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from the diamonds-in-the-coal-pile dept.
John Koblin writes in the NYT that there's a malaise in TV these days that's felt among executives, viewers and critics, and it's the result of one thing: There is simply too much on television. John Landgraf, chief executive of FX Networks, reported at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour that the total number of original scripted series on TV in 2014 was 371 and will surpass 400 in 2015. The glut, according to Landgraf, has presented "a huge challenge in finding compelling original stories and the level of talent needed to sustain those stories." Michael Lombardo, president of programming at HBO. says it is harder than ever to build an audience for a show when viewers are confronted with so many choices and might click away at any moment. "I hear it all the time," says Lombardo. "People going, 'I can't commit to another show, and I don't have the time to emotionally commit to another show.' I hear that, and I'm aware of it, and I get it." Another complication is that shows not only compete against one another, but also against old series that live on in the archives of Amazon, Hulu or Netflix. So a new season of "Scandal," for example, is also competing against old series like "The Wire." "The amount of competition is just literally insane," says Landgraf.
Others point out that the explosion in programming has created more opportunity for shows with diverse casts and topics, such as "Jane the Virgin," "Transparent" and "Orange Is the New Black." Marti Noxon, the showrunner for Lifetime's "UnREAL" and Bravo's "Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce," says there has been a "sea change" in the last five years. "I couldn't have gotten those two shows on TV five years ago," says Noxon. "There was not enough opportunity for voices that speak to a smaller audience. Now many of these places are looking to reach some people — not all the people. That's opened up a tremendous opportunity for women and other people that have been left out of the conversation."
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday September 02 2015, @02:11AM
What's done? When Fonzi jumped the shark, had Happy Days reached its conclusion? When Buffy & crew were put under a spell that outed all the secrets (because the writers had twisted themselves in an unbreakable knot), was Buffy done? I'd say yes, but both shows ran on for seasons after that.
It's over when the advertisers say it is.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 02 2015, @12:36PM
Exactly. Take Supernatural for example, it was originally written to end at season 5, yet here it is about to start season 10, because its popular. I'm expecting they'll eventually end up killing God (they already killed Death) and even that won't end the show.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 02 2015, @05:06PM
Well, that phenomenon is not restricted to TV series. After all, Douglas Adams also didn't plan for five hitch-hiker books; the third book marked a natural end of the story.