I may have blogged about similar themes before. If so, there's a reason.
It bears repeating.
I tend to get hooked on television shows which contain the following - decent acting, largely unpredictable plots and intelligent writing. There's a trend with most of the ones I've liked over the last decade or so - they get canceled, most of them slightly over (or significantly under) the typical five-year syndication window.
As I sat down to write this post, I got great news! "Scrubs" is coming back on the air!
This is another genre I like - insane comedy with a message. It's one of the reasons I enjoyed "My Name Is Earl." Though the essential format was the same each episode - there's going to be some issue Earl needs to rectify from his list and how they got to the end is what made it interesting.
So, here's hoping the resurrection of "Scrubs" will last.
What types of television shows do you like and do you feel "snakebitten"when your favorite shows go off the air?
Showing posts with label Hollywierd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hollywierd. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Eight suggestions on how 'BSG' could have ended better
I've already seen one person's conclusion as to how "Battlestar Gallactica's" creators flubbed the two-hour series finale and I tend to agree with a lot of this person's comments.
But my approach to this subject will be slightly different in that I will make recommendations on what could have made the difference in ending what could have been one of television's greatest drama series.
Instead, the ending left me slightly less impressed with the series than I had been over the course of the previous five years of its existence. It still, on the whole, was a well-thought-out, well-acted, vast improvement over the original 1970s series. But the ending, at least in this stage in looking back on it, left way too many loose ends. Yes, life doesn't leave us with neatly-tied packages; sometimes it takes years to clean up what one person leaves behind.
But this is a television show, and its creators and writers appeared to just throw their hands up and say "I quit" with the series-ender.
The thing which is the most difficult for me to swallow is that the crescendo toward which many character and story lines appeared headed just seemed to get forgotten about or abandoned as the end neared.
Genuine character resolution - following a character to his or her logical, at least plausible, conclusion - simply appeared lacking.
I read somewhere that the creators focused on the characters in the end, not the story line. Both are equally important, and one - the story - was largely lacking at the end.
OK, here's my list of what the shows creators could have done differently to make "Battlestar's" ending a fitting conclusion to the rest of the series:
1. Help Kara Thrace make sense. Kara just sort of "poofs" at the end; literally. She's there one minute and not the next. She's too integral a character to just disappear. Her death and later existence as a resurrected being is not fully explained; she even wonders aloud who she is. She deserves an answer and so do we.
2. Give "All Along the Watchtower" stronger meaning. It's a timeless song, there's no doubt, but its impact seems pervasive and guiding - it clicked on four dormant Cylons; Kara knew it as a kid; even human-Cylon hybrid Hera knew it and it helped get the colonists to Earth. There must have been a reason beyond what the creators have explained as it just being something which comes out of the ether and provides guidance. Its influence suggests someone else was helping it get that way. Who was that?
3. Let Gaius Baltar's heroism not be a surprise. He makes a major stand toward the end, one which seemed uncharacteristic for him. Just help us see how he went from the sniveling little brat he was most of the series to this stand-up guy. And he and Six turn out to be glorified narrators as well as types of Adam and Eve. Explain that better, please.
4. Help us understand who Daniel was. Was Daniel, the 13th humanoid Cylon, Kara's father? What was his role?
5. Who created the Final Five? In one episode, Ellen tells Cavil that he is named John, after her father. There's no answer to this question whatsoever.
6. Who is God? The Cylons are mono-theistic. The humans are not - they're polytheistic. How did it get this way and why do the two cultures make the distinction?
7. Let the final battle with Cavil's Cylons be less anti-climatic. Why couldn't we have some well-aimed gunfire in the ventilation shaft or a black-ops plan that worked or a Cylon model who turns on Cavil and blows up the base ship? The writer whose link I post above mentions how Cavil just sort of gives up in the firefight in the command center and eats a bullet. Not how his character should have ended.
8. Tell us how the humanoid Cylons and the humans co-exist on the new Earth. Do they just make babies and be happy with each other? Do they make babies with the Earthlings who are there already? Or are we to believe the mantra that it has happened before, it will happen again? At the very end, I think we're supposed to think that but I'm not sure.
Sure, I agree that consumers of television shows, books, movies, music, etc., should draw their own conclusions and not every last detail should be spoon fed and excruciatingly explained.
But these are just the eight things which come immediately to mind which would have made the series-finale so much more tangible and interesting.
