Last week was the time of the year when television channels, big and small, decide what they are bringing back for next season and what is getting the boot. Today I'm going over a few of the big networks, to give my opinion on their decisions this past week. Let's get started!
CW: I truly do miss the "WB" and "UPN" being two separate channels, but I shouldn't dwell on the past. One of the shows they decided to keep this year was "Arrow". This does not come as a surprise. We are living in an era where superheroes are the it thing. Nothing else is really notable for the "CW", unless you like vampires, assassins, or fairy tales. In that case you will be please with the "CW" fall line up.
FOX: I honestly haven't watched fox for sometime now, except for a rerun of "The Simpsons" every now and again. All of their renewals are for shows that they just won't let die. The most interesting news to come from them this week has to do with both a cancellation and a renewal that have some relation. They canceled the "Kiefer Southerland" drama, push. Only to bring back "24" out of the dead for another season. I don't think it's fair to toy with the man. Taking away something new to force him to do something old.
NBC: I was going to give "NBC" a well deserved pat on the back. They decided to keep character based shows "Parenthood" and "Parks and recreation". They also decided to can crap like "Whitney" and "Smash". Things were looking up until I logged onto the internet last night. They are retiring "Jay Leno", again. Only to give "Jimmy Fallon" the "Tonight Show" and letting "Seth Meyers" take over the late night spot. This didn't work four years ago. Why would it work now?
CBS: They decided on keeping a bunch stuff I don't watch and cancel a few things I don't watch or care about. That's actually not true. They did cancel the last two remaining "CSI" shows. I have to give them some props for finally letting them die. That doesn't make up for all of their horrible sitcoms though.
ABC: I didn't have much to say about "ABC". They made some good moves. They got rid of some junk and kept some shows that people actually like. I don't tune in to this channel much, so I don't really care about either. But then, they pulled me in. The first footage for "Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D." was released this past week and I know for a fact that I will be watching this every week.
TNT: On Friday, I found out that "TNT" canceled "Southland". I could get worked up about it and go on a rampage like every other fan of the show is doing online, but I won't. It was a great show, one of my favorites in fact. I hope it gets picked up by another network. If not, then I still have five fantastic seasons to watch over and over again.
Showing posts with label sitcom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sitcom. Show all posts
Monday, May 13, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
Death Of The American Sitcom
I grew up watching "Nick At Nite" before going to bed. This may seem like a simple thing, maybe even uneventful. But those are some memories that I still Cherish to this day. I would enjoy a block of classic sitcoms that included: "Happy Days", "I Love Lucy", and "Laverne and Shirley". That time has now passed. The network does not show these sitcoms anymore. They have update to more recent shows, such as: "Friends" and "That 70's show". There hasn't been a sitcom, like the classic ones I've listed above, in sometime. I feel that there never will be again.
The era of the classic sitcom is gone and it does not seem to be coming back anytime soon. There are still funny sitcoms and ones that are trying to do things in a new way, but they are not the same as the ones I grew up watching. There is no way to capture that magic again or to make a sitcom as memorable as the classic ones are. The world is constantly moving forward and there is no way to move backwards. Any attempts just look foolish.
Sitcoms seem to be moving in two different directions at the moment. The first way is moving forward with single camera comedies. These are shows that do not involve a studio audience and are filmed with only the use of a single camera. They are also use sets that look more realistic than the classic sitcoms used. The second way is the moving back with the three camera comedy. These are shows that use a three camera system, film in front of live audience, (Or rather a laugh track), and use sets that don't look anymore than just a studio set.
In my opinion, the first method seems to be the only logical one to use nowadays. Laugh tracks feels patronizing in this day and age. By going with the old methods of constructing a sitcom, you are just trying to recapture the old days. The golden age of television, if you will. This doesn't make any sense to me. These shows may not even gain popularity and if they do, then they won't be memorable years from now. Do you honestly think that audiences will look back at "The Big Bang Theory" with fondness in sixty years, like they do with "I Love Lucy"?
I still enjoy watching the classics to this day, but I don't think they can be made today. For all I know I could be wrong. A funny, imaginative, and heartwarming show could pop up out of no where tomorrow. At this point and time the classic American sitcom is gone from the air waves, but not forgotten.
The era of the classic sitcom is gone and it does not seem to be coming back anytime soon. There are still funny sitcoms and ones that are trying to do things in a new way, but they are not the same as the ones I grew up watching. There is no way to capture that magic again or to make a sitcom as memorable as the classic ones are. The world is constantly moving forward and there is no way to move backwards. Any attempts just look foolish.
Sitcoms seem to be moving in two different directions at the moment. The first way is moving forward with single camera comedies. These are shows that do not involve a studio audience and are filmed with only the use of a single camera. They are also use sets that look more realistic than the classic sitcoms used. The second way is the moving back with the three camera comedy. These are shows that use a three camera system, film in front of live audience, (Or rather a laugh track), and use sets that don't look anymore than just a studio set.
In my opinion, the first method seems to be the only logical one to use nowadays. Laugh tracks feels patronizing in this day and age. By going with the old methods of constructing a sitcom, you are just trying to recapture the old days. The golden age of television, if you will. This doesn't make any sense to me. These shows may not even gain popularity and if they do, then they won't be memorable years from now. Do you honestly think that audiences will look back at "The Big Bang Theory" with fondness in sixty years, like they do with "I Love Lucy"?
I still enjoy watching the classics to this day, but I don't think they can be made today. For all I know I could be wrong. A funny, imaginative, and heartwarming show could pop up out of no where tomorrow. At this point and time the classic American sitcom is gone from the air waves, but not forgotten.
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