If you’re a fan of the Christina Applegate/Will Arnett/Maya Rudolph sitcom Up All Night, I’ve got some interesting news to share with you. First good news that’s easy to swallow: NBC has ordered an additional five episodes, extending the show’s season 2 run to 16 episodes total. And now it gets interesting.
After the show’s 11th episode airs this December, it will go on a three month extended hiatus to undergo a major change. When it returns in the spring, the season’s remaining five episodes will be shot in multi-cam format in front of a live studio audience. In other words, the show is completely transforming the way it is shot and delivered by ditching its original single-camera format. Yes, for a show to undergo such dramatic shift in its second season on air is a very occurrence. But it’s being done, says executive producer Lorne Michaels per Deadline, “to infuse the show with more energy.”
What’s the difference between single and multi-cam shows? It’s best to think of it in terms of current programming. Right now Up All Night plays like other single-cam comedies such as Modern Family and New Girl. Once it switches over, the vibe will change and it will play like CBS’ stable of multi-cam hits such as The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men. What you’ll notice right off the bat, though, is a very audible laugh track since it will be shot in front of a live audience. Plus the limited amount of sets might feel more constructed.
Here’s what NBC entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt had to say on the subject: “We know what the multi-camera audience does for the live episodes of 30 Rock, plus after seeing both Maya [Rudolph] and Christina [Applegate] do SNL within the past few months, we knew we had the kind of performers — Will Arnett included — who love the reaction from a live audience. We think we can make a seamless tradition to the new format. Also, we’re committed to the multi-camera form and this will give us another show to consider for next season in this new format.”
As a fan of the show since the last season’s pilot, I’m not so enthused about this abrupt decision to change up the format. Season 1 had its ups and downs creatively, but I’ve felt that creator Emily Spivey (or new showrunner Tucker Cawley) really turned things around this season by firing Ava from her talkshow and focusing more on the family at home. Ratings aren’t dismal this year, but they aren’t great either; most recently it scored a 1.4 rating in the all-important adults 18-49 demo. I guess Michaels and Greenblatt talked Spivey/Cawley into turning the show inside out and seeing where things go from there. It’s possible that the show was on the brink of cancellation and this is NBC’s way of pardoning it. It’ll be an interesting experiment to follow next year, that is a fact.
Up All Night airs Thursday nights at 8:30PM on NBC. There are only five single-cam episodes left.