''Barely Famous'' is an American
reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...
parody
A parody, also known as a spoof, a satire, a send-up, a take-off, a lampoon, a play on (something), or a caricature, is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satiric or ironic imitation. Often its subj ...
on
VH1. The first season was 6 episodes broadcast on Wednesday nights at 9:30, starting March 18, 2015.
On April 28, 2015 VH1 announced that the show had been renewed for a second six-episode season which premiered on June 29, 2016.
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
''The Larry Sanders Show'' is an American television sitcom set in the office and studio of a fictional late-night talk show. The series was created by Garry Shandling and Dennis Klein and aired from August 15, 1992, to May 31, 1998, on the HBO ...
'', ''
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". Erin said, "I wanted to sell a show about fame and celebrities and wealth and vanity and Hollywood".
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".
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.
Celebrity appearances
Cameos
The show has had brief appearances by
Amanda de Cadenet
Amanda de Cadenet (; born 19 May 1972) is an English photographer, author, and media personality based in Los Angeles, United States. She began her entertainment career in the 1990s, first as a presenter for British series '' The Word'' and ''The ...
,
Ashley Benson
Ashley Victoria Benson (born December 18, 1989) is an American actress, model, and singer. She is known for her role as Hanna Marin in the teen mystery-drama series ''Pretty Little Liars'' (2010–2017). Benson has starred in films, including ' ...
,
Milla Jovovich
Milica Bogdanovna Jovovich; sr-Latn, Milica Bogdanovna Jovović; russian: Милица Богдановна Йовович; uk, Милиця Богданoвна Йовович ( ; born December 17, 1975), known professionally as Milla Jovo ...
,
Kate Hudson
Kate Garry Hudson (born April 19, 1979) is an American actress and businesswoman. She has received numerous awards and nominations, including a Golden Globe Award, a Critics' Choice Movie Award and a Satellite Award, as well as nominations f ...
,
Jessica Alba
Jessica Marie Alba ( ; born April 28, 1981) is an American actress and businesswoman. She began her television and movie appearances at age 13 in '' Camp Nowhere'' and '' The Secret World of Alex Mack'' (1994), and rose to prominence at age 19 ...
,
Rachel Zoe
Rachel Zoe Rosenzweig (born September 1, 1971) is an American fashion designer, businesswoman and author who rose to prominence as a celebrity wardrobe stylist. She has been credited with the creation of "the boho-meets-rock chic look that came ...
,
Courteney Cox
Courteney Bass Cox (previously Courteney Cox Arquette; born June 15, 1964) is an American actress and filmmaker. She gained international recognition for her starring role as Monica Geller on the NBC sitcom '' Friends'', which aired from 1994 ...
,
Nicole Richie
Nicole Camille Richie (; born September 21, 1981) is an American television personality, fashion designer, socialite, and actress. She came to prominence after appearing in the reality television series ''The Simple Life'' (2003–2007), in whic ...
,
Kevin Connolly and
Molly Sims
Molly Sims (born May 25, 1973) is an American fashion model and actress. She has been featured in campaigns by a number of major brands, including Jimmy Choo, Escada, Giorgio Armani, Michael Kors, and Chanel. She was a frequent model in the ''Sp ...
as themselves.
In addition to return appearances by Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson, in the second season
Chris Martin
Christopher Anthony John Martin (born 2 March 1977) is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist, pianist, rhythm guitarist and co-founder of the rock band Coldplay. Born in Exeter, Devon, he went to Univ ...
,
Chelsea Handler
Chelsea Joy Handler (born February 25, 1975) is an American comedian, actress, writer, television host, and producer. She hosted the late-night talk show ''Chelsea Lately'' on the E! network from 2007 to 2014 and released a documentary series, ...
,
Zach Braff
Zachary Israel Braff['Scrubs' Star Zach Braff Wows ...](_blank)
,
Kate Upton
Katherine Elizabeth Upton (born June 10, 1992) is an American model. She first appeared in the ''Sports Illustrated'' Swimsuit Issue in 2011, and was the cover model for the 2012, 2013 and 2017 issues. In addition, she was the subject of the 10 ...
,
Cindy Crawford
Cynthia Ann Crawford (born February 20, 1966) is an American model, actress and television personality. During the 1980s and 1990s, she was among the most popular supermodels and a ubiquitous presence on magazine covers, runways, as well as fash ...
,
Brooke Burke
Brooke Lisa Burke (born September 8, 1971) is an American television personality, fitness personality, author, actress, and businesswoman. She is known for hosting the E! Network travel show ''Wild On!'' (1999–2002), CBS' ''Rock Star'' (20 ...
,
Dr. Phil,
Ali Larter
Alison Elizabeth Larter (born February 28, 1976) is an American actress and model. She portrayed fictional model Allegra Coleman in a 1996 ''Esquire'' magazine hoax and took on guest roles on several television shows in the 1990s. She made her ...
,
Lauren London
Lauren Nicole London is an American actress. London is known for her roles in films and televisions shows including '' ATL'' (2006), ''This Christmas'' (2007), '' Madea’s Big Happy Family'' (2011), ''Baggage Claim'' (2013), '' The Game'' (20 ...
and
Joey Fatone
Joseph Anthony Fatone Jr. (born January 28, 1977) is an American singer, dancer, actor, and television personality. He is best known as a member of the boyband NSYNC, in which he sang baritone. In 2007, he came in second place on the ABC reali ...
have appearances as themselves.
In an interview, Sara Foster said that they'd originally wanted
Mindy Kaling
Vera Mindy Chokalingam (born June 24, 1979),Additional archive on June 25, 2015. known professionally as Mindy Kaling (), is an American actress, comedian, screenwriter and producer. She first gained recognition starring as Kelly Kapoor in the N ...
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
Esther Povitsky (born March 2, 1988), formerly known by the stage name "Little Esther", is an American actress and comedian. She is the co-creator and star of the comedy series ''Alone Together'' (2018), and starred as Izzy in the Hulu series '' ...
played a receptionist at an exclusive private school in the 3rd episode titled "Favorite Socks". In the 6th episode titled "Bananas Foster",
Kay Cannon
Kay Cannon (born August 22, 1974) is an American screenwriter, producer, director, and actress. She is best known for writing and producing the ''Pitch Perfect'' film series (2012–2017). She made her directorial debut with the comedy film '' ...
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
Jonathan Goldsmith (born September 26, 1938) is an American character actor. He began his career on the New York stage, then started a career in film and television. He appeared in several TV shows from the 1960s to the 1990s. He is best known ...
plays a much older love interest of Erin who dies from a heart attack after taking up power lifting.
Episodes
Season 1 (2015)
Season 2 (2016)
Reception
Amy Amatangelo, writing for ''
The Hollywood Reporter
''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...
'', 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".
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.
David Hinkley, in a review for the ''
New York Daily News
The New York ''Daily News'', officially titled the ''Daily News'', is an American newspaper based in Jersey City, NJ. It was founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson as the ''Illustrated Daily News''. It was the first U.S. daily printed in ta ...
'', 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".
Allison Keene, in a review for
Collider
A collider is a type of particle accelerator which brings two opposing particle beams together such that the particles collide. Colliders may either be ring accelerators or linear accelerators.
Colliders are used as a research tool in particle ...
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".
References
External links
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{{VH1 original programming
2015 American television series debuts
2016 American television series endings
2010s American parody television series
2010s American reality television series
English-language television shows
Reality television series parodies
VH1 original programming
Television series by 3 Arts Entertainment
Television series by Good Clean Fun (production company)