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Brilliant Television Writing Does Not Guarantee Television Viewers

Tiffany Vogt — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:49:33 +0000

In response to my recent article “Superheroes Are Dropping Like Flies! An Investigation Why Television Seems to be the Genre’s Kryptonite,” one commenter offered his opinion that superhero shows are failing because the shows are not well-written. But unlike in the movie Field of Dreams, the theory of “If you build it, they will come,” does not hold true on television. In fact, if anything, time and time again, great writing is an anathema to the average television viewer. It does not lure in more viewers and it does not guarantee a higher retention rate. Great writing is but one ingredient needed to draw and retain viewers.

Examples of ratings-challenged television shows offering superior writing include a large number of “brilliant but cancelled” shows from the past decade. Among those are: TERRIERS, BATTLESTAR GALATICA, DEADWOOD, FIREFLY, VERONICA MARS, EVERWOOD, WONDERFALLS, ELI STONE, KINGS and even fan-favorites TERMINATOR: SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES and DOLLHOUSE. (If looking at the current television landscape, it also includes such current shows as the Emmy-winning MAD MEN and BREAKING BAD and newcomer FX’s JUSTIFIED. It appears that no matter how many awards or how much critical-acclaim, even those will not draw in viewers.)

What is fascinating about all these shows is that whether they were immediately heralded as “brilliantly written,” now that they are gone those are the tags we put on them. Why? Because they were. For whatever reason, the average viewer just did not see or perhaps appreciate the superior writing of these shows when they were on. It is certainly true that a small devoted and vocal bunch of viewers immediately saw and appreciated what they had — but in television, small is never better. Television shows only survive if they can pull in a large number of viewers. More viewers equals more ad revenue and thus a longer chance at longevity.

There is a reason all of these shows are now called “brilliant but cancelled” — they simply are.

But great writing just is not enough. Whatever viewers are looking for, it does not rest on the quality of writing alone. If that were true, a large portion of what is succeeding would have died a long time ago.

Instead, shows that offer comfort and familiarity succeed, like NCIS, NCIS:LA and THE MENTALIST. Those shows offer a steady stream of formulaic stories each week, but viewers flock to them. The consistency works in their favor. In addition, they offer surrogate families for viewers to visit each week. It is a winning combination of comfort and charisma.

Simply put, viewers crave “comfort food” television more than they seek out riskier fare such as MAD MEN and BREAKING BAD.

In addition, the prevalence of reality television shows perfectly illustrates how attractive and deep-rooted the mass television audience is with “voyeuristic” and competition shows. Viewers enjoy the titillation of peeking into someone else’s life and seeing what they are doing, such as TEEN MOM and JERSEY SHORE — alas, transparency into whether or not such reality TV shows are scripted, storyboarded or staged is not so clear to viewers. The average viewer also wants to see people engaged in dramatic, sensationalized competition shows such as DANCING WITH THE STARS and SURVIVOR. These types of shows offer another kind of viewing “food group” that satisfies the viewers’ cravings.

The last category is alternative scripted television. This is where shows like FRINGE, CHUCK and STARGATE: UNIVERSE consistently hover. They are not offering the “comfort food,” nor sensationalist/titillation of competitive and/or voyeuristic television shows. Instead, they are competing for the remnants of the available television audience — ones who are looking for something different, something entertaining, and, sometimes, something that will ultimately be labeled “brilliant but cancelled.”

While it is true that not every low-rated television show offers brilliant writing, it is true that most brilliantly written television shows tend to consistently pull in a lower number of viewers.

Over the years there have been anomalies as shows like THE WEST WING and LOST somehow eluded the curse of low-ratings while offering some of the best television writing ever to grace the television screen. But THE WEST WING and LOST also possessed more than one secret ingredient: they also offered large doses of “comfort food” and charisma. These were surrogate families that the mass viewing audience were more than happy to tune in to see every week.

Many have noted over the years that making a successful television show is like capturing “lightning in a bottle.” It is rare. It is extremely elusive. To gather each piece needed to launch and sustain a high-rated television show requires a remarkable number of “stars to align.” A show needs a great showrunner, fantastic directors, a phenomenal cast, brilliant writing, and a zillion other phenomenally talented crew to make it all work flawlessly.

