Seasons 1 & 2
Editor, Show Builder
Broke A$$ Game Show, is a simple excuse for random comedy. That is, comedy thinly disguised as weird games, harmless pranks and practically giving away cash. For a startlingly low dollar amount, Derek Gaines and David Magidoff convince ordinary people to do silly, embarrassing, and outrageous things for the whole world to see. Passersby can’t help but stare, since the games are played by real people in the middle of New York City in broad daylight.
Unlike other game shows, the games here are always secondary to the comedy; essentially, the game needs to be introduced and explained as efficiently as possible, in order to get to the laughs. Cutting the show is ruthless business… a comedy bit over three minutes long was rare. Yet, as an editor I am packing that time as tightly as possible with jokes and other silliness. Watch some of the clips to see how much is accomplished in a minute and a half or two minutes.
What I loved about this show was the creativity and personality I was able to bring to the work on a daily basis. My favorite challenge was finding clever ways to make something tighter and funnier. Every sketch or game is a comedy riddle to solve. I also like being given a segment that has already been worked on by different people and is falling flat. Sometimes, a novel approach or a different comedic angle breathe new life into a struggling segment. I’ll steal tiny pieces from a million places and create a new comedic moment regardless of what actually transpired when it was shot.
I’ll also redo the soundtrack, add original graphics, use different contestants or perhaps combine contestants together. I think people value my work because I try and solve problems that other people might assume are intractable. I’m always thinking about how to creatively make pieces fit together, even in ways they weren’t meant to. A square peg can be made to fit in a round hole with the right tools. It’s all just a problem to be solved. Editing is more than just leaving out the “bad” parts, it’s also knowing how to merge three “bad” parts into one good part. Or two good parts into one great part. Fusion and fission are the powers of the editor.