It's hard to explain what Studio Tarara is exactly about. On one level it's a behind the scenes drama of a fictional sketch show that supposedly aired on VTM in 1993. The timeframe and setting allow a ton of 90's pop references and the show even tangles itself into former real VTM shows, mixing old with new footage. People who grew up with VTM in that era will discover a lot of nostalgic winks and hear songs they haven't heard in years.
Contrary to other shows such as "Tegen De Sterren Op", Studio Tarara makes the deliberate choice to not really mock or spoof, but handles its source material with respect, which only contributes to the quality.
Yet, Studio Tarara is not simply a nostalgia show. Through flash-forwards we see a police investigation about the death of a crew member. The identity of this character is unknown and the investigation to what happened is presented in an original way. We see an officer going through a selection of VHS tapes containing interviews of the crew taken after the incident. Through these tapes, the viewer can deduct who died.
Though, even without the investigation Studio Tarara would still be worth it, because of its excellent acting, the humor in the sketches (some are obviously a bit lame but others are genuinely funny) and the depth of the characters, who are all somewhat sad or losing their grip (while having to perform funny sketches).
Studio Tarara is also progressive enough to integrate a story-line about sexual abuse in showbiz (portrayed by a creepy Peter Van Den Begin) and about drug and alcohol abuse among stars. Cause above all, Studio Tarara is about the sharp contrast between the glamorous front-side of showbiz and the abusive and depressing lives of the people involved.
In essence, VTM produced their own fictional story, and they pulled that off in a way they wouldn't have been able to 25 years ago. By doing so, they indirectly emphasize their own growth as a TV-channel.
