Comments on: Bionic Woman & the Post-strike Landscape http://www.bionic-blog.com/bionic-woman-the-post-strike-landscape Bionic Blog Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:29:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Roco http://www.bionic-blog.com/bionic-woman-the-post-strike-landscape/comment-page-1#comment-4345 Roco Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:41:36 +0000 http://bionic-blog.com/bionic-woman-the-post-strike-landscape#comment-4345 Good points Page 48, "Chronicles" seems to be a good example of a lack of long term planning for a shows success. When will they realise that whilst money eventually runs out, quality writing is timeless. This is what keeps me coming back week after week to 'LOST'. I'm pretty obsessed with that show and although I love the sci-fi and fantasy of the show, it's the writing which does it for me every single episode. Of course the Pilot for LOST was also expensive, but the creators are clearly meticulous in their planning and keep a small team of writers on board to ensure that their original vision keeps it's quality and integrity. That's a great point about episode 2 of BW - it's almost as if they weren't banking on making it to that stage! Unbelieveable considering the great coverage it had during the summer and the esteemed actors and producers it had on it's books! Again, this brings us back to the quality of the writing and the preparation (or lack of, as you rightly point out). As I suggested in the post, perhaps the sheer volume of money that they had to spend on the pilot blinded them as to the long term direction of the show? I know I've said it a million times before, but like you, I just hope NBC give the show another chance. Better that than to blow another $$ on a show with a less worthy premise. Good points Page 48,
“Chronicles” seems to be a good example of a lack of long term planning for a shows success. When will they realise that whilst money eventually runs out, quality writing is timeless. This is what keeps me coming back week after week to ‘LOST’. I’m pretty obsessed with that show and although I love the sci-fi and fantasy of the show, it’s the writing which does it for me every single episode. Of course the Pilot for LOST was also expensive, but the creators are clearly meticulous in their planning and keep a small team of writers on board to ensure that their original vision keeps it’s quality and integrity.
That’s a great point about episode 2 of BW – it’s almost as if they weren’t banking on making it to that stage! Unbelieveable considering the great coverage it had during the summer and the esteemed actors and producers it had on it’s books! Again, this brings us back to the quality of the writing and the preparation (or lack of, as you rightly point out). As I suggested in the post, perhaps the sheer volume of money that they had to spend on the pilot blinded them as to the long term direction of the show? I know I’ve said it a million times before, but like you, I just hope NBC give the show another chance. Better that than to blow another $$ on a show with a less worthy premise.

]]> By: Page 48 http://www.bionic-blog.com/bionic-woman-the-post-strike-landscape/comment-page-1#comment-4329 Page 48 Wed, 30 Jan 2008 03:11:52 +0000 http://bionic-blog.com/bionic-woman-the-post-strike-landscape#comment-4329 There is no doubt in my mind that an exciting story trumps spectacular effects. A combination of the two would define "must see TV" for me. The pilot for "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" was typical of the problem described in the article above. Viewers can literally see the dollar investment drop off by the second episode. Whether that show can survive and thrive without explosions and glitzy time travel effects remains to be seen. I'm always trumpeting the virtues of "Alias" and I see no reason to stop now. That show screamed from the opening scene until sometime in Season 4 when self-contained episodes sapped the momentum out of the storyline. There was no let down after the extraordinary pilot. Quality writing was on display with every episode. Episode 2 of BW looked as if NBC was shocked that the series was picked up. It looks as if they were completely unprepared for anything beyond the pilot. Up until now, BW is a show starving for some sort of a game plan. It hit the highway without a destination in mind. I hope the strike ends soon, I hope BW comes back and I really hope it gets better. In the meantime, it's going to be great to see "Lost" come back this week, even though it's only for a handful of episodes. There is no doubt in my mind that an exciting story trumps spectacular effects. A combination of the two would define “must see TV” for me.

The pilot for “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” was typical of the problem described in the article above. Viewers can literally see the dollar investment drop off by the second episode. Whether that show can survive and thrive without explosions and glitzy time travel effects remains to be seen.

I’m always trumpeting the virtues of “Alias” and I see no reason to stop now. That show screamed from the opening scene until sometime in Season 4 when self-contained episodes sapped the momentum out of the storyline. There was no let down after the extraordinary pilot. Quality writing was on display with every episode.

Episode 2 of BW looked as if NBC was shocked that the series was picked up. It looks as if they were completely unprepared for anything beyond the pilot. Up until now, BW is a show starving for some sort of a game plan. It hit the highway without a destination in mind.

I hope the strike ends soon, I hope BW comes back and I really hope it gets better.

In the meantime, it’s going to be great to see “Lost” come back this week, even though it’s only for a handful of episodes.

]]> By: Roco http://www.bionic-blog.com/bionic-woman-the-post-strike-landscape/comment-page-1#comment-4323 Roco Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:57:49 +0000 http://bionic-blog.com/bionic-woman-the-post-strike-landscape#comment-4323 I agree Chris. It even could be argued that it's going 'full circle'. Alot of viewers are no longer satisfied by lavish effects and desire the story to be right first and foremost. Whilst it is possible to combine a high budget and quality scripting, if people have a preference I'm willing to be it would be for the script to be right. As you mentioned there are ALOT of pressures which are making production more difficult - one of the challenges is to tap into peoples ever-changing tastes. One thing that never changes, however, is the desire for quality content. There just seems to be less and less programmes on TV that get me excited these days. Even the ideas seem to be lacking, which is why I was so pleased to see Bionic Woman being touted this time last year. Of course it wasn't a 'new' idea per se, but the re-imagined premise was both brave and fun. Ah well, hopefully NBC will give it another chance! Thanks for your contribution Chris! I agree Chris. It even could be argued that it’s going ‘full circle’. Alot of viewers are no longer satisfied by lavish effects and desire the story to be right first and foremost. Whilst it is possible to combine a high budget and quality scripting, if people have a preference I’m willing to be it would be for the script to be right. As you mentioned there are ALOT of pressures which are making production more difficult – one of the challenges is to tap into peoples ever-changing tastes. One thing that never changes, however, is the desire for quality content. There just seems to be less and less programmes on TV that get me excited these days. Even the ideas seem to be lacking, which is why I was so pleased to see Bionic Woman being touted this time last year. Of course it wasn’t a ‘new’ idea per se, but the re-imagined premise was both brave and fun. Ah well, hopefully NBC will give it another chance!
Thanks for your contribution Chris!

]]> By: Chris Wren http://www.bionic-blog.com/bionic-woman-the-post-strike-landscape/comment-page-1#comment-4296 Chris Wren Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:19:58 +0000 http://bionic-blog.com/bionic-woman-the-post-strike-landscape#comment-4296 I'm in total agreement about the money issue. Over the last ten years, we've seen more and more money thrown at these genre shows, and yet look at what we're getting: Seasons consisting of 13-20 episodes when we used to get 26. Episodes of 44 minutes in length that used to run 52 minutes. Shows having to go on hiatus for six months to a YEAR. Of course there are all sorts of pressures making production more difficult, but it's pretty clear that throwing more money at visual effects and fancy post production isn't helping. I’m in total agreement about the money issue. Over the last ten years, we’ve seen more and more money thrown at these genre shows, and yet look at what we’re getting: Seasons consisting of 13-20 episodes when we used to get 26. Episodes of 44 minutes in length that used to run 52 minutes. Shows having to go on hiatus for six months to a YEAR.

Of course there are all sorts of pressures making production more difficult, but it’s pretty clear that throwing more money at visual effects and fancy post production isn’t helping.

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