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| Title = Staring in a Musicall
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| DirectedBy = [[Todd Rohal]]
| WrittenBy = [[Perry Rein and Gigi McCreery|Gigi McCreery]] & [[Perry Rein and Gigi McCreery|Perry Rein]]
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| WrittenBy = [[Colleen Ballinger]] & Chris Ballinger
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Revision as of 00:29, 15 October 2016

Haters Back Off
Official series artwork
GenreComedy
Created by
Based onMiranda Sings
by Colleen Ballinger
Developed by
Starring
Music byAmotz Plessner[1]
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
  • Perry Rein
  • Gigi McCreery
  • Colleen Ballinger
  • Chris Ballinger
  • Jeff Kwatinetz
  • Josh Barry
Producers
Production locationsVancouver, Canada
Running time30-35 min.[2]
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNetflix
ReleaseOctober 14, 2016 (2016-10-14)

Haters Back Off is a television comedy series starring Colleen Ballinger, based on her character Miranda Sings, that was released on Netflix on October 14, 2016.[3] The "surreal and absurd" series centers around the family life of Miranda Sings, a sheltered, self-absorbed and untalented young performer who is so confident that she is delusional. Miranda seeks stardom on YouTube and manages "to fail upward by the power of her belief that she was born famous – it's just no one knows it yet."[4][5] The half-hour episodes depict Miranda's origin, "her struggle to become the famous icon she believes she deserves to be" and her road to fame.[2] The show co-stars Angela Kinsey as Bethany, Miranda's mother, Steve Little as Jim, Miranda's uncle, and Erik Stocklin as Patrick, Miranda's best friend.[6] Netflix describes the show as "a bizarre family comedy, and a commentary on society today and our fascination with fame."[7]

The show was developed by Colleen Ballinger and her brother, Christopher Ballinger, together with showrunners Perry Rein and Gigi McCreery. It is being produced by Brightlight Pictures.[2] The show is named for Miranda Sings' signature catchphrase.[8][9] The series' eight episodes were released simultaneously.[4] The show is "the first scripted series created by a YouTube personality."[10][11]

Cast

Main

Recurring

  • Chaz Lamar Shepherd as Keith, a local pastor[5]
  • Dylan Playfair as Owen, a singer
  • Harvey Guillen as Harvey, the son of the owner of the fish shop

Background

Main article: Miranda Sings

Since 2008, Colleen Ballinger has posted videos as her comically talentless, narcissistic and quirky character, Miranda Sings, primarily on the YouTube channel Miranda Sings.[16] The character is a satire of bad, but egotistical, performers who film themselves singing as a form of self-promotion.[17] Miranda is portrayed as a home-schooled young woman who is eccentric and infantilized, narcissistically believes that she was born famous, and is obsessed with show business fame.[18][19] Miranda uses spoonerisms and malapropisms, is irritable, ludicrously self-absorbed and self-righteous, socially awkward, and has a defiant, arrogant attitude.[20][21] She responds to people who offer criticism with the catchphrase, "Haters back off!"[22][23]

The Miranda Sings YouTube channel has received more than 1 billion views and has more than 7 million subscribers,[24] making the character one of the most popular YouTubers.[8] Ballinger's personal YouTube channel has more than 700 million views and 4.5 million subscribers.[25] Ballinger also regularly performs live as Miranda Sings.[26] Miranda has appeared on television shows including Victorious,[27] Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee with Jerry Seinfeld,[28] and The Tonight Show.[29] Ballinger released a 2015 book, Selp-Helf, written in Miranda's voice,[30] that ranked No. 1 on The New York Times Best Seller list for Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous.[31]

Ballinger chose Netflix over HBO to produce Haters Back Off, because she felt that Netflix understood and was enthusiastic about the character and its online origin and fanbase.[7][32] Comparing the show to Christopher Guest's Waiting for Guffman, showrunner Perry Rein said: "This is the first time we’ve done a show about a really bad dancer and singer. [It has] characters that take themselves very seriously in their very small worlds."[7]

