The plot is familiar, and for social TV fans it may be a little too familiar.
ABC’s new fall series ‘Selfie’ is a modern version of ‘My Fair Lady,’ except in this retelling Eliza Dooley (played by Karen Gillan) is a social media fiend – that is until she realizes that “being friended is not the same as having actual friends.” Enter Henry (played by John Cho), an ascetic, no-nonsense marketing executive who takes Eliza on as a project.
Eliza isn’t there quite yet, and in the meantime she continues to tweet and Instagram. The show’s creative team has done an excellent job integrating graphics of Eliza’s social activity into the show, but its social TV work also extends to Eliza’s favorite platforms themselves – Twitter and Instagram.
Eliza’s posts during the show are populated on actual Twitter and Instagram accounts. For example, during last night’s episode, Eliza and her boyfriend Freddy decide to take an “after sex pic,” which we see on screen.
The post hit Twitter and Instagram simultaneously:
#Bedhead #Afterglow pic.twitter.com/TzqWtd1th7
— Eliza Dooley (@The_Doolio) October 8, 2014
There were a number of examples like this from last night’s episode, but the show also features a participatory element. Last night, Eliza decides to join a book club but obviously has no intention to read the books. While we don’t see this in the show, on Twitter Eliza asks her followers for help:
Alright guys, let’s Reading Rainbow this beyotch. Curious Dogs creepin at night? Need some cliff notes to jump off of ASAP tl;dr
— Eliza Dooley (@The_Doolio) October 8, 2014
A show called ‘Selfie’ brings with it high expectations of innovative social TV integrations. While networks like MTV have broken the fourth wall before, the combination of show plotlines, on-air graphics, and real-life messaging make ‘Selfie’ one of more interesting scripted TV shows to keep an eye on