BTG: Encore Discussion Thread

[detroitpiston]

It’s very concerning to me that this was a last-minute decision and not something that was planned out or even discussed with the cast or crew beforehand. I don’t know… after the settlement with Trump and the fact that CBS basically wiped most of their African-American lead shows from their primetime lineup and BTG only got a one season renewal I’m starting to get a little worried, not going to lie. Hopefully the outrage from this break is enough to boost the audience support and increase the numbers overall in a way that is satisfactory for CBS.

[dragonflies]

Yeah I feel the same way @detroitpiston, I am not into conspiracy theories, but it almost feels like deliberate sabotage, but at the same time I think "well then if they wanted rid of it why even renew it?" 

[CrazySexyQ]

I lost interest in "BTG" early on and have often gone days without watching, and when I do tune in again, it doesn't feel as if I've missed anything. As a longtime soap viewer and someone who wanted to give this show a chance, I should not feel that way.

Given the political climate, I can easily buy that CBS may want out and/or is impatient with the growth of viewership. But I also think it's more nuanced. Most of the stories are boring and don't make a lick of sense. A Supremes reunion? All the men in the town coming together to protect Martin? A cat in a tree? Dani and her endless crashouts and the passive aggressive writing for Derek and Ashley? Leslie is a cartoon. Why did it take so long for Bill and Ted to interact if they were in on Martin's secret? Endless telling rather than showing. And the ridiculous ages of the main characters. Like c'mon. 

Is it fair that a show that isn't six months old has so much pressure on it? No. However, BTG lacks a history or a well of goodwill to fall back on, and now exists during a period when an administration is tilting the scales. 

I hope there is a retooling that takes place and more synergy between the characters, juggling stories and not just featuring certain ones and dropping others until a month later. 

I do want the show to be a success, but it's a copout, IMO, to act as if there weren't issues from the start, but those who pointed it out were shouted down. Hopefully, there is a pivot, and this is just a growing pain that they will come out of.  

 

Edited July 5 by CrazySexyQ

[kalbir]

Not to derail this thread, but are you referring to the cancellations of SWAT, The Equalizer, and Poppa's House and the announcement that next season would be the final season of The Neighborhood?

[detroitpiston]

Yes, and none of the black lead spinoffs that were in development got picked up either. Reminds me of how The CW eventually purged all of their black shows in the 00s/10s

[Vanguardian53]

ALL OF THIS RIGHT HERE. So sensible and on point and just telling it like it is. 

Edited July 5 by Vanguardian53

[janea4old]

Assume you meant less than 6 months?
BTG is four months old, not six months old.
First episode Feb. 24.  Most recent episode June 27.  Four months plus 3 days.

Edited July 5 by janea4old

[CrazySexyQ]

Yes, I fixed my typo. 

@Vanguardian53   Thank you. I don't believe you want the show to fail as some have suggested. But there are issues with it. Dani/Hayley/Bill should've started mid affair. I don't buy Hayley and Naomi as friends at all and Dani's a flop to me. I tried to get into her but a 50-year-old Theresa Lopez Fitzgerald is unappealing. A week of reruns is not ideal but hopefully, this is what's needed for a reset. I want this show to be on the air for a long time. I'd like it to be without the heavy hand of CBS but the show runners are making it hard to keep interest with the way things are. 

 

[Errol]

Pressure begins the moment a show gets the green light. It's either perform or get canceled. 

[CrazySexyQ]

Very true.

I truly hope BTG rises to the challenge. I'm a writer myself, and the most honest thing my friend ever told me about my draft was, "Love you, but this sucks." So, I get it. This is MVJ's baby, but all feedback isn't bad, even if it hurts or strays from the vision. 

[Vanguardian53]

And thank you. I honestly thought I conveyed my interest in this show's success a year before it hit the airwaves. I guess I wasn't thorough enough.

[Chris B]

To be fair, we haven't gotten to a point where they can implement any viewer feedback. That won't come until September at the earliest. The only tweaks they've made so far would be from network feedback or from what they're seeing on air.

[janea4old]

Upthread it was suggested by several posters that the show should have done some big promos this past week.  The idea being "this is Beyond the Gates, and we're back July 7" or something like that.

I agree that there should have *at least* been something on broadcast TV during Y&R and B&B saying BTG returns July 7 (maybe there was but I don't usually watch those shows live).

In the past there have been BTG promos on primetime TV during a football game, and on Sunday nights during Watson. I wish they had done something similar this past week.

This promo was on the CBS youtube channel, but I don't know if it's been on broadcast TV? Also it's *unlisted* on the CBS channel. 

There are no spoilers in it - it's all stuff that has aired - but it's a 60-second promotion with statements from reviews included.  It's been on the spoiler thread, but I'll post it here, too, since there are no spoilers.

I also reposted this on another thread, please forgive the repetition but I think the promotion should be promoted. LOL.

**Promo** that's different from the "next week" preview.
This is a full minute promoting BTG in general.

It is on the CBS youtube channel, so you might need a VPN to see from outside USA.

 

Please register in order to view this content

 

For those outside the USA, it was up on the EssenceFest facebook live at the very beginning of the facebook video.  No spoilers but good show promotion.

Sixty seconds long.

That Essence facebook live interview is past; but the interview is now up as a fb post and available to view.
The promo starts 15 seconds into the facebook video

https://www.facebook.com/essence/videos/714705827937754

Edited July 5 by janea4old

[dragonflies]

I agree, they definitely should have ran a promo or even put a banner thing onscreen during B&B, YR and even the BTG repeats saying "BTG is back on July 7th, we pick up where we left off" 

[ReddFoxx]

Correct. The grace period is contingent on the filming schedule and adjustments won't be seen until later this year. MVJ pays attention to what viewers are saying and has been in soaps long enough to see what works and doesn't so I think she is open to tweaks.