Whedon was told what he needs, not what he wants? by NewsAdmin

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Whedon was told what he needs, not what he wants?

POSTED BY: NEWSADMIN
UPDATED: Sunday, June 30, 2002 04:52
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Sunday, June 16, 2002 5:17 AM

It seems Joss Whedon, a TV scribe known to have told his large followings in the past that fans should be "given what they need, not what they want," was told by FOX execs the same when his original Firefly pilot was a bit too heavy on the drama and character development, so says an article at Entertainment Weekly's EW.COM website.

''Fox came out of the box saying we're looking for flash, we're looking for comfort. Though I'm very much in love with what we did, there wasn't a lot of either there,'' said Whedon. A new pilot was written by Whedon and fellow scribe Tim Minear, and FOX was very pleased with what the two came up with. Afterall, this was Joss Whedon and Tim Minear. These two can write.

It's rumored that the new pilot falls in the line of "The Great Train Robbery". Again, this is just a rumor, but what is certain is that the pilot along with the subsequent few episodes that follows will serve as a more action packed intro to the series. ''The first six episodes are very stand-alone, very expository, and hopefully not boring." Added Whedon.

What of the original pilot you ask? FOX plans to air that later on in the season as a special events episode, which I'm sure won't disappoint the then established fans of the series who will definately enjoy an episode heavy on substance.

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Sunday, June 16, 2002 7:20 AM

NOVAGRASS

Let's just hope it's only the first six episodes that are heavy on action. I really want to see these characters put through the wringer... I want pain and emotion... 'cause isn't that what makes Buffy so good?

*sigh* Damn Fox execs.

--Dylan Palmer, aka NoVaGrAsS--

"Nice guys can only get so mad." Fillion on Mal

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Sunday, June 16, 2002 9:08 AM

MILLERNATE

Well what is *likely* (given what I know about Whedon and the way that series seem to be introduced best) is that we'll be given an introduction to the characters along with/through action. Remember, we didn't get a lot of pain and what not in the first season of Buffy, possibily because you need to get to know the characters first for that to have more meaning.

If I had to lay a bet (which I wouldn't, been proven wrong far too often in the past) I'd say that the first season will have some nice character work, some sci-fi genre revision, and some fairly interesting action. Then, if it makes it to the second season, we'll get the "Buffy theatre of pain special" :).

Nathan

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Sunday, June 16, 2002 9:20 AM

NOVAGRASS

Quote:
Originally posted by millernate:
Then, if it makes it to the second season, we'll get the "Buffy theatre of pain special" :).

Nathan

That's probably what will end up happening; however, it seemed very much like he wanted to start the series off with the "Buffy Theatre of Pain." Either way, I guess I shouldn't complain... maybe it will be better this way. We already know Joss can introduce characters well in lighter situations.

Oh, and I thought there was plenty of pain in S1... mostly with the Xander wanting Buffy, Willow wanting Xander, Buffy finding out she's gonna die, Jesse's death, etc. But I agree... these didn't seem all that painful because we didn't yet know the characters all that well... so you're right about how knowing the characters makes it more impacting.

(btw, I'm gonna use the "Buffy Theatre of Pain" from now on...

)

--Dylan Palmer, aka NoVaGrAsS--

"Nice guys can only get so mad." Fillion on Mal

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Sunday, June 16, 2002 9:57 AM

MILLERNATE

Well you are right in that there was pain (though if you look, Willow's wanting Xander didn't truly end up as heavy pain until season 2 and Jesse's death didn't seem to effect anyone after the premiere) but it definetely seemed more in the background than it did in subsequent seasons. I'm not sure whether that was intentional or whether it was sort of an unintentional psychological effect of the audience becoming familiar with the characters.

Nathan

"Support Firefly because support for Firefly is support for a former Barney Miller regular"

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Sunday, June 16, 2002 12:04 PM

ZICSOFT

Quote:
Originally posted by Novagrass:
*sigh* Damn Fox execs.

Well, I hate em too, but they're always gonna be there. If the suits had their way, every tv show would be non-stop car chases and gun fights.

Hopefully Whedon is a good enough politician to get away with a certain level of storytelling. Still, you got me worried. The only reason he got away with it on Buffy was that everybody was positive it would fail. When SMG told her friends that she had been cast as the lead in something called "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," she mostly got condolences!

