A co-worker was talking up this show to me and how good it is. Unfortunately for WGN America she gave it as an example of the only CW show she watches. 😟
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2015-16 TV Cancellations: The Beast, having been fed, asks waiter for his bill.
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A co-worker was talking up this show to me and how good it is. Unfortunately for WGN America she gave it as an example of the only CW show she watches. 😟
crazygambit
Member
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
Cornballer
Member
Heh, I was just about the post that.
I agree with his more nuanced discussion of it when he gives some examples. Sons of Anarchy is the obvious "more can be awful bloat, get an editor" example, whereas there are a few shows that occasionally run longer (or shorter) episodes as necessary and benefit from it (Better Call Saul, The Americans).
Are people finding this to be a problem in general? I don't think this comes up a lot with most of the shows that I watch.
I agree with his more nuanced discussion of it when he gives some examples. Sons of Anarchy is the obvious "more can be awful bloat, get an editor" example, whereas there are a few shows that occasionally run longer (or shorter) episodes as necessary and benefit from it (Better Call Saul, The Americans).
Are people finding this to be a problem in general? I don't think this comes up a lot with most of the shows that I watch.
dead souls
Member
I think that every half hour Netflix show I've watched should have had broadcast length 21-minute episodes, so I can see where Poniewozik is coming from.
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
Arrested Development suffered immensely from the longer running times (among other reasons). It effected joke timing, editing, plot structure, and in a lot of cases I feel like letting a 21 minute show be a 30 minute show just means editors fail to cut the 9 worst minutes. Not against giving more freedom and flexibility to creators, but I think that should be balanced against the need to protect authors from their own worst impulses.
(Note that's not the only thing it suffered from: scattershot cast availability meant the dynamics in any given scene were way less enjoyable than in the earlier seasons)
That being said, time bloat might be an issue, but the average number of episodes ordered is declining rapidly, so I can't imagine the cumulative runtime of a season of a show is any longer now than it was 10 years ago.
(Note that's not the only thing it suffered from: scattershot cast availability meant the dynamics in any given scene were way less enjoyable than in the earlier seasons)
That being said, time bloat might be an issue, but the average number of episodes ordered is declining rapidly, so I can't imagine the cumulative runtime of a season of a show is any longer now than it was 10 years ago.
Tragicomedy
Member
I'm going through season one of the Flash right now, and definitely see it. Blah, blah, blah, CW and all that, but it's both a case of too many episodes (not what this article is discussing) that run far too long (exactly what the article is arguing). It feels like the move to stretch each show out to fill up an hour block of programming leads to a ton of filler.
Still loving the show, but these episodes would work a hell of a lot better in a 30 minute block.
I'm not sure I fully agree with that article, it's one of those instances where I think where I think the author correctly identifies an issue (bloat*) but blames it on the wrong thing (runtime).
*Never mind that bloat is one of those easy to use but hard to define concepts. If it's a show you like it isn't bloat, if you do like the show the extra runtime is used "to suspend tension and let character moments play out".
But then again I'm from Sweden, were we have TV series that have runtimes of 90 minutes (without ads) that weren't bloated. And I'm pretty sure that I could without much bother find me an episode with a 21-minute runtime that would feel bloated to me.
It is not the runtime, it is what you do with it.
*Never mind that bloat is one of those easy to use but hard to define concepts. If it's a show you like it isn't bloat, if you do like the show the extra runtime is used "to suspend tension and let character moments play out".
But then again I'm from Sweden, were we have TV series that have runtimes of 90 minutes (without ads) that weren't bloated. And I'm pretty sure that I could without much bother find me an episode with a 21-minute runtime that would feel bloated to me.
It is not the runtime, it is what you do with it.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
It's not really an issue for me either. The pilot for Vinyl was definitely bloated but that's the most recent example I can think of. I usually have a bigger problem with bloated seasons, even though I'm far from being one of those "every drama should be 4 episodes!!1!!" sorts.
Agreed.
Don't think of Sherlock as a TV show. Think of it as three mini movies.
Bloat I think also comes from episodes feeling unfocused, especially when creators are trying to do the 10(or so) hour movie season thing instead of the traditional TV model. Which is why I never feel bloat on BCS or The Americans, because there is a purpose to running slightly longer in a particular episode, rather than using those extra minutes on a C plot that will never graduate higher so you squeeze in that extra scene to remind people it's still going on in the background.
In BCS or The Americans for example, that extra time is spent holding some extra beats in certain scenes whereas say in Daredevil, those extra 5 or so minutes is given to Karen who will never get an A or B plot ever, so what's the harm right?
In BCS or The Americans for example, that extra time is spent holding some extra beats in certain scenes whereas say in Daredevil, those extra 5 or so minutes is given to Karen who will never get an A or B plot ever, so what's the harm right?
User 479360
Banned
Exactly. You're right.
Next week's sounds like it may be out of order, too.
