The new Netflix documentary on Bob Ross landed recently, and upon viewing comes across as being a little bit dry and revealing little that we didn't already know about the man.
The Joy of Painting ran for over 30 seasons - 400 episodes - in the 1980s and 1990s, although most of them were back to back. The show ended in 1995 after the passing of Bob Ross.
The problem with the documentary format is you have to have an interesting subject to start with, and if its about a person, there has to be some form of "twist" that crops up. The Bob Ross story basically boils down to former military man starts painting on TV in a whispering style, becomes effectively an institution and the legacy after he passes remains.
While the legacy does remain, its not uncommon unfortunately for deceased famous people (or their estates) to become embroiled in problems years after their passing so I'm not entirely sure what the "twist" is here.
The documentary is interesting for some back story on Ross and the Joy of Painting series, but beyond that, you're left with the impression from the documentary that there's a story that has to remain untold.
The Joy of Painting ran for over 30 seasons - 400 episodes - in the 1980s and 1990s, although most of them were back to back. The show ended in 1995 after the passing of Bob Ross.
The problem with the documentary format is you have to have an interesting subject to start with, and if its about a person, there has to be some form of "twist" that crops up. The Bob Ross story basically boils down to former military man starts painting on TV in a whispering style, becomes effectively an institution and the legacy after he passes remains.
While the legacy does remain, its not uncommon unfortunately for deceased famous people (or their estates) to become embroiled in problems years after their passing so I'm not entirely sure what the "twist" is here.
The documentary is interesting for some back story on Ross and the Joy of Painting series, but beyond that, you're left with the impression from the documentary that there's a story that has to remain untold.