GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Classic vs. current tv.

POSTED BY: OPPYH
UPDATED: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 12:17
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 5286
PAGE 1 of 1

Friday, November 12, 2010 9:16 AM

OPPYH


It's no secret that I love classic tv. From The Lone Ranger, and Lassie on up through St. Elsewhere, and Miami Vice.

I realize watching a lot of these shows on dvd, it isn't nostalgia that I enjoy, it's the sense of the unreal. That's right I love, and admire these shows because they feel "fake".
Our world is very chaotic. Many troubles, many woes. Watching an episode of The Bionic Woman, or The Dukes of Hazard lets me escape the realities of life for an hour.
Compared to current tv steeped with realism(CSI, NCIS, Law, and Order) I don't have that feeling. I'm more uneasy than relaxed.

With the exception of Joss Whedon shows, I think I'll stay in the past


----------------------------------------------------------------

70's TV FOREVER


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 9:43 AM

MICJWELCH


I wholeheartedly agree. TV should be about escaping. There are a few shows on now that are very much a departure from the reality tv crap on so much. Castle is a classic in our own day - Situations are plausible, but still a lot of fun. And who here doesn't love Nathan Fillion? The new Hawaii 5-0 is really good too. Over the top action and adventure, like tv used to be.

"Always be yourself. Unless You suck." - Joss Whedon

NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 9:51 AM

CHRISISALL


Yeah, if I want reality, I'll watch the news.
"Gritty" is a word that defines a LOT of newer shows. When I saw the new BSG ep where the blond Cylon chick had been raped & tortured, I was like "oh please, give me Apollo having a shootout with Red-eye..."

BTW, the 'reboot' of planet of the apes will feature state of the art CGI apes.
Please, give me actors with make up....


The laughing Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 11:22 AM

CHRISISALL


OBOY!
I just got my complete Man From Atlantis DVD set from the UK in the mail today!!! As expected, the DVDs were made from videotapes, so the video quality is a bit dodgy, but at least I HAVE THEM!!!!
CLASSIC TV, my brothers & sisters!!!


The laughing Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 12:06 PM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.


While I can agree with you in principle, I think I might have a different definition of classic than you do. Most of the shows already mentioned I didn't care for when they were new, why should I like them now?

And if you don't see escapist fare on TV these days you aren't looking hard enough.

Chuck
The Event
Castle
Caprica
Terriers
Fringe
Supernatural
Mad Men
Breaking Bad
True Blood
Dexter
Boardwalk Empire
The Walking Dead
Lost Girl

I'd take any of those shows over cheesy 70s/80s fare any day.






wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 3:02 PM

TRAVELER


It means the fifties and sixties to me, when you say classic TV. The sixties had some serious shows and some of the best comedies I have ever watched. I enjoyed both and feel that todays TV is not up to the standards they set. It may be that TV was so new the people producing the shows took risks that no one is willing to take anymore. East Side West Side probably would not get a second glance. Everyone would be questioning if it were politically correct.

As for comedy; I will simply say Green Acres. Eva Gabor found her true calling when she accepted the roll of Lisa on that show.

How could you not escape with the writing and acting talent of this period. It drew me in and all else was left behind.




http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 3:20 PM

GWEK


I'm not a big fan of "classic" TV. Yes, there is an innocence to it, an escapism, but a lot of that was inspired by strict guidelines of what was or was not allowable on the air at the time and, frankly, ignorance.

Different strokes for different folks, so I say it's great that lots of people love the classics; they're just not for me.

Although there are exceptions, to me, a seminal turning point in television occurred around X-FILES. I'm sure there were other shows of the same era (and a few from before, like MIAMI VICE or even WISEGUY), but X-FILES is the first show that I remember actively trying to be a one hour movie every week--and succeeding (in terms of both quality and content).

Folk like Carter, Whedon, and Abrams have been part of a television revolution that has allowed for regular "event" storytelling in our living rooms. Used to be that TV was an inferior art form, but these days, TV is as good as--if not better than--the movies.

When you see the salaries that actors in high-end shows can command, or hear about the different in respect between television writers vs movie writers, it's not hard to comprehend why there are a ton of quality folk CHOOSING to stay in television, when in previous years, most of the people working on TV did it as a stepping stone to movies or because they couldn't make it in the movies.

But, hey, I'm not looking for a fight... just talking a bit about why classic isn't so great to me. It's all a matter of taste and preference, though.

www.stillflying.net: "Here's how it might have been..."

