Decoder Ring: Reconsidering One of the “Worst” TV Shows of All Time – Detailed Summary

Introduction

In this episode of Decoder Ring, Slate Podcasts delves into the infamous television show Pink Lady and Jeff, widely regarded as one of the worst TV shows in history. Host Evan Chung, alongside co-host Willa Paskin, explores the creation, execution, and aftermath of this notorious variety show. Featuring insights from key figures involved, including Sid Croft and Jeff Altman, the episode provides a comprehensive look at why Pink Lady and Jeff failed spectacularly despite its high-profile production team and ambitious goals.

Background and Concept

The episode begins by setting the stage for Pink Lady and Jeff, a variety show that aimed to bring Japanese pop sensations Pink Lady to American television. Sid Croft, a seasoned producer, recounts how the opportunity arose:

Sid Croft [04:50]: "Oh, my God. They're, like, bigger than the Beatles in Japan. They play stadiums and they love them. He said, just let me fly them in. I'll never forget them."

Fred Silverman, the head of NBC programming, saw immense potential in Pink Lady, envisioning them as the next big variety show stars in the vein of established acts like Donny & Marie. The Croft brothers, known for their success with Donny & Marie, were tasked with adapting Pink Lady for American audiences.

Production Challenges

As Evan Chung narrates, numerous challenges surfaced early in the production process:

Jeff Altman [28:45]: "We kept saying to our managers, what can they do? And they go, oh, they can do anything. Whatever you write, they'll be able to do. And I said, now, wait a minute. You know, if we write open heart surgery, they can't do that."

A significant hurdle was the language barrier. Pink Lady members Keiko Masuda and Kaei Yoshida could not speak English fluently, which complicated scriptwriting and on-set communication.

Sid Croft [29:12]: "Do you understand a word that Sid or I Did you understand? And they shook their head no, they don't understand anything."

This led to a strained production environment where Pink Lady had to memorize lines phonetically without fully understanding them, impacting their performance quality.

Show Execution and Reception

Despite the production woes, Pink Lady and Jeff debuted on March 1, 1980. The show's format included traditional variety segments—singing, dancing, comedy sketches—partnered with an American co-host, Jeff Altman, aiming to blend Japanese pop flair with American variety traditions.

However, the show was met with rapid decline:

Sid Croft [53:13]: "It was awful."

Critics panned the show for its awkward integration of non-English-speaking hosts and clunky humor, leading to plummeting ratings. By episode five, the show was canceled, and the sixth episode was never aired.

Behind the Scenes Struggles

The episode highlights internal conflicts and pressures that exacerbated the show's failure:

• Guest Star Issues: Booking high-profile guests proved difficult, often resulting in last-minute changes that disrupted scripted segments.

Jeff Altman [42:10]: "So we had to literally write the scripts without stars. They would come into us and say, what's on show three? We gotta send the TV Guide listing in. We didn't know we would write something and hope we got like the time."

• Exhaustion and Cultural Disconnect: Pink Lady's members were overwhelmed by the demanding schedule and cultural differences, leading to emotional and physical strain.

Keiko Masuda [52:01]: "Pink lady had shot up in the world like a rocket, all the way to the moon. But there was another me, the me that was still there with her feet on the ground."

Legacy and Reflection

Pink Lady and Jeff is often cited as a cautionary tale in television history. Despite its failure, the show had a lasting impact on the variety show genre and paved the way for future international crossovers in entertainment.

Jeff Altman [54:12]: "I think that reputation is held by a lot of people who never saw the show and who just heard, oh, they put two girls who couldn't speak English on tv. That deserves to be the worst show ever. Just for that reason alone."

Evan Chung reflects on the show's failure, noting that it was not merely its content but the mismatch between Pink Lady's strengths and the imposed American variety format that led to its downfall.

Evan Chung [55:19]: "But audiences were not going to grade Pink lady on a curve. They expected them to be like standard American variety stars. But me and K were not standard American variety stars. And that's why NBC had brought them over, because they were huge Japanese pop stars, because Pink lady was exceptional. But then the network had forced them into the familiar American variety show host template. It was like NBC chickened out or completely missed the point of what had made Pink lady stars to begin with."

Reassessment and Modern Context

The episode concludes by reassessing Pink Lady and Jeff in the context of today's global entertainment landscape, where non-English-speaking artists have found substantial success internationally.

Keiko Masuda [58:34]: "Unfortunately, Japan took us disappearing at that time as something like us throwing Japan in the garbage bin."

Kaei Yoshida [57:47]: "Me and K had always dreamed of making it in America. It did have significance to them, but the United States is not the center of the cultural universe. It just wasn't worth it to them to continue, especially when their real careers, their Japanese careers, needed attention."

Evan Chung emphasizes that Pink Lady was ahead of its time, foreshadowing the global pop phenomena like BTS that have successfully navigated international markets by maintaining their cultural identities while appealing to global audiences.

Evan Chung [58:47]: "Hong Kong and South Korea, groups like BTS have achieved exactly the crossover dominance that NBC had hoped for. Me and K could continue to have solo careers in Japan, and they've reunited as Pink lady several times over the past four decades because audiences still want to see their synchronized dance moves, still want to hear their catchy confections. Because it doesn't matter where you're listening from, a perfect pop song is still a perfect pop song."

Conclusion

Pink Lady and Jeff serves as a historical example of the complexities involved in cross-cultural entertainment ventures. The episode "Decoder Ring: Reconsidering One of the “Worst” TV Shows of All Time" provides a nuanced exploration of the show's rise and fall, highlighting lessons on cultural sensitivity, creative autonomy, and the importance of aligning production formats with the unique strengths of international talents.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Sid Croft [04:50]: "Oh, my God. They're, like, bigger than the Beatles in Japan. They play stadiums and they love them."
• Jeff Altman [28:45]: "We kept saying to our managers, what can they do? And they go, oh, they can do anything."
• Sid Croft [29:12]: "Do you understand a word that Sid or I Did you understand?"
• Keiko Masuda [52:01]: "Pink lady had shot up in the world like a rocket, all the way to the moon."
• Jeff Altman [54:12]: "That deserves to be the worst show ever."
• Evan Chung [55:19]: "Audiences were not going to grade Pink lady on a curve."
• Keiko Masuda [58:34]: "Japan took us disappearing at that time as something like us throwing Japan in the garbage bin."
• Evan Chung [58:47]: "Groups like BTS have achieved exactly the crossover dominance that NBC had hoped for."

Final Thoughts

Pink Lady and Jeff remains a fascinating case study in television history, illustrating both the potential and pitfalls of international entertainment collaborations. This episode of Decoder Ring not only recounts the show's troubled production but also invites listeners to consider how cultural expectations and production constraints can significantly influence the success or failure of media ventures.