It is not to say that the networks and studios do not try. They spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year trying to replicate “lightning in a bottle.” But even copycatting what has worked before is never a guarantee. Why? Because viewers are fickle. They do not always appreciate a recycling of a successful formula — sometimes they do, like with the CSI, LAW & ORDER and NCIS franchises. But other times, like with LOST and THE WEST WING, viewers tend to shy away from something they feel is a rehash of another successful show. One reason is that LOST and THE WEST WING were heavily serialized shows and once the story is done, it is done. The CSIs and LAW & ORDERs offer procedural stories — the crime of the week — and thus, it feels less like a repeat of a story already seen — and if it is, it is okay, because it is only for one episode, not 6 or 7 years.

The trick is to come up with something that will take all the key ingredients and whip up a new confection of television delights. Televisions shows require a special recipe for success — they cannot subsist on just one ingredient alone.

So in response to the edict that a television show failed because it was not written well, I remind you: there are lots of fantastically, if not brilliantly, written television shows that fail each year. If only writing alone would guarantee television viewers, then so many amazing televisions shows would still be on the air today. Alas, the average television viewer is not lured by writing. The average viewer’s taste seeks something much more elusive — a magic ingredient that is never really known.

Television success is like magic — it never feels real, but when it happens we are enchanted.

Tiffany Vogt is a contributing writer to The TV Addict. She has a great love for television and firmly believes that entertainment is a world of wondrous adventures that deserves to be shared and explored – she invites you to join her. Please feel free to contact Tiffany at Tiffany_Vogt_2000@yahoo.com or follow her at on Twitter (@TVWatchtower). Tiffany also writes as a columnist for NiceGirlsTV.

Summer TV Surprises: A Look Back

theTVaddict — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:07:35 +0000

By: Vlada Gelman

Summer is typically a quiet time for TV watchers, but thanks to the proliferation of cable shows and broadcast networks burning off episodes, this summer was not without entertainment and some surprises. Below are the moments, actors, shows and realizations that surprised me this summer.

The supporting cast of NURSE JACKIE: Yes, Edie Falco is fabulous, but for me, it’s the people surrounding Jackie who make the series, especially Merritt Wever, Eve Best and Peter Facinelli. Each one adds something unique and unexpected to the show. Wever is absolutely hilarious. Best, who has the most amazing laugh, is the perfect juxtaposition to Jackie. Facinelli takes what could have been a jackass character and makes him a lovable doofus. I’m surprised and delighted that NURSE JACKIE has introduced me to Wever and Best. In a way, it feels like I’m also discovering Facinelli for the first time. I’ve seen and enjoyed him before in different movies and TV shows, but I’m pretty sure his shirtless chest did most of the acting in Fox’s short-lived FASTLANE.

Sebastian Stan on KINGS: Thanks to NBC banishing KINGS to summer burn-off theater on Saturdays, not too many viewers watched this epic and imaginative series. That’s too bad because as reliably magnificent as Ian McShane and Susanna Thompson were, the real surprise was Sebastian Stan. I’d seen the actor before on GOSSIP GIRL as Carter Baizen, a role he’ll be reprising this fall, but I had no idea he was capable of this. His Jack was complicated, tormented, selfish, lonely and desperately seeking love and acceptance. Watching him come to accept who he is as he stood up to his mother, was like watching Stan show us who he really is as an actor.

Bonus KINGS surprise: No show got a bigger gasp out of me this summer than when Silas yelled at Jack, “And you’re no prince, you faggot!”

TRUE BLOOD: I’m just not that into you. Earlier this summer, I made my way through the first season of the HBO series and it wasn’t love at first sight. I’m not even sure it was like. Everyone around me seems to be crazy for these vamps, but maybe I’ve had my fill of bloodsuckers because I just can’t get into TRUE BLOOD. I haven’t even attempted to watch season two yet and am in no rush to do so. Maybe my feelings will change if I ever getting around to it, but I’m having a hard time imagining myself getting over my annoyance with almost every character on the show.