After the January 2016 announcement of the show, /Film mused: "Haters Back Off seems like a smart move for Netflix. Since Miranda is already an internet celebrity, a streaming content provider seems like a natural fit. Her built-in audience is already used to watching original content online; if they're fans of her work on YouTube, Netflix is just a few clicks away."[33] TechCrunch predicted that the show will be a success and recommended that Hollywood executives take note of Netflix's initiative. "[T]he rise of YouTube-fueled online influencers has been breathtaking, as ... (mostly) Millennials have embraced self-serve distribution, building big audiences beyond the reach, knowledge and control of traditional entertainment gatekeepers, including the networks. ... Netflix can ... leverage the audiences of these online stars, and their marketing reach, to drive the fans to new properties ... online, where their fans already routinely seek entertainment".[34] In September 2016, the series was included in The Wall Street Journal's list of "The 6 Best New Things to Stream in October".[35] Allie Gemmill, writing for Bustle.com about the "11 Reasons You Should Watch ... Haters Back Off", commented that the show "is already bound for greatness ... we'll be able to dive deeper into [Miranda's] fictional history. Miranda has become emblematic of a new kind [of] star-seeker in the digital age: a youngster who decides that waiting for a fame-making opportunity simply won't do and that in order to become visible (and ostensibly beloved), you have to create the opportunities for visibility yourself. ... The show is destined to hit you right in the funny-bone."[36]

Production and promotion

Haters Back Off began filming in April 2016 in and around Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, near Vancouver,[2][37] which substitutes, in the series, for Miranda's hometown, Tacoma, Washington.[3] Filming wrapped on June 3.[38]

Ballinger began promotions for the series in January 2016 with a comic YouTube video announcement.[39] Miranda was featured on the cover of Variety, and in a feature article about the show, in June 2016.[7] On September 1, 2016, Netflix released the first production stills from the series.[40] On September 21, the show released its first of a series of teasers.[41][42] Ballinger is set to appear on The Tonight Show on October 14, 2016, to promote the series.[43]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Uploding my Fist Video"Andrew GaynordTeleplay: Colleen Ballinger & Gigi McCreery & Perry Rein
Story: Colleen Ballinger & Chris Ballinger		October 14, 2016 (2016-10-14)
2"Preeching 2 the Chior"Andrew GaynordJustin VaravaOctober 14, 2016 (2016-10-14)
3"Netwerking at the Nursing Home"Andrew GaynordRuss WoodyOctober 14, 2016 (2016-10-14)
4"Rod Trip With My Uncle"Todd RohalColleen Ballinger & Chris BallingerOctober 14, 2016 (2016-10-14)
5"Staring in a Musicall"Todd RohalGigi McCreery & Perry ReinOctober 14, 2016 (2016-10-14)
6"Becuming a Magichin"Andrew GaynordJustin Varava & Russ WoodyOctober 14, 2016 (2016-10-14)
7"Starr off the Parade"Andrew GaynordGigi McCreery & Perry ReinOctober 14, 2016 (2016-10-14)
8"i'm famous"Andrew GaynordColleen Ballinger & Chris BallingerOctober 14, 2016 (2016-10-14)

Reception

Positive reviews of Haters Back Off include Robert Lloyd's in the Los Angeles Times, who observed that, unlike in Miranda’s YouTube videos, the character's actions in the TV series have consequences and affect the other characters and their feelings. Lloyd thought that the series succeeds in "shaping a funny idea into a semblance of life". He praised the performances, especially Kinsey's.[44] In The Guardian, Brian Moylan called the series a "hilarious transfer to Netflix" and noted that it allows us to see the "unique circumstances that created [Miranda] and abet her totally misplaced entitlement." He found humor not only in Miranda's "delightfully awful performances ... but how Miranda treats each indignity as a triumph and each tiny triumph ... as an insult." Although he noted some awkwardness, he found "at least one reason to laugh out loud in each episode. ... Ballinger gets at something that is not only a cultural critique but often hits on the fragility of egos and everyone’s need for acceptance."[45] TheWrap's Michael E. Ross called the series an "antic, sometimes wise, often laugh-out-loud funny case of art imitating life imitating art", noting that "there are times ... when the veneer of ego is stripped away, and we discover the shy, insecure young woman behind the bluster. Haters reflects a hearty sense of humor about the genesis of online celebrity. ... [W]hat resonates ... is Miranda’s underlying humanity, her basic drive to be recognized, to stand apart from the crowd. And we can all relate to the pain of rejection".[46] Jasef Wisener of TVOvermind.com gave the series 3.8 stars out of 5. He was favorably impressed by the character development and the performances, especially Ballinger's and Reale's. He also liked its structure and musical score, but felt that the exposition was sometimes bogged down in the early episodes by its explanation of details and sometimes panders to Miranda's established internet audience; he felt that the series improves in the later episodes. He disliked the sexual innuendos and found Miranda's relationship with Uncle Jim uncomfortable, although these are elements carried over from Miranda's YouTube videos.[5] The A.V. Club's Danette Chavez commented that Ballinger's "portrayal of Miranda is multidimensional in spite of the character's single-mindedness. ... Haters fleshes out the environment that would spawn such an egotistical personality. ... [L]aughs are as consistently delivered" with zany comedy, although the "domestic strife and even anguish" makes the series nearly a dramedy. But she felt that "sometimes the foreshadowing is just a little too foreboding. ... the tonal shifts don’t always jibe."[13]