But my approach to this subject will be slightly different in that I will make recommendations on what could have made the difference in ending what could have been one of television's greatest drama series.
Instead, the ending left me slightly less impressed with the series than I had been over the course of the previous five years of its existence. It still, on the whole, was a well-thought-out, well-acted, vast improvement over the original 1970s series. But the ending, at least in this stage in looking back on it, left way too many loose ends. Yes, life doesn't leave us with neatly-tied packages; sometimes it takes years to clean up what one person leaves behind.
But this is a television show, and its creators and writers appeared to just throw their hands up and say "I quit" with the series-ender.
The thing which is the most difficult for me to swallow is that the crescendo toward which many character and story lines appeared headed just seemed to get forgotten about or abandoned as the end neared.
Genuine character resolution - following a character to his or her logical, at least plausible, conclusion - simply appeared lacking.
I read somewhere that the creators focused on the characters in the end, not the story line. Both are equally important, and one - the story - was largely lacking at the end.
OK, here's my list of what the shows creators could have done differently to make "Battlestar's" ending a fitting conclusion to the rest of the series:
1. Help Kara Thrace make sense. Kara just sort of "poofs" at the end; literally. She's there one minute and not the next. She's too integral a character to just disappear. Her death and later existence as a resurrected being is not fully explained; she even wonders aloud who she is. She deserves an answer and so do we.
2. Give "All Along the Watchtower" stronger meaning. It's a timeless song, there's no doubt, but its impact seems pervasive and guiding - it clicked on four dormant Cylons; Kara knew it as a kid; even human-Cylon hybrid Hera knew it and it helped get the colonists to Earth. There must have been a reason beyond what the creators have explained as it just being something which comes out of the ether and provides guidance. Its influence suggests someone else was helping it get that way. Who was that?
3. Let Gaius Baltar's heroism not be a surprise. He makes a major stand toward the end, one which seemed uncharacteristic for him. Just help us see how he went from the sniveling little brat he was most of the series to this stand-up guy. And he and Six turn out to be glorified narrators as well as types of Adam and Eve. Explain that better, please.
4. Help us understand who Daniel was. Was Daniel, the 13th humanoid Cylon, Kara's father? What was his role?
5. Who created the Final Five? In one episode, Ellen tells Cavil that he is named John, after her father. There's no answer to this question whatsoever.
6. Who is God? The Cylons are mono-theistic. The humans are not - they're polytheistic. How did it get this way and why do the two cultures make the distinction?
7. Let the final battle with Cavil's Cylons be less anti-climatic. Why couldn't we have some well-aimed gunfire in the ventilation shaft or a black-ops plan that worked or a Cylon model who turns on Cavil and blows up the base ship? The writer whose link I post above mentions how Cavil just sort of gives up in the firefight in the command center and eats a bullet. Not how his character should have ended.
8. Tell us how the humanoid Cylons and the humans co-exist on the new Earth. Do they just make babies and be happy with each other? Do they make babies with the Earthlings who are there already? Or are we to believe the mantra that it has happened before, it will happen again? At the very end, I think we're supposed to think that but I'm not sure.
Sure, I agree that consumers of television shows, books, movies, music, etc., should draw their own conclusions and not every last detail should be spoon fed and excruciatingly explained.
But these are just the eight things which come immediately to mind which would have made the series-finale so much more tangible and interesting.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
It's kinda like spring
Now that the writer's strike is over, we're finally seeing some shows return (or their returns announced) on television. I guess we'll have to wait and see if any of the newer shows will return.
But we're finally seeing actual dates for things like the wrap up of the new version of "Battlestar Gallactica," which Amanda and I have been waiting on for months.
The painful attempts of people like Conan O'Brien to stretch their shows can now come to a close and while I've mentioned here that some reality television is helpful and beneficial, a whole lot more of it is junk. I'm glad to know we'll start seeming new, creative material coming our way.
Now, as for whether the ideas are original or not, that's another story. But I recently heard somewhere that it's not that the writers haven't run out of original ideas, it's that those in control want to make sure they make a profit and renewing an old idea is usually a safe way of doing that. That may be true but the regurgitation of age-old ideas just makes me tired. It'd be nice if there were an avenue for independent television like there is for music and movies. In some ways it's starting on the Internet with some of these serials that people have started.
