Only people who know Second Life would understand why there would be a need for TV shows inside a game world. But virtual programming is alive and well. Treet TV, the premier network in SL, hosts a cornacopia of shows in SL that cater to every interest and need, from shopping to current events, to entertainment and education. The success of the recent Treet TV Expo warrants us taking an in depth look of each of the shows in Treet's regular lineup, and what drives their people to put in the long hours to produce entertainment that is viewed and enjoyed throughout the gird.
In our next series of articles, we will review a Treet TV show and the people that make it happen.
Our first show is Lauren Live, hosted by Lauren Weyland. Comedienne, entertainer, pioneer in Virtual entertainment. Lauren invited us to her studio for a Q and A on what makes Lauren Live the success it is.
"Well, I came into SL before voice.....you know.....just a girl who wanted to have fun" Lauren tells us. "And shortly thereafter I was a member of the Hobo Group (still am). Well, Thinkerer Melville wanted to get comedy in SL, so he wanted to start an Improv group and he asked me to join. We were using Team Speak...since no voice in SL (at that time). Geo Meek was also there.
"Anyhow....we were standing around tossing ideas...and: and suddenly I stopped and said, "I know what you guys are doing?" They were camming up my skirt! I thought....hmmm.....if the guys will do that despite the voice, maybe I could do a show."
So how did you get the idea off the ground?
"Thinkerer played a big part," Lauren continued. "He explained...Mickey Mouse is a male falsetto and eveyone thinks of him as a mouse. He then really got the promo together..and Geo went out looking for gigs for me. I worked with a woman Jane Zahoying on the first jobs (since they were in stream).
Your comedy seems to flow effortlessly from you, we commented.
"I don't know if it came naturally. I worked on a lot of material....thousands of hours later..."
Lauren then shared an exclusive tidbit with us.
"Well, here's the thing...I've been doing mainly SL comedy.....stuff related to SL. But I'm about to add a new show, (called) 'Inside/Out' where I will have a say about firstlife from my POV. Audience willl be able to ask about anything, like the BP well......Tea Party.....Greek Debt.....Lady Gaga's meat dress. And I'll improv about 10 minutes.
"Yes it's a scoop.....haven't even picked dates yet.....Treet TV and I are talking about it."
"Also...here's another change" says Lauren, "LaurenLive at Treet will move to a new time...Sunday afternoon ...once a month...late in October for 1/2 hour. My regular Tuesday show will continue....."
You heard it here first, my loyal readers.
So what is it that pleases you most about doing the show?
"One thing I really like about my comedy is the women who have come to me....see SL has those with speech impediments etc...and they share with me....my doing a show makes them feel more comfortable using voice."
For the non-SL informed, Lauren's voice is toned a bit lower than the normal female voice, and with the New Yorker accent, it makes for an interesting but pleasing combination.
Lauren is proud to announce that she is near the 350 show mark, with no end in sight. She also does charity work in SL.
Lauren Live can currently be viewed on Treet TV in world on Tuesdays at 4:30 slt, and at www.treet.tv on the web. You can sit in on a session with Lauren at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cookie/208/23/23.
Lauren posed for some pic for us, and had these closing thoughts:
"I just want to say one thing....to all my fans (I hate the word fans).....You have all made my life such a joy I can never find the words to fill you as you've filled my heart."
Here's to the First Lady of SL comedy. Long Live Lauren.
Got a story about your SL experience? Want to share it with the world? Bring the RL into your SL, let us do a piece on what makes YOU a Second Lifer.
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