In a mixed review for New York magazine's Vulture site, Jen Chaney judged that "not everything in Haters Back Off! works. ... If you find Miranda Sings irritating after watching a two-minute YouTube clip, you should find something else to put in your queue. But ... fans ... who have a reasonable amount of patience will likely find some redeeming qualities to latch onto, especially as the episodes progress. ... Miranda is a purposely maddening character. But Ballinger commits to her so fully and with such specific physicality ... that she's often mesmerizing to watch. ... [But] maybe Miranda Sings is better in shorter doses."[47] Similarly, for The New York Times, James Poniewozik wrote that:

Like Miranda’s performances, Haters can be terrible and transfixing at the same time. ... Ballinger commits to Miranda's hunger and histrionics. ... There's a deeper pathos to Miranda's situation, but the season doesn't delve deeply into that until late, by which time haters will have long since backed off. ... There's a lot in Haters Back Off! to gratify Ms. Ballinger's YouTube fan base. ... Beyond the winces, there's something human in its comedy of internet thirst: the insatiable drive to put a piece of oneself out into the world and hit refresh, refresh, refresh.[48]

Brian Lowry, writing for CNN, felt that while the series' "critique of a fame-obsessed culture certainly has merit", and that the later episodes "reward patience", the show was too "cartoon-like", and "there's a sense that the series is stretched beyond what it has to offer."[49] Keith Uhlich, in The Hollywood Reporter, found the gags funny, but he concluded that although Miranda is "an acidic critique of the very celebrity strivers who make up the majority of the YouTube community", it is more effective "in short bursts". In "an eight-episode Netflix series ... the lampoon loses its edge". He also thought that much of the pathos in the series is "unearned, unconvincing" and the characters are "shallow vessels freighted down by contrived plot complications . ... And there's more than a bit of that vainglorious YouTubers' entitlement in where Haters ultimately ends up, the satire finally curdling into smugness."[50] Sonia Saraiya of Variety did not think that the series has "the same organic appeal as Ballinger’s bizarre, pastiche-y videos. ... Miranda lacks some of the innocent naivete that makes her character work on YouTube. ... Miranda’s behavior ... could be raucously hilarious [for some viewers], an example of theater-geek self-obsession run amok. For me, anyway, Miranda’s obsessions and absorptions ... prove to be more tragic than hilarious."[51] Rob Lowman of the Los Angeles Daily News wrote: "The series seems to want to exist somewhere between a Pee-wee Herman world, where Miranda exists within her own reality, and Waiting for Guffman or other parodies of self-important clueless people. It doesn’t succeed as either, nor on its own terms.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Weekly TV Music Roundup (October 9, 2016)", Film Music Reporter, October 9, 2016
  2. ^ a b c d "Haters Back Off Netflix Series From Miranda Sings to Film in Vancouver", WhatsFilming.ca, February 11, 2016
  3. ^ a b Spangler, Todd. "Miranda Sings in Haters Back Off: First Look at Netflix Oddball Family Sitcom", Variety, September 1, 2016
  4. ^ a b Snetiker, Marc. "Netflix orders Miranda Sings series Haters Back Off", Entertainment Weekly, January 14, 2016
  5. ^ a b c d Wisener, Jasef. "Haters Back Off! Season 1 Review: Ready or Not, Miranda is Here", TVOvermind.com, October 12, 2016
