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Why TV Shouldn't Burn Its Fan Base!
There is a lot of great TV out there right now, they just have to save it. If the writers strike happens... if we wake up on Thursday morning and all of a sudden TV is all about Reality, Game Shows and Re-runs, it will be a very sad event. Ratings will plummet. People will get angry with TV... may start READING or something (horror!).
I just saw some great TV. I watched the season finale of "Californication" last night and it was awesome. I think David Duchovny is Emmy bound for his lost soul, fighter/writer, Hank Moody.
But as soon as the credits were finished rolling, they teased a new season "coming soon." It occurred to me, they aren't sure how soon because they may not have their writers to do the job.
The networks on top of the ratings and the cable and pay cable nets on a creative roll, are going to have to lead the way through this mess in the 11th hour. Halloween is doomsday... how ironic is that?
I should mention, the "writers strike" mostly has to do with the growing pains of the entertainment business everyone is dealing with in one way or another... writers want more of a stake in the digital distribution of their content (mobile phones, Web downloads, podcasts, all that stuff for the content addict).
Networks still haven't figured out how to fully exploit all those exciting new avenues, so they think its premature to write bigger checks to the penholders.
I will miss "Californication," "Rescue Me," "Nip/Tuck," "The Office," "Big Love," and "Entourage"... like I said, great TV is out there.
I'm a hockey fan, so I must invoke past experience when pleading to the powers: don't piss off your base (everyone in this case). NHL Hockey did in their strike. They NEVER got it back. Have you ever heard of the Versus Channel? That's where I watch my playoff hockey... come join me some night.
Billy:
Right on about Californication, Big Love and Rescue Me but I must admit to being disappointed in the Californacation finale. That box was tied a bit too nicely with a pretty bow. Season two ... where do we go now? Maybe a lengthy strike would give the writers sometime to come up with an interesting story arc.
I for one am sick of all the mindless reality shows. Can the writers in hollywood not come up with something entertaining to watch anymore. Most people are fed up with all these stupid reality shows. We are intelligent tv watchers start writing better shows for us to watch or I for one will stick with Canadian shows. At least Canadian writers know what a good show is, not all this crap from the US writers. There is practically nothing worth watching on the US networks. Listen to the viewers and what 'they want' not what you 'think they want'. Any more reality shows and I'll barf!!!