The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again
  • Network: FOX
  • Series Premiere Date: Oct 20, 2016
User Score
2.6

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 34 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 34
  3. Negative: 25 out of 34

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User Reviews

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  1. JLW
    Oct 20, 2016
    0
    The "new" Rocky sucks balls...not in a good way. Unbelievably bad. Not in a good way. Just bad. Not in a shrug shoulders, oh well, it's as a good as a bad stage version kind of way. Just bad. I think my cherry grew back....
  2. Bgrod
    Oct 24, 2016
    1
    The big question for FOX is why? It wasn't a horrible updated copy of original Rocky Horror movie but a pale imitation nonetheless of the cult film which was somewhat groundbreaking for its time by addressing gender bending sexuality. Interesting choice of Laverne Cox but she was actually the weakest link in this TV version. I could only watch about 30 minutes of this highly marginal FOXThe big question for FOX is why? It wasn't a horrible updated copy of original Rocky Horror movie but a pale imitation nonetheless of the cult film which was somewhat groundbreaking for its time by addressing gender bending sexuality. Interesting choice of Laverne Cox but she was actually the weakest link in this TV version. I could only watch about 30 minutes of this highly marginal FOX show before I popped the DVD for the original in the DVD player.… Expand
  3. notahobbit
    Oct 22, 2016
    0
    Totally, utterly, dreadful attempt at re-making something that didn't need to be re-made. There is so much wrong with it I seriously don't know where to start. So let's start then with the main (and most important) character in the entire film - Frank. Frank is a man. He has always been a man, and will always continue to be a man. The shock and awe of his character emanates from being aTotally, utterly, dreadful attempt at re-making something that didn't need to be re-made. There is so much wrong with it I seriously don't know where to start. So let's start then with the main (and most important) character in the entire film - Frank. Frank is a man. He has always been a man, and will always continue to be a man. The shock and awe of his character emanates from being a male so in touch with his own sexuality that he wears stockings and suspenders better than any woman I've ever known. To replace that man with a woman, albeit a transgender woman, was completely wrong and inappropriate. So much of Frank's character was lost because of this one simple fact, that even the brilliant Laverne Cox couldn't make up for it with her flamboyance.

    Next - Magenta. Did she really need to be black? She's supposed to be the white Riff Raff's Sister for crying out loud. And yes, it's important. The incestuous relationship between those two is another forbidden fruit that added to the shock of the original, which was sadly lost in this limp 'let's try not to upset anybody' re-make. Instead, we just have Riff Raff eyeing up Janet with his lecherous gaze, which I have to say made me feel really uncomfortable and wasn't the slightest bit endearing towards his character.

    Columbia, oh dear. Acting and miming very badly, and tap dancing in boots. Seriously? We could see she was sucking on a blue lollypop, so did she really need to keep sticking her tongue out to show us it had turned blue too? She's supposed to be bubbly and lovable, but what we got was an annoying brat.

    The sets were all wrong. The transylvanians were wrong. The sexual chemistry was wrong. The iconic floor show was a mess. The audience participation scenes were embarrassing.

    Overall a disaster from start to finish.    … Expand
  4. stevedfld
    Oct 21, 2016
    0
    As a fan of the original. I was offended that Tim Curry would associate himself with this absolute garbage. Who thought this was a good version? The casting of "frankenfurter" is ridicules? It has lost all its charm. The original film is magic, this is tragic.

    Never watch this! If you have seen the original it will make you feel sad after... Lol. The original is such a unique movie and    As a fan of the original. I was offended that Tim Curry would associate himself with this absolute garbage. Who thought this was a good version? The casting of "frankenfurter" is ridicules? It has lost all its charm. The original film is magic, this is tragic.