  6. ^ Sander, Brice. "YouTube Star Colleen (Ballinger) Evans Admits She's 'Nervous' About Her Big Move to Netflix With Haters Back Off", ETonline, February 12, 2016
  7. ^ a b c d Spangler, Todd. "Miranda Sings Leads the Way for Digital Stars Leaping to TV", Variety, June 21, 2016
  8. ^ a b Andrews, Charles. "Netflix Original: Haters Back Off! Starring YouTuber Colleen Ballinger as Miranda Sings", ParentHerald.com, September 22, 2016
  9. ^ Longwell, Todd. "Miranda Sings Giving Birth to Netflix Series", Video Ink, January 14, 2016; Pearson, Allyn. "Haters Back Off a Scripted Series Based on Youtube Star Miranda Sings Heading to Netflix", Mxdwn.com, January 14, 2016; and Keihm, Moira. "YouTube Personality Miranda Sings: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know", Heavy.com, January 17, 2016
  10. ^ Tiffany, Kaitlyn. "Netflix orders the first scripted comedy by a YouTube star", The Verge, January 14, 2016
  11. ^ Yagoda, Maria. "Haters Back Off: YouTube Star Miranda Sings Gets Netflix Scripted Series", People magazine, January 15, 2016
  12. ^ a b c Lowman, Rob. "You should just back away from Haters Back Off, Los Angeles Daily News, October 12, 2016
  13. ^ a b c Chavez, Danette. "Haters Back Off! doesn’t need to come with a warning", The A.V. Club, October 12, 2016
  14. ^ "New Series: Netflix's Haters Back Off With YouTube Star Colleen Ballinger-Evans Starts Filming in Vancouver", April 18, 2016
  15. ^ Petski, Denise. "Erik Stocklin Joins Netflix's Haters Back Off, Deadline.com, YVRShoots, March 11, 2016
  16. ^ Ng, David. "YouTube sensation Miranda seduces Broadway", Los Angeles Times, May 11, 2009
  17. ^ Eggar, Robin. "She'd like to teach the world to sing". The Times, May 2, 2010, accessed March 6, 2012; and "Meme Comes to Life", Transmedia Televisual Studies, FILM345, Queens University, February 2010
  18. ^ Velasco, Schuyler. "Interview: Miranda Sings", Backstage, August 3, 2010
  19. ^ Rivera, Erica. "'The haters' defined YouTube sensation Miranda Sings", City Pages, August 4, 2015
  20. ^ Siegel, Ben. "Miranda shows that she's very good at being bad", The Buffalo News, May 6, 2014
  21. ^ Wilson, Jessica. "Miranda Sings – review", What's Peen Seen? September 11, 2013, accessed May 5, 2014
  22. ^ Noteboom, Kris. "BooTube", TheaterJones, March 5, 2012
  23. ^ "Ep. 25 Colleen Ballinger (Miranda Sings)", Interview of Ballinger at 54:20 and 58:30, Ear Biscuits, Soundcloud.com, March 31, 2014
  24. ^ Ballinger, Colleen. About Miranda Sings, Miranda Sings, YouTube, accessed September 22, 2016
  25. ^ Ballinger, Colleen. About PsychoSoprano, PsychoSoprano, YouTube, accessed October 12, 2016
  26. ^ Miranda Sings Australia schedule, November 2009; Newcastle Herald, November 26, 2009, p. 45; Sparks, Abbe. "Mirfandas Infiltrate Highland Park from across the country for Midwest Premiere of Miranda Sings Live!", Chicago Tribune (Highland Park local), November 22, 2010; Michelin, Lana. "How (not) to sing great". Red Deer Advocate, January 14, 2011; Blank, Matthew. "'Miranda Sings Christmas Spectacular,' With Lauren Kennedy and Frankie Grande", Playbill, December 20, 2011; Bell, Matt. "Marketing Lessons from 'Miranda Sings'", Standing (inn)ovation, November 14, 2013; and Dessau, Bruce. "UK Tour Dates for YouTube Star Miranda Sings", Beyond the Joke, September 4, 2014
  27. ^ "Miranda Sings Talks About Guest Starring on Victorious", Nickutopia.com, May 18, 2012, copy from Wayback machine accessed June 12, 2014; Miranda Sings on Victorious, The Slap, May 18, 2012; and "Miranda Sings on 'Tori Goes Platinum'", May 2012, accessed June 12, 2014
