and entirely hilarious" and said the show works because "the innately likable siblings are willing to be the brunt of the joke".[4]

Ellie Shechet, in a review for The Muse – Jezebel, said that the show was surprisingly great. While characterizing the show as one that makes you giggle (not laugh) and as relatively funny, she said that she couldn't wait for season 2.[17]

David Hinkley, in a review for the New York Daily News, felt that the show was taking on an impossible task – trying to create situations that are sillier or more outlandish than what is already on reality shows. And he felt it was "not at all hilarious" and in the end more likely to make us "nod off".[18]

Allison Keene, in a review for Collider gave the Pilot a "3-star Good" rating (Proceed with cautious optimism). She said the show was "fun, and while it has a clear sense of the scene it's deconstructing with perceptive humor, it's never mean".[19]

References
  1. Wagmeister, Elizabeth (April 28, 2015). "VH1 Renews 'Barely Famous' for a Second Season". Variety. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  2. Abrams, Natalie (February 17, 2015). "VH1 debuts trailer for faux-reality show Barely Famous". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  3. Kondolojy, Amanda (November 5, 2014). "VH1 Announces New Docu-Comedy Series "Barely Famous" Featuring Erin & Sara Foster". Zap2it. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  4. Amatengelo, Amy (March 16, 2015). "'Barely Famous': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  5. Bacle, Ariana (April 28, 2015). "VH1 renews Barely Famous for second season". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  6. Lepore, Meredith (June 29, 2016). "Why 'Barely Famous' Is Going to Be Your Must-See Summer Show". observer.com. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  7. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Wednesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 3.18.2015". ShowBuzzDaily. March 19, 2015. Archived from the original on March 20, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  8. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Wednesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 3.25.2015". ShowBuzzDaily. March 26, 2015. Archived from the original on March 28, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  9. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Wednesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 4.1.2015". ShowBuzzDaily. April 2, 2015. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  10. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Wednesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 4.8.2015". ShowBuzzDaily. April 9, 2015. Archived from the original on April 11, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  11. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Wednesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 4.15.2015". ShowBuzzDaily. April 16, 2015. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  12. "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.29.2016". ShowBuzzDaily. July 7, 2016. Archived from the original on July 3, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  13. "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.6.2016". ShowBuzzDaily. July 7, 2016. Archived from the original on July 8, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  14. "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.13.2016". ShowBuzzDaily. July 14, 2016. Archived from the original on July 15, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  15. "ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.20.2016". ShowBuzzDaily. July 21, 2016. Archived from the original on July 22, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  16. "ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.27.2016". ShowBuzzDaily. July 28, 2016. Archived from the original on July 28, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  17. Shechet, Ellie (April 24, 2015). "Dang, VH1's Barely Famous Is Surprisingly Great (!?)". themuse.jezebel.com. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  18. Hinkley, David (March 18, 2015). "'Barely Famous' review: VH1 reality-show sendup is hardly necessary (and not all that hilarious)". New York Daily News. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  19. Keene, Allison (March 13, 2015). "Barely Famous Review". Collider.com. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
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