DROP DEAD DIVA: The charming, funny Lifetime series and its extremely talented leading lady have captured my heart. Brooke Elliott is simply fabulous at balancing the duality of playing two characters. Congrats, Diva, on becoming the first original Lifetime series to land on my DVR record list. Thanks to you and SoapNet’s BEING ERICA, I’m starting to believe that all hope is not lost for shows about real women. Despite the fantastical premises of both series, they’re more relatable and grounded than the ladies of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES.

MAKE IT OR BREAK IT, my new guilty pleasure: I thought it would be 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU, which I enjoy and is more well-written, but no… At first, I found this series meh, and I still have my issues with Emily — do all her love interests keep disappearing because they’ve realized she’s really not that special? — but its soapy, teen drama storylines and pileup of secrets have quietly gotten me hooked. I have to give the show props for trying to make the adult characters interesting and integral. Susan Ward has taken what could have been a cartoonish character and given her real dignity and heart. Plus, I enjoy playing “Who will Sasha inappropriately flirt with this week?”

Uli doesn’t make the final four on PROJECT RUNWAY: ALL-STAR CHALLENGE: Yes, Daniel’s red carpet dress was fabulous and would look great on Nicole Kidman, although I’m still unclear about who exactly will be wearing the dress at the Nine premiere. The rest of his collection? Bizarre and boring. I loved Daniel and his designs in season 2 of PROJECT RUNWAY, so I can’t help wondering if the judges crowned him the winner because he was the fan favorite that year who didn’t win. And for that matter, did the judges punish Korto because she’s a sulky, sore loser? Has this women ever smiled during her time on the show? Still, I’d keep her in the top 4 and replace Sweet P’s overly twee collection with Uli’s sophisticated and impeccably crafted designs. But as PROJECT RUNWAY reminds me every season, what do I know about fashion?

What surprised you this summer?

Vlada resides in Los Angeles, where there are stars in the sky and on the ground. She has worked for TVWeek, Starpulse.com, SignOnSanDiego.com and The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, CA. She runs the TV blog Staying In and can be found on Twitter: @stayingin.

NBC Too Dumb To Sell Smart Ideas?

theTVaddict — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:45:05 +0000

By: CT

In the classic flick The Big Chill, Jeff Goldblum’s character, who labored for People magazine, worked under an edict to not write any article longer than the average American could read during the average crap. Apparenty, NBC is now going to be operating under orders to not try and sell the average American on anything that can’t be easily summed up in 30 seconds or less. So says, basically, Angela Bromstad, NBC’s president of primetime entertainment.

Yesterday, she told the Television Critics of America that KINGS basically failed because it was “a little too high brow and too difficult to sell in a 30-second slot.” She went on to say “It doesn’t mean we’re not looking for big ideas. They have to be big ideas that the audience can grab on to.”

For the record, let us fill Mr. Bromstad in on the real reason KINGS failed. While the big problem was marketing, it wasn’t the concept of the show or the inability of the audience to understand so big a concept so much as NBC’s apparent inability to actually figure out what they had and how to sell it. In the weeks before KINGS debuted, the network’s advertising campaign was scattershot at best. Despite having a potentially iconic image in the orange butterfly flag — which could easily have become the next Dharma Initiative logo — NBC failed to capitalize on the symbol. By simply plastering the symbol everywhere with a catchy tagline (“You will obey!”, or perhaps “Submit or die!”) they could have generated a word-of-mouth buzz that would have gotten people talking.

It also wouldn’t have hurt for the show’s promos to focus less on the epic nature of the story being told and more on the simple elements. Sorry, but sometimes, you need to take a divide-and-conquer approach to advertising by hitting people not with one commercial that sums up all the different angles of a series, but rather a series of spots, each of which highlights a different element.

Look at FOX’s upcoming, much-buzzed about GLEE, which seems to have hit viewers with new ads almost every week. Some focus on the production numbers. Others focus on the budding romance of the teen leads. Still others play up Jane Lynch’s withering cheerleading coach. It’s as if FOX is saying, “Hey, whatever you want… we’re gonna give it to you.”

