Big Time Rush (also known as BTR) is a Nickelodeon television series about friendship and brotherhood that chronicles the finding, making, and breaking of a boy band. The series premiered with an hour-long pilot episode, Big Time Audition, on Nickelodeon, on November 28, 2009. Three hour-long specials have spanned two seasons.
The series stars Kendall Schmidt as Kendall Knight, James Maslow as James Diamond, Carlos Pena Jr. as Carlos Garcia, and Logan Henderson as Logan Mitchell. They get a chance to become the newest pop sensation, and the series navigates through all their antics, conflicts, and schemes living in Los Angeles. The program began airing on YTV on September 6, 2010. The series co-stars Ciara Bravo, Tanya Chisholm, and Stephen Kramer Glickman. The series is taped in Los Angeles, California and was created by Scott Fellows
The series was conceived and created by Scott Fellows, formerly the creator, executive producer and showrunner of Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide.[5] Fellows says his inspiration for the show was the musical comedy show, The Monkees[6]—a popular and culturally significant American television series about a group of four young male adults who form a rock band, become famous, and sing songs while having comedic adventures.[7] Although the show had a concept as early as 2007, the series had no actual title as late as August 2009.[8]
Nickelodeon partnered with Columbia/Epic Label Group to produce the show, which will incorporate original music into the series.[9] Big Time Rush is one of the three Nickelodeon shows (the others are iCarly and Victorious) on which the cable network is partnering with the music group to promote music as well as shows.[8] The four actors will sing in a band whose name will be "Big Time Rush."[2][10] The first single from the show, "Big Time Rush" (the series theme song), was released in November 2009.[2] Additional songs will be released throughout the show's first season.[2] The Los Angeles Times has been critical of the show's focus on music, noting:
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There is a marketing angle, to be sure, the same crossing of the revenue streams that powers . "Big Time Rush," was developed with Sony Music specifically to move units.[5] |
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The show incorporate, during the closing credits of each episode exclusively in Nickelodeon airings, "short previews" of music videos of each single from the series that have yet to air in their full versions, and occasionally features premieres of full versions of music videos of the singles.
The show also incorporate laugh-like noises, music, and editing cuts designed to make it more humorous;[5] this was also a trademark of series creator Scott Fellows' previous Nickelodeon series . It is targeted primarily at children age 3 to 18.
Casting
A nationwide[8] casting effort began in 2007.[10][11][12] More than 1,500 teens and young adults auditioned for the four roles.[13] James Maslow and Logan Henderson were the easiest and first actors cast. Kendall Schmidt was the last actor cast, and the most difficult role to cast.[13] Filming of the series began in August 2009.[13] Actor Carlos Pena, Jr. previously worked with creator/producer Scott Fellows on Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide.[11] Although he was reluctant to do so (he had just entered the Boston Conservatory to study music), Pena submitted an audition tape and won the role a month later.[14] Executive Producer Scott Fellows was inspired to write each character by the personality of the actor playing him.[15]
Five alumni of Scott Fellows make appearances in this show: Carlos Pena (as a main cast member), Spencer Locke, Carlie Casey, Daran Norris (as recurring castmembers), and James Arnold Taylor (as a guest star)
Locations
The series is filmed in Los Angeles, California in Hollywood. It mainly takes place at the fictional "Palm Woods" and "Rocque Records" (where Big Time Rush records). The series first one-hour special (in some aspects, a movie) is the first episode to take place in the suburbs of Los Angeles.
Theme song and opening sequence
Season 1 and 2
During the finishing of a pre-opening sequence in the series, the theme song starts to play the "Oh Oh Ohh Ohhhh!" part and it proceeds to start. The intro theme is the series theme song, "Big Time Rush ". It is presented in an animated CD booklet format. While the intro progresses, they sing the first verse of "Big Time Rush", and skips the "Hey! Hey!, Better take a shot now" part, and continues to progress with the first verse. It contains shots of characters mixed in with animated booklet pictures, scenes from various episodes, and graphic effects. The whole main cast is introduced in this intro. In season 2, Tanya Chisholm joins the main cast.
Reception
Audience reception
A one-hour special preview (which serves as the series pilot and first episode) debuted on Nickelodeon on November 28, 2009, drawing an audience of 3.6 million viewers. The series' official premiere on January 18, 2010 (which followed the premiere of the iCarly special "iSaved Your Life"), was watched by a total of 7.1 million total viewers, Nickelodeon's highest-rated live-action series debut.
Critical reception
The show has received mixed to positive reviews from critics.[16] Los Angeles Times television critic Robert Lloyd called the show an "awesomely epic show on Nick," while also noting that the "music is original".[5] AP critic Frazier Moore credited the show with "best writing and catchy pacing".
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was less enthusiastic, concluding that the show was "Nick's attempt at building a Jonas Brothers-style pop band. It's Nick's answer to Disney Channel's 'JONAS,' albeit slightly less organic since 'Rush' doesn't feature siblings."[17] The Hartford Courant was openly critical, calling the series a "not so good" show "with their thin pop and unfunny comedies".[18] The Boston Globe criticized the show as "one example in a growing list of kid shows selling showbiz fantasies to children. The genre is stronger than ever now and more fixated on the perks of the glamorous Hollywood lifestyle ... wish fulfillment at a time when tabloid dreams are ubiquitous."[11]
Awards
Teen icon Awards iconic tv show 2010 iconic triple Threat
Australia Kids choice Awards Favorite international Band 2010 Favorite tv star
popstar Awards poptastic group or Duo 2010 poptastic tv show
Kids choice Awards Favorite tv Show 2010 Favorite Music Group