{{Short description|American television talk show}} {{Use American English|date=September 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox television | image = | image_alt = | caption = | alt_name = | genre = Talk show | creator = | director = | presenter = Rob Nelson | country = United States | language = English | num_seasons = 1 | num_episodes = | location = | runtime = 42–43 minutes | executive_producer = {{unbulleted list|Linda Ellman (2002)|David Armour (2002–2003)}} | company = {{unbulleted list|Monet Lane Productions|Ellman Entertainment<br>Twentieth Television}} | network = Syndication | first_aired = {{Start date|2002|9|16}} | last_aired = {{End date|2003|1|3}} }}
'''''The Rob Nelson Show''''' is an American daytime talk show that was hosted by Rob Nelson. The show ran in syndication for one season from September 16, 2002, to January 3, 2003.
==Format== ''The Rob Nelson Show'' is an hour-long daytime talk show that was hosted by television presenter Rob Nelson. In its first six weeks, the show typically featured several guests on stage who discussed their thoughts on a given topic, such as female body image or the dangers of gang life. The show then reformatted into a tabloid talk show, in which it shifted its focus to single-issue discussions with an emphasis on audience interaction. Nelson moderated discussions and periodically handed off his microphone to audience members to make additional comments. Under this new format, the show featured topics such as a man who intended to raise money to cut off his feet with a guillotine, a mother who became a legal prostitute, and a human guinea pig.<ref name="latimes">{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-nov-20-et-tips20-story.html |url-access=limited |title=Do-gooder warms up to weird |last=Friedman |first=Josh |work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 20, 2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914125844/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-nov-20-et-tips20-story.html |archive-date=September 14, 2024}}</ref>
==Production== ===Conception and development=== In 1992, Nelson co-founded the advocacy group Lead or Leave, which advocated for reducing the national deficit. His political involvement throughout the 1990s received coverage by the news media, which culminated in him hosting ''The Full Nelson'', a political talk show on Fox News.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-aug-20-ca-1864-story.html |title=New 'Full Nelson' Talk Show Gives Format a Gen-X Twist |last=Clark |first=John |work=Los Angeles Times |date=August 20, 1999 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215175307/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-aug-20-ca-1864-story.html |archive-date=February 15, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/18/arts/tv-notes-talk-for-young-viewers.html |title=Talk for Young Viewers |last=Mifflin |first=Lawrie |work=The New York Times |date=August 18, 1999 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405082856/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/18/arts/tv-notes-talk-for-young-viewers.html |archive-date=April 5, 2023}}</ref> Following the show's conclusion, Twentieth Television offered Nelson his own talk show under the belief that he was "the next Phil Donahue".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2002/scene/markets-festivals/phil-leads-talk-charge-1117858337/ |title='Phil' leads talk charge |last=Frankel |first=Daniel |work=Variety |date=January 13, 2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922005408/https://variety.com/2002/scene/markets-festivals/phil-leads-talk-charge-1117858337/ |archive-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref> According to executive producer Linda Ellman, "[Nelson will] bring the same blend of credibility and compassion to his show that made ''Donahue'' a talk-show franchise."<ref name="bc">{{cite web |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/new-first-runs-glance-90774 |title=New first-runs at a glance |last=Schlosser |first=Joe |work=Broadcasting & Cable |date=January 6, 2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418121114/https://www.nexttv.com/news/new-first-runs-glance-90774 |archive-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> Nelson hoped to host an unconventional talk show that improved the negative reputation of daytime television in the United States.<ref name="bc"/>
