Comments on: 21st Century Digital Boy: Adapt, Migrate, or Die — “ER,” “Guiding Light,” and “Life on Mars” http://popdose.com/21st-century-digital-boy-adapt-migrate-or-die-er-guiding-light-and-life-on-mars/ your daily dose of pop culture Thu, 24 May 2012 03:10:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: sarahhttp://popdose.com/21st-century-digital-boy-adapt-migrate-or-die-er-guiding-light-and-life-on-mars/comment-page-1/#comment-52827 sarah Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:07:35 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=15761#comment-52827 Y&R has about 5 million viewers, about 1.5 million more than any other soap. Its the only one with any future. As the World Turns and AMC only have a couple hundred thousand more viewers than GL and much higher production budgets.<br><br>To put it into more perspective, Gossip girl has 2 million viewers once per week for how many weeks a year? GL has 2 million per day, 5 days a week for over 200 epis a year. There is still a way to profit from this with some tweaking. PLUS P&G owns it and only needs to break even on the production since they use the program to advertise their products (check out the placement of Pringles, Tide, etc).<br><br>I just don't want to see networks give up on storytelling that will keep a loyal audience and turn to more "filler" programming of talk, judges, game formats. Its further cheapening their branding. The top "broadcast" networks are slipping. Y&R has about 5 million viewers, about 1.5 million more than any other soap. Its the only one with any future. As the World Turns and AMC only have a couple hundred thousand more viewers than GL and much higher production budgets.

To put it into more perspective, Gossip girl has 2 million viewers once per week for how many weeks a year? GL has 2 million per day, 5 days a week for over 200 epis a year. There is still a way to profit from this with some tweaking. PLUS P&G owns it and only needs to break even on the production since they use the program to advertise their products (check out the placement of Pringles, Tide, etc).

I just don't want to see networks give up on storytelling that will keep a loyal audience and turn to more “filler” programming of talk, judges, game formats. Its further cheapening their branding. The top “broadcast” networks are slipping.

]]> By: sarahhttp://popdose.com/21st-century-digital-boy-adapt-migrate-or-die-er-guiding-light-and-life-on-mars/comment-page-1/#comment-42097 sarah Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:07:35 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=15761#comment-42097 Y&R has about 5 million viewers, about 1.5 million more than any other soap. Its the only one with any future. As the World Turns and AMC only have a couple hundred thousand more viewers than GL and much higher production budgets.<br><br>To put it into more perspective, Gossip girl has 2 million viewers once per week for how many weeks a year? GL has 2 million per day, 5 days a week for over 200 epis a year. There is still a way to profit from this with some tweaking. PLUS P&G owns it and only needs to break even on the production since they use the program to advertise their products (check out the placement of Pringles, Tide, etc).<br><br>I just don't want to see networks give up on storytelling that will keep a loyal audience and turn to more "filler" programming of talk, judges, game formats. Its further cheapening their branding. The top "broadcast" networks are slipping. Y&R has about 5 million viewers, about 1.5 million more than any other soap. Its the only one with any future. As the World Turns and AMC only have a couple hundred thousand more viewers than GL and much higher production budgets.

To put it into more perspective, Gossip girl has 2 million viewers once per week for how many weeks a year? GL has 2 million per day, 5 days a week for over 200 epis a year. There is still a way to profit from this with some tweaking. PLUS P&G owns it and only needs to break even on the production since they use the program to advertise their products (check out the placement of Pringles, Tide, etc).

I just don't want to see networks give up on storytelling that will keep a loyal audience and turn to more “filler” programming of talk, judges, game formats. Its further cheapening their branding. The top “broadcast” networks are slipping.

]]> By: sarahhttp://popdose.com/21st-century-digital-boy-adapt-migrate-or-die-er-guiding-light-and-life-on-mars/comment-page-1/#comment-27591 sarah Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:07:35 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=15761#comment-27591 Y&R has about 5 million viewers, about 1.5 million more than any other soap. Its the only one with any future. As the World Turns and AMC only have a couple hundred thousand more viewers than GL and much higher production budgets.<br><br>To put it into more perspective, Gossip girl has 2 million viewers once per week for how many weeks a year? GL has 2 million per day, 5 days a week for over 200 epis a year. There is still a way to profit from this with some tweaking. PLUS P&G owns it and only needs to break even on the production since they use the program to advertise their products (check out the placement of Pringles, Tide, etc).<br><br>I just don't want to see networks give up on storytelling that will keep a loyal audience and turn to more "filler" programming of talk, judges, game formats. Its further cheapening their branding. The top "broadcast" networks are slipping. Y&R has about 5 million viewers, about 1.5 million more than any other soap. Its the only one with any future. As the World Turns and AMC only have a couple hundred thousand more viewers than GL and much higher production budgets.

To put it into more perspective, Gossip girl has 2 million viewers once per week for how many weeks a year? GL has 2 million per day, 5 days a week for over 200 epis a year. There is still a way to profit from this with some tweaking. PLUS P&G owns it and only needs to break even on the production since they use the program to advertise their products (check out the placement of Pringles, Tide, etc).

I just don't want to see networks give up on storytelling that will keep a loyal audience and turn to more “filler” programming of talk, judges, game formats. Its further cheapening their branding. The top “broadcast” networks are slipping.