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 3:56 PM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by ecgordon:

Chuck
The Event
Castle
Caprica
Terriers
Fringe
Supernatural
Mad Men
Breaking Bad
True Blood
Dexter
Boardwalk Empire
The Walking Dead
Lost Girl

I'd take any of those shows over cheesy 70s/80s fare any day.

CHUCK & Castle aside, I respectfully disagree. I just watched an ep from Man From Atlantis... so much fun.


The goofy Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 4:00 PM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by traveler:
As for comedy; I will simply say Green Acres.

I liked I Dream Of Jeannie just a tad more.
Remember the combination code contest promotion when she was in the safe on the way to the Moon?
I guessed it wrong.


The laughing Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 4:04 PM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.


I didn't mean to imply that there have not been classic television shows throughout the history of the medium, just that quite a few that were immensely popular got that way because they hit a happy medium and appealed to a lot of people. But just as with a lot of ratings winners today, it didn't necessarily make them that good, just popular.

The 50s had a lot of live dramas (most of which I've never seen) that have a reputation for being a part of the Golden Age of television. Were they really that good, or was it that the medium was still regarded as special and they coasted on the uniqueness of the phenomenon?

Most of the things I watched and enjoyed in the 60s I wouldn't bother with today, and I usually use the defense of only having three stations to choose from, plus I was just a kid so my critical perspective was skewed. The 70s and 80s did have some landmark shows, but in my opinion they are not the ones most people on this site usually mention when the subject comes up.



NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 4:04 PM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by GWEK:

But, hey, I'm not looking for a fight...


But you got one, PAL!


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 4:07 PM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.


Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:
CHUCK & Castle aside, I respectfully disagree. I just watched an ep from Man From Atlantis... so much fun.


Sorry, Chris, but I have to disagree right back. That's one of the shows I thought was really lame then, I have no reason to suspect it is not equally lame now. To each his own.



NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 4:17 PM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by ecgordon:

Sorry, Chris, but I have to disagree right back. That's one of the shows I thought was really lame then, I have no reason to suspect it is not equally lame now. To each his own.



Although the pilot ep was exceptionally well done, yeah, the rest was pretty 'lame' as you put it.
But FUN!!!!!
The world can be so dark sometimes.
I *finally* see why such a goofy take on Batman was even permitted, much less embraced in the 60's.

To quote from "Time After Time," all ages are the same- it's only love that makes any of them bearable.
Sometimes the love of the funny or silly.


The laughing Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 4:21 PM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by ecgordon:

The 50s had a lot of live dramas (most of which I've never seen) that have a reputation for being a part of the Golden Age of television. Were they really that good, or was it that the medium was still regarded as special and they coasted on the uniqueness of the phenomenon?


Back when writing REALLY counted?
You must be joking.


The laughing Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 4:33 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by ecgordon:
While I can agree with you in principle, I think I might have a different definition of classic than you do. Most of the shows already mentioned I didn't care for when they were new, why should I like them now?

And if you don't see escapist fare on TV these days you aren't looking hard enough.

Chuck
The Event
Castle
Caprica
Terriers
Fringe
Supernatural
Mad Men
Breaking Bad
True Blood
Dexter
Boardwalk Empire
The Walking Dead
Lost Girl

I'd take any of those shows over cheesy 70s/80s fare any day.






wo men ren ran zai fei xing.




I'm with ECG.


The modern definition of "socialist" is anyone who's winning an argument against a tea-bagger.

AURaptor's Greatest Hits:

Friday, September 24, 2010
I hate Obama's America. You're damn right about that.


Friday, May 28, 2010 - 18:26 To President Obama:
Mr. President, you're a god damn, mother fucking liar.
Fuck you, you cock sucking community activist piece of shit.
... go fuck yourself, Mr. President.


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 4:45 PM

TRAVELER


Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:
Quote:

Originally posted by traveler:
As for comedy; I will simply say Green Acres.

I liked I Dream Of Jeannie just a tad more.
Remember the combination code contest promotion when she was in the safe on the way to the Moon?
I guessed it wrong.



Then there was The Addams Family. But I always fall for women with long raven hair. I would have learned French just to have Morticia in my arms.


http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 4:58 PM

CHRISISALL


In the 60's, I would have said Dr. Kildare was high drama.
In the 70's it would have been Marcus Welby, M.D.
In the 80's it was Hill St. Blues or Dallas.
In the 90's it was Wiseguy.

