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Nine ideas to save Television – Part Two

Nine ideas to save Television – Part Two

Money, the Internet, ideas, pilots and big names are on the menu today with the conclusion of our 2-part article on nine ways to save the Networks and TV from going bankrupt.

5. Cost efficiency
TV episodes cost a whole bunch of money. That’s one of the many reasons reality shows began to be very popular a few years back.
Now, for better or for worse, shows are trying to get made more and more on the cheap.
An episode that is today made for 1 million dollars might be made tomorrow for 700 000.
Less money might mean more shows and ultimately more critically-acclaimed shows. Dialogue is cheap.

6. Webisodes
Every day brings its new web show it seems. They might not all be Emmy-worthy but they allow people to express themselves in ways that were not even possible a decade ago.
Web series are cheap to produce, a key nurturing element to vector original content.
And let’s not forget that “viral” part where a show generates tremendous buzz, leading them to jump screen.
Sanctuary, a web-based green-screen show, is now on Sci-Fi (starting early October).
Heroes and The Office both made webisodes that were talked about amongst fans, and beyond.
Although it is difficult to say if we will ever have 42 or 23-minute webisodes, the Whedon brothers showed everyone with Dr. Horrible that high-concept ideas could be made cheaply while maintaining that “it” factor.

7. Re-develop ideas and pilots
Not only would it save money in the long run but it would create an immense well of creativity. New perspectives might be endless.
A pilot needs to be tweaked just right to be almost perfect so why not keep it on the page until it is perfect?
HBO does it, so why not the Big Five?
Intervening on a project when there is a problem could be a great idea. The pilot of “Life On Mars” was leaked on the web and suffered harsh criticism, leading to an entire rethinking of its premise. The show may finally be quite different from its UK counterpart, for the better.
Although ideas should not stay in limbo forever, the right amount of “perfectionism” mixed with business could amount to new waves of shows.

8. Big names for big shows
The Big Five might not in a few years have big tent poles shows or even “appointment TV”.
One idea to try to counter that would be to keep banking on big names and linking them to big shows, therefore creating a package that would attract buyers.
Steven Bochco, David E. Kelley, Joss Whedon, J.J. Abrams, ever heard of these guys?
People might just watch the new show made by X instead of switching off the TV to play Second Life.

9. Take chances
No, it doesn’t go against ideas number 7 and 8, on the contrary.
New writers might offer a fresh perspective on a rotten concept.
AMC took a chance on a spec pilot that no one else wanted, and then Emmys were won.
If the Big Five want to get back some of what the cable has taken away from them, they need to take chances.
Chances on stories, chances on writers.
Big risks now means rewards down the road. Originality needs to happen.
Yes, some of the shows might fail, but television is a world of trial and errors. Mistakes are part of life.
If Cavemen hadn’t happened, we would have another horrible show on our hands. Thank God then that… Oh, wait.

Embrace change and get ahead of the competition.

TV Fall ’08: The Complete Review – What is up with the networks

Let’s conclude with a little talk about the various networks and perhaps even what they are attempting to do with their new schedule and the use of the latest technology, you know, this little thing called Internet, in their programming.
Not that I know anything about that.

What’s up Net? From Network to InterNet.

Everybody’s watching CBS. Barely.

CBS since its 2001-2002 grand remodeling hasn’t changed its course, showing many, if not only, procedurals. This is good for basic television when that guy who works late every 2 weeks wants to watch a little CSI before going to bed once in a while without having to buy the DVDs. But this is not programming aimed at the future. What I mean by that is that the “new” Internet will ultimately replace what we call(ed) Appointment TV. Think Lost or 24 instead of NCIS.
In fact CBS has jumped late on the “full episodes wagon” wagon and I hardly doubt that CBS’ online shows work as well as they do when they are first broadcasted on the network.
CBS right now doesn’t seem to want to move to non-procedural shows and still rides on this train called “TV ratings”. They want smash hits on TV, they don’t really care (for now) about Internet.

There’s Something Old and New Happening at NBC.

The days of “Must see TV” are far behind us now it seems. For the past 3-4 years, little by little, NBC is trying to find its new awesome Thursday night and seems to have found more or less a good equilibrium with some hits and some half-hits. NBC, who is fourth, seems to want to explore the new trends and the new mediums. Case in point: for the first time in American history, NBC last year proposed full Heroes and The Office episodes on-demand, for mobile phones. Both those shows with their fanbase helped NBC move into the right direction and online entertainment.
Strangely though, the Olympics online programming and NBC coverage was pretty awful as far as I’m aware, so who knows.
The new NBC shows are also weird: who are they aimed to? The family? I mean okay Crusoe could be okay for everyone but what about My Own Worst Enemy?
Anyway NBC also seems to like remakes like Kath&Kim, but what the frak where they thinking with that show?
NBC with its mix programming is probably too vast of a choice to be a hit network but the Internet seems to be just great for them.

Start Here. Again.

