Acceptable TV

Acceptable TV is an innovative and interactive concept that aired on VH1 in the year 2007. The show was a captivating blend of reality television, sketch comedy, and user-generated content, which delved into tapping the creative reservoir of the internet community. It was a brainchild of Jack Black's production company, Electric Dynamite, along with Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab, the gurus of improvisational humorous storytelling.

The show was designed to leverage the power of the internet in an era when online content was beginning to flourish. With the advent of social media platforms and the establishment of online communities, Acceptable TV demonstrated a democratic and participatory nature to television programming. It endeavored to rip apart the barrier between the creators and the audience, foster the concept of user-interaction, and pave the way for crowd-sourced creativity.

In principle, the format of Acceptable TV was akin to a creative incubator that amalgamates the work of professional writers and directors with the imaginations of ordinary viewers. Every episode of the series features five short television shows that run approximately two to five minutes in length. This was an effective strategy in our increasingly multitasking world, where viewers demand faster, more intense entertainment.

Acceptable TV explicitly aimed to initiate a two-way interaction with the audience. After the five short mini-shows aired, viewers were given the power to decide the fate of these shows. They could visit the official website to cast their votes for their favourite mini-shows and the two receiving the most votes would continue to the next episode with a new installment. The remaining three would be replaced by new mini-shows. Thus, the format championed the elements of competition and survival via creator-audience interplay and maintained a dynamic, ever-evolving lineup of content.

Importantly, Acceptable TV made a point to cater to not just the passive viewers, but also the creative audience members. The show's platform incorporated a feature called "Home Edition", which allowed viewers to produce and upload their own mini-shows. Each week, one of the sketches from "Home Edition" was chosen to air on the actual television show, thereby providing the masses an opportunity to showcase their creative prowess on a national platform. This feature not only enhanced the participatory nature of the show but introduced a new wave of budding talent to the industry.

The sketches in the series catered to a wide array of genres. From spoofs of popular television and movie genres to unique storytelling concepts infused with hilarity and wit, Acceptable TV marked a territory of its own in the television industry. It was a venture that did not merely aim to entertain but actively tried to redefine the scope of creative freedom, viewer engagement, and the overall television watching experience.

Behind the scenes, Acceptable TV had a team of creative powerhouses. Apart from being executive produced by film and television star Jack Black and the innovative team at Electric Dynamite, Acceptable TV's directorial and writing duties were fulfilled by Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab. Harmon is well-known as the creator of NBC's comedy series "Community" and Adult Swim's animated show "Rick and Morty." Schrab, a comedic talent of high regard, is the co-founder of Channel 101 and a crucial contributor to several episodes of "The Sarah Silverman Program."

In retrospect, Acceptable TV was a landmark show that ingrained the power of internet and online communities into the world of traditional television entertainment, which had essentially been a one-way communication medium hitherto. By providing an unprecedented level of access and interaction, making viewers a part of the creative process, and promoting direct viewer-showrunner engagement, VH1's Acceptable TV laid the groundwork for the future of participatory television and viewer-friendly programming. It was, indeed, a significant leap towards democratic television, which is now more relevant than ever in our digital age of participatory culture and crowd-sourced creativity. Through its series, Acceptable TV essentially endorsed the idea that television is not merely a "distribution mechanism but a gathering place," a place for community, creativity, and interaction.