Washington, D.C.
(April 7, 2007)
-- "You're so vain; you probably think this story is
about you."
I'm paraphrasing a lyric from the Carly Simon tune, You're So Vain, which supposedly described the narcissistic behavior of a certain celebrity. However, the lyric could easily apply to many of today's TV broadcasters and primetime stars.
Apparently scared silly by the introduction of High-Definition TV, which is so clear that it can expose the smallest facial flaw, some TV stars are now hiding behind special camera filters and other tricks of the trade.
Is Brian Williams hiding in plain sight?
The effect is to soften the realistic HD image so the on-air talent will look younger and appear to have fewer facial imperfections.
While network officials won't speak publicly about the trend, one high-ranking ABC executive tells TVPredictions.com that it's not anything new.
"For years, we've softened the image for certain performers," the executive said in an e-mail interview. "To do so in HD is just a continuation of that."
I'm paraphrasing a lyric from the Carly Simon tune, You're So Vain, which supposedly described the narcissistic behavior of a certain celebrity. However, the lyric could easily apply to many of today's TV broadcasters and primetime stars.
Apparently scared silly by the introduction of High-Definition TV, which is so clear that it can expose the smallest facial flaw, some TV stars are now hiding behind special camera filters and other tricks of the trade.
Is Brian Williams hiding in plain sight?
The effect is to soften the realistic HD image so the on-air talent will look younger and appear to have fewer facial imperfections.
While network officials won't speak publicly about the trend, one high-ranking ABC executive tells TVPredictions.com that it's not anything new.
"For years, we've softened the image for certain performers," the executive said in an e-mail interview. "To do so in HD is just a continuation of that."
__________________________________________
____________________________________________
To protect the talent, the networks are using a new makeup application called airbrushing -- and new specially-made HD camera filters. Tiffen, one maker of the new filter, says it will definitely do the trick.
"This is the filter of choice for making people look great without evidence of filtration," the company says at its web site.
However, the decision to put the stars' image ahead of the image seen by viewers is upsetting many high-def owners who are expecting the sharpest picture possible for their investment.
For instance, NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams began broadcasting in high-def last month and HD owners began complaining immediately that the network was using a filter to make the anchor look better.
"I think NBC has hired Loretta Young's cinematographer," said one poster at the TVPredictions.com Reader Forum.
He was referring to the actress who only appeared in soft focus during her 1950s NBC primetime program, The Loretta Young Show.
"I was frustrated and disappointed," the poster added. "Come on, NBC, get real."
Forever Young: Loretta Young in the 1950s NBC program.
If Williams is hiding behind a camera filter, he's not alone. Meredith Vieira looks like a different person depending upon which lens she is viewed through during the HDTV broadcast of NBC's The Today Show.
When Vieira is shown in the studio, she looks 10 years younger than she does when the cameras swing outside for segments in front of 30 Rock. Apparently, the network is not using the filters on the outdoor HD cameras.
Diane Sawyer, the 61-year-old hostess of Good Morning America on ABC, seems to get the same favorable camera filtering during her program, which is also in HD.
But it's not just TV newscasters. Many primetime stars, such as Blythe Danner, who appeared on Showtime's Huff, are also freaking out over high-def and asking for help.
"I wasn't terribly conscious of it until we did Huff and they used this dreadful High-Definition which makes anybody over 50 look as if they are 80," says the 63-year-old actress. "So, I got very self-conscious about that. Yes, we all get a little help, a little bit of this or that, not tremendous amounts. There were some shots on Huff I was just appalled by. I don't think I am terribly narcissistic, but you don't want to look your worst."
Vanessa Williams, star of Ugly Betty on ABC, is no Ugly Betty in high-def or not. But the former Miss America is also complaining loudly about high-def's all-too-clear picture.
"It's horrifying," Williams, 43, tells CelebrityWeek.com, an online entertainment site. "My brother had (HDTV). I remember him being really excited about it -- and you could see every pore, every hair, every line on the actress’s face."
It's not known if Ms. Williams' cameras are filtered during the show.
Even today's top adult stars are asking for a little assistance when filmed in HD. Jesse Jane, star of such films as Pirates, told HDNet World Report recently that she was getting breast surgery to look better in high-def.
