Let's Paint TV
Encyclopedia
Let's Paint TV is an American
television show hosted by artist John Kilduff that teaches viewers about oil painting.
The show is best noted for its live episodes
, which consist of the host painting while he runs on a treadmill
; in addition, he sometimes takes calls from viewers, cooks food, plays ping pong, or makes blended drinks
. The show's episode titles typically reflect whatever tasks are being undertaken, for example, Let's Paint, Exercise, and Play Ping Pong.
Let's Paint TV was originally broadcast on Los Angeles
Public-access television
cable TV from 2002 through 2008; after the LA public access studios were shut down in early 2008, the show transitioned to being an online-only program. The program began receiving world-wide attention in 2006 when Kilduff began uploading video clips of his show to YouTube
.
impersonator to arrive, and began thinking about his "exercise bike in the storage room, and I thought visually painting on an exercise bike could be interesting." He eventually decided that a treadmill would be more feasible for painting than an exercise bike.
John Kilduff claims his aim with the series is to make people of all skill levels try their hand at painting or other forms of creative self-expression. Kilduff frequently encourages viewers to use very large brushes in order to cover the canvas as quickly as possible before worrying about details, as he feels an empty canvas can be very intimidating to novices.
The sight of an artist simultaneously jogging, painting, blending drinks and chatting to guests and painting live models
has led some to speculate that the whole show is an ironic piece of performance art
. Kilduff denies this and states that he is completely sincere in trying to encourage people to do something creative.
Although John Kilduff says that show is meant to inspire creativity in others, many of the callers he gets tend not to take him seriously. As the show was once on Public-access TV, and is now on the internet, there is little to no censoring. The show also lacks caller screening. Many take advantage of this by expressing prejudice, cursing, accosting members of the show, and making derogatory comments about rival gangs. Despite the overwhelming number of prank call
ers, John generally continues to take calls.
Public-access television
in Los Angeles
in 2001 and is now being seen in New York
and London
. Clips of the show appeared on TV's Naughtiest Blunders in 2005 airing on England
's ITV television network.
Let's Paint TV became more widely known in late 2006 when Kilduff began uploading recordings of episodes to the online video service YouTube
, where it has since become a cult hit and increased his live show's viewership.
The show currently streams live Monday through Friday 11am-12:30pm PST on letspainttv.com.
tradition, assuming a sophisticated audience informed by the inescapable influence of Modernism
and the indeterminate sincerity of post–Saturday Night Live
television. It turns out Let’s Paint TV is indeed a clever parody of Bob Ross and company, but — like so much parody, from Don Quixote to the novelty music of Spike Jones
— this one turns out to be better art than that at which it pokes fun."
The Village Voice
noted that "Kilduff makes the average multitasker look like a slacker
."
, studied improv
at Los Angeles City College
, and attended the Otis/Parsons Art Institute. In 2008 he received a MFA
at UCLA
in California
.
Kilduff has appeared as a guest on The Tyra Banks Show
, where he painted Banks
' portrait. He appeared on the red carpet for the VH1 2006 Big Awards
, and painted David Hasselhoff
's portrait on the second season of America's Got Talent
. Kilduff was also filmed painting and jogging for a 2006 USA Network
commercial.
LA Weekly
notes that during most episodes of Let's Paint TV, Kilduff wears "his trademark crumpled and paint-stained Brooks Brothers
suit." In order to avoid working a day job, Kilduff sells many of his paintings at art fair
s around California. His paintings typically sell for between $1,200 and $3,000. He has appeared at several art shows throughout Southern California, often running on his treadmill, painting, and doing various other activities while museum patrons look on.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television show hosted by artist John Kilduff that teaches viewers about oil painting.
The show is best noted for its live episodes
Live television
Live television refers to a television production broadcast in real-time, as events happen, in the present. From the early days of television until about 1958, live television was used heavily, except for filmed shows such as I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke. Video tape did not exist until 1957...
, which consist of the host painting while he runs on a treadmill
Treadmill
A treadmill is an exercise machine for running or walking while staying in one place. The word treadmill traditionally refers to a type of mill which was operated by a person or animal treading steps of a wheel to grind grain...
; in addition, he sometimes takes calls from viewers, cooks food, plays ping pong, or makes blended drinks
Slush (beverage)
A slush is a flavored frozen drink.There are a number of different kinds of slush drinks:* Frozen carbonated beverages, typified by the Slurpee or ICEE, are made by freezing a carbonated drink. These machines are complicated and expensive, and notably require a carbon dioxide supply...