The standards for 'drama' change decade by decade.

Really GOOD SF, esoteric or goofy junk (Star Trek, Kung Fu, Brisco County, Jr.) remain excellent, no matter the era IMO.


The laughing Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 5:07 PM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by traveler:
But I always fall for women with long raven hair.

Like this?

Ahhhh, Brazil!


The laughing Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 5:22 PM

TRAVELER


I have Claudia on my mind now.


I would complain we are getting off topic, nut I am enjoying where it is going.


http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 5:38 PM

CHRISISALL


She is great, no doubt.


The laughing Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 8:00 PM

OPPYH


Quote:

Originally posted by ecgordon:
While I can agree with you in principle, I think I might have a different definition of classic than you do. Most of the shows already mentioned I didn't care for when they were new, why should I like them now?

And if you don't see escapist fare on TV these days you aren't looking hard enough.

Chuck
The Event
Castle
Caprica
Terriers
Fringe
Supernatural
Mad Men
Breaking Bad
True Blood
Dexter
Boardwalk Empire
The Walking Dead
Lost Girl

I'd take any of those shows over cheesy 70s/80s fare any day.






wo men ren ran zai fei xing.



Well, I do enjoy Dexter. It has one of the best musical scores(TV or film) ever.



----------------------------------------------------------------

70's TV FOREVER

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, November 12, 2010 8:01 PM

OPPYH


Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:
OBOY!
I just got my complete Man From Atlantis DVD set from the UK in the mail today!!! As expected, the DVDs were made from videotapes, so the video quality is a bit dodgy, but at least I HAVE THEM!!!!
CLASSIC TV, my brothers & sisters!!!


The laughing Chrisisall




See, that's the spirit. Fun, trouble free tv viewing. Escapism at it's finest.

----------------------------------------------------------------

70's TV FOREVER

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, November 13, 2010 7:42 AM

CHRISISALL


The second TV movie doesn't play correctly (all the others do; I checked), no big loss as that was a dopey one (aliens...never a good thing). The third TV movie was as lovably cheesy as I remembered from 1977 (The killer spores didn't MEAN to be evil)!!! I can't wait to get to the Schubert eps!

How goes it with Jamie Sommers?

The laughing Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, November 13, 2010 9:01 AM

OPPYH


Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:
The second TV movie doesn't play correctly (all the others do; I checked), no big loss as that was a dopey one (aliens...never a good thing). The third TV movie was as lovably cheesy as I remembered from 1977 (The killer spores didn't MEAN to be evil)!!! I can't wait to get to the Schubert eps!

How goes it with Jamie Sommers?

The laughing Chrisisall



The Bionic Woman is one of the best purchases I have made in regard of 70's tv. Pretty much the reason I started this thread. I remember it vaguely in the 70's, and I never saw a stitch of it in syndication. It's becoming one of my new(old)favorite shows I'm pretty sure Universal will follow through with the remaining two seasons.

It's funny, I never knew that collecting classic tv shows on dvd would be so much fun. My retro line up is as follows:

Monday-Star Trek TNG

-Tales of the Gold Monkey

Thursday-Bionic Woman

-MASH

Sunday -Star Trek TOS

-The Virginian

Of course this list changes every few months.

----------------------------------------------------------------

70's TV FOREVER

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, November 13, 2010 11:01 AM

CHRISISALL


I remember liking Bionic Woman even better than 6 Mill Man, due mostly, I believe, to Kenneth Johnson's input. Keep an eye out for his name- he wrote/directed my favourite eps!

My favourite OLDER (pre- 90's) series are as follows (no particular order but the first one):

Star Trek TOS
Kung Fu
Planet of the Apes
Man From Atlantis
Battlestar Galactica
Airwolf
The Prisoner
Twilight Zone (don't own)
Outer Limits (don't own)
Max Headroom
Bionic Woman (don't own)
6 Mill Man (don't own)
Incredible Hulk
Lost In Space
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (mostly for the Flying Sub- I own the first half of season 2)
Star Trek TNG (I own the best-of sets)
Wild Wild West (don't own)
UFO (don't own)

That's my list, & I'm stickin' to it.
Unless I remember one I forgot.



The laughing Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, November 13, 2010 11:10 AM

CHRISISALL


Okay, Batman & Green Hornet & Tarzan & Wonder Woman & Man/Girl from U.N.C.L.E., but that was a kid thing- I'm not really wanting to disturb my good memories with contemporary viewings.

