Let us begin with the obvious, since the headline alone likely has you halfway through your angry tweet: Seth Rogen is funny and talented, and we want nothing more than for him to continue bringing big laughs for years to come. That said, here’s a fact: It’s time for Seth to stop making movies and return to TV.
We know, it’s the most controversial opinion since that rapper declared the Earth is flat, but hear us out: It is the Golden Age of TV, and now is the perfect time for Rogen to make his move. Read on for the top 5 reasons why it’s time for the funnyman to give up movies and embrace the small screen.
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He’s funnier on TV
Looking back eight years, let’s list Seth Rogen’s movies that under-performed with critics, the box-office or both:
“Neighbors 2”
“The Night Before”
“Steve Jobs”
“The Interview”
“This Is the End”
“The Guilt Trip”
“50/50”
“The Green Hornet”
“Funny People”
“Monsters vs. Aliens”
“Observe and Report”
“Zack and Miri Make a Porno”
Now, let’s list Rogen’s hit films during this period:
“Neighbors”
Watch the viral clip above of Rogen performing Drake’s “Hotline Bling” on “The Tonight Show,” and you could reasonably argue that it’s more entertaining than many of those movies. In fact, if you watch his appearances promoting those films on BBC, on Conan or in Web videos, the clips are often more watchable than the movie.
On top of that, his cameos on shows like “The League” and “Eastbound and Down” were also more inspired than many of his recent movie roles.
Finally, consider his new movie “Sausage Party,” and how much money it will need to make in its opening weekend to be considered a hit. Now, imagine if it was a quirky, weekly series on Adult Swim, or airing after “Archer” on FXX. Which do you think would put it in a better position to succeed?
TV allows someone like Rogen to indulge his stranger ideas, act on them quickly, and give it to the audience in a much smaller dose. Unlike say, “This Is the End” and “Observe & Report,” which felt like funny short films stretched out over nearly two hours.
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He got his start on TV
“Freaks and Geeks” and “Undeclared” were both shows that weren’t huge hits in the early 2000’s, but are remembered today as beloved benchmarks in scripted comedy. For Rogen, transitioning from the high pressure of big-budget movies to smaller-scale TV wouldn’t be a demotion — it would be a celebrated return to his roots.
All his peers are on TV
Louis C.K. spent twenty years in Hollywood being wasted on various projects before he finally just went and created “Louie“: Zach Galifianakis was undoubtedly sick of getting sent the same “Hangover” retread scripts, so he took his A-list talent to “Baskets.” From John C. Reilly’s iconic turn as Dr. Steve Brule to Craig Robinson on “Mr. Robot,” talented actors/comedians are cognizant of the fact that while a Hollywood movie takes years of development and tens of millions of dollars to develop, a star could get a blank check and far more support from HBO, Netflix or dozens of other TV show destinations.
Look at Aziz Ansari on “Master of None” or Rogen’s buddies Danny McBride on “Vice Principals” and Martin Starr on “Silicon Valley,” and ask yourself: How many of these performances would have seen the light of day as studio films?
TV is faster
For a comedian, timing is everything. When you make a movie, however, you’re constantly working against the fact that any sort of news-y reference you make on set today might no longer be relevant when the film comes out in 2017.
Television, however, is shot and produced in a shorter window of time. Imagine if Rogen went to a network and said he wanted to do something live like “Undateable” or shoot a bunch of episodes on-the-fly and release them together via Netflix. For a guy who is often seen offering funny takes on the latest pop culture happenings, it could be downright inspiring.
Plus, Rogen is one of the few stars unpredictable enough to make people tune in hoping for a moment like this…
He kinda already is on TV
Currently,Seth Rogen is being embraced by TV audiences as the guy who finally got “Preacher” the respect that the property deserves. According to the creator of that comic, Garth Ennis, the two may soon reunite to adapt his “The Boys” as well.
Between those projects, the cameos and the near-constant talk show appearances promoting a couple movies a year, it feels like Rogen already is a TV presence. Now, it’s time for him to find the “Preacher” of comedy — and insert himself in the lead role.
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