Gregory Szorc's blog

Greek Week Variety Show Disappoints

I just attended what I am considering as the worst Variety Show I have witnessed (been to the last four). Variety Show used to be one of my favorite events. The wit, intelligence, and abilities of the Greeks at Case used to be an amazing display. However, those qualities are no longer showcased. Instead, variety show has become a stage for choreographed dancing on top of a pre-recorded storyline, and the scoring reflects this.

Last year, the fraternity winner of Variety Show perfirned an amazing skit involving the Mario Browsers. Everything was well-reheared. It was amazing to watch. There was one problem: the whole show--from the lines to the sound effects-- was pre-recored. Perhaps hoping to capitalize on the securities that a completely pre-recorded show brings, a fair share (perhaps as many as half) of the Greek organizations had a completely pre-recorded show this year. After sitting through two or three of these shows, I was visually upset. By the end of the competition, I was ready to lynch the next group that did a pre-recorded show.

Variety Show takes place on a stage. You perform a skit of your creation. There are unlimited possibilities. Variety Show, unlike other more famous events such as Rope Pull, is designed to capitalize on artistic talent, not muscle strength. This is why the pre-recorded shows irk me. When you have people on stage lip synching their lines, this demonstrates little-to-no performing talent. It undermines the purpose of Variety Show. Performing a pre-recorded show is like taking an exam with a cheat-sheet. You have something to fall back on in case you get confused. However, if you spend enough time beforehand, there is no need for the cheat-sheet.

It irks me that pre-recorded shows are tolerated by the judges. You don't go to a concert to hear people lip sync. You don't go to a play to watch actors act out pre-recorded lines. You go to watch people perform. If someone can't perform, they aren't good. If your favorite pop star is caught lip synching, the press eats him or her alive. So why are pre-recorded shows tolerated at Variety Show? Why are rewarding sound mixing, lip synching, poor storylines, and dancing on stages meant for acting?

Finally, I would like to thank everyone who did not give in and performed their lines live on stage. I truly appreciated every one of these skits. They were genuine. They were live. I will settle for nothing less.

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The Mario show was pre-recorded...but I believe they used a sound board, so it was not just one long track. They still had to have their timing down perfectly and lets face it, its impossible to make those crazy Mario noises like the fireball spit on your own?

As far as pre-recorded shows go...I'm fine with them as long as there is something else. A dance or some good acting. And I'd have to say that everyone with a pre-recorded show had more to offer than just a lip sync.