Besides, all the Green Hornet eps on film were destroyed in a fire, so no official DVD of them EVER anyway, and Tarzan isn't available currently (yes, I checked).



The laughing Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, November 13, 2010 11:27 AM

OPPYH


Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:
I remember liking Bionic Woman even better than 6 Mill Man, due mostly, I believe, to Kenneth Johnson's input. Keep an eye out for his name- he wrote/directed my favourite eps!

My favourite OLDER (pre- 90's) series are as follows (no particular order but the first one):

Star Trek TOS
Kung Fu
Planet of the Apes
Man From Atlantis
Battlestar Galactica
Airwolf
The Prisoner
Twilight Zone (don't own)
Outer Limits (don't own)
Max Headroom
Bionic Woman (don't own)
6 Mill Man (don't own)
Incredible Hulk
Lost In Space
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (mostly for the Flying Sub- I own the first half of season 2)
Star Trek TNG (I own the best-of sets)
Wild Wild West (don't own)
UFO (don't own)

That's my list, & I'm stickin' to it.
Unless I remember one I forgot.



Nice list. Now if we can have a lot of those really cool made for tv movies that were so prominent in the 70's release on dvd. I'm waiting patiently for 'The LAst Dinosaur', and 'The Ivory Ape'. Glad to have 'Dark Night of the Scarecrow' from 1981 though(with the original CBS promo).
I also thoroughly enjoyed the original Battlestar Galactica, and Buck Rogers. Cheesy yes, but some episodes were fairly decent...plus Erin Grey:



----------------------------------------------------------------

70's TV FOREVER

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, November 13, 2010 1:06 PM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by OPPYH:
Now if we can have a lot of those really cool made for tv movies that were so prominent in the 70's release on dvd.

A friend in Hollywood found a slew of 'em on DVD from the UK, he sent me The Love War & Men Of The Dragon. Fun to see again, but whoah, the cheese surely turned on those!
Remember "Outrage" with Robert Culp? The ABC Movie of the Week's answer to "Walking Tall"?
Or "The Stranger Within", the one where Barbara Eden got knocked-up by a sperm from an alien that got 'transported' into her & she had to put salt on ALL her food?

Heh, The Night Stalker & Duel were Shakespeare when you think about it....


The laughing Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, November 13, 2010 2:03 PM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.


Chris, from your list the only ones I would bother with watching today are:

Star Trek TOS - own all on Blu-Ray
Kung Fu - in my Netflix queue
The Prisoner - own it on Blu-Ray
The Twilight Zone - one of these days I'll get the complete series
The Outer Limits - own all on DVD
The Wild, Wild West - I do recall liking this a lot when it was new, have no idea what I would think about it now.



NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, November 13, 2010 2:23 PM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by ecgordon:

The Wild, Wild West - I do recall liking this a lot when it was new, have no idea what I would think about it now.



Sort of like between Sharp Cheddar & American cheese, I would think.


The laughing Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, November 13, 2010 3:44 PM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by OPPYH:
Buck Rogers. Cheesy yes, but some episodes were fairly decent...plus Erin Grey:

OMG, let's plat catch up:




The laughing Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, November 13, 2010 3:53 PM

TRAVELER


It does make wish for a western series to make the airwaves, but they don't get anyone to view them. Westerns can't get off the ground in the last couple of decades. I have been watching Gunsmoke and it still holds up. When they added Festus and he would get Doc all flustered with his folktales that just raised the bar on that show. Matt and Kitty would just roll their eyes when Festus and Doc got into a lather.


http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, November 13, 2010 3:53 PM

OPPYH


Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:
Quote:

Originally posted by OPPYH:
Now if we can have a lot of those really cool made for tv movies that were so prominent in the 70's release on dvd.

A friend in Hollywood found a slew of 'em on DVD from the UK, he sent me The Love War & Men Of The Dragon. Fun to see again, but whoah, the cheese surely turned on those!
Remember "Outrage" with Robert Culp? The ABC Movie of the Week's answer to "Walking Tall"?
Or "The Stranger Within", the one where Barbara Eden got knocked-up by a sperm from an alien that got 'transported' into her & she had to put salt on ALL her food?

Heh, The Night Stalker & Duel were Shakespeare when you think about it....



Outrage sounds very familiar. I'd love to see it.
Some movies of the week were laughable at best(even back then).

