Why do networks always assume they know better ?
By fred | August 29, 2008
It’s something that probably isn’t new, but it is here, and when you’re a TVoholic or just happen to love good television, even in small doses, it’s a disgusting thing to see. Yet it’s here, everywhere, and it is more and more frequent every day : Networks think they know better.
Always, in every network, you will find some stupid execs who love their very expensive suits, and think that if they got here, it means they know better. They know better than the creative minds behind a show what the show should be like and where it should go, they know better than you, viewers, what it is you want to watch. And it’s a funny thing, because those guys do their job in a TV network like they would an airplane company, or selling cars.
That it to say, they have no idea what good television is (and let’s be honest, they probably don’t even care), they don’t know how to write compelling stories, or create interesting characters, those things that will attract millions of people week after week and have us come back each week for more. But because they work for, because they are the network, they know better.
Those who create a show, usually, stay on to write episodes, direct some maybe, and more importantly ensure that for years to come (hopefully) things will be as they should, that the tone will remain the same, that characters won’t be turned into something they’re not, that viewers won’t be betrayed and the show won’t be trashed away. That it will not be travestied into just another piece of crap, that it won’t lost its soul. Those people who run things on a show, are the showrunners.
They have the vision for the show, in a way they’re the heart and soul of a series. But always, the networks will try to interfere, thinking they are better than showrunners, they’ll pressure them into changing the show to fit whatever stupid “vision” the network has, whatever it is they think will sell more. And so many times you hear about behind-the-scenes drama, tension and fight, and sadly it’s not rare for the network to simply “let go” the showrunners.
Recently, Army Wives creator/executive producer left the show, there’s been much drama behind Brothers & Sisters, Dirty Sexy Money lost its showrunner as well, Tom Fontana gave up on The Philanthropist when NBC wouldn’t let the show be what it should be because it wasn’t fitting their “pleasing the advertisers” plan, Bionic Woman was a huge failure, and the fact that it never had a showrunner to stay in charge for more than 3 episodes is one of the reason without a doubt, Smallville creators left the show after years, some behind-the-scenes game of “showrunner roulette” has been played on other shows like My Own Worst Enemy or Life On Mars… the list is endless.
It’s endless, and it’s never good. We all painfully remember what happened to what was/is (probably) the greatest (sci-fi) show ever, Firefly. This show was nothing but awesome, it was great, dark, funny, there was comedy, drama, action, compelling characters, and endless possibilities for things to come as well as for a mythology to be revealed. It was a little treasure, but because some idiots at Fox couldn’t see that, creator and showrunners were threatened and forced into writing a new first episode, episodes didn’t air in the intended order anyways, and the show was canceled soon after, never being given a fair chance.
Because for a network, what worked in the past should be done again & again and over again for as long as possible. Before the first CSI ever made it to the air, networks didn’t believe this could ever work. Some passed on the show, because it didn’t resemble anything that was currently on the air, hence it couldn’t work. They always claim to want to discover the next big hit, but at the same time they always insist on playing the safe card, redoing what’s been done before and never taking chances, or letting creators/showrunners create the show they dreamed of.
Posted in News
Shows: Army Wives, Bionic Woman, Brothers & Sisters, CSI, Damages, Dirty Sexy Money, Jericho, Life, Life On Mars, Lost, Mad Men, Moonlight, My Own Worst Enemy, Smallville, The Philanthropist
Firefly is a classic example of execs with their heads up their [3 letter word, tip buy an A].
maybe it’s the way we measure educational worth with degrees. Why aren’t veteran writers studio execs - instead of collegiates with an m.b.a.? That is fine and all,as that is how our society works, but it doesn’t help creatively.
I think the bottom line will always trump creativity on the networks, unless the writer has some success, and even then the writers don’t wear the financial pants.
Fred…you are the best! Talk about hitting the nail on the head, the major networks are now walking around with huge lumps on theirs!! And yes I am one of those left in the network dust with MOONLIGHT’s cancelation. I refuse to become invested in any new network shows, as you said, why bother, they will just cancel it anyway. Why can’t they see what’s happening, it’s not like we haven’t let them know…demographics is what they want well we have lots of money we would be glad to spend on sponsors! Just give us what we want our show(s) back. Keep up the good work Fred, we TV watchers need someone like you in our corner!
Fred, you’ve written what I feel as well. Networks are training people not to watch new shows by cancelling them if they don’t immediately pull in unrealistic numbers from the first episode. Unrealistic because millions of people have already left network TV, and those left think why bother falling in love with a show that is exciting and different when the odds are that it won’t last because networks are scared of different. Why network execs think they are all creative geniuses is beyond me when their purpose should be to simply provide the funding and let the real creative talent do what they do best. This year I’ve finally had enough. Except for a couple of returning show I like and playing DVDs, my TV will be off.
Fred, you are right on the money. One of the shows I watched is Moonlight, and the last episodes (except maybe the very last) were so disjointed, illogical, and full of continuity problems. That’s because the showrunners and writers changed so much, and the last ones were trying to appease CBS and JS, trying to give fans little morsels (like a halfnaked Mick, in-jokes and so on) and forsake the storyline for that. But it changed the show we loved in a way that, had it gone on for another season, I would probably not have watched anymore. I couldn’t stand Talbot (Josh 2.0), I couldn’t stand that the romance went nowhere. So they killed the mood for me, even before the cancellation. I am so torn, because I know that if the show had gone like the first 12, with the exceptional writing and acting and camera work, I would have very much wanted that. But not for the sake of changing it into a sorry image of Twilight or Angel.
IMO if some big network would have the smarts they would hire you and put you in charge of programming. You seem to have a pulse on what viewers want to see and how to handle what and how it is aired. Great article.
