Carissa Marsh
Staff Writer
Many things have come and gone in the past 10 years. Fashions changed, leaving people with drawers full of out-of-date clothes. Even favorite television shows fell into the clutches of syndication.
While many trends fell by the wayside, this did not hold true for one of Pepperdine’s constants — the first entertainment show to find a home on Pepperdine’s channel 26, “The Randumb Show.”
“The Randumb Show” is the longest running student-produced show in the history of Pepperdine television productions, and it is celebrating its 10th anniversary next week.
To celebrate the show’s incredible 10-year run, the Communication Division is broadcasting a special anniversary show. It will be broadcast before a live audience in the CCB television studio Thursday, Feb. 3.
The show goes live at 8:30 p.m. Audience members need to be in their seats by 8:15 p.m.
The anniversary show will be hosted by senior Robby Mooring, in the format of a late-night talk show. It will feature “Randumb” highlights from the past decade as well as many of the students, both current and past, who have worked on the show. The show will end with a segment featuring its creator, Mike Richards, a former Pepperdine telecommunications student who started “The Randumb Show” 10 years ago.
Prior to creating “The Randumb Show,” Richards was working on Pepperdine’s news program as an anchor but said he couldn’t seem to stay out of trouble.
“I had trouble being serious,” Richards said. “I made my co-anchor laugh too much.”
After realizing he could not be serious long enough to do the news for a half-hour, Richards said he decided he needed to do something more comedic that catered to his creative side.
Richards approached Susan Salas, now an associate professor of telecommunications and director of broadcasting, with the idea of creating a comedy show. Salas, who was an adjunct professor in the Communication Division at thw time, said she agreed to try it, because the idea was “innovative, different and fun.”
The main problem the group faced was finding enough crew members to fill the positions needed to produce a successful show.
“There were not enough people behind the cameras,” Richards said.
One day while filming, a light dropped from the ceiling and fell directly in front of Richards. But the tape never stopped rolling, mainly because no one in the group knew how to edit, he said.
But the beauty of the show was in its mistakes and spontaneity, Richards said. He said it was their mistakes that garnered the most laughs and made the show so popular.
“The Randumb Show” followed the format of one of Richards’ inspirations, the “Late Show with David Letterman.” Focusing on talk and sketch comedy, each episode began with an opening monologue, followed by a spoof commercial and then an interview.
The show has grown dramatically since its humble beginnings, incorporating new elements ranging from live bands to animation.
During the past 10 years, Salas said the show has changed and progressed because of the dynamism of the students involved.
Still, there is something familiar about every episode. Even though the format, style and comedy are in a continual state of change and improvement, the original tone Richards set remains at the core of “The Randumb Show.”
One of the most unique things about the show is its name. Richards said he borrowed the name from a common phrase many students were uttering during his junior year at Pepperdine.
“Everyone was saying ‘That is so random,’” Richards said. “The name of the show makes fun of that.”
The show’s strength lies in the fact that it truly is a student show. It is student written, produced, edited and acted. The crew is all students.
At first, Salas said she was more hands-on in her involvement but she soon realized her presence got in the way. Salas said she believes the show is unique because the students don’t have “faculty breathing down their necks.” Now, Salas just watches the shows produced and gives the students her input on what worked, what didn’t and how they can improve.
“We work on production value and performance value,” Salas said. “The students get to apply what they learn in class.”
She said it is satisfying to see the show grow, change and improve.
“I evolved as the show evolved,” Salas added.
Carlos Mendez, a senior telecommunications and production major, has been involved with “The Randumb Show” since his freshman year. He helps produce and direct short films as well as host live segments.
Mendez described the show as a “SNL-type show, but its more like anything students want to produce or create can be put on ‘The Randumb Show.’” Mendez said it is “an open forum for student creativity.”
“The Randumb Show” gives the students involved the chance to practice and experiment in a lab-type setting before having to go out into the job market.
Micah Kafka, a senior telecommunications major, is the producer of “The Randumb Show” this semester. He has been involved with the show since his junior year, first as a camera man, then as a director, and now as producer.
Kafka said he agrees with Mendez that working on the show has been a valuable experience. He said he believes the show has taught him how to work with people, deal with crises and become more organized.
“It’s really encouraging to see where this is going,” said Kafka about the show reaching its 10- year mark.
Natasha Bullard, also a senior telecommunications major, has been involved with the show since the second semester of her freshman year. Like the creator of the show, Bullard also used to work on the news, but she said she wanted something a little less strict and serious.
As a senior, Bullard said she is excited to see how her involvement in the show will impact her career. The show has helped many students find their way in the television industry and establish networks.
Richards, for example, is now working for Dick Clark Productions.
Richards, who has watched every production team’s development of “The Randumb Show” over the years, said he is surprised at the show’s longevity.
“I am surprised,” Richards said. “We were underdogs when we started. It is fun to watch how much better they have gotten. It’s really unbelievable.”
After the taping of the anniversary special, there will be a reception held in CCB 140 where returning “Randumb Show” alumni will be visiting.
Salas said she encourages everyone — administration, faculty and students — to be a part of what she believes is “Pepperdine broadcast history.”
01-27-2005