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Sunday, June 16, 2002 1:29 PM

RINGWRAITH

This is what I really hate about Fox. Granted any other network might do it (maybe not the WB) but it comes as no surprise coming from Fox.

I love football, and I love their coverage. I love baseball, and I love their coverage, you can't beat Joe Buck.

But regular television? Crappy "reality" TV shows like "Whores in Alaska," a TV show based on a movie I could care less for (The Fast and The Furious) and the general dumbing down of The X-Files. Sure, they've got The Simpsons and good sports coverage but that's about it. They're trying to play with the boys in the big league (ABC, NBC, CBS) but it won't happen if they keep releasing crap. They'll just be known as the network-wannabe.

Don't get me wrong, they have excellent shows like 24 and I think John Doe should be decent, but as a rule they have idiots in charge.

*sigh*

This network sucks. As long as they don't pull a TNT on JW we *should* be okay.

************************************************
"How will this end?"
"In fire."
--Babylon 5, 'The Coming of Shadows'
************************************************

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Tuesday, June 18, 2002 9:31 AM

INARASNEWTOY

Oh dear!

Why does this sound like Crusade and Andromeda season two all over again?

INT

One evil at a time, that's the best i can do - Farscape

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Tuesday, June 18, 2002 10:17 AM

ZICSOFT

Two of my least favorite shows. But you're right, this is real deja vu.

James Garner got in a fight with his studio (to this day, he will not have anything to do with Universal) over their push to have more "action" in The Rockford Files. He even went on strike over it. When they reminded him that he was scheduled against Hawaii Five-O, he said, "Then I guess you need to fire me and hire Jack Lord's brother!"

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Wednesday, June 19, 2002 4:26 AM

MILLERNATE

"This network sucks. As long as they don't pull a TNT on JW we *should* be okay. "

Well, despite all the potshots taken at it Fox is really no better or worse than any other network out there (except ABC, it can't help but be better than that dog). Also, the second pilot is not nearly as much cause for concern as everyone is making it out to be since, from what I've heard, it is basically just going to be what was intended to be the second episode. This is not a huge problem, there aren't the *huge* red flags that I've seen with some shows out there.

Nathan

"The good thing about being a pessimist is that you are very seldom unpleasantly surprised." - me

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Wednesday, June 19, 2002 2:01 PM

NOVAGRASS

Quote:
Originally posted by millernate:
"This network sucks. As long as they don't pull a TNT on JW we *should* be okay. "

Well, despite all the potshots taken at it Fox is really no better or worse than any other network out there (except ABC, it can't help but be better than that dog). Also, the second pilot is not nearly as much cause for concern as everyone is making it out to be since, from what I've heard, it is basically just going to be what was intended to be the second episode. This is not a huge problem, there aren't the *huge* red flags that I've seen with some shows out there.

Nathan

"The good thing about being a pessimist is that you are very seldom unpleasantly surprised." - me

I tend to think that one huge red flag is raised when a network tells a creator that his show doesn't have enough action. That, to me, is disturbing because that means the don't care about the story being told; instead, they care more about satisfying the lowest common denomenator, most of whom care only about mindless action.

It appears as though Fox execs do not want to challenge their viewers emotionally (let alone, intellectually), and care only about how many people are killed per episode. Many a great show have been ruined by this "call for action."

Regardless of the fact that "second pilot" is not a retelling of the origin, it is still a change in the tone that Joss and Minear originally intended.

That's why I'm worried about the execs... even though I don't *hate* Fox.

--Dylan Palmer, aka NoVaGrAsS--

"Nice guys can only get so mad." Fillion on Mal

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Sunday, June 30, 2002 4:52 AM

TINYTIMM

Quote:
Originally posted by Zicsoft:
Quote:
Originally posted by Novagrass:
*sigh* Damn Fox execs.
Well, I hate em too, but they're always gonna be there. If the suits had their way, every tv show would be non-stop car chases and gun fights.

Do you think we can force the Suits to go to http://sff.net/paradise/lists.htm#more_evil
and study up?

Jeff Timm
Who hasn't laughed so hard in years.

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