    Never watch this! If you have seen the original it will make you feel sad after... Lol. The original is such a unique movie and experience that its impossible to duplicate.    … Expand
  5. justapersonok
    Oct 20, 2016
    0
    "Rocky horror picture show:lets do the time warp again" how about let's not. This was a cult classic that should have never been touched, let alone by the dude who did "high school musical". I wasted two hours of my life to watch that bs disappointing atrocity. The commercials were more entertaining for crying out loud. There are some things you don't try and replicate...this would be one"Rocky horror picture show:lets do the time warp again" how about let's not. This was a cult classic that should have never been touched, let alone by the dude who did "high school musical". I wasted two hours of my life to watch that bs disappointing atrocity. The commercials were more entertaining for crying out loud. There are some things you don't try and replicate...this would be one of them.… Expand
  6. scrand
    Oct 21, 2016
    1
    So disappointing in oh so many ways I can't believe it. Being a huge fan of the original without any predisposition to dislike a new version I went into watching this hoping for the best - it is hard after all to re-do a classic. Bad acting, a horrible choice for Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Adam Lambert would have been so much better in the role), a very weak Columbia but for me the most painfulSo disappointing in oh so many ways I can't believe it. Being a huge fan of the original without any predisposition to dislike a new version I went into watching this hoping for the best - it is hard after all to re-do a classic. Bad acting, a horrible choice for Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Adam Lambert would have been so much better in the role), a very weak Columbia but for me the most painful to watch was Reeve Carney as Riff-Raff....next to Tim Curry in the original the part played by Richard O'Brien was my favourite - acting and singing. I won't even mention this version to friends and co-workers in hopes that it fades into the distant memories (and trivia) that holds a place for it along with Shock Treatment.… Expand
  7. Eliasc
    Oct 21, 2016
    0
    'Rocky Horror Picture Show' is a deserved classic of comic parody that captured the essence of second-rate horror films and alternative lifestyles set to compelling music. Audiences were quick to recognize what it was and joined in with the fun by turning the film into a audience participation event that redefined the meaning of street performance art done indoors in a theater.
    This new    'Rocky Horror Picture Show' is a deserved classic of comic parody that captured the essence of second-rate horror films and alternative lifestyles set to compelling music. Audiences were quick to recognize what it was and joined in with the fun by turning the film into a audience participation event that redefined the meaning of street performance art done indoors in a theater.
    This new production captures none of this. It looks more like a high school production then an actual performance of Rocky Horror with sets too brightly lit, performers overacting and bouncing all over the set, and everything from costumes and set construction looking much too clean. Every so often the viewer is jarred by a scene insert of an 'audience' and a shot of the cast members on the stage from the point of view of the audience.
    Do yourself a favor. If you want to take part in the Rocky Horror Experience, find yourself a midnight showing of the film at your local theater and avoid this awful attempt at duplicating it.    … Expand
  8. Ralaxi
    Oct 20, 2016
    9
    I know I may be going against the grain here but I genuinely loved every second of this iteration of Rocky Horror. The film plays as more of a tribute and a "Thank You" to the original rather than trying to outdo it, which I find very respectful. The sets and costumes were outstanding and so were the performances. The musical numbers were especially well realized, especially the opening,I know I may be going against the grain here but I genuinely loved every second of this iteration of Rocky Horror. The film plays as more of a tribute and a "Thank You" to the original rather than trying to outdo it, which I find very respectful. The sets and costumes were outstanding and so were the performances. The musical numbers were especially well realized, especially the opening, which features Ivy Levan doing a cover of "Science Fiction, Double Feature" that set the film out on a high note for me. Speaking of the cast, they were outstanding, especially Laverne Cox who you can just tell loved every second of filming. I love and cherish the original, but I found this version especially entertaining. I watched it with friends who had never seen the original and they loved it just as much as I did and now are really excited to watch the original! In my opinion, many fans aren't realizing that this iteration was never meant to outdo or outshine the original, but rather exist symbiotically with it. I felt an unquestionable love for the original oozing out of this movie, even if the (albeit infrequent) cutaways to the staged audience kind of take you out of the experience. However, this is just my opinion and I encourage everyone to watch it for themselves before judging!… Expand
  9. DanceAholic
    Oct 21, 2016
    10
    This is not the original from decades past, but this is a sensual, well choreographed show, with all beautiful performers! Especially Laverne Cox! Sexy songs and dance routines. Gold costumes and clothing were to die for.The lighting was brilliant and the entire show is a blast that gives you a high you don't come down from for hours.
  10. AngelusErarus
    Oct 22, 2016
    4
    When you have a remake of a classic, especially a cult classic, you know that the studio producing it is taking a big risk. In all actuality, they pretty much HAVE to hit it out of the park as they're damned from the get go. There will always be one sect of people who will come into it with a preconceived notion of how things "needs to be done," with any deviation being a blasphemousWhen you have a remake of a classic, especially a cult classic, you know that the studio producing it is taking a big risk. In all actuality, they pretty much HAVE to hit it out of the park as they're damned from the get go. There will always be one sect of people who will come into it with a preconceived notion of how things "needs to be done," with any deviation being a blasphemous action taken against their beloved move that should be met with pitchforks and an angry mob. On the other hand, if you don't take a chance and do something different in order to distinguish yourself from the original, you'll be criticised for making an inferior copy of the original with no mind of its own, devoid of a reason to watch this remake other than a shiny new coat of paint. You're pretty much damned before you start, so I have respect for everyone on this film/television event for attempting to take this venture on.

