Line #57 Series/TheRottenTomatoesShow


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rotten_tomatoes_show_5565.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Co-Host Ellen (left) and Host Brett (right)]]
3
4	->''"Everybody's a critic."''
5
6	''The Rotten Tomatoes Show'' (commonly shortened to ''The RT Show'') was a weekly comedy Review Show [[SpinOff based on]] the filmsite Rotten Tomatoes that aired on Current TV. The show mixes elements from traditional Review Shows with SketchComedy and [[{{Troperiffic}} various other tropes]] to create a self-described "fast-paced, comedic journey through the week in cinema."
7
8	Each episode features hosts/writers/producers Ellen Fox and Brett Erlich reviewing three (sometimes two, if it's a slow week) movies that have been (or will be) released that week in theaters. Originally, Ellen and Brett were backed by webcam reviews from viewers (usually members of Current.com or Rotten Tomatoes users), comedians, professional critics, and independent filmmakers. This format changed during Season 2, when the webcam reviews were replaced by solely professional critics in front of a green screen at the show's actual studio. Fan reaction has been, uh...[[TheyChangedItNowItSucks unfavorable]].
9
10	Other than the actual reviews, the show also features various segments scattered throughout. OnceAnEpisode segments are:
11	* '''Top 5 Lists''': Each episode contains one (sometimes two) "Top 5" lists that usually have to do with a new movie out that week in theaters or on DVD. Some of these include "Top 5 Coolest Spaceships", while others are "Top 5 Worst Creator/SylvesterStallone Movies" and such. The two hosts alternate between presenting the lists.
12	* '''Celebrity Top 5 Favorite Films:''' ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin--a celebrity, promoting a new movie, lists (prerecorded, usually at festivals) their 5 Favorite Movies. These celebrities range from actors like Creator/MichaelCaine and Creator/JonahHill to directors like Creator/GeorgeARomero.
13	* '''The Anticipatron:''' Featured before the last movie of the episode is reviewed, in this segment, Brett and Ellen show normally three trailers and give their opinion on how excited they are about it on the titular "Aniticipatron". The levels are made up puns/play-on-words about the trailer (for example, for Danny Boyle's ''127 Hours'', Brett rates it a low "No, Danny Boy, No!") Replaced "Trailer Time", where they would show a trailer and make a brief quirky comment on it.
14	* '''Weekend Peekend:''' The very last part of the show. Brett and Elrich recap the movies out in theaters that they reviewed along with new DVD releases, noting their [[Website/RottenTomatoes "Tomatometer"]] on screen.
15
16	Recurring segments include:
17	* '''[[SketchComedy Sketches]]:''' Commonly, various sketches are included throughout an episode, though this is less common recently. These sketches are usually Throwaway {{Cutaway Gag}}s, sometimes during an actual review.
18	** '''Music Sketches''': Brett plays an acoustic guitar and uses it to accompany his singing (sometimes with Ellen) [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments hilarious]] songs about movie-related subjects, usually as an "Ode" to said subject. Some classic examples include an "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJYAmwOwrs0&feature=channel Ode to Chest Hair]]" and an "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHl5Jp8usVU Ode to Indie Films]]".
19	* '''Screenplay Cliche:''' Cliched/constantly re-used lines from various films are strung together, such as "Did I say that out loud?" A similar segment is '''Screenwriter's Bag of Tricks''', where motifs like climbing through a vent is shown in a similar manner.
20	* '''Lifetime Achievement Award:''' A fake Lifetime Achievement Award "given out" to a certain celebrity. Clips of this celebrity in his various roles are then shown, such as Peter Stormare, recognized as creepy/greasy/sleazy characters in films like ''Film/MinorityReport'', ''Film/BadBoysII'', and ''Film/{{Fargo}}'' who gets an Award for "Greasy Creepitude".
21	* '''Where Were They Then?''': Clips from an embarrassing/interesting old movie a star from one of the movies reviewed that episode did is shown, which comedic explanation of the film by Brett.
22	* '''Secret Movie Confessions:''' A brief confessional given by either one of the hosts or a celebrity at a festival, where they quietly admit an embarrassing movie they like. Varies annually, such as one by Brett where he admits his attraction to Disney Animated Females.
23	* '''In 3 Minutes Or Less:''' Brett or Ellen zoom through the career of a popular actor/actress chronologically while keeping it at or under 3 minutes.
24	* '''Haiku Movie Review''': A haiku description of a movie (usually when it's out on DVD) that sometimes contains a bit of a critical view on it. Abandoned around season 2. And similar in concept is the '''Three Word Review''', which [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin shouldn't need to be explained]].
