FOX is trying something new again this week. It's premiering one of its Fall shows early. MONTHS early, in fact. Glee is getting all sorts of love from critics. It's definitely a hopeful, Obama-era show in line with the kind of sunny programming I've been saying would be in vogue soon.
Well, FOX obviously wants to make its impact count -- because it's sneaking the show right after the finale of American Idol on Tuesday. Here's sort of an extended trailer:
No question, the show looks like it might be a winner. And it also is a perfect match for Idol. But the fact is that in the battle for eyeballs, in the midst of trying times for the TV business, with the full knowledge that the network TV model is eroding, and it's getting harder and harder to pay for shows through advertising, FOX is trying bold things. They are doing whatever they can to get one past and over, to find a hit, to place a show, to make the model work. There are ideas here. Some don't work, some might. But they're trying.
Let's contrast that with the Canadian networks.
Questions? Comments? Observations?
6 comments:
Glee is a powerhouse of comedic actors, which will definitely help.
The problem with the new models is that in general - those people who are powering through (I'm looking at Ms. Gollick et. al.) aren't finding traction in funding models and people seem completely unwilling to fund new media stuff. The CMF might help there, but it's still tied to the so-called traditional model and this is where things start to break down a bit more.
I'm not sure, but the forerunners here - the RedVsBlues, the Comics - they're the ones that are winning the race and once the nets start to realize this (and Comedy has, to a certain extent) I think that we're going to see things catch up...quickly.
I do hesitate to say this show is original though... It's a cross between High School Musical and American Idol; two highly successful franchises. So it doesn't strike me as a huge risk.
It will feel familiar to people, who are used to all the plot devices from a thousand inspirational shows, is a good fit with Idol and also a good bridge to keep people in a music and musical stardom frame of mind during Idol's off-season.
Fox paid out for known music rather than cutting original songs and is playing with well-established, derivitive tropes. The advantage is a slightly more sophisticated, dark performance from their villain/coach.
I love how Fox is constantly innovating. Even when they go too far, like you said, at least they're trying -- which means sometimes, like with American Idol, they are succeeding. It's not about new media funding, or any kind of government-based funding, it's about a network trying everything it can to succeed in a tougher world. Here it seems like networks just turn to the government.
I think Fox is extremely saavy from a programming sense but I still don't see anything innovative about the show from a a creative level. The innovation is combining the appeal of popular shows into a hybrid that will both compliment American Idol and act as a bridge between seasons to keep that same type of music on the minds of viewers.
Every television show will always be subject to subjective interpretation on issues of ingenuity, creativity and the like.
But the article I wrote was about framing, promotion, and marketing. And finding a drama companion for Idol might not count as "original" but it is leagues ahead of churning out another format buy. That's the point. The rest is all subjective.
Original or not, that was - hands down - the best trailer for a TV series I've seen in a long time.
Sure, every one of them looks like they have a day job as a supermodel - even the guy in the wheelchair looks like if you took the glasses off him you could wheel him down the runway - but I found it infectious and fun.
That said - it also seems like a 12 hour movie: Crappy team meets inspirational leader who improves them against all odds leading to a final showdown, etc.
I'm not a fan of the high school musicals or any of the Idols (at all...) but this show seems sweet - a tad genetically engineered - but sweet.
And hey, it's not like Chuck's going to be back on any time soon...
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