    Now that I have gotten that out of the way, I wasn't a fan... not to say there wasn't good in it. Cox has the gravitas and talent to become a great musical theatre performer and held her own in the part, but there was just something missing from her performance. No it's not that she isn't Tim Curry, I've been in and seen multiple productions of the show, there was just a certain... Je ne se qua to the part that she didn't have. (and no, it is also not because it's a woman playing the part, I've seen Frank played by a woman before and she was fantastic) That was one of the biggest faults here, and I could go on for a while picking this thing apart, but I've listed it's biggest flaws below.

    -A lot of the musical scores were lackluster, and the dumbing down of the content (Mental mind game? Really? You could have said it and bleeped it.) was more of a detriment than it needed to be.
    -Showing the audience for some of the call outs was a terrible Idea. Yes it is something that has become quite standard with a midnight viewing of this show, but all showing it on screen did was needlessly pull you out of the action, ultimately being more distracting than anything else.
    -There were also a lot of costume design choices I didn't like (specifically the floor show with the exception of one costume). Don't get me wrong, there are some wonderful choices also. Brad's floor show look gave me LIFE. But again, some things just didn't... mesh.

    Not that there weren't any pros:

    -Annaleigh Ashford's Columbia was a highlight and was a wonderful interpretation of a classic character.
    -At risk of being lynched for saying this, I actually preferred this Planet Schmanet over the original's, Cox REALLY went in for the kill on this one.

    Ultimately the cast looked like they had fun, and it was an adequate production over all, and that's what matters. But there's lot that's missing that makes the experience truly the classic that it is. It's still an interesting watch, but if you're looking to get introduced to the experience, you're best bet is to see the original at a midnight showing (with or without a shadow cast... or see the musical it was based on, also a great start)    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

72
#72 Most Shared TV Season of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. The Daily Beast
    Reviewed by: Kevin Fallon
    Oct 20, 2016
    40
    The storytelling, clearly, isn’t the point. It’s about the feeling of Rocky Horror and, as the film took on this cult second life, the audience who is feeling it. But with this Fox production, it’s unclear who the intended audience is.
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  2. St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Reviewed by: Gail Pennington
    Oct 20, 2016
    50
    Think of this, maybe, as a "Glee" version of "Rocky Horror." The musical numbers range from entertaining ("Time Warp" gets a big, loud production) to fine. The pretty young cast struggles with the tone, except for Justice, who takes her role so seriously, she seems to be in a different movie.
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  3. Vox.com
    Reviewed by: Caroline Framke
    Oct 20, 2016
    40
    Let’s Do the Time Warp Again is a sterile facsimile of Rocky Horror’s original camp, filtered through the lens of Party City’s least inspired Halloween aisle.
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