I like being entertained and I like thinking that the people who bring me the entertainment have put some thought and effort into it.
And broadcast television isn't completely devoid of this.
An example is "Lost." These people have worked long and hard on how to mess with their viewers heads, and there's something satisfying blended in amid the frustration of it.
So, here's to new stuff on television and here's to people who have creative, inventive ideas getting their stuff seen and heard.
But we're finally seeing actual dates for things like the wrap up of the new version of "Battlestar Gallactica," which Amanda and I have been waiting on for months.
The painful attempts of people like Conan O'Brien to stretch their shows can now come to a close and while I've mentioned here that some reality television is helpful and beneficial, a whole lot more of it is junk. I'm glad to know we'll start seeming new, creative material coming our way.
Now, as for whether the ideas are original or not, that's another story. But I recently heard somewhere that it's not that the writers haven't run out of original ideas, it's that those in control want to make sure they make a profit and renewing an old idea is usually a safe way of doing that. That may be true but the regurgitation of age-old ideas just makes me tired. It'd be nice if there were an avenue for independent television like there is for music and movies. In some ways it's starting on the Internet with some of these serials that people have started.
I like being entertained and I like thinking that the people who bring me the entertainment have put some thought and effort into it.
And broadcast television isn't completely devoid of this.
An example is "Lost." These people have worked long and hard on how to mess with their viewers heads, and there's something satisfying blended in amid the frustration of it.
So, here's to new stuff on television and here's to people who have creative, inventive ideas getting their stuff seen and heard.
Friday, June 08, 2007
Mad about Studio 60
OK, NBC's been cleaning out its stock of "Studio 60" episodes since they made the decision to pull the plug on the brillant but seldom-watched show. I've already written about this but it needs to be said again - this show was one of the best on television this year. It was smart, funny where it needed to be, serious much of the time and just a brilliant, behind-the-scenes look at how television, particularly a live sketch comedy show, lives - and sometimes - dies.
I hope this television show will get another life, maybe on NBC's sister network, USA.
Unfortunately, we live in a country where reality television - most of which is designed so we can switch off our minds - largely dominates the attention of television viewers, not well-crafted pieces of art, what "Studio 60" is.
We so soon forget that television shows are, from a business standpoint, vehicles through which advertising is sold and money is made.
Ultimately, that's all that really seems to matter in the end.
I hope this television show will get another life, maybe on NBC's sister network, USA.
Unfortunately, we live in a country where reality television - most of which is designed so we can switch off our minds - largely dominates the attention of television viewers, not well-crafted pieces of art, what "Studio 60" is.
We so soon forget that television shows are, from a business standpoint, vehicles through which advertising is sold and money is made.
Ultimately, that's all that really seems to matter in the end.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Studio 60
OK, for my handful of readers, a tidbit to tide you over until I have more time!
Another decent show apparently may not come back to the Peacock network - "Studio 60." Yes, the writers bashed a pretend version of the American Family Association for effectively squelching creativity. But they also developed a central character, Harriet Hayes, who is a believing Christian, to balance it out.
I thought it was brilliantly written and well acted, particularly by Matthew Perry. I forgot about Chandler Bing.
I tend to like shows which often don't make it out of the first year and they tend to be those with some thought and effort behind the work. "E-Ring" was another one.
Fortunately one exception is "My Name is Earl."
Anyway, I hope they bring back "Studio 60" but it looks doubtful from what I hear. Maybe the next show I latch on to will actually stay on beyond one season!
Another decent show apparently may not come back to the Peacock network - "Studio 60." Yes, the writers bashed a pretend version of the American Family Association for effectively squelching creativity. But they also developed a central character, Harriet Hayes, who is a believing Christian, to balance it out.
I thought it was brilliantly written and well acted, particularly by Matthew Perry. I forgot about Chandler Bing.
I tend to like shows which often don't make it out of the first year and they tend to be those with some thought and effort behind the work. "E-Ring" was another one.
Fortunately one exception is "My Name is Earl."
Anyway, I hope they bring back "Studio 60" but it looks doubtful from what I hear. Maybe the next show I latch on to will actually stay on beyond one season!
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Update and Amen
I know it's been quite some time since I've posted something and for those of you recently steered here, welcome! I don't post much very often. I guess sometimes the day to day seems to be boring material for a mass audience.
But then William Hung got famous for being awful.