Some were great though. Still remember the girl that survives a plane crash in the Amazon. For the life of me I can't remember the name or actress, but it was riveting. And based on a true story.

Night Stalker, and Duel were gold. I remember both fondly.

----------------------------------------------------------------

70's TV FOREVER

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Sunday, November 14, 2010 2:30 PM

OPPYH


Chrisisall, Traveler,

You guys remember this show?



One of my all time favorite shows period. Leonard Nimoy, and a Moog synthesizer are a recipe for greatness.

----------------------------------------------------------------

70's TV FOREVER

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Sunday, November 14, 2010 11:22 PM

BOBSYR


I agree with you, TV should allow viewers to escape their environment otherwise what would be the point of watching something that might happen outside your front door?

As someone who grew up in the '60s when sci-fi was arguably more fascinating because it simply had no comparison with the real world in which we all lived then.

Sci Fi today has a more difficult task to awe us because technology has allowed the brilliant imagination of writer's such as Joss Whedon, to be better illustrated on a TV screen. As a result we are a more sophisticated audience than the audiences of the '60s, and possess higher expectations. This includes the use of our own imaginations to consider alternatives in the development of plots and characters.

For me one of the most irritating disappointments is the cancellation of a TV series with promise, such as Firefly. In the '60s that was less likely to have happened because people were willing to take more risks with anything new. If they hadn't been Star Trek would not be as popular as it is today.

I now write freelance for the Suite101 online mag, with an intention to rally support against this kind of cancellation. I recently wrote an article 'How to Measure the Success of a TV Show'
that I hope will help develop a change of attitude towards popular TV shows in the 21st century.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Monday, November 15, 2010 2:28 AM

BORIS


A-team, Twin Peaks, Northern Exposure, Mash, Happy Days, Fall Guy, Rockford Files, X-Files...., so many cool Tv shows...Unfortunately I Can't get DVD's for some I really love such as Spin City, Two Guys a Girl and A Pizza place and classics like Shazam, Tucker's Witch, Mr Merlin.
On the subject of Two guys and a Girl, nothing has made me laugh harder than the silent episode and nothing topped the hilarity and retro "horror" of their Halloween epsiodes (e.g.the brain swapping ep where Sharon became Berg). I miss that show and could kick myself for taping over the episodes I had assuming it would be widely distributed on DVD. You'd think they'd put it on DVD given Ryan Reynolds and Nathan Fillions current star brightery.

Rose S

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Monday, November 15, 2010 9:16 AM

IMNOTHERE


Quote:

Originally posted by bobsyr:
In the '60s that was less likely to have happened because people were willing to take more risks with anything new.



...but Star Trek TOS did get canceled!

The main problem at the moment is that everything is trying to:

(a) be gritty, topical and realistic,
(b) have a long story arc.

Now, I quite like the occasional downer show like BSG, and at one stage there were not enough. But now we need a few less BSGs and a few more "Pushing Daisies".

Also, combine long story arcs with 20+ episode seasons and you get dull shows in which sod all happens in an episode ("V", "The Event" - I'm looking at you). When Babylon 5 did it, most of the episodes were carefully crafted with a self-contained "A"-plot, and the arc being carried forward by the subplots.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Monday, November 15, 2010 9:32 AM

OPPYH


Quote:

Originally posted by ImNotHere:

(b) have a long story arc.



I shudder when I think about all the long hours I put into "LOST". The creative team promised the ending would be amazing, and the questions would be answered.
They of course lied, and therefor the complete series to me at least is a sham. I have never, ever been duped like that.


----------------------------------------------------------------

70's TV FOREVER

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Monday, November 15, 2010 9:49 AM

CHRISISALL


Lost?
Saw that one comin'. Used my time elsewheres.


The laughing Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Monday, November 15, 2010 10:48 AM

IMNOTHERE


Quote:

Originally posted by OPPYH:

I shudder when I think about all the long hours I put into "LOST".



Of course, the most important thing about a "long story arc" done properly (e.g. seasons 1-4 of Babylon 5) is that the writers need to plot out the story in advance - not make it up as they go along. Sure, it'll deviate when actors leave etc. but the outline should be there.

The X-Files sort of got away with it because it was dealing with conspiracy theories - which have to continually change to accommodate inconvenient truths.

