Snapchat Is Getting Into The Scripted Content Game
The flood gates have been opened and now everybody wants to get in the business of making original programming. The newest comer to the game is Snapchat, who has set their sights on providing scripted content in the near future. Honestly, I’m quite old and have only ever used Snapchat to keep the children I’m temporarily in charge of amused. I like the funny squishy face, the one that puts makeup and jewelry on you and of course, the ever popular puppy face tongue. I leave flower crown to Kim K, because she seems really attached to it. But apparently there is more to Snapchat than us ancients are aware of!
According to The Wrap:
Snap VP of Content Nick Bell hinted at Snapchat debuting scripted shows by the start of 2018 at the Edinburgh TV Festival in Scotland on Wednesday. “We can expect to see scripted shows on Snapchat before the end of the year.”
Did you know that they already have shows for the app? They have a dating show called Phone Swap where two people trade phones and decide if they’d want to go out with the person based on what they find. That actually sounds like a fun show. I would judge exclusively by their music collection. If they don’t have Prince, they ain’t gettin’ none. And they have a second dating show hosted by lushly bearded rapper Action Bronson.
What really surprised me is that NBC is already broadcasting in the app twice a day. Broadcasting! In the app! Have I been living under a rock? I don’t understand this world anymore. Is there an app that shows a shaking cane and yells at kids to get off the lawn, because I clearly need it. The Wrap also reports that Snapchat has tried scripted content before, but it didn’t go down so well:
Bell’s announcement marks the first time Snapchat will try scripted content since the widely-panned Literally Can’t Even back in 2015. The show centered on Sasha Spielberg – daughter of Steven Spielberg – as she tried to get over a breakup without being able to drink alcohol. It was, uh, not well received.
Curious, I looked to see if I could find this show online, but it has departed, leaving me a guilty remnant of an ancient age. Business Insider said of the show:
It is disposable entertainment in the most literal way: the episodes self-destruct after 24 hours, so you either watch it on Saturday, the day new episodes air, or you don’t watch it at all.
Why, when I was a youth, you watched TV on a television, and if you missed your show you were shit out of luck. Unless you happened to be renting a VCR for the week. Oh, wait, that sounds just like a Snapchat show! What are these kids playing at?
The Wrap reports that Apple and Facebook are also throwing their hats in the ring with the hope of catching some Netflix, Hulu, HBO magic. If Snapchat manages to pull off a decent show, I’ll eat all the hats. I might watch Puppy Face Tongue: Kiss of Death, but I remain skeptical.
Pic: Wenn.com