Thanks to an extremely good 2004-2005 season that launched 3 hits (Lost, Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy), and a strong online viewing from the start, ABC had a lead that is little by little being eaten away by other networks and other online entertainment sites such as Hulu.
ABC for me is too much relying on those 3 hits and I think that around 2010-2011, if they don’t have any new hit shows, the network will be in a lot of troubles when said hits won’t be around anymore. The only new show this fall on ABC is Life on Mars, how original.
This season clearly shows that ABC is trying to bring new audiences to watch “old shows” or at least shows that suffered the Writers’ strike. Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money, among others, are scheduled to bring a fresh reboot to their show and Desperate Housewives’ 5-year leap is probably also something to bring in viewers.

Go FOX yourself.

Will the early premieres help FOX boost its audience? I don’t think the ratings will be strong but the online screening aimed at the network’s core audience will certainly build up on their online momentum, especially with Fringe.
Weirdly, even though FOX has a lot of shows aimed at a young and male audience they still struggles at showing their shows online, in a similar fashion to CBS’ website.
I’m not quite sure what FOX is doing besides wanting to create an online sensation with shows like Fringe and maybe Dollhouse.
Speaking of Dollhouse, let’s pray that the show won’t be canceled before it even premieres this spring. After all, we’re talking about the trigger-happy network here.

Every night is good. Except when it comes to ratings.

Despite combining two networks (The WB and UPN), The CW fails to have strong ratings (an average of 2 mil viewers it seems). But that doesn’t stop the CW in bringing in “fresh” and “hype” shows.
Gossip Girl doesn’t necessarily bring in much viewers but the show is certainly talked about by many, especially with the “shocking” promos and ads. A lot of people are also talking about 90210. The CW want the show to be a hit but I strongly doubt it will indeed be one. I’m also guessing The CW website is rarely visited, and online episodes are rarely watched, but that’s just me.

It’s not TV. It’s something weird.

Yes something weird indeed. The good ol’ Sopranos period is over now and HBO doesn’t have much shows left, if any. For obvious reasons HBO doesn’t stream its shows online although it could easily be done with a “members-only” access. HBO is still looking for the next great “it” show. Who knows when it’ll come. In the meantime, Showtime is becoming the new “it” network…with AMC.

The best stuff on Television. If you dare say so.

Speaking of Showtime, the cable network has strong, somewhat provocative shows (although not as provocative as Oz was back in the days). Opening the website to international users (for a long time restricted at U.S. visitors) was a smart move: let the international buzz continue!
Also Showtime was smart enough to stream their episodes online even this is a pay-to-watch cable channel.
They just love to surf on the Internet vibe, don’t they?

Ultimately, a main trend can be witnessed throughout the networks: the Internet and other new mediums are playing a part increasingly vital in their broadcasting methods. As I said previously, I strongly believe that the future of television is actually Internet.
Watch out. Everywhere.

And on that note, I’m out for two weeks.

TV Fall '08: The Complete Review – What is new

We now continue with Part 2 of our Television Fall 2008 coverage and the new shows that are coming up this fall.
A lot of adaptations from international shows and some weird new series.
Is this season any good?

They’re coming. Prepare for our new overlords.

– Worst Week (premieres Sept. 22): A remake from an english show. First made for NBC, now it comes to CBS. I’m not watching this.
– The Mentalist (premieres Sept. 23): I saw the pilot and strongly disliked it. I prefer to it the fresher (and funnier) Psych.
– Gary Unmarried (premieres Sept. 24): Another CBS sitcom that I won’t watch.
– The Ex List (premieres Oct. 3): Isn’t that the plot from Sex and Death 101 but upside down?
– Eleventh Hour (premieres Oct. 9): Again, another remake from the Sleeper Cell guys. Another show I’ll probably not watch!



– Knight Rider (premieres Sept. 24): I threw up a little in my mouth when I saw the pilot earlier this year.
– My Own Worst Enemy (premieres Sept. 29): Christian Slater in a modern spin of Jekyll&Hyde. I may watch it to see what it’s like.
– Kath & Kim (premieres Oct. 9): Oh, when will they learn?
– Crusoe (premieres Oct. 17): Is this going to be a minaturized version of POTC? Probably, but I’ll watch the premiere anyway just to make sure.
– Life On Mars (premieres Oct. 9): A failure waiting to happen.

– Fringe (premieres Sept. 9): If you’re reading this, chances are that you already know what this show is. I’m still waiting to see “what’s next” so I’ll tune in for the first episodes. Will the lightning strike twice?
– Do not disturb (premieres Sept. 10): Booooring.


– 90210 (premieres Sept. 2): Melrose Place is back in business. I’m not sure if people are actually going to watch that, I won’t.
– Privileged (premieres Sept. 9): Once named Surviving the Filthy Rich (no this is not a Paris Hilton reality show), it appears to be some sort of Gossip Girl 2.0.
– Valentine (premieres Sept. 21): What is that you ask? Some kind of spin on Greek Gods and love it seems. I won’t watch to find out the rest.

– True Blood (premieres Sept. 7): Six Feet Under is one of my favorite shows, if not my favorite show. So it is without saying (but I’ll say it anyway) that I REALLY wanted to see (and love) True Blood. I was fortunate enough to be able to see the pilot and I’m REALLY disapointed. Alan Ball what have you done? Hopefully the show will get better but…I honestly doubt it.

Come back tomorrow for the third and final part of our Complete Review. We will have something that resembles an analysis of what is up with the various networks.