It bugs me as well, but thankfully this is a shitty show I don't care much about at all and just watch because Patrick Warburton is in it.
The episodes of Love that reached 35-37 minutes weren't as bad as I was expecting, some of them were the show's best episodes. But the second season Kimmy Schmidt episodes at the same length needed some serious cutting.
This is true. It's especially bad when it basically means extra long montages, a la Sons of Anarchy. Or wandering around in an RV for a little while longer, like in The Walking Dead.
Discotheque
Banned
every show on netflix goes on too long, their hourly ones are just as bloated.
Yeah, I'm just passively watching it as well. It is probably getting the axe after the season ends. Its just weird that they can't manage to put them in order.
KonradLaw
Member
It's ok. WGN will soon get nerd cred with Scalped
Okay, so this isn't really about TV but talking about streaming services;
Turner And Criterion Team To Launch Classic Movie SVOD Service
Somewhat sucky news for those who subscribe to Hulu though.
And Ratsky, you better watch at least one Ozu film before they leave Hulu...
Turner And Criterion Team To Launch Classic Movie SVOD Service
This one feels somewhat well though out actually, comes down to pricing and how well they are able to convert TCM viewers, old folks who like classic film but don't usually use streaming services, and Criterion buyers to subscribers.
Somewhat sucky news for those who subscribe to Hulu though.
And Ratsky, you better watch at least one Ozu film before they leave Hulu...
Yeah
Like watched the first ep of The Ranch and by the end I was just like is it over yet... and had like 10 mins to go
Helps that wasn't enjoying it, but they really are like let's run with the runtime
Instead of let's make it fit the norm and IF we need the extra time let's use it
Dedication Through Light
Member
I wonder if the day will come where company will have its own exclusive streaming service.
Nah. I'm sure most companies will give a try, but I doubt that people would be willing to pay for that many streaming services and companies will realize that the costs of running their own isn't worth the benefit, so they'll go back to licensing their stuff to another streaming outfit.
There will be a rough few years while the companies try, however.
Cornballer
Member
A couple people have asked about TV podcasts, and there's a decent lineup on NY Mag's show this week:
- The Troubled State of HBO's Dramatic Slate, Game of Thrones Season 6 Premier, and Better Call Saul
They release episodes intermittently.
- The Troubled State of HBO's Dramatic Slate, Game of Thrones Season 6 Premier, and Better Call Saul
They release episodes intermittently.
Grizzlyjin
Supersonic, idiotic, disconnecting, not respecting, who would really ever wanna go and top that
I'm pretty salty about the Criterion Collection getting moved off Hulu. That was one of the big draws of Hulu for me. It isn't something that I would cancel the service over since I catch up on network shows almost exclusively on it, but it's a big hit.
I'm doubtful about subscribing to FilmStruck. There are so many factors I'd have to consider. Mainly is there a PlayStation app or add-on purchase through Amazon Prime Instant? What's the cost? As much as I like the Criterion Collection, I don't watch it enough to justify paying $7.99+ a month for it like the other streaming services. It's not going to be expensive, but I hate paying for things that I don't use.
I'm doubtful about subscribing to FilmStruck. There are so many factors I'd have to consider. Mainly is there a PlayStation app or add-on purchase through Amazon Prime Instant? What's the cost? As much as I like the Criterion Collection, I don't watch it enough to justify paying $7.99+ a month for it like the other streaming services. It's not going to be expensive, but I hate paying for things that I don't use.
This is in line with what I think. Things like Fullscreen, Seeso, and Yahoo Screen are going to flame out and the industry will consolidate, but there will probably be more services than today.
It will be interesting to see what happens to the original content for those failed services (especially if they are fully owned by that service), has the last season of Community popped up anywhere else?
edit: Jesus fuck I hadn't realised just how white Fullscreen is but thanks for wearing all white so that it is highlighted.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
Wow, Hulu just got fucked.
Blindspot: breakout hit of the season? Maybe everyone quit when they realized the plot was spinning its wheels & messing with the viewers early on. One step forward, two steps back... :/
Glad to see there was a new JTV last night. I'll look forward to watching tonight.
Grizzlyjin
Supersonic, idiotic, disconnecting, not respecting, who would really ever wanna go and top that
Gotham is on break again?! Jeez. I still have to watch the last two episodes, but I just assumed they were running through until the end.
I also didn't realize they were letting Reign finish up on Mondays. I just assumed it was going to finish out its season in summer or something. So is Crazy Ex done for the year?
I also didn't realize they were letting Reign finish up on Mondays. I just assumed it was going to finish out its season in summer or something. So is Crazy Ex done for the year?
I have no idea what they are doing with Gotham
Think would pair it down with Lucifer, but Lucifer ended last night and then... no idea what's there with Gotham for the next... month or so
sparky2112
Member
Minus the good fight sequences in the first few episodes, it's garbage. I don't think its ratings have bottomed out, either.