25	* '''DVD Extra Extra''': Makes fun of all the random DVDBonusContent people throw in.
26
27	The show is not hugely recognized, but does have a solid fanbase and has been acclaimed by the majority of viewers, garnering a very respectable 8.2 star-rating on Website/IMDb. Critical reception, however, is rather mixed. However, the show truly does live up to its promise, being fast-paced, tongue-and-cheek, and normally hilarious with charming hosts, and has provided quite the number of quotes on this wiki.
28
29	Aired on Current TV Thursday nights at 10:30 or online at its official website. Brett and Ellen each have Website/{{Twitter}} accounts at [[http://twitter.com/bretterlich @bretterlich]] and [[http://twitter.com/ellenfox @ellenfox]], respectively, with the show itself's located [[http://twitter.com/RTShow here]].
30
31	''The Rotten Tomatoes Show'' aired from early 2009 until September 2010, when it was surprisingly canned for unknown reasons--there were still RT Show segment on ''infoMania'', but that's probably not enough, and ''infoMania'' was itself canned in 2011 as Current remade its schedule around Keith Olbermann and more "hard" news shows.
32
33	----
34	!!This show contains examples of:
35
36	* FiveFiveFive: The number for Brett's business in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH93jLX9S-I Haunted House Real Estate]] is 555-BOOO.
37	%% * ActionHeroBabysitter: Before reviewing ''Film/TheSpyNextDoor'', the two hosts sing. %%
38	* AirVentPassageway: One of the Screenwriter's Bag of Tricks
39	* AndKnowingIsHalfTheBattle: A Three Word Review of ''Film/{{Knowing}}'' is "Half the battle".
40	* ArtisticLicensePhysics: ''Film/Armageddon1998'' 's notable HollywoodScience is pointed out once.
41	-->''"We are about to SaveTheWorld with questionable physics!"''
42	* BigNo: When Brett finds out, in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OjVkZ2qM-A Haiku Movie Review]] for ''WesternAnimation/CloudyWithAChanceOfMeatballs'', that ''Literature/WhereTheWildThingsAre'' will also get the movie treatment his reaction is less than enthusiastic.
43	* BrickJoke: In the PilotEpisode, a CutawayGag about ''VideoGame/{{Pong}}: The Movie'' pops up briefly later in the episode.
44	* BringMyBrownPants: During the "Top 5 Summer Camps" list, in a sketch of Brett writing a letter at [[Franchise/FridayThe13th Camp Crystal Lake]].
45	-->''"Please send some extra underwear, 'cause I just shit myself."''
46	* CarpetOfVirility: Ellen is clearly a fan seeing as a whole [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJYAmwOwrs0 ode]] was written in honor of them.
47	* CausticCritic: Averted--Brett and Ellen actually like a lot of movies they review.
48	* CensorBox: Used for the almost entirely nude party in ''Caligula'' in the "Top 5 Movie Parties" list, and then lampshaded.
49	-->'''Brett:''' "We'd show you more, but we actually ran out of [[CensorBox black bars]]."
50	* ClipShow: The "Best of ''The Rotten Tomatoes Show''" specials that air once or twice a month.
51	* ClusterFBomb: Less than most, and of course the average cable-inappropriate swears are bleeped, but still existent. For example, in Brett's "Old [=McDonald=]" parody "Potty Mouth Kids", some of the swears are left intact to complete Brett's rhyme while the rest are bleeped out.
52	** Brett on Danny Trejo: "One things for sure: he'll be kicking the shit out of your bitchass."
53	** PrecisionFStrike:
54	--->'''Ellen:''' Welcome to ''The Rotten Tomatoes Show'' on Current; the TV show under investigation by the {{FCC}} for fucking awesomeness!\
55	'''Brett:''' And swearing.
56	* CoolShades: " Shade Tippin'" by Brett examines the phenomena in movie posters.
57	* CreepyChild: "The Top 5 Creepiest Movie Children"
58	* CutawayGag: Common, including the above mentioned ''Pong'' one in the first episode.
59	* DistractedByTheSexy: During "Creator/LeonardoDiCaprio In 3 Minutes or Less", Brett is too distracted by Creator/KateWinslet's bare breasts in ''Film/{{Titanic 1997}}'' to look at Jack's eyes like Jack says to in a clip from the movie.
60	-->'''Brett:''' But how can I, when...boobies?
61	* DontExplainTheJoke:
62	** While reviewing the baseball movie ''Sugar'', Brett says "And he tries to steal home, if you know what I mean. By having sex with her."
