A small conspiracy theory

POSTED BY: Sickdude
UPDATED: Thursday, April 21, 2005 05:02
VIEWED: 5356
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CHRISISALL

Wednesday, April 20, 2005 7:00 PM

Zeek, what you've pointed out makes some sense. Too much so. If a show is expensive to make and does not get great ratings RIGHT AWAY; kill it for the quick fanbase buck.

"You think everything's a conspiracy."
"Well...everything is..." - The Abyss

Cameron quoting Chrisisall

ZEEK

Wednesday, April 20, 2005 7:57 PM

I'm scared. Someone hold me.

preferably an attractive female

SIMONWHO

Wednesday, April 20, 2005 9:23 PM

I think networks can see DVD as a way to recoup their losses. Firefly was a very expensive, low rated show, Fox would have lost a lot of money on it. I'm sure the execs said to themselves "Well, we could keep the show going and if ratings double each season, then it should start to make money by season 3 OR... we could just shove another hour of some crappy reality show and get the exact same ratings for a fraction of the cost."

Fox tries these quirky shows because when they hit paydirt (The Simpsons), they're a multi-year cash cow. But as far as the network is concerned, if they don't immediately get viewers, they're out. It's not malice or stupidity. Just business.

Kind of screws the artistic side of the world in the pants but there you are.

SERGEANTX

Wednesday, April 20, 2005 10:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
Fox tries these quirky shows because when they hit paydirt (The Simpsons), they're a multi-year cash cow. But as far as the network is concerned, if they don't immediately get viewers, they're out. It's not malice or stupidity. Just business.

Kind of screws the artistic side of the world in the pants but there you are.

But it is stupidity. Or at the very least shortsightedness. We've all heard the stories about shows that pushed the creative envelope and floundered (ratings wise at least) for their first few seasons. Fox even benefited from such sleepers once-upon-a-time.

These days Fox, and most of the others, won't give a show a chance to prove itself on its merits. A show is judged purely on its ability to suck 'em in right off the bat. They're turning the whole mess into a carnival sideshow.

What I fault the networks for is their refusal to allow critical judgement to override the short-term numbers game. I think this is deeply rooted in a corporate structure that demands instant success at the expense of long-term growth.

The long and short of is that you can't put people without an understanding and appreciation of art in charge of its production, or even it's sales, and expect quality as a result. (Jerry Bruckheimer anyone?)

*** (preachy whining follows)

Anticipating a response like, "But Jerry Bruckheimer makes money, short or long term" - all I can do is concede. But I can't help but point out that this is an unfortunate by-product of the fact that we're living in a nation trained from birth to be easily manipulated and 'sold'. Until we wake up and stop playing that game (and teach our children to do likewise), they'll just keep serving up crap.

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

MONTANAGIRL

Thursday, April 21, 2005 2:09 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SergeantX:
We've all heard the stories about shows that pushed the creative envelope and floundered (ratings wise at least) for their first few seasons.

Just think, under the system we have now there would have been no MASH, no Cheers, no Seinfeld, etc, etc. Nothing is allowed to build a following anymore. If you don't grab big ratings by your second episode, you're out.

Quote:
Fox even benefited from such sleepers once-upon-a-time.

X-Files wouldn't have a chance today.

Gorram F*x!

If you can be an idiot, I can be an idiot. - D'Argo

YT

Thursday, April 21, 2005 5:02 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Cybersnark:
Canada is responsible for Andromeda, Earth: Final Conflict, and (I think) Mutant X.

Canada is responsible for none of those three. They were all nominally created by Americans, & financed by US networks. They were merely filmed in Canada. American studios do this because it's cheaper than filming in the USA. One of the reasons it is cheaper is because of tax credits from the Canadian gov't for productions that meet Canadian content quotas. To the producer, this means hiring not the best person they can afford, but the best Canadian. So, if you see a show filmed in Canada, and it seems like a great concept poorly executed, Canada may be responsible for the latter.

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . . (wutzon) Gov't Mule, "Lola Leave Your Light On", from "Deja Voodoo"

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