Small Town News: KPVM Pahrump (2021) User Reviews

Definitely Check It Out!

[fyousefi3 · 8/10 · 18 August 2021]

I had no idea what this show was before I randomly decided to check it out on my HBO streaming site. Two minutes in and I honestly thought it was a scripted comedy (a la Parks & Rec, The Office, etc.), but after doing research I realized this is a REAL documentary! I couldn't stop watching and binged all 6 episodes in a row!

There are so many great things about this show - the characters, the quality of the doc, and the sense of humour from the creators (definitely noticeable with the edits and sound clips!). Overall, amazing!

The fact that these are real people makes the show even more great. Such a quirky town. Deanna is absolutely amazing - such an interesting person with a wonderful sense of humour mixed with humility and honesty, Vern is a passionate and hard working guy, Eunette is so sweet and professional...Missey, Ubaldo, John, all of them actually! Love how there are dogs just hanging out everywhere...the feel of the show....the pacing...and of course the self-aware yet humorous take on everything. Definitely check it out!

I hope they continue this show with more seasons!

Just wow!

[matlock-74399 · 8/10 · 3 August 2021]

Okay- so if you watched this with zero backstory you'd assume you were watching a mockumentary style series but it's all real (I suppose) and wildly entertaining. Due to the cast of kooky characters and the wonderful editing. I'm highly excited to see the rest after finishing the first two episodes. Very humorous and quite touching. If you liked the film "best in show" then give this series a go!

Yes, it's real!

[dhdumplin · 8/10 · 7 August 2021]

Some might think this show is a spoof. I assure you, it's not! I am very familiar with Pahrump and this production thus far has nailed it. It's a VERY quirky town to put it mildly. Every time I visit friends there I just shake my head and wonder why here? Can't wait for the next episode, lol.

Whimsical documentary series (NOT fictional comedy)

[paul-allaer · 7/10 · 3 August 2021]

As Episode 1 ("Our Top Story") of "Small Town News: KPVM Pahrump" (2021 release; 6 episodes of about 25 min. Each) opens, we are introduced to Vern, the owner and CEO of an independent TV station in Pahrump, a good 60 miles west of Las Vegas. Vern started the station in 1997 from scratch, and now runs it with his wife Ronda, who is the VP, bookkeeper and jack-of-all-trades. Others include Deanna, the long-time news anchor., reporter in the field and also jack-pf-all-trades. Vern announces a major development: to increase potential and much needed revenue increases, he wants to install a bigger antenna to allow the station to also be seen in Vegas. Episode 2 ("Quitting Season") focuses on the seemingly never-ending turnover of staff. And then on top of it all, COVID-19 strikes...

Couple of comments: I had seen the trailer for this series several times in recent weeks. Not once did it occur to me that this was for real, as it looked to me from seeing the trailer to be a whimsical comedy about a fictitious small TV station. So imagine my surprise when Episode 1 opens with "HBO Documentary Film Presents". Wait, what, this is a documentary? Holy crap, it is! And while it still comes across quite whimsical, there are some underlying tensions that are bound to come to the forefront. One such tension is the contrast between Vern (who is a strong Republican support, if not Tumpist), and both Ronda and Deanna (who both loathe Fox New and all that it entails). Episode 3 is titled "Pahrump Gets Trumped" so I guess we'll find out soon enough.

"Small Town News: KPVM Pahrump" premiered on HBO earlier this week, and Episodes 1 and 2 are now available on HBO On Demand, HBO Max, Amazon Instant Video and other streaming services. Once I got over my surprise that this was an actual documentary series, I quite enjoyed the first 2 episodes. The remaining 4 episodes will air on the next couple of Mondays at 9 pm Eastern. Looking forward to it. If you are in the mood for a behind the curtains look of running a small TV station, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.

UPDATE I've now seen all 6 episodes. It is a delightful documentary. Watch the despair of hard-core Trump supporter (and station owner) Vern after the election, with a doom prospect of his station, only to find out that business is growing in the Vegas market. I'd love to see a second season of this.

Funny

[Tandafla-173-265062 · 7/10 · 9 March 2022]

As a former news anchor I had to watch this. It's so bad it's funny, these people don't have a clue about what news is or how to present it. It's rather amusing.

I hope there's a season 2

[tptpjvtpr · 10/10 · 22 August 2021]

The show was funny without trying to be. It was original and heartwarming. With each episode you felt like you were developing a fondness for the cast. I wish there had been more than 6 episodes and I hope there is a season 2.

Good Change of Pace Doc Series

[AudioFileZ · 6/10 · 29 August 2021]

What is in the air in Pahrump, Nevada? Well, it seems a maverick spirit of broadcasting. Many of us never heard of the place stil it's likely, but those who have are generally fans of the late Art Bell. I believe he qualifies for the title of maverick broadcaster who happened to be so successful he forgot to stop being so, well, maverick-ish. Perhaps the heat, the clear skies, and the water here does something?

There's a new brash start-up maverick broadcaster in town now and his name is Vern Van Winkle. Somehow he's had a dream of his own independent TV station and Pahrump seem to offer the right possibilites as a small town without such that happens to be a bedroom community of Las Vegas. There must be other ways to risk one's money with at least less risk? But, there's that dream of Verns and apparently the casinos and markets didn't fit. So as this very real documentary begins Vern has already came a long way and is broadcasting in Pahrump with a tight group of dedicated staff that includes his wife. In this instance the old advice not to work with one's spouse seems to not hold water as Vern's wife Rhonda is apparently a good business manager equally invested in the dream.