  28. ^ Wilstein, Matt. "The 10 Best TV Shows of 2014 That Aren't Really TV", Mediaite.com, December 19, 2014; and Roberts, Andrew. "Jerry Seinfeld Takes a Torturous Ride with YouTube's Miranda Sings and Finds Out How to Be Famous", Uproxx, December 1, 2014
  29. ^ "Pictionary with Martin Short, Jerry Seinfeld and Miranda Sings", The Tonight Show, NBC, December 1, 2014; and Boardman, Madeline. "Martin Short, Jerry Seinfeld Play Hilarious Game of Pictionary With Jimmy Fallon", Us Weekly, December 2, 2014
  30. ^ "Stage Tube: Miranda Sings Quits Youtube; Announces Book Plans!", BroadwayWorld.com, February 25, 2015; Kawecki, Jenny. "What You Need to Know Before You Read Selp-Helf, the Debut Book from YouTube Star Miranda Sings", Barnes & Noble, July 20, 2015
  31. ^ "Best Sellers: Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous", The New York Times, August 9, 2015 (sales for the week ending July 25, 2015)
  32. ^ Tiffany, Kaitlyn. "How YouTube character Miranda Sings made the move to Netflix's Haters Back Off", The Verge, October 12, 2016
  33. ^ Han, Angie. "Netflix Gets Into the YouTube Personality Business With Miranda Sings' Haters Back Off", Slashfilm.com, January 15, 2016
  34. ^ Bruce, Juan. "Networks Need to Take Note of the New Netflix Series With YouTube's Miranda Sings", TechCrunch, February 3, 2016
  35. ^ Ayers, Mike. "The 6 Best New Things to Stream in October", The Wall Street Journal, September 30, 2016
  36. ^ Gemmill, Allie. "11 Reasons You Should Watch Miranda Sings's New Show Haters Back Off", Bustle.com, accessed October 3, 2016
  37. ^ Welch, Rebecca. "4 Pieces of Must-Know Casting News", Backstage, March 6, 2016
  38. ^ "The Marine 5: Battleground Starts Filming in Vancouver This Week", WhatsFilming.ca, May 30, 2016; Ballinger, Colleen. "...Devastated we are done shooting.", Twitter, June 4, 2016
  39. ^ Roth, Madeline. "YouTube Star Miranda Sings Is Pregnant – With a Netflix Series", MTV, January 14, 2016
  40. ^ Petski, Denise. "Miranda Sings Netflix Series Haters Back Off Unveils First-Look Photos", Deadline.com, September 1, 2016
  41. ^ Petski, Denise. "Haters Back Off: Miranda Sings Netflix Series Key Art & First-Look Teaser", Deadline.com, September 21, 2016
  42. ^ Harnick, Chris. "Miranda Sings Declares Haters Back Off! With New Netflix Series Trailer" E! News, October 3, 2016
  43. ^ Cantor, Brian. "Kings of Leon Scheduled to Perform on 10/14 Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon", HeadlinePlanet.com, October 8, 2016
  44. ^ Lloyd, Robert. "Haters Back Off offers the funny origin story of Miranda Sings", Los Angeles Times, October 13, 2016
  45. ^ Moylan, Brian. "Haters Back Offreview – YouTube star makes hilarious transfer to Netflix", The Guardian, October 14, 2016
  46. ^ Ross, Michael E. "Haters Back Off Review: Netflix Gives Miranda Sings the Spotlight She Craves", TheWrap, October 13, 2016
  47. ^ Chaney, Jen. "Haters Need Not Stream Haters Back Off!", New York magazine, October 13, 2016
  48. ^ Poniewozik, James. "Review: In Haters Back Off! a Cringe-Worthy Star Is Born, The New York Times, October 13, 2016
  49. ^ Lowry, Brian. "Haters Back Off! doesn't earn much love on Netflix", CNN, October 12, 2016
  50. ^ Uhlich, Keith. "Haters Back Off!: TV Review", Hollywood Reporter, October 12, 2016
  51. ^ Saraiya, Sonia. "TV Review: Miranda Sings' Haters Back Off! on Netflix", Variety, October 13, 2016
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