It's unclear where all this will go. High-def owners are demanding the sharpest pictures possible while the celebrities will likely increase their calls for more high-tech camouflage.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that some actresses are now resorting to Botox to escape the glare of high-def. Perhaps that will replace the need for filters.
But perhaps not.
"Boy, I'm not a fan of HD personally. I'd like some Barbra Streisand gauze...I want the Barbara Walters soft-focus," Pat Sajak, host of Wheel of Fortune, which is produced in high-def., tells iVillage. " I want low-def. Low, lower and lowest def."
Comment on this article!
Click TVPredictions.com to see today's Swanni Sez.
© TVPredictions.com
____________________________________________
Advertisement
_______________________________________________________
____________________________________________
To protect the talent, the networks are using a new makeup application called airbrushing -- and new specially-made HD camera filters. Tiffen, one maker of the new filter, says it will definitely do the trick.
"This is the filter of choice for making people look great without evidence of filtration," the company says at its web site.
However, the decision to put the stars' image ahead of the image seen by viewers is upsetting many high-def owners who are expecting the sharpest picture possible for their investment.
For instance, NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams began broadcasting in high-def last month and HD owners began complaining immediately that the network was using a filter to make the anchor look better.
"I think NBC has hired Loretta Young's cinematographer," said one poster at the TVPredictions.com Reader Forum.
He was referring to the actress who only appeared in soft focus during her 1950s NBC primetime program, The Loretta Young Show.
"I was frustrated and disappointed," the poster added. "Come on, NBC, get real."
Forever Young: Loretta Young in the 1950s NBC program.
If Williams is hiding behind a camera filter, he's not alone. Meredith Vieira looks like a different person depending upon which lens she is viewed through during the HDTV broadcast of NBC's The Today Show.
When Vieira is shown in the studio, she looks 10 years younger than she does when the cameras swing outside for segments in front of 30 Rock. Apparently, the network is not using the filters on the outdoor HD cameras.
Diane Sawyer, the 61-year-old hostess of Good Morning America on ABC, seems to get the same favorable camera filtering during her program, which is also in HD.
But it's not just TV newscasters. Many primetime stars, such as Blythe Danner, who appeared on Showtime's Huff, are also freaking out over high-def and asking for help.
"I wasn't terribly conscious of it until we did Huff and they used this dreadful High-Definition which makes anybody over 50 look as if they are 80," says the 63-year-old actress. "So, I got very self-conscious about that. Yes, we all get a little help, a little bit of this or that, not tremendous amounts. There were some shots on Huff I was just appalled by. I don't think I am terribly narcissistic, but you don't want to look your worst."
Vanessa Williams, star of Ugly Betty on ABC, is no Ugly Betty in high-def or not. But the former Miss America is also complaining loudly about high-def's all-too-clear picture.
"It's horrifying," Williams, 43, tells CelebrityWeek.com, an online entertainment site. "My brother had (HDTV). I remember him being really excited about it -- and you could see every pore, every hair, every line on the actress’s face."
It's not known if Ms. Williams' cameras are filtered during the show.
Even today's top adult stars are asking for a little assistance when filmed in HD. Jesse Jane, star of such films as Pirates, told HDNet World Report recently that she was getting breast surgery to look better in high-def.
It's unclear where all this will go. High-def owners are demanding the sharpest pictures possible while the celebrities will likely increase their calls for more high-tech camouflage.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that some actresses are now resorting to Botox to escape the glare of high-def. Perhaps that will replace the need for filters.
But perhaps not.
"Boy, I'm not a fan of HD personally. I'd like some Barbra Streisand gauze...I want the Barbara Walters soft-focus," Pat Sajak, host of Wheel of Fortune, which is produced in high-def., tells iVillage. " I want low-def. Low, lower and lowest def."
Comment on this article!
Click TVPredictions.com to see today's Swanni Sez.
© TVPredictions.com
____________________________________________
Advertisement
_______________________________________________________
Phillip Swann is president and publisher of
TVPredictions.com. He has been quoted in dozens of
publications and broadcast outlets, including CNN,
Fox News, Inside Edition, The New York Times, The
Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Financial
Times, The Associated Press and The Hollywood
Reporter. He can be reached at
swann@tvpredictions.com
or at 703-505-3064.
Click
TVPredictions.com
to read more news and features
on TV technology.