Instead, in even the 60-second spots (twice the time Blomstad believes should be necessary to sell the audience on a premise), NBC’s ads for KINGS tried to sell romance, good vs. evil, too many characters we have no connection to, war… and all against a backdrop that looks familiar and yet is somehow slightly off. Throw in a rock tune that’s not particularly catchy and what do you have?

A hot mess.

Without the hot.

Most of those who found their way to KINGS did so not because of NBC’s ads, but in spite of them. And many who did became caught up in what was one of the most literate, complex television shows to grace network TV in years.

But don’t look to NBC for shows such as that in the future. They need ideas they can sell to the masses. Even the promising and (against all odds) returning SOUTHLAND will, we’re told, become less “serialized” (read: complicated).

In the years to come, when executives at the major networks complain about their ever-dwindling audience and wonder why all the best writers, directors and actors — not to mention Emmy nods and awards — are going to outlets such as FX (home of DAMAGES) or Showtime (home of NURSE JACKIE), I’ve no doubt they’ll blame everyone but themselves. But you and I? We’ll know that the smart money was on us all along.

Channel Surfing with CT: BIG BROTHER, KINGS, HARPER’S ISLAND & More

theTVaddict — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:01:58 +0000

I ain’t gonna lie: Each and every summer, I become an addict and BIG BROTHER is the drug I crave. So of course, I tuned in last night for the season premiere. I had high hopes that the much-touted “mystery guest” would turn out to be Janelle, one of the most-loved houseguests in memory. But in the end, we wound up with musclehead moron Jessie. CBS’s bio of the guy calls him “the all American boy next door” but in reality the guy is an egotistical hothead with more issues than Entertainment Weekly. Early faves? While it’s hard to say since the opening hour didn’t offer a whole lot of insight into the houseguests, hottie Jeff came off as a pretty decent guy, while brainy Michelle would win my “first impression” rose if this were THE BACHELOR. Something tells me Chima is going to get annoying real quick and that Laura’s boobs — sure to be featured in men’s magazines from coast-to-coast — will be much discussed in chat rooms.

If there’s one show that I’m extremely distressed about the cancellation of, it has to be KINGS. While the first episode left me somewhat cold, it quickly found its footing and became a fascinating blend of almost lyrical dialogue, operatic storytelling and dynamic acting, particularly on the parts of Ian McShane and and Susanna Thompson as King Silas Benjamin and his queen, Rose. If you want to see television at its finest, go to NBC.com or Hulu.com and watch the episode titled “The Sabbath Queen”, in which secrets come to light during a blackout in the kingdom. It saddens me to no end that this show will soon conclude it’s run — although I’m glad to know that it will, reportedly, have a satisfying conclusion — so as to make room for yet more reality television. One recent twist in the story that came out of left field was the off-screen death of socialite-turned-Minister Of Information Katrina Ghent (played by the gorgeous Leslie Bibb, who seems to be popping up all over the place recently). The rivalry between Katrina and the queen was one of the highlights of recent episodes, so I was saddened by the character’s departure.

This weekend brings the two-hour finale of HARPER’S ISLAND, and friends who have seen the episode — which has already aired in Canada — say it is phenomenal. I won’t lie: the previous episode’s final moments, in which good-guy Cal was dispatched and his gorgeous girlfriend, Chloe, killed herself rather than allowing the psychotic murderer to do her in (“You can’t have me,” she said before taking a fatal plunge) actually left me crying. Kudos to CBS for not only launching the daring, limited-run series but, more importantly, for continuing to air it even after ratings proved disappointing. Other networks (cough*FOX*cough) could learn a thing or two from CBS’s example.

The things I do for you people. A few days ago, I checked out the premiere of NBC’s GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIP, which should probably be filed under “When Good Ideas Go Bad.” The concept is actually pretty fantastic: Seven families, each in a gigantic RV, traversing the famous Route 66 and taking part in competitions along the way. So far, so good… right? And then you meet the families. Unfortunately, the current trend in reality casting is to go for stereotypes. So of course, the Pollard family from Alabama is the most gun-lovin’, hickish clan they could find. And the DiSalvatore family of Yonkers, New York is loud, brash and headed by a guy who comes off as the love child of Brett Michaels and Joe Pesci, having inherited the worst traits of each. And I’m not sure what to make of host Reno Collier. I’m sure he’s a wonderful comedian, but I spent the entire hour wanting to tie the man’s hands to his side as he seemed completely incapable of speaking without holding them out as if he was Eva Peron appealing to the citizens of Argentina.