So is this a brilliantly entertaining show about a man who is pursuing a long-shot dream? Truthfully at times, but it's also a bit so real as it might at other times bore one. Usually not for long though. Overall it's a refreshing look into a man who is pushing what is possible with an interesting group of accomplices. Just when the station is breaking even Vern's mission to expand into the Las Vegas market is on the table. What may push the station into some real profits may also be a pressure cooker as the expenses to do so rise and Covid lockdowns hit. This is real world make or break stuff and as humorous as this dream can be it adds more real world problems and pressures. That's enough drama for me to stay interested in this post Art Bell Pahrump broadcasting story. Let's hope the water is really good and a season two is in the cards.

A Love Story to Journalism

[kakealo · 10/10 · 11 August 2021]

This docu-series showcases a love towards Journalism and the News for the small town folk. I find it fascinating with this caster being an independent company and truly informing their local community.

I like that it's not main stream news. It's the "Casual Professional News" if you will.

And by Lord Jesus, it's 100% real. The trailer almost made it seem it was a satire/scripted kind of show. (which I personally can't stand) I'm liberated that it's not. Lol.

They also do a great shop showing the humanity with everyone. It makes you emphasize with them. I think that's what I love about it most.

I happen to be visiting Vegas for a week and I don't know how I will live with myself if I don't visit this town that is only an hour away. I don't know if I'll be making fun of it or respecting it to high heaven, Hell, it'll probably be both. But I'll sure damn be taking a picture in front of the building. Lol.

It tried, but like Trump it failed.

[cindyrellaexists · 1/10 · 13 August 2021]

Massive turnover is a direct reflection of bad management. By the third episode the show falls flat. The owner was a Trump supporter and I stopped watching due to total boredom. The talent that station could have retained knew better than to attach themselves to that ignorance.

Real life 'The Office'

[myartifact-97983 · 10/10 · 24 August 2021]

I think everyone is still too polarized from 2020 to truly enjoy this, but we did. Loveable oddball characters, funny as hell and a good story of a small time news station trying to make it in the world. I think it sends an important message that no matter our differences, we still have to work together (at least at the office) and we're not that different.

A Bit Too Staged...But worth A Look

[artbreyfogle · 5/10 · 5 August 2021]

Six eps of "Small Town News" Pahrump is a tad lame...

Located in a matket so small with under 40k in the Nye County valley, KVPM goes through staff quicker than water thru your sink facuet...

Vern (the station owner) had the dream and he seems like Willy Loman making KVPM stay alive and on air day by day...The news director has an unusual personality and she has been on the Pahrump tube for years...

Chickens surround the building and THE NEWS is what keeps the station stay alive...

For me, a large part of the so called documentary seems horribly staged...rarely a glimpse or two of reality breaks through...

You watch "Storage Wars", turn in HBO and check this out...

Really interesting.

[G-Joshua-Benjamin · 10/10 · 4 August 2021]

I had recorded the first two episode of this. I started the first and skipped through it to get an idea of the type of show it was. I deleted both episodes. Then a bit later I thought about it. I put them back on my DVR and watched the first. I am so glad I did.

The show is simple. It just shows the people who work for this small news station. Getting to see how they work, think, and create all that they do is so interesting to me. It reminds me of something from back in the 60s or 70s. I am super excited to watch the rest of the season. It would be cool to see more of the show. I am hooked now. Haha.

Not sure what to make of it

[Ottawaguy77 · 8/10 · 21 August 2021]

Interesting, odd, funny....

The characters are interesting, and then you get the owner with his Trump stupidity, so with the station still going strong almost a year later, does he admit that for an educated person, that he was so ignorant spouting off he would need to close because Biden won?

A charming perspective from small town America

[RandyFoxglove · 9/10 · 29 December 2021]

A genuine team of hard-working newscasters made this show an incredible experience. I found myself constantly laughing out loud at the clever editing and silliness of the staff. Definitely recommend this gem as it somehow went under my HBO radar.

Really enjoying this

[PasadenaBased · 8/10 · 26 September 2021]

I watched two episodes and then started reading some reviews; realized this station is REAL and this is a "documentary"! It's funny, the people in it seem like caricatures of themselves to some degree, and there seems to be a lot of stories that could be delved into further. (e.g. Why did the black story editor quit in the first episode? I figured that his "relationship" with a Finnish girl ended or something. Why is the black reporter being slowly replaced by a white woman from Alaska?) Anyway, if this really isn't a scripted show, it seems like one and I am REALLY enjoying it.

Fun show, cool characters

[editing_budgie · 8/10 · 29 August 2021]

Fun show. Vern is an idiot, but lovable. The only real complaint I have is the photography. The camerawork on this show is terrible. It's far worse than the footage Deanna shoots herself.

Loved it!

[bdb-76814 · 9/10 · 2 October 2021]

These people are very entertaining and multi-talented. Please bring us a Season 2! Someone should hire the weatherman to write ditties and just to do anything. Such a fun show!