Apparently a new show called "Houdini and Doyle". I guess it's a joint British/Canadian/US show that's already aired on ITV?
Looks like a period procedural with supernatural elements about Harry Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle.
KonradLaw
Member
It's ok. They can cancel it. They already canceled Player. So they can take both male leads and make a new show with both of them to mine the very best bromance chemistry on TV.
Grizzlyjin
Supersonic, idiotic, disconnecting, not respecting, who would really ever wanna go and top that
I might need to take a look at that. I love Bates Motel, but I haven't had time to watch it this season. A&E is my go-to network for creepy dark shows. Haha. I got into The Returned (US version) after they already cancelled it, so I'm retroactively salty about that decision.
And I had to drop Blindspot around Episode 5 or 6. My brain just couldn't do it anymore. The Player was so much more entertaining.
User 479360
Banned
Mike and Molly is back!?!?!?! And I missed it!?!?!
Yeah, since Supergirl is done Mike and Molly came back to do its wrap up
doing better than Castle and one of the NCISes
Yes, its season finale was last week I think.
User 479360
Banned
Good to hear, but I wish I would've known.
User 479360
Banned
Can't watch Mike & Molly on CBS.com due to region locking, and CTV doesn't have it up. Every other show is, it seems, but not M&M.
Damn
Damn
Guess we're getting to the end of the season
Reign is back. Awesome.
As I predicted there's gonna be massive balkanization as everyone tries to run their own streaming vod service until most of the players realize they can't afford the infrastructure or don't have much to offer besides maybe their back catalogue. It'll be interesting to see where everything is 5 years from now.
Mostly because Netflix (and Amazon to a lesser extent) sort of set some standard of what audiences should expect from a streaming service so the bar is probably set pretty high.
Would imagine it will eventually equalize to what we have in PC gaming now - Steam is a de facto juggernaut, but there are few holdouts like EA with Origin who can through sheer force of will hold their own catalogue and compete with their own third party stuff, and Ubisoft with UPlay which is really just their own back catalogue and smaller third party offerings, and places like GoG for really niche stuff. Everyone else has retreated.
But TV is a weirder landscape I imagine, as studios have much more money to throw at the problem for longer, and I doubt there will be any cross pollination of their own content on another service in the same region.
Genuine perspective on Blindspot: I rather like it. It's a decent show but it definitely has its flaws, but one of them definitely is not character work. Wouldn't recommend it to anyone who wants blazing fast plot, this show definitely feels like it fits a much more older mold of TV. I also wouldn't say it's an intense character study but for a show that is literally about a woman tattooed from neck to toe, they devote a surprising amount of runtime to character work each episode (usually 1/3, almost 1/2 sometimes) that's outside of the main tattoo-crime-of-the-week. Yes the world's status quo 'resets' - but the characters are often put into interesting dynamics that I like quite a bit and the characters never have their status quo reset. The show does move forward at a brisk pace, just not in the same manner most people expect in an OMG CONSPIRACY?! / genre show.
You don't have to like it and sometimes it tests me but there's worst crafted shows with bigger audiences championing for them.
Arrow and The Flash, ironically from the same production family
Hilariously relevant?
CBC News: After Netflix crackdown on border-hopping, Canadians ready to return to piracy
I can't imagine that or Bordertown surviving for another season. I'm probably extra bitter about these shows because I feel like Fox dropped American Dad in favor of those two shows. Their quality, to me, is pretty much the same level of Allen Gregory.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
No one in Canada is going to subscribe to Netflix and Shomi and Crave all at the same time.
The problem is that this is less the fault of Netflix, and more the result of the media companies' licensing rights. Netflix had to eventually enforce these restrictions or the media companies would abandon them. I'm sure that Netflix would love to just universally license everything (for a reasonable price).
firehawk12
Subete no aware
As long as studios sell their shows to different groups internationally, this is the reality we live in. I can't imagine a scenario where CTV would pay for TV broadcast rights but not want exclusive streaming rights as well.
I totally respect your position on Blindspot. I just felt like I didn't have room in my TV watching for another procedural if it wasn't going to grab me significantly. But I watch a lot of genre TV so I totally get different strokes. (BTW, I know we're both super psyched for POI next week.)
And as someone who watch Flash, I can't remotely argue with what you said about that show and Arrow.
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
No, no, they will spend money on Shomi, because Canadians support Rogers Communications, a Canadian company! Shomi has the latest hits like Between, featuring Jennette McCurdy, and Two and a Half Men. It's a new kind of video streaming!!!
firehawk12
Subete no aware
To be fair, don't you get Shomi for free if you have Rogers?
(And I assume Crave if you have Bell)
(And I assume Crave if you have Bell)
User 479360
Banned
I don't think you get them for free.
I don't subscribe to any streaming services, although Netflix is tempting.
I don't subscribe to any streaming services, although Netflix is tempting.
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