Members EricMontreal22 Posted August 10, 2013 Members Share Posted August 10, 2013 I think there's something to be said for both models. The serialized primetime dramas that are so acclaimed right now, IMHO, do work on the UK model to an extent. While, unlike most UK shows they don't usually have just one writer scripting each episode, they do have smaller writing rooms and the showrunner usually has much moreinput (due to time.) And I think this works better. I can see why those people don't like a longer season where they often have to allow some filler or even outright bad episodes through (look at, say, Buffy) and have less time to do final edits. HOWEVER, those shows work differently than soap operas--and then primetime soaps like Peyton Place, Dallas, etc, even if Dallas (Peyton Place ran all year) and other 80s primetime style soaps did start to make a big deal of cliffhanger seasons endings. They are still far more open ended--like daytime soaps--than the current model of serialized primetime shows. Sure Mad Men, for example is sorta a mix of the two styles but it's still clear that the season is mapped out, thematically and plot wise, in a way that Dynasty never was. I still think a good writing team can take adavantage of the more episodes a soap opera serves. It's a different style of writing than even writing a very soapy show like Scandal but the advantages are you fill it with scenes of character interaction and detail (and not--as is often done now the JER Passions style of just repeating the same scene to fill time.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members marceline Posted August 11, 2013 Members Share Posted August 11, 2013 For me it's not an issue of writing, it's the production aspect that I think makes daily soaps unworkable. They just don't/can't/won't attract the audience numbers that that they used to and therefore they can't pay for themselves. The cost has to come down or the revenue has to go up and the revenue isn't going to go up. Not significantly. Not long-term. It's strictly a numbers game now. Do I love the idea of a new show every day? Of course I do. I'm a TV junkie. Feed me. But the business of TV doesn't favor that. Just like the business of banking doesn't favor you coming into the bank every two weeks to deposit your paycheck with a teller. If you had told me years ago when I was watching Cliff and Nina's wedding that one day I would be sitting in front of my TV with whole seasons of Slings & Arrows, Buffy, Firefly, (a show that didn't even have one whole season on air), Doctor Who, House of Cards and Nip/Tuck along with movies like Imitation of Life and The African Queen literally at my fingertips, I wouldn't have believed it. Not to go all Rosie, but I'm old enough to remember what it was like to accidentally run across a favorite movie playing on the local UHF affiliate and being so excited because I hadn't seen it in years. Now I can order up those movies on Amazon. Like it or not, the soaps have to evolve and right now we are smack in the middle of that evolution. It's got it's ups and downs, no doubt, but given that I wrote off the genre years ago, I'm down for the ride. Especially because, this product serves me better than the old one did. Whatever happens with PP, they did the impossible: they gave me back my love of soaps. A love that had been beaten out of me over years. (They also created a world where Vee and I get along. You gotta admit, that's a [!@#$%^&*] miracle. ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vee Posted August 11, 2013 Members Share Posted August 11, 2013 Don't talk about Fight Club, marceline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EnglishTea Posted August 11, 2013 Members Share Posted August 11, 2013 ITA with all of your points, especially the last one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Steve Posted August 11, 2013 Members Share Posted August 11, 2013 ITA. I'm willing to cut PP slack because they're working with a new business model and they are doing their best to ensure these shows bring in as many viewers as possible. AMEN! ITA. I love having so many old shows and movies available at my fingertips (and I'm glad to find someone else who watched Slings & Arrows). Soaps will evolve and if that means airing only 2 or 3 times a week in the future, but having the quality PP has brought back to AMC & OLTL, I'm along for the ride! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EricMontreal22 Posted August 11, 2013 Members Share Posted August 11, 2013 I love the mentions of Slings and Arrows--and have nothing else to say except I agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LindaTNo1 Posted August 13, 2013 Members Share Posted August 13, 2013 Congratulations go to Susan Lucci and Paula Garces for Devious Maids renewal for a 2nd Season. Guess Erica and Lea will be tied up elsewhere. Calling Kendall. Paula a new baby coming and renewing Devious Maids and Susan doing just so great too. Maybe Primetime Emmy love here? Congrats to both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members John Posted August 13, 2013 Members Share Posted August 13, 2013 I dont believe PG plays a big role on DM as she was filming AMC while DM was still filming its first season in Atlanta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EricMontreal22 Posted August 13, 2013 Members Share Posted August 13, 2013 Paula/Flore's story on DM should be done at the end of this season--Marc Cherry said her murder mystery would be wrapped up, and her role has basically only been flashbacks and dream sequences anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LindaTNo1 Posted August 15, 2013 Members Share Posted August 15, 2013 Well, it looks like ABC/Prospect Park are moving ahead with another project. http://www.deadline.com/2013/08/abc-developing-murder-trial-drama-from-kelly-masterson-prospect-park/ I am looking at the Wiki page and they say they have around 7 other projects in different phases of development. If anything were to happen to AMC and OLTL, this company is still in great shape with moving on to other projects and always keeping plan B, C and whatever. Sometimes I get this feeling that they want AMC and OLTL to succeed but if they don't and get cancelled, it would not be a big deal or a problem for PP since they have other things at the ready for them to just move on to. I am still just getting vibes as to the real sincerity of PP with the productions of AMC and OLTL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vee Posted August 15, 2013 Members Share Posted August 15, 2013 Linda, they're not cancelled. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dragonflies Posted August 15, 2013 Members Share Posted August 15, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EricMontreal22 Posted August 15, 2013 Members Share Posted August 15, 2013 Where are these voodoo vibes coming from... Oh right, just from you wanting the shows gone so you can keep your memories of how they were even if those memories are largely wrong (and you don't even watch OLTL...) PP already has other shows on networks (I think Royal Pains is one?) However, the TOLN brand they are working so hard to make in their own name still only really has these shows--it's very different from them doing a pilot for ABC--and they clearly want to build that brand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AllMyDaysatGH Posted August 15, 2013 Members Share Posted August 15, 2013 Too generic and bright for these shows I think, but I'll roll with it. Cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members John Posted August 15, 2013 Members Share Posted August 15, 2013 Production companies produce many things. In fact PP is not just limited to TV they also do film & music. I guess you think all they should produce is AMC & OLTL? Rich and Frank have decades of History in Production. They know what they are doing. But a day without negativy re PP from you, would be like a day without Orange Juice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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