The show was produced by Monet Lane Productions in association with Twentieth Television.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tvweek.com/in-depth/2001/12/nelson-talker-going-national/ |title='Nelson' talker going national |last=Pursell |first=Chris |work=Electronic Media |date=December 3, 2001 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707050330/https://www.tvweek.com/in-depth/2001/12/nelson-talker-going-national/ |archive-date=July 7, 2022}}</ref> Linda Ellman served as the show's executive producer; however, she was replaced by David Armour in October 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/nelson-all-talk-twentieth-77606 |title=Nelson is all talk for Twentieth |last= |first= |work=Broadcasting & Cable |date=December 1, 2001 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322092658/https://www.nexttv.com/news/nelson-all-talk-twentieth-77606 |archive-date=March 22, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2002/10/25/inner-tube-1174/ |title=Inner Tube |last= |first= |work=New York Daily News |date=October 25, 2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921123905/https://www.nydailynews.com/2002/10/25/inner-tube-1174/ |archive-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref> The show ceased production on December 18, 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2002/12/24/cbs-bosses-search-for-new-ratings-star/ |title=CBS bosses search for new ratings 'Star' |last=de Moraes |first=Lisa |author-link=Lisa de Moraes |work=Chicago Tribune |date=December 24, 2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914122629/https://www.chicagotribune.com/2002/12/24/cbs-bosses-search-for-new-ratings-star/ |archive-date=September 14, 2024}}</ref>
===Topic selection=== Nelson attempted to distance his show from tabloid talk shows like ''Jerry Springer'', stating, "It's about our real world. It's about relationships, our jobs, our struggles with sexuality, trying to understand one another and everything that happens to us in our day-to-day lives."<ref name="bc"/>
==Broadcast history and release== On November 25, 2002, Nelson appeared nude in an episode about "nudity's role in culture and morality".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2002/tv/news/inside-move-full-nelson-1117876454/ |title=Full 'Nelson' |last=Grego |first=Melissa |work=Variety |date=November 24, 2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914123528/https://variety.com/2002/tv/news/inside-move-full-nelson-1117876454/ |archive-date=September 14, 2024}}</ref> On December 5, 2002, it was announced that the show was on hiatus.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/rob-nelson-down-count-94807 |title=Rob Nelson down for the count? |last=Albiniak |first=Paige |work=Broadcasting & Cable |date=December 5, 2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707102248/https://www.nexttv.com/news/rob-nelson-down-count-94807 |archive-date=July 7, 2022}}</ref> On December 18, 2002, Twentieth Television announced that the show was canceled, in which it cited the show's low ratings.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-dec-19-wk-quick19.1-story.html |url-access=limited |title=Finally |last= |first= |work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 19, 2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914124920/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-dec-19-wk-quick19.1-story.html |archive-date=September 14, 2024}}</ref>
==Reception== ===Television viewership and ratings=== The show's premiere, which was broadcast in 50 metered markets, averaged a 1.2/4.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2002/tv/news/shot-of-dr-phil-cures-syndie-ills-1117872933/ |title=Shot of 'Dr. Phil' cures syndie ills |last=Grego |first=Melissa |work=Variety |date=September 17, 2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921125346/https://variety.com/2002/tv/news/shot-of-dr-phil-cures-syndie-ills-1117872933/ |archive-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref> Its viewership slightly dropped in the show's second week, in which it averaged a 0.9 rating.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2002/tv/news/syndie-frosh-fresh-with-boffo-ratings-1117874039/ |title=Syndie frosh fresh with boffo ratings |last=Grego |first=Melissa |work=Variety |date=October 8, 2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921124851/https://variety.com/2002/tv/news/syndie-frosh-fresh-with-boffo-ratings-1117874039/ |archive-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref> The show averaged a 1.0 rating throughout its run.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tvweek.com/in-depth/2002/12/syndie-renewals-crowd-fall-sch/ |title=Syndie renewals crowd fall schedules |last=Pursell |first=Chris |work=Electronic Media |date=December 9, 2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016093958/https://www.tvweek.com/in-depth/2002/12/syndie-renewals-crowd-fall-sch/ |archive-date=October 16, 2021}}</ref>
===Critical response=== Josh Friedman of the ''Los Angeles Times'' claimed that the show, despite having a positive message, was dull.<ref name="latimes"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20021128120102/http://www.robnelsonshow.com/}} at the Wayback Machine * {{IMDb title|0338654|The Rob Nelson Show}}
{{U.S. daytime talk shows}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rob Nelson Show}} Category:2000s American television talk shows Category:2002 American television series debuts Category:2003 American television series endings Category:English-language American television shows Category:First-run syndicated television programs in the United States Category:Tabloid talk shows Category:Television series by 20th Century Fox Television