STAGE REVIEW : Groundlings’ Fresh Take on Stale TV

Television is such a tempting target for satirists in Los Angeles that it often seems as if no one could possibly come up with an original take on the subject.

But in “Your Very Own TV Show” at the Groundlings Theater, George McGrath has created a structure for his satire that feels fresh, even if he’s lampooning the same old TV conventions that have been mocked for decades.

It’s literally a fresh show at each performance, for much of it consists of improvisations on audience suggestions. The actors also vary from week to week. This means that the quality may vary.

But at a recent performance, the laughs were abundant and a sense of the ridiculous was acute.

The evening begins with requests for a number of audience contributions, the most important of which is the title of a new TV sitcom (last week’s title, selected in an audience vote: “That Darned Attorney”).

In the first sketch, two writers struggle to create a series concept. When a brainstorm hits, the writer wonders out loud “if people would like that”--and the audience immediately responds with groans or applause, instead of the dial pushing that occurs when real TV pilots are screened for test audiences. Audience approval determines what goes into the concept.

Next, the writers pitch their idea to a network executive who buys it, and we witness the casting process for the pilot. Someone from the audience is selected as the star of the sitcom, and we see him meeting his new manager and publicist. Then McGrath and musical director Willie Etra perform the theme song for the new show--the lyrics, of course, based on audience suggestions.

After intermission, a four-scene pilot is shot before a live studio audience--us. At the end, the star of the sitcom is presented with a videotape of “Your Very Own TV Show.”

“This is better than the Universal Studios tour,” said the star of last week’s episode as he accepted his tape. Well, it certainly was funnier.

McGrath, who co-produced and co-directed with Judy Chaikin, also appeared as one of the writers and as the audience’s warm-up host for the pilot taping. In the latter role, he used the character of the shiny-suited, ever-smiling interviewer, Nat Caulfield, that he also uses on his cable TV series, “On the Television.”

With his enormous mouth and lightning wit, the hilarious McGrath keeps the proceedings moving. He’s much funnier here than he is on his very own TV series, where the format doesn’t allow on-screen improvisation and requires him to keep returning as a Siskel/Ebert-type TV critic with a style that’s too dry for McGrath.

While it may be a giant risk to cast an audience member as the star of each week’s show, it worked Thursday. McGrath makes sure that the evening does not depend on the verbal inventiveness of the novice from the audience. Those who want a chance to be that novice should sit near the aisle.

At 7307 Melrose Ave., Thursdays at 8 p.m., indefinitely. $12.50; (213) 934-9700.