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All I'm Sayin'
December 10, 2012
Zombies = audience
...is it's time for someone to put the sense back in censorship...(that works much better phonetically than visually). Does anyone remember NYPD Blue? Of course you do. Do you recall how it pushed the censorship envelope to a point that the PTC (Parent's Television Council) was formed? NYPD Blue's use of vulgarity and nudity was groundbreaking for broadcast television, especially during the years the show was on 1993-2005. Then again what could one expect from Stephen Bochco and David Milch, the latter of which went on to create Deadwood, an HBO series that made NYPD Blue look like The Waltons? But, although it relates nicely, this isn't the primary reason for my column. No, that would be...
Cable is invading!
It's true. Although cable television has been around for longer than many of us can remember, it's never really been much of a threat to broadcast or, for the purpose of this discussion, network television. By "a threat" I mean it's never challenged the networks for an audience, any audience. Cable's viewers have always been a fraction of broadcast's. Even though there are hundreds of cable *stations* (they aren't networks), they have never attracted any where near as many viewers as has broadcast, even when you add all of them up. Lately, however, that line has started to blur a bit. According to Media Life magazine, "Though broadcast still dominates the top 50 programs of the week, more cable shows will win their timeslots over the Big Four in key demographics...hot networks in 2012 included History, whose miniseries “Hatfields & McCoys” broke numerous cable records; AMC, whose “The Walking Dead” finished as fall’s top scripted drama on broadcast or cable in adults 18-49; and TBS, which saw big ratings gains thanks to syndicated episodes of “The Big Bang Theory.”
Hmmm, the "Hatfields & McCoys" was a one time thing and we air "Big Bang Theory" each weeknight at 6:00 & 7:30 on WVAH so neither of those concern me much...it's The Walking Dead that is drawing my focus. What's the deal with zombies attracting such an audience and why cable? Well, if I were to ignore the fact that it's on cable, I'd be doing it an injustice, but I think the show creators simply figured the cable powers-that-be would put up less of a fight in allowing such over-the-top violence (beheading zombies has become such a commonality that it's almost tame compared to some of the ways the "human" characters dispatch the "undead" ones). In fact, I read somewhere that the writers keep pushing the censorship envelope further and further expecting to have their hands slapped yet nothing happens. However, to say that this show is only about zombies would also be an injustice because, although it may portray that on the surface, underneath, it's actually a very well-crafted family drama...that occurs during a zombie apocalypse.
And this brings me full circle to my original point about NYPD Blue and that it was well ahead of its time in regards to pushing that all high and mighty censorship envelope. But what happened? I pose that question to you, network television. I think I recall speaking with my wife back in 1995 when we first saw a naked behind on our favorite ABC drama at the time and saying something like "it's only a matter of time before full frontal nudity is acceptable". Obviously that was an exaggerated statement but, instead of progressing and continuously challenging the entertainment threshold of broadcast viewers, they have seemingly regressed, allowing cable to jump that ravine, and are now looking at channels like AMC and FX with their equally as mature-natured and almost as popular "American Horror Story", steal viewers that are getting bored with some of the product the networks are serving up.
Back in October when season 2 of "The Walking Dead" premiered to over 10 million viewers, a feat unheard of by a cable channel not all that long ago, I told my better half, "I hope this sends a message to ABC and Fox (primarily) that they have to step up their game a little". And I'm happy to report that it may have done just that. I don't think audiences are asking for 3 straight hours per night of blood and guts and gore and profanity and nudity, but instead perhaps more compelling story telling and well defined characters. If those aspects are contained within scripts that have you on the edge of your seat for just shy of an hour, where's the harm in that?
Coming up in early 2013 are a couple of programs that, whereas they may not show an intestine getting ripped out of a zombie and falling onto the ground, they are a little darker and have more of a mature theme to them.
Possibly the most anticipated network fare in quite some time comes to Fox on Monday, January 21st int the form of "The Following". Not only does it involve a serial killer creating a network (instead of a cable...) of serial killers, but it stars Kevin Bacon in his first television role. He plays an ex-FBI agent assigned to catch the psycho. I've seen pieces of the first episode and it looks - forgive me - killer! Also, it was created by Kevin Williamson from Scream fame - he knows how to write for shock value and he tells an excellent story along the way. I have high hopes for this show and I applaud Fox for bringing it to us. It will settle in on Mondays at 9:00.
Not quite as creepy or chilling but still differing a bit from their regular kind of show, ABC gives us "Red Widow". This series stars Radha Mitchell (Silent Hill, The Crazies and other spooky movies) as Marta Walraven, a housewife from Northern California, whose organized criminal husband was killed and who has to continue his work to protect her family. It's described as a thriller and it's going in the Sunday night at 10p slot where it can be slightly more daring than were it to air a little earlier in the evening.
I also suspect that all the networks will keep a keen eye on the continued progress of "The Walking Dead" and "American Horror Story" and other shows that dare to scare and, if they continue at this pace, you can expect more vampires and werewolves and ghosts (oh my) coming to broadcast television sooner than later. This business loves to copycat success...and who can blame it?
Look for some other programs hitting our airwaves over the next couple of months including:
From ABC -
* Zero Hour - A drama that revolves around a bizarre twist of fate that pulls a man (Anthony Edwards from ER) who's spent 20 years as the editor of a skeptics magazine into one of the most compelling conspiracies in human history.
* How To Live With Your Parents For The Rest Of Your Life - a sitcom following a single and very uptight divorced mother (Sarah Chalke from Scrubs) who finds herself moving back in with her parents (Elizabeth Perkins from Weeds among others and Brad Garrett from Everybody Loves Raymond) due to the economic downturn. Her mother is very vulgar and often manic while her father is more laid back and relaxed. But the return is not as smooth and transitional as she thinks as she has to deal with not only her parents and their lifestyle, but also with a best friend whom she almost dated and an ex-husband who wants her back as she prepares to restart her life.
* Family Tools - a sitcom about a man who's had a streak of bad luck with everything from enlisting in the Army to flunking out of seminary three times. When he returns home, he finds himself in the unlikely position of taking over his father's hardware-handyman business due to the fact that his father was recently diagnosed with a heart condition. However, this transition is not as easy as expected as he tries to maintain the success of the business that his father built, especially with his father keeping a watchful eye...it co-stars Leah Remini from King of Queens.
And, as I look into my crystal ball, I see Modern Family joining our weeknight lineup on WVAH coming next September..5 nights a week of the Pritchetts and Dunphys, yes please!
Modern Family quote:
Phil: "Act like a parent, talk like a peer. I call it 'peerenting.'"
Please join me for periodic updates on the television on twitter @PaulNeace
...is All I'm Sayin'
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