Television: A Fickle Mistress?

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Vlog Transcript

[“How to Save a Life” – The Fray]

My So-Called Life

Freaks and Geeks

Arrested Development

What do all of these shows have in common? They were cancelled before they could really shine. This television phenomenon will be explained in this segment called “Television: A Fickle Mistress?”

Currently, television networks are in the throws of pilot and renewal season which means two things: First, new projects are purchased and new actors are cast, all in the hopes that this script is the next success story and second, network execs decide if a show is performing well enough to move on to next season. However, what exactly is a success story in the television landscape? Is it great acting? Is it a new and unique story? Is it critical praise?

Unfortunately, the answer to all of these questions is sadly, no. In television today, success is synonymous with ratings, ratings, and only ratings. High rating shares mean advertising dollars for the networks and therefore television shows that are out of the box or that are from a new perspective are often thrown by the wayside, never given the time or money to develop.

This story is common in television, with great programs handed a premature cancellation because of the ever-feared low ratings.  

A current example of a show that was not given enough network attention is Friday Night Lights.

Although there have been five seasons of the show, their episode count per season was shortened after season 2 and the final three seasons have been relegated to premiere on DirectTV before a run on NBC in off-months. Here is a scene of the amazing acting and portrayal of emotion in Friday Night Lights.

TEXT: “SPOILER ALERT! For Season 4”

[Tim: Hey guys, can I steal Billy for a sec, Minds?

Mindy: Aww, this is my first break ever…

Tim: It won’t be long.

Billy: I’ll be back in a second…What’s up, man?

Tim: I did it. I did it all.

Billy: What are you taking about?

Tim: You did not do anything. When we closed the shop, I reopened it.

Billy: Tim…

Tim: You had no idea this was happening.

Billy: Timmy, I can’t let you do that.

Tim: I stripped the cars. I took the money.

Billy: No…

Tim: I took the frames to the junkyard.

Billy: I can’t let you do that.

Tim: You are my brother. You are all I have. You have a family now. You are a father and you need to be one. This is my decision, this is what I’ve decided. This is what’s going to happen. You are my brother.

Billy: I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.]

[“Hang On” – Guster]

Unlike films, which tell stories in a brief, two-hour time slot, television shows are able to expand their characters and stories over a (hopefully) long period of time. However, the current model of television development precludes this kind of evolution and creativity by forcing television shows to find an audience in one or two episodes.

Like Friday Night Lights, Fringe, which airs on Fox has struggled to find a mass audience, but has a cult following and has received consistent mass critical praise throughout its first three seasons. Although fans and entertainment news organizations alike have launched a campaign to save the show, its future remains uncertain.

I would like to see a television industry that praises and rewards innovation, rather than merely reproducing stale and tired plotlines that have been seen time and time again but that are sure to bring in high ratings. Programs like Friday Night Lights and Fringe bring something fresh to television, and it is a shame that this work is not rewarded.