All Hail the KING(S)

theTVaddict — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:44:25 +0000

If there was a silver-lining to last night’s curious decision by HBO to withhold new episodes of TRUE BLOOD and HUNG from the schedule in lieu of the July 4 holiday weekend, it was that it gave this TV Addict some much needed time to catch up on four episodes of KINGS.

And catch up we did. Which is why we find ourselves taking a page from King Silas Benjamin (A man, who we’re fairly certain has yet to let an episode go by without some kind of pronouncement, press conference or proclamation) this morning by making an announcement of our very own: If you’re not watching KINGS — and judging form the show’s abysmal ratings, that’s 98% of you reading this — you’re missing out on the most intriguing, complex, and scandalous series of the summer.

Not only is Ian McShane’s morally ambiguous portrayal of King Silas Benjamin absolutely captivating (and, we should probably mention to all those Academy members who still have yet to send in their ballot, most certainly Emmy-worthy). Like all the greats, he has an uncanny ability to raise the game of everyone around him. Resulting in some fantastic performances from the younger denizens of the fictional city of Shiloh, including: Our would-be-hero (and if we had to guess, soon-to-be-future king) David Shepard (Christopher Egan) and his royal offspring Prince Jack (Sebastian Stan) and Princess Michelle (Allison Miller), whose lives seem to get increasingly more complex (Sex scandals! Forbidden romances! Sham marriages!) as the series wears on. Thanks in no small part to their duplicitous Uncle William Cross (Dylan Baker), recently returned from exile nephew Andrew (Macaulay Culkin) and Queen Rose (Susanna Thompson) whose very own personal mantra for solving problems these days seems to be, “Off with their head!” (Or quiet assassination, which while less glamorous, certainly gets results.)

So if you’re tired of reruns and reality TV, why not give royalty a try? (With a side of murder, betrayal and romance). There are only three episodes to go, but you can catch up for free online at NBC or iTunes.

Today’s TV Addict Top 5: Reasons TV Might Not Suck This Weekend

theTVaddict — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:00:46 +0000

1. ELI STONE makes its long awaited return to ABC this Saturday with a road trip (10PM, ABC)

2. A blackout gives David and Michele some much needed alone time on KINGS (8PM, NBC)

3. Unlike Twilight, TRUE BLOOD it’s a vampire love story adults don’t have to be embarrassed too about (9PM, HBO)

4. A younger, better looking version of MERLIN welcomes viewers to ~~The OC~~ Camelot B*tch! (8PM, NBC)

5. The premiere of KILLER HAIR, a TV-movie based on the bestselling books by Ellen Byerrum, on the Lifetime Movie Network. Think MURDER, SHE STYLED. (8PM, LMN)

Don’t Forget about the Return of the KING(S)

theTVaddict — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:11:57 +0000

Remember way back in March when NBC unveiled KINGS amidst much fanfare… only to quickly shuffle it off the schedule to make room for such high quality fair like reruns of HOWIE DO IT, the Heidi/Spencer national embarrassment that is I’M A CELEBRITY… GET ME OUT OF HERE and of course more DATELINE, the newsmag that’s never met a story it couldn’t turn into a terrifying ‘IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU!’

Well, this Saturday at 8PM, KINGS returns and here with a personal message to those who’ve been waiting patiently for the return of the king is the creator himself, Michael Green, who emailed theTVaddict.com just moments ago:

We are excited to announce that the critically acclaimed drama KINGS will finally return to NBC this Saturday, June 13th at 8pm.

The show’s remaining seven episodes will continue to run weekly, through to the series’ finale on July 25, wrapping up all major storylines.