We'll see. But little victories like making a business phone call I've either procrastinated on or just haven't had time for doesn't seem blog-worthy. Maybe it is. At least that's what Time magazine says.
I woke rested this morning. Maybe I did so because the baby monitor isn't needed while Jadyn and Amanda are in Pennsylvania. Regardless, I wish they were here. But they are doing what they need to do and by the grace of God they'll be back soon. In the mean time, Amanda left me a very well crafted honey-do list in preparation for Christmas which I hope to make headway on tonight.
OK, here's the Amen part:
Jack Valenti wrote a great piece about the sacrifice of his generation and that it seems lost on the current, younger crowd. This is what bothers me about the ambivalence we see about the current overall War on Terror.
He nails it.
Technical difficulties prevent me from posting a link, but I will paste the text below so you can cut, paste and hopefully see it.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20061221/cm_usatoday/doesthenextgenerationvaluethesacrificeofwar
And if we don't get a chance to do so again, Merry Christmas!
But then William Hung got famous for being awful.
We'll see. But little victories like making a business phone call I've either procrastinated on or just haven't had time for doesn't seem blog-worthy. Maybe it is. At least that's what Time magazine says.
I woke rested this morning. Maybe I did so because the baby monitor isn't needed while Jadyn and Amanda are in Pennsylvania. Regardless, I wish they were here. But they are doing what they need to do and by the grace of God they'll be back soon. In the mean time, Amanda left me a very well crafted honey-do list in preparation for Christmas which I hope to make headway on tonight.
OK, here's the Amen part:
Jack Valenti wrote a great piece about the sacrifice of his generation and that it seems lost on the current, younger crowd. This is what bothers me about the ambivalence we see about the current overall War on Terror.
He nails it.
Technical difficulties prevent me from posting a link, but I will paste the text below so you can cut, paste and hopefully see it.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20061221/cm_usatoday/doesthenextgenerationvaluethesacrificeofwar
And if we don't get a chance to do so again, Merry Christmas!
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Ooops!
Well, since I was late getting started anyway, I don't think it matters that I skipped Friday in blogging. It just slipped my mind.
OK, Michael Richards shouldn't have said what he said and maybe he should have thought twice about getting frustrated with his hecklers in the way he did. But everybody makes mistakes and he should be given a second chance.
They even got Kenny Kramer, the real person his Seinfeld character was based on, to weigh in on the subject, and what he said in an Associated Press story was really funny:
"You know what the good news is?" he asked. "Judith Regan is now on a plane to California, trying to sign Michael Richards to a book deal: 'If I Were a Racist, Here's What I Would Have Said.'"
That's a reference to the OJ Simpson book deal, in case you don't know.
OK, Michael Richards shouldn't have said what he said and maybe he should have thought twice about getting frustrated with his hecklers in the way he did. But everybody makes mistakes and he should be given a second chance.
They even got Kenny Kramer, the real person his Seinfeld character was based on, to weigh in on the subject, and what he said in an Associated Press story was really funny:
"You know what the good news is?" he asked. "Judith Regan is now on a plane to California, trying to sign Michael Richards to a book deal: 'If I Were a Racist, Here's What I Would Have Said.'"
That's a reference to the OJ Simpson book deal, in case you don't know.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Creativity vacuum in Hollywood
Maybe it's just taken me awhile to notice, but it seems the decision-makers in the traditional movie industry have lost interest and drive to develop fresh, new movie concepts.
The one notable exception appears in the animation arena - no overt duplication of ideas there.
I'm just growing weary of modern remakes of old movies.Normally, I try not to complain without having a solution. I do have a suggestion - that the major film studios develop teams, to include regular old Joes and Marys, to develop new ideas. Sure, someone would need to get creativity and writing credit, but if you have a "thinktank" generating fresh concepts, more people might actually show up to watch movies.
I don't have any ideas for a script myself. If I do, I think it needs to become a book first. :)
The one notable exception appears in the animation arena - no overt duplication of ideas there.
I'm just growing weary of modern remakes of old movies.Normally, I try not to complain without having a solution. I do have a suggestion - that the major film studios develop teams, to include regular old Joes and Marys, to develop new ideas. Sure, someone would need to get creativity and writing credit, but if you have a "thinktank" generating fresh concepts, more people might actually show up to watch movies.
I don't have any ideas for a script myself. If I do, I think it needs to become a book first. :)
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