Schmutziges Pop-Geschäft: Der Boy-Band-Betrug

Or boy too heavy ... well no puns intended. And we won't be doing any shaming here - well in reviewing the show that is. Because there are some "shots" fired - especially from a former N'Sync band member. Now I am not writing his name - because I forgot it, but even more so, because most wouldn't know who it is anyway. Most only know Justin Timberlake (and not just because of his drug problem lately - I think it was DUI, but I don't follow that stuff closely anyway).

Now the documentary show does take its time ... and I understand if some have issues with that. It is a bit long and yet it won't give you backstories on every band member we get to see here ... for that it is too short. Still give it time and it will deliver its points! Watching this halfway through won't really give you the full picture! That said, if you get bored easily it's ok to not "waste your time" ... just don't tell others what to do with their time - especially do not buy into the scheme. Big Poppa - yes he did "good" things ... and yes music would not be the same today without him ... still we should be able to separate the two things and be able to judge him on different levels ... now that will be up to you the viewer of course ... a lot of questions remain unanswered ... still!

I watched this so-called "documentary" until halfway through the third episode, and I'm baffled. If you asked me what it's about, I'd struggle to answer. The basic premise seems to be "Lou Pearlman is bad," but beyond that, there's no real story to follow. Nothing happens, the narrative doesn't progress, and no significant revelations are made. The documentary just circles around, fixating on trivial details that either have nothing to do with the main point or everything to do with it-honestly, it's impossible to tell.

Who is Lou Pearlman? Where did his money come from? How did he connect with so many important people? What are they actually uncovering, and where's the proof? It feels like they had a thin story that could have been told in under 30 minutes but decided to stretch it into a series with no substance. There's simply not enough material for whatever it is they're trying to convey. What a waste of my time-I won't be finishing the series.

I have followed the story of Lou Pearlman and the boy band phenomenon through various podcasts and other sources over the last few years, so I was already somewhat familiar with the events. However, seeing it visually brought a whole new dimension to the narrative.

The documentary does a fantastic job of weaving together archival footage, interviews, and some cleverly used CGI to alter Lou's video, which added a creative twist to the storytelling. It was also incredibly powerful to hear directly from the members of the bands themselves, providing insights and perspectives that only they could offer. Growing up in the '90s, I had no idea any of this was happening behind the scenes, so learning about it now feels both shocking and enlightening.

The documentary captured the rise and fall of an era that defined a generation, making it a must-watch for anyone who lived through the boy band craze or is interested in the complexities of the music industry.

The use of CGI, in particular, stood out to me as an innovative way to narrate the complexities of this story, making it not just a retelling, but an engaging visual experience that enhances the impact of the story being told.

I had no idea that any of this happened and the documentary was very interestingm It even explains a few song lyrics that I've had questions about for years. However, the AI of Lou Pearlman is just so very creepy and unnecessary. If it were removed and just a voiceover of those parts was put in it would get a much higher rating from me. I actually hesitate to rate it this high because it really was a super distraction from the actual content I wanted to see. The only other complaint is the reoccurring dramatically colored face lighting shots were not clear in their meaning, so just distracting as well.

I knew nothing about this situation in spite of knowing these bands by name.

It's amazing that such a scam was ever allowed to happen.

Good documentary footage and coverage of the situation overall. Coherent story and explanations.

I could have used a little more variety of the people in the clips, but felt satisfied enough. (You can't get everyone to film, after all.)

My criticism is mainly that they took a good source--the book written by the criminal--and used AI to present it. First, why use AI? Second, why use it here and make the source have an "uncanny valley" vibe?

I'd recommend it as an easy watch.