. The show's episode titles typically reflect whatever tasks are being undertaken, for example, Let's Paint, Exercise, and Play Ping Pong.
Let's Paint TV was originally broadcast on Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
Public-access television
Public-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
cable TV from 2002 through 2008; after the LA public access studios were shut down in early 2008, the show transitioned to being an online-only program. The program began receiving world-wide attention in 2006 when Kilduff began uploading video clips of his show to YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.
Show information
Kilduff conceived the idea for Let's Paint TV while working a different comedy Public-access show. He was waiting for a Saddam HusseinSaddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
impersonator to arrive, and began thinking about his "exercise bike in the storage room, and I thought visually painting on an exercise bike could be interesting." He eventually decided that a treadmill would be more feasible for painting than an exercise bike.
John Kilduff claims his aim with the series is to make people of all skill levels try their hand at painting or other forms of creative self-expression. Kilduff frequently encourages viewers to use very large brushes in order to cover the canvas as quickly as possible before worrying about details, as he feels an empty canvas can be very intimidating to novices.
The sight of an artist simultaneously jogging, painting, blending drinks and chatting to guests and painting live models
Model (art)
Art models are models who pose for photographers, painters, sculptors, and other artists as part of their work of art. Art models who pose in the nude for life drawing are usually called life models...
has led some to speculate that the whole show is an ironic piece of performance art
Performance art
In art, performance art is a performance presented to an audience, traditionally interdisciplinary. Performance may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation. The performance can be live or...
. Kilduff denies this and states that he is completely sincere in trying to encourage people to do something creative.
Although John Kilduff says that show is meant to inspire creativity in others, many of the callers he gets tend not to take him seriously. As the show was once on Public-access TV, and is now on the internet, there is little to no censoring. The show also lacks caller screening. Many take advantage of this by expressing prejudice, cursing, accosting members of the show, and making derogatory comments about rival gangs. Despite the overwhelming number of prank call
Prank call
A prank call is a form of practical joke committed over the telephone. Prank phone calls began to gain an America-wide following over a period of many years, as they gradually became a staple of the obscure and amusing cassette tapes traded amongst musicians, sound engineers, and media traders...
ers, John generally continues to take calls.
Terrestrial television run
The show originally began airing on Time WarnerTime Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable is an American cable television company that operates in 28 states and has 31 operating divisions...
Public-access television
Public-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
in 2001 and is now being seen in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Clips of the show appeared on TV's Naughtiest Blunders in 2005 airing on England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
's ITV television network.
Let's Paint TV became more widely known in late 2006 when Kilduff began uploading recordings of episodes to the online video service YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, where it has since become a cult hit and increased his live show's viewership.
Transition to internet television
On December 6, 2008 the last episode of the Public-access TV version of Lets Paint TV was taped. The Public-access TV studios in the City of Los Angeles shut down on December 31, 2008.The show currently streams live Monday through Friday 11am-12:30pm PST on letspainttv.com.
Reviews
LA Weekly warmly reviewed the show, saying that "it jettisons the inverse snobbery of the Bob RossBob Ross
Robert Norman "Bob" Ross was an American painter, art instructor, and television host. He is best known as the creator and host of The Joy of Painting, a television program that ran for 12 years on PBS stations in the United States.-Personal life:Ross was born in Daytona Beach, Florida, and...
tradition, assuming a sophisticated audience informed by the inescapable influence of Modernism
Modernism
Modernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes the modernist movement, its set of cultural tendencies and array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western society...
and the indeterminate sincerity of post–Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
television. It turns out Let’s Paint TV is indeed a clever parody of Bob Ross and company, but — like so much parody, from Don Quixote to the novelty music of Spike Jones
Spike Jones
Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny and other Warner Brothers cartoon characters, performed a drunken, hiccuping verse for 1942's "Clink! Clink! Another Drink"...
— this one turns out to be better art than that at which it pokes fun."
The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
noted that "Kilduff makes the average multitasker look like a slacker
Slacker
The term "slacker" is used to refer to a person who habitually avoids work. Slackers may be regarded as belonging to an antimaterialistic counterculture, though in some cases their behavior may be due to other causes ....
."