The episodes include more incredible work from IAN MCSHANE, CHRIS EGAN and the rest of the extraordinary KINGS cast; as well as striking performances by guest stars MACAULAY CULKIN, BRIAN COX, LESLIE BIBB, LEE TURGESEN, and SAFFRON BURROWS. The episode airing June 20, “THE SABBATH QUEEN” also marks the directing debut of screenwriter/producer AKIVA GOLDSMAN.

From the beginning, your support has been paramount to the show, and we thank you for your contribution to the overwhelmingly positive viewer (and reviewer) response. What success KINGS enjoyed was only made possible by your efforts in encouraging our viewership.

We are very proud of every episode of KINGS. We hope you check it out. We hope you like it.

Many thanks,

Michael Green
Francis Lawrence
Erwin Stoff
Executive Producers, KINGS

KINGS First Look: Macaulay Culkin Returns to Television

theTVaddict — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:06:45 +0000

Just in time for NBC to send KINGS to television’s exile equivalent (Saturday night at 8PM, starting April 18), Macaulay Culkin will make his very own return from a self-imposed career exile by playing Andrew Cross, nephew of the King Silas Benjamin.

Here with your first look is theTVaddict.com, more of which can be found after the jump.

[Shameless Twitter Plug] Follow theTVaddict.com at @thetvaddict and special thanks to @perezhilton for the twitter shout-out!

Good News, Bad News: KINGS, the CW & Jay Leno

theTVaddict — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:05:46 +0000

Good News: NBC has committed to airing the remaining eight episodes of KINGS first (and most likely only) season. Bad News: On Saturday night, with the peacock network announcing today that due to disappointing ratings, the series will be replaced by yet another installment of DATELINE. [Source]

Good News: Yesterday, network president Dawn Ostroff announced that for the first time, the CW will launch original programming during the summer months. Bad News: Rather than take a page from the early days of FOX’s playbook that had the fledgling network make a name for themselves by airing original episodes of BEVERLY HILLS 90210 in the summer up against virtually zero competition, the CW will be offering up two pointless reality TV shows that nobody will watch. [Source]

Good News: In a valiant effort to differentiate his new 10PM talk show set to premiere this fall, Jay Leno has revealed that he’ll lose his trademark couch and desk. Bad News: Yet still keep the same old tired OJ jokes he’s been treading out for over a decade now. [Source]

Tonight’s TV Addictions: March 29, 2009

theTVaddict — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 19:44:08 +0000

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING:
KINGS (8PM NBC, CityTV in Canada)
Dear Prince Jack, there are far easier ways to tarnish David’s heroic image than a night out on the town. Just ask this guy.

THE NO. 1 LADIES DETECTIVE AGENCY (8PM HBO)
Lady detectives, this we gotta see!

FAMILY GUY (9PM FOX, GlobalTV in Canada)
When he’s unable to get his question answered at Quahog’s STAR TREK Convention, Stewie does what so many of us Comic Con ~~nerds~~ attendees only wish we thought of first: Builds a transporter and beams the entire cast of “The Next Generation” into his bedroom.

AMERICAN DAD (9:30PM FOX, GlobalTV in Canada)
FYI: Seth Macfarlane’s far less popular animated series may not have the entire cast of “The Next Generation,” but Patrick Stewart does lend his voice, alongside Amy Sedaris, Meg Penner and Carolyn Gilbert-Lawson.

NEW & NOTABLE:
THE UNIT (10PM CBS)
When Jonas and Mac work undercover to locate the terrorist responsible for killing the US Vice President, the mission doesn’t go as planned. Here’s a question (having never seen a single episode of THE UNIT): Do the missions ever go as planned?

GOODFELLAS (8PM ION)
Good News: GOODFELLAS is one of those movies (alongside THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION and MR. HOLLAND’S OPUS) that we cannot stop watching if we happen to come across while flipping. Bad News: There is very little chance we’ll ever flip to ION. Seriously. Does anyone get this channel?

JIM GAFFIGAN: KING BABY (9PM Comedy Central)
Jim Gaffigan performs in Austin. Topics include, waffles, bacon, bologna and bowling. Topics not included: An apology for starring in “The Love Guru”