That's the main reason the ending of BSG was such a let-down - not what the ending actually entailed, but that it didn't seem to follow on from the rest of the show. The Cylons Had A Plan but clearly the scriptwriters didn't.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Monday, November 15, 2010 11:11 AM

STORYMARK


I'm for the modern stuff all the way. Gritty realism, heavy drama, long-form serialization - all great in my book.

The lighter kitchier stuff is fine from time to time, but I always feel like I've eaten a slice of wonderbread - no substance. I'm more of a whole wheat type.

"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."

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Monday, November 15, 2010 11:12 AM

STORYMARK


Quote:

Originally posted by OPPYH:
Quote:

Originally posted by ImNotHere:

(b) have a long story arc.



I shudder when I think about all the long hours I put into "LOST". The creative team promised the ending would be amazing, and the questions would be answered.
They of course lied, and therefor the complete series to me at least is a sham. I have never, ever been duped like that.


----------------------------------------------------------------

70's TV FOREVER



All the important questions were. Sure, they didn't go down a checklist of all the minutiae - and personally I'm glad they didn't.

"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."

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Monday, November 15, 2010 11:35 AM

CHRISISALL


Holy somethin'-must-have-been-livin'-in-here!!!
I totally left this off my list!!!!





NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Monday, November 15, 2010 11:55 AM

LWAVES


Quote:

Originally posted by Storymark:
Quote:

Originally posted by OPPYH:
Quote:

Originally posted by ImNotHere:

(b) have a long story arc.



I shudder when I think about all the long hours I put into "LOST". The creative team promised the ending would be amazing, and the questions would be answered.
They of course lied, and therefor the complete series to me at least is a sham. I have never, ever been duped like that.




All the important questions were. Sure, they didn't go down a checklist of all the minutiae - and personally I'm glad they didn't.




I'm with you on this one. The important questions were answered. If they had attempted to directly answer all questions it would have a pointless last few episodes with tons of exposition of people explaining things. Leaving stuff unanswered leaves the show with some mystery, which is one of the main points of the show. It's far more like real life that way.
Of course, one of the things that detractors of the show don't get is that a lot of the questions weren't posed by the creators but by the viewers themselves. They came up with questions they wanted answers to. It's up to the creators to tell THEIR story, with THEIR questions and answers. I feel that they did that and was very happy with the ending.



"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Monday, November 15, 2010 12:06 PM

CHRISISALL


I get the impression (IMPRESSION, mind you; I did not watch the series) that this was a story that only needed, like, three seasons to tell its tale.
A LONG run like that will inevitably lead to a desired grandiosity in the finale that cannot be fully realized for all fans, IMO.


The laughing Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Monday, November 15, 2010 12:27 PM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by Storymark:
I'm for the modern stuff all the way. Gritty realism, heavy drama, long-form serialization - all great in my book.
The lighter kitchier stuff is fine from time to time


Yin & Yang.
A contemporary example is that I like CHUCK, AND Nikita.
Kitchy/gritty.


But my heart belongs to the Adventure/funny Side. Forever has it dominated my TV watching.

Give me Trek TOS or Planet of the Apes over the new BSG any day (or moment) of the week.

Give me Wild Wild West or Brisco over Dogwood.

Give me Magnum PI or Airwolf over any CI series.

If I want to be blasted with realism & have my world rocked for a bit, I go the movies.

Or watch Dark Angel....






The laughing Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, November 16, 2010 12:17 PM

STORYMARK


Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:
I get the impression (IMPRESSION, mind you; I did not watch the series) that this was a story that only needed, like, three seasons to tell its tale.
A LONG run like that will inevitably lead to a desired grandiosity in the finale that cannot be fully realized for all fans, IMO.


The laughing Chrisisall




Well, since my favorite season was 5 (which obviously entailed a great deal of planning in advance), I can't agree there.

But you have a point about the finale being impossible to realize for all fans. Some appreciated the show for it's scientific/sci-fi trappings. Others liked it for the philosophical aspect. Others for the spirituality. Others simply wanted the big questions answered. It's virtually impossible to meet all expectations.

And that's setting aside the fact that the production realities behind TV shows make it virtually impossible to plan is much detail that far in advance. The one case I can think of where it was even attempted was Babyon 5 - and even then they had to have alternate storylines and resolutions planned for each and every character, as well as the main plotlines - and even then - the plan got derailed and they had to make-do.

"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."

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

YOUR OPTIONS

NEW POSTS TODAY

USERPOST DATE

FFF.NET SOCIAL