John Kilduff
John Kilduff, the show's host, is an exhibited artist and longtime Los Angeles resident. He received comedic training at The GroundlingsThe Groundlings
The Groundlings are an improvisational comedy troupe based in Los Angeles, California. The troupe was formed by Gary Austin in 1974 and uses an improv format influenced by Viola Spolin to produce sketches and improvised scenes...
, studied improv
Improvisational theatre
Improvisational theatre takes many forms. It is best known as improv or impro, which is often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic. In this popular, often topical art form improvisational actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously...
at Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College, known as LACC, is a public community college in the East Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California. A part of the Los Angeles Community College District, it is located on Vermont Avenue south of Santa Monica Boulevard...
, and attended the Otis/Parsons Art Institute. In 2008 he received a MFA
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
at UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Kilduff has appeared as a guest on The Tyra Banks Show
The Tyra Banks Show
The Tyra Banks Show, also known as and shortened to Tyra or The Tyra Show, is an American talk show hosted by Tyra Banks. The last new episode aired on Friday, May 28, 2010.-2005-2009: Syndication:...
, where he painted Banks
Tyra Banks
Tyra Lynne Banks is an American model, media personality, actress, occasional singer, author and businesswoman. She first became famous as a model, but television appearances were her commercial breakthrough...
' portrait. He appeared on the red carpet for the VH1 2006 Big Awards
VH1 2006 Big Awards
VH1's Big in '06 was an award show that aired on VH1 on December 3, 2006 on VH1 in the United States. It was the annual VH1 Big Awards. The show was hosted by comedian DL Hughley, and featured many guests, including Paris Hilton, Hulk Hogan, Janelle Pierzina, Will Kirby, Danny Bonaduce, Justin...
, and painted David Hasselhoff
David Hasselhoff
David Michael Hasselhoff is an American actor, singer, producer and businessman. He is best known for his lead roles as Michael Knight in the popular 1980s US series Knight Rider and as L.A. County Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in the series Baywatch...
's portrait on the second season of America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
. Kilduff was also filmed painting and jogging for a 2006 USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
commercial.
LA Weekly
LA Weekly
LA Weekly is a free weekly tabloid-sized "alternative weekly" in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Editor/Publisher Jay Levin and a board of directors that included actor-producer Michael Douglas...
notes that during most episodes of Let's Paint TV, Kilduff wears "his trademark crumpled and paint-stained Brooks Brothers
Brooks Brothers
Brooks Brothers is the oldest men's clothier chain in the United States. Founded in 1818 as a family business, the privately owned company is now owned by Retail Brand Alliance, also features clothing for women, and is headquartered on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, New York City.-History:On April 7,...
suit." In order to avoid working a day job, Kilduff sells many of his paintings at art fair
Art fair
An art fair is a commercial exhibition that shows the work of artists or art dealers. Each entrant has to pay a fee.Art fairs are not to be confused with art exhibitions. Exhibitions are organised by curators....
s around California. His paintings typically sell for between $1,200 and $3,000. He has appeared at several art shows throughout Southern California, often running on his treadmill, painting, and doing various other activities while museum patrons look on.
Partial cast
- John Kilduff
- Michael Q. Schmidt
- Deborah Hunter
- Inga Svorkist
- James Evans
- Kelly Taylor
- Frozen Plastic (musicians)
- Los Cremators (musicians)
- Mondo (musicians)
- Ultraviolet Eye (musicians)
- Rahdunes (musicians)
- Anal Holocaust (musicians)
- Lamont Paul
- Josh Robert ThompsonJosh Robert ThompsonJosh Robert Thompson is an American actor, impressionist and comedian.Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he resides in Los Angeles, making his living primarily as a voice and character actor. Thompson is known for his celebrity impressions, including Robert De Niro, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Willie...
- Mark Wentzel
- Cannon Kelly
- Paulette Nichols
- Ask a Chola
- Venus Alexa
- Bernard Nacion
- Gabe Rothschild
- Molly Barnes
- Raymond Chavez
- Irish Kid Charles
- Francine Dancer
External links
- Let's Paint TV - official website
- John Kilduff at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Let's Paint TV channel on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Let's Paint TV channel on StickamStickamStickam is a website devoted to live-streaming video, featuring both professional and user-generated content. The site launched in 2005. Stickam features user-submitted pictures, audio, video, and most prominently, live streaming video chat...
- Torontoist article: "Let's do it all simultaneously right now"