The television industry is working with a flawed system to determine what people are watching. They ignore the actual demographics out there, and seem to think that the 18 to 49 year olds out there actually have spending money. In fact, the average age of television viewers has gotten older, and these older boomers are the ones with the disposable income to purchase the goods and services the advertisers hawk between scenes of television programs.
It’s disturbing to see that the actual viewer has no standing in the eyes of television executives.
When you write to advertisers, telling them that because they aren’t supporting your show, you will no longer buy their products, they respond telling you that they have no control over what is on the air. This is a pile of hogwash.
If the networks don’t have sponsors for a show, they will remove that show and put on one from which the sponsors will buy ad time. I’d say the advertisers are the ones to go after, and they can get on these television executives to actually run programs the viewers want to see.
Your mileage may vary, but that’s my take on the situation.
The gradual blending of procedural to serialized in Moonlight was an almost natural progression of the romantic facet of the show. The bait of a serial (i.e. TV-SERIES) is what hooks viewers into sticking with a show over the long run. I’ve found that the quickest shows for me to get too bored with it to remember what day and time to turn on my set - where those plodding procedurals or those made of “stand alone” episodes. Why should I anxiously wait to see the next episode - if I’m not going to miss anything in the Story-LINE… see it’s a story LINE for a reason!
I’m one who’s just refused to turn my TV for 2 separate 5-yr stretches - BECAUSE of the network crap you’re speaking of here. Last year I decided to give TV one more try. Of all of last Fall’s offerings, I loved Moonlight the best! And here I am - betrayed and kicked to the curb by the network again! I’m back to NO TV! They’ve convinced me that whatever joy they promise is not worth the pain they inflict! I truly believe that the main reason networks do this repeatedly is because viewers repeatedly forgive them and allow them to d it again! Networks are not held accountable, and they never pay any serious consequences for what they do. If people revolted, and stopped NEEDING them - they’d probably rethink their methods. So the networks may “scare us way”? Good – that may be what they need to unplug their plumbing! Moonlight filled a “Niche”? The network called us a “Cult” - like because we loved this show we should be degraded. How is insulting viewers supposed to draw them back to your network? I believe the ratings system needs overhauling, too – upgrade it from the 1960’s where it’s stuck!
I’d like to ask you, though. What happened to the idea of shows running for many years? Why do so many of them seem like they’re “disposable” to the networks? I keep having the feeling that Moonlight could end up like Star Trek - where the network screwed with it till it was canned, the fans kept supporting it for years - and then someone decided it could make them money if they did a movie - and that went on to become several… and then they decided it was a big enough money-maker to make a new series - and that went on for YEARS with more movies and several more series on top. WHY - doesn’t TPTB see that they could take Moonlight NOW - and grow it into that from the present? Yeah, Alex is somewhat committed for a year - but that’s only a year. WHY doesn’t some Smart exec. snatch Moonlight and grow it into what Star Trek became - without making us all wait a Generation to do so?
Fred, I think I’m in love with you! Ha Ha! You have written everything I have been thinking regarding tv executives! I used to be a couch potato, but not any more. I am not watching any new tv shows from the so-called “major” networks.
Thanks mostly to CBS and the shabby way they treated Moonlight and their own viewers, I am DONE with tv. I will keep watching my old faves, like Lost, Desparate Housewives, Bones, Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles, and Prison Break. I have already defected to cable tv, mostly TNT(loved Raising the Bar) and USA. Those networks actually leave their shows on the air for years-I know, what a concept! And they actually promote them and care about their own viewers. Imagine that! The big 5 TV executives are stupid and self-important. Eventually, this behavior will doom all their networks. Can’ wait but I won’t be watching when that happens. But, I will enjoy reading about it.
I am so sick and tired of these networks dictating on what the viewers should and shouldn’t watch. They must think the viewers are dumb and would rather watch stupid reality shows and game shows than good quality. Take CBS for example since they are on the top of my hit list. CBS has no integrity. They cancelled lost of good shows that won ratings and keep the ones that sucks big time. Moonlight has won it’s time slot ever week, won a People’s Choice Award, and had became a well popular rookie show worldwide. Look what CBS has done? The head honcho at CBS is not into Genre shows. I didn’t know that shows on CBS was for his pleasure. I thought it was about having shows that attracts the most viewers. If the head of CBS didn’t like genre why in the hell did he accept to air MOONLIGHT on CBS in the first place?
-Michelle
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You are soooo right. I’m sending this to the supporters of Blood Ties to send to the Execs at the television stations. If you’ve never seen Blood Ties you should look it up. I liked Moonlight but I LOVED Blood Ties. Check it out!
You are 100% on the money, Fred! I watched both Jericho and Moonlight and felt 100% betrayed by CBS. I watched Firefly and got burned there also. I no longer have any interest in investing in a TV program because networks won’t give it a chance to grow.
I’m one viewer who can’t stand CSI. Hate procedural dramas and always look for something fresh or unique. But when I find it and fall in love, it gets cancelled. Well, no more for me. I’m not getting screwed over anymore. Until networks start figuring out their audience, I’m not interested in their programs.
Agreeing there! CBS Took Moonlight offlind I bet you my HD TV they regret that dision but those stubborn buttheads won’t do a thing about it. Moonlight fans are still waiting for Moonlight to be relived! I know we would watch it the second it was said to be on. Anyday, anytime Moonlight fans are dedicated watchers and fans. A year later we still love and mourn our show. Miss you Moonlight! And CBS has a heartless lump in their chest when it comes to fans. To CBS “Get it through you thick skulls, You are an idiot.”
I am done with being a faithful watcher of any TV show - Like Monica said, “I’m not getting screwed over anymore.” !!!
Is this part of the dumbing down of America???
It just seems that it is the best, most original shows that get killed off… JMO