63	** When listing the Space Winnebago from ''Film/{{Spaceballs}}'' in the show's "Top 5 Coolest Spaceships" list, Brett shows a clip of the Winnebago jamming ''Spaceball 1'' 's radar with an actual jar of raspberry jam. "S-see, they jammed th-the thing with actual j-jam, and-and--Ah, God, I love this movie."
64	* DownToTheLastPlay: Brett's song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZzSIwCg8o Last Second Plays]] mocks this trope.
65	* IDoNotLikeGreenEggsAndHam: After reviewing ''Film/TheSoloist'', Ellen and Brett share this conversation:
66	-->'''Ellen:''' Last week we were talking about seeing this movie and I thought I was going to hate it and you were excited to see it. So it surprised both of us.\
67	'''Brett:''' That's true, but it's good to know [[AgreeToDisagree we still disagree]].
68	* LampshadedDoubleEntendre:
69	** "And he tries to steal home, if you know what I mean. [[DontExplainTheJoke By having sex with her.]]"
70	** Cookie from ''Film/BestInShow'' makes the Top 5 Movie Sluts. "Everybody's got some skeletons in their closet, but cookie's got an entire boneyard." Then he whispers "Boneyard has two meanings."
71	* LampshadeHanging: This show is very tongue and cheek, and therefore ''several'' things in it are lampshaded by the hosts. Common things are the hosts' opinions differing from the Tomatometer and certain "cheesy" jokes, amongst others.
72	%% * TheMusical: "Saw: The Musical"%%
73	* NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer: Twice
74	** Once during the "Top 5 Movie Parties" list, when Brett mentions a Toga Party Elanor Roosevelt threw in the White House to mock people who idolized her husband.
75	** And then during the "Top 5 Kids Movies Least Appropriate For Children", where Ellen notes that the lead child actor in the movie ''Film/TheToy'' grew up to be in a ridiculous sounding porn movie. Also a touch of RuleThirtyFour.
76	* OhMyGods: Brett's reaction to the ''Film/{{Clash of the Titans\|2010}}'' trailer.
77	* OohMeAccentsSlipping: When Brett plays the [[Accent Coach]] Buck Smithee, he starts losing his character accent when he teaches his final lesson: [[NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent Sometimes The Best Accent Is No Accent]].
78	* OurVampiresAreDifferent: Addressed during the "Top 5 Worst Vampire Powers".
79	* PictorialLetterSubstitution: The title logo inserts two different tomatoes for the o's in "Tomatoes."
80	* ProducePelting: Other than the name itself, the scene transition back to the normal show after the title sequence is a cartoon rotten tomato being thrown directly at the scene.
81	* ProudToBeAGeek: Brett, who's very open about his sci-fi movie lovin' geekiness.
82	* ReadingTheStageDirectionsOutLoud:
83	** In one of the last episodes:
84	--->'''Brett:''' Here's the Weekend Peek-awkward pause-end. Wait, I think I did that wrong.
85	** Brett used this during the 2009 Year Endies Awards Show when Ellen mentions the writers of the show.
86	* ShoutOut: Tons pop out over the show. Notably, the TitleSequence itself features 6 brief animated scenes where tomato(es) parody the movies (in order) ''Film/{{Jaws}}'', ''Film/OfficeSpace'', ''Film/ApocalypseNow'', ''Film/ForrestGump'', ''Film/BrokebackMountain'', and ''Film/{{Tron}}'' timed with the title score.
87	* ShowWithinAShow: Generally used in throw-away skits like " Movie Theology with Father Brett" and "Prying".
88	* SketchComedy: Throughout.
89	* SpitTake: A sketch called, naturally, "The Art of the Spit Take".
90	* StaringContest: After singing their Ode to Indy Films, the two hosts break into a staring contest.
91	* TheStinger: Is either a) Brett, Brett and Ellen, or Ellen in front of a webcam talking about something about next week's show, that episode, or a story one of them wants to share, or b) a Brett Blooper Reel from the episode's taping. Sometimes there's nothing altogether.
92	* TechnoBabble: ''Franchise/StarTrek'' wins the Lifetime Achievement Award.
93	* ViewersAreMorons: Ellen in the 2009 Year Endies opening theme song:
94	-->"We'll praise and pan 2009 while you sit down on your rear endies. Ha-ha you fat asses."
95	* YaoiFangirl: While reviewing ''Film/ScottPilgrimVsTheWorld'', Ellen said that she would have preferred Scott's gay roomate over Ramona as the love interest. She then smiled and said 'But that's a different movie.'

Context Series / TheRottenTomatoesShow