]]> By: Elainehttp://popdose.com/21st-century-digital-boy-adapt-migrate-or-die-er-guiding-light-and-life-on-mars/comment-page-1/#comment-27527 Elaine Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:10:22 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=15761#comment-27527 To each his own, I guess. What is the viewership of Young and the Restless (soap rated #1 for years)? To each his own, I guess. What is the viewership of Young and the Restless (soap rated #1 for years)?

]]> By: sarahhttp://popdose.com/21st-century-digital-boy-adapt-migrate-or-die-er-guiding-light-and-life-on-mars/comment-page-1/#comment-27519 sarah Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:52:29 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=15761#comment-27519 ADAPT! That is the key. GL cut production costs and is the cheapest soap being shown on broadcast. Problem is all soaps are too expensive for the audiences that are only fractions of what they were 20 years ago. I have grown to like the outdoor feel - real moonlit shots, snow falling, etc. Ironically, the show has its best storyline in decades coming up with the Olivia/Natalia/Frank triangle. With some trimming and a smooth transition, this show could continue to make money for P&G AND entertain both new and lifelong fans.<br><br>While ER was a quality show...I found myself forgetting it was still on. ADAPT! That is the key. GL cut production costs and is the cheapest soap being shown on broadcast. Problem is all soaps are too expensive for the audiences that are only fractions of what they were 20 years ago. I have grown to like the outdoor feel – real moonlit shots, snow falling, etc. Ironically, the show has its best storyline in decades coming up with the Olivia/Natalia/Frank triangle. With some trimming and a smooth transition, this show could continue to make money for P&G AND entertain both new and lifelong fans.

While ER was a quality show…I found myself forgetting it was still on.

]]> By: Elainehttp://popdose.com/21st-century-digital-boy-adapt-migrate-or-die-er-guiding-light-and-life-on-mars/comment-page-1/#comment-27508 Elaine Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:04:20 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=15761#comment-27508 IMO you're slightly off on the Guiding Light problems. Ostensibly, and I'm sure truthfully, they cut back production costs several years ago.. moving to handheld digital cameras (I'm not kidding) and tons of outdoor location (AKA free) shots. The show literally looks like a college project. Tune and and have a look while you still can. If that wasn't bad enough, though, the writing has gotten so bad it's nearly unwatchable for that alone. So, the underlying structural reasons might be the same, but the viewers turned away in droves because they were freaking insulted, if you ask me.<br><br>I'll miss ER. I was one of those suckers who watched every season from "Love's Labors Lost" on (and most episodes before that, too). Could have done without the two-hour endless line of PSA's as the last episode, but I can't say I'm surprised either. It was a hallmark of the show, after all. Preach, preach preach. All in all I found the finale underwhelming, but again, not surprisingly so.<br><br>Life on Mars was great! Til the last episode. I dunno. It ended, so, "how" really doesn't make that much difference to me. It sure was nice having a show with Harvey, O'Mara & Imperioli. EVERY show on TV could use that. But I have to say, I was disappointed at not getting to see a reunion between Sam and Lisa Bonet. IMO you're slightly off on the Guiding Light problems. Ostensibly, and I'm sure truthfully, they cut back production costs several years ago.. moving to handheld digital cameras (I'm not kidding) and tons of outdoor location (AKA free) shots. The show literally looks like a college project. Tune and and have a look while you still can. If that wasn't bad enough, though, the writing has gotten so bad it's nearly unwatchable for that alone. So, the underlying structural reasons might be the same, but the viewers turned away in droves because they were freaking insulted, if you ask me.

I'll miss ER. I was one of those suckers who watched every season from “Love's Labors Lost” on (and most episodes before that, too). Could have done without the two-hour endless line of PSA's as the last episode, but I can't say I'm surprised either. It was a hallmark of the show, after all. Preach, preach preach. All in all I found the finale underwhelming, but again, not surprisingly so.

Life on Mars was great! Til the last episode. I dunno. It ended, so, “how” really doesn't make that much difference to me. It sure was nice having a show with Harvey, O'Mara & Imperioli. EVERY show on TV could use that. But I have to say, I was disappointed at not getting to see a reunion between Sam and Lisa Bonet.

]]> By: Malchushttp://popdose.com/21st-century-digital-boy-adapt-migrate-or-die-er-guiding-light-and-life-on-mars/comment-page-1/#comment-27507 Malchus Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:47:22 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=15761#comment-27507 I thought the ER finale was excellent. The Stamos storyline with the drunk teenager was very effective and that scene where he put his phone number in his daughter's phone under "Help" was very moving. I thought the ER finale was excellent. The Stamos storyline with the drunk teenager was very effective and that scene where he put his phone number in his daughter's phone under “Help” was very moving.

]]> By: kshanehttp://popdose.com/21st-century-digital-boy-adapt-migrate-or-die-er-guiding-light-and-life-on-mars/comment-page-1/#comment-27462 kshane Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:42:34 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=15761#comment-27462 I was really starting to enjoy Life on Mars. It didn't hold a candle to the British original, but it was interesting in its own way. I was disappointed when I heard about the cancellation. That said, I think the finale was absurd, and had nothing to do with the way brilliant ending of the original series. It was almost as if the producers said, "oh yeah, you want to cancel us? We'll show you," and came up with the most outrageous ending they could think of. I was really starting to enjoy Life on Mars. It didn't hold a candle to the British original, but it was interesting in its own way. I was disappointed when I heard about the cancellation. That said, I think the finale was absurd, and had nothing to do with the way brilliant ending of the original series. It was almost as if the producers said, “oh yeah, you want to cancel us? We'll show you,” and came up with the most outrageous ending they could think of.

]]>