Great quote from a tv writer by patsrule

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Great quote from a tv writer

POSTED BY: PATSRULE
UPDATED: Thursday, April 20, 2006 13:44
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Thursday, April 20, 2006 6:51 AM

"That sums up the relationship between TV execs and writers better than anything: One TV exec can be smart; multiple TV execs working together can be stupid. Especially because they're operating in a nonstop climate of fear, and as such their entire game (other than doing everything they can to keep their jobs) is to find ways to appeal to the absolute lowest common denominator. Making feature films brings a lot of the same problems, but the level of compromise just seems to be slightly less than in TV, so you've got a better shot at doing your best. That said, if we had an idea that we felt we needed 22 episodes per year to tell, and that was the only way we knew how to tell it, we'd probably head back into the waters. Cause, after all, we're people. And people are stupid."

This could probably be words straight out of the mouths of Joss or Tim Minear, etc, but it is a quote from one of the creators of the movie Rounders after the television show "Tilt" was made and ruined by TV execs. If you wanted to read the whole interview, check out http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/060419

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Thursday, April 20, 2006 7:16 AM

STORYMARK

That's a good quote, that applies to a lot of shows. Luckily, some manage to get made without the"lowest common denominator" mindset, but those are mostly relegated to FX and HBO these days.

And I was just discussing with a friend yesterday how one of my favorite shows, Alias, started great, and got worse and worse due to that same executive mentality.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Thursday, April 20, 2006 7:47 AM

SADLITTLEKING

That quote right there explains exactly why network television has been on the decline. Everybody's so afraid of taking a risk.

What I'm hoping happens, is that networks will take more risks on their cable channels and then, if successful, move those shows to the network channels. Use the cable channels as a testing ground of sorts. I've heard that Battlestar Galactica might be moving to NBC to see if it can snag a bigger audience and that's because it's been doing great on Sci-Fi with praise coming from everywhere. I wouldn't mind the move as long as they keep the notion that if it doesn't do too well on network, they'll just move it back to cable rather than cancelling it.

I think this formula would work well in bringing better shows to the networks. But only as long as the shows are kept intact when they're moved to the network. Executives need to start taking some risks rather than screwing with good ideas because the test audience didn't react very well. They should let go of the test audiences and learn to trust their instincts. Take a risk. And if it doesn't pay off well enough for network television, move it to cable and take some time and see if you can grow the fanbase. If not, then cancel the show. But it's really stupid, right now, the amount of time, energy, and money that's spent by these networks, annually, on products they give up on too quickly and yank off the air.

Sorry if I went on a bit of a rant there.

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Thursday, April 20, 2006 7:55 AM

PATSRULE

Quote:

Sorry if I went on a bit of a rant there.

Thats why I started this post!

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Thursday, April 20, 2006 1:02 PM

SIMONWHO

What irks me most is the execs are destroying their own market and then blaming the consumer "Oh, it's downloads and the internet and TIVO and..."

No. It's you reducing 50 minutes of television to 40 minutes. It's you plastering logos and adverts and flash-promos all over the screen. It's you going for the lowest common denominator and bandwagon jumping again and again and again.

And above all, it is you having no trust in your creative artists and no understanding of what makes good television. You promote the crap out of Emily's Reasons Why Not when you hadn't even seen a script (which only makes you even luckier).

If today's execs had been around in 1982, they would have cancelled a comedy show that had been bottom of the ratings all season without a second thought. Heck, it wouldn't have made it to 6 episodes. And boom, like that, there goes Cheers and with it Frasier and that hugely profitable line of merchandise, up to and including the chain of bars modelled on the Boston original.

*finishes his rant*

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Thursday, April 20, 2006 1:44 PM

LISSA

Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:

If today's execs had been around in 1982, they would have cancelled a comedy show that had been bottom of the ratings all season without a second thought. Heck, it wouldn't have made it to 6 episodes. And boom, like that, there goes Cheers and with it Frasier and that hugely profitable line of merchandise, up to and including the chain of bars modelled on the Boston original.

you can forget about seinfeld, too!

~lissa, retired spwhore

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