It will shock you how much this... happened.
September 17, 2013 3:19 PM Subscribe
This calls out for an Onion-style I Am So Starving vs. I Am So Starving counterpoint.
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:24 PM on September 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:24 PM on September 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
Am I the only one who thinks Better Call Saul sounds like an awesome show?
posted by fatbird at 3:27 PM on September 17, 2013 [17 favorites]
posted by fatbird at 3:27 PM on September 17, 2013 [17 favorites]
NOT GREAT, AMC.
posted by entropicamericana at 3:27 PM on September 17, 2013 [26 favorites]
posted by entropicamericana at 3:27 PM on September 17, 2013 [26 favorites]
AMC is taking one drink worth of bourbon and trying to cut it fill three glasses.
I wondered if this was so the actress who plays Sally could age up a bit so she could work more hours, but it looks like they're filming the whole thing ...and then just sitting on it for a year?
I mean, good luck trying to keep that under wraps.
Sheesh.
posted by The Whelk at 3:28 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
I wondered if this was so the actress who plays Sally could age up a bit so she could work more hours, but it looks like they're filming the whole thing ...and then just sitting on it for a year?
I mean, good luck trying to keep that under wraps.
Sheesh.
posted by The Whelk at 3:28 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
What kind of howdy doody army are you running here AMC?
posted by The Whelk at 3:29 PM on September 17, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 3:29 PM on September 17, 2013 [3 favorites]
Dislike. Mad Men's seasons are short enough. Airing 7 when you have the entire 14 filmed and in the can? Dumbest idea ever.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:32 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:32 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
This is so annoying, it doesn't even deserve a compl
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:34 PM on September 17, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:34 PM on September 17, 2013 [4 favorites]
We will always have Low Winter Sun.
posted by triggerfinger at 3:36 PM on September 17, 2013 [8 favorites]
posted by triggerfinger at 3:36 PM on September 17, 2013 [8 favorites]
Every time we get a successful series this place turns into a whorehouse.
posted by Aizkolari at 3:40 PM on September 17, 2013 [22 favorites]
posted by Aizkolari at 3:40 PM on September 17, 2013 [22 favorites]
There's nothing like things going badly when you leave, is there?
posted by Kabanos at 3:43 PM on September 17, 2013
posted by Kabanos at 3:43 PM on September 17, 2013
The Hobbit! Harry Potter movies! Half Life 2!
This AMC move has come as a complete shock! My god! Think of the ramifications! The media landscape might never be the same!
posted by The River Ivel at 3:45 PM on September 17, 2013
This AMC move has come as a complete shock! My god! Think of the ramifications! The media landscape might never be the same!
posted by The River Ivel at 3:45 PM on September 17, 2013
Team Not This
posted by Dr. Zira at 3:45 PM on September 17, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Dr. Zira at 3:45 PM on September 17, 2013 [3 favorites]
Split seasons is becoming the norm for television, especially cable.
posted by Thorzdad at 3:45 PM on September 17, 2013
posted by Thorzdad at 3:45 PM on September 17, 2013
Forget it Jake, it's PIZZA HOUSE.
posted by The Whelk at 3:46 PM on September 17, 2013 [12 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 3:46 PM on September 17, 2013 [12 favorites]
The bright side is that we could get two new Bobby Drapers instead of one.
posted by Dr. Zira at 3:50 PM on September 17, 2013 [17 favorites]
posted by Dr. Zira at 3:50 PM on September 17, 2013 [17 favorites]
Crisis Of Infinite Bobbys.
posted by The Whelk at 3:51 PM on September 17, 2013 [19 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 3:51 PM on September 17, 2013 [19 favorites]
I want to punish them for this by NOT WATCHING. But we know that ain't going to happen.
I'm still hating Breaking Bad for doing this. And Doctor Who has done this a couple of times now, I think.
I. Hate. It.
posted by MoxieProxy at 3:51 PM on September 17, 2013
I'm still hating Breaking Bad for doing this. And Doctor Who has done this a couple of times now, I think.
I. Hate. It.
posted by MoxieProxy at 3:51 PM on September 17, 2013
Counterpoint:
having seen from the production side how TV series actually get made (hint: it's a lot like laws and sausages -- you don't really want to know), I'm not convinced that this won't make for better quality programming. Simply put, if this means they'll have more time to do each episode, or even just for the writing of the episodes, it can't help but make for a more rewarding final product ...
Split seasons is becoming the norm for television, especially cable.
Some of the best TV ever has come our way from the BBC and they often put no particular shape on a season of TV, just let the creative demands of the project define it. Thus, two six episode seasons of Fawlty Towers. Mini-series like Smiley's People (six hour long episodes), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (seven hour long episodes).
It's all fine for the audience to have a voice, but I'm way more interested in what works for the creative types.
posted by philip-random at 3:51 PM on September 17, 2013 [3 favorites]
having seen from the production side how TV series actually get made (hint: it's a lot like laws and sausages -- you don't really want to know), I'm not convinced that this won't make for better quality programming. Simply put, if this means they'll have more time to do each episode, or even just for the writing of the episodes, it can't help but make for a more rewarding final product ...
Split seasons is becoming the norm for television, especially cable.
Some of the best TV ever has come our way from the BBC and they often put no particular shape on a season of TV, just let the creative demands of the project define it. Thus, two six episode seasons of Fawlty Towers. Mini-series like Smiley's People (six hour long episodes), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (seven hour long episodes).
It's all fine for the audience to have a voice, but I'm way more interested in what works for the creative types.
posted by philip-random at 3:51 PM on September 17, 2013 [3 favorites]
unsubbed.
posted by Ad hominem at 3:51 PM on September 17, 2013
posted by Ad hominem at 3:51 PM on September 17, 2013
Screw it, I'm gonna pitch Sally Draper: Demon Hunter.
posted by The Whelk at 3:55 PM on September 17, 2013 [10 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 3:55 PM on September 17, 2013 [10 favorites]
As one who waits to watch the entire season when it is release, this doesn't particularly bother me. There is so much good TV, movies and books that are available to consume that I'm not losing sleep over a particular one. But it does feel kind of rude when the retailers that sell all the season at once charge more for these broken up seasons.
posted by Brent Parker at 3:55 PM on September 17, 2013
posted by Brent Parker at 3:55 PM on September 17, 2013
Who are the ad wizards who came up with this one??
posted by Atom Eyes at 3:55 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Atom Eyes at 3:55 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
"WAAAH BUT I MUST BE ENTERTAINED NOW!"
Whoa there, Veruca.
posted by Sys Rq at 3:58 PM on September 17, 2013 [4 favorites]
Whoa there, Veruca.
posted by Sys Rq at 3:58 PM on September 17, 2013 [4 favorites]
Some of the best TV ever has come our way from the BBC and they often put no particular shape on a season of TV
Yes! Seasons are why American TV sucks. Take 6 hours worth of ideas and spread it out into 21 episodes. Just make that shit 6 episodes American TV.
Fuck it, I don't even have American TV anymore.
posted by Ad hominem at 3:58 PM on September 17, 2013
Yes! Seasons are why American TV sucks. Take 6 hours worth of ideas and spread it out into 21 episodes. Just make that shit 6 episodes American TV.
Fuck it, I don't even have American TV anymore.
posted by Ad hominem at 3:58 PM on September 17, 2013
Dear TV execs: the more you pull crappy scheduling stunts like this, the more I want to not ever watch any shows until after they've finished their entire run and I can binge-watch the entire show in like a week.
posted by mstokes650 at 4:00 PM on September 17, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by mstokes650 at 4:00 PM on September 17, 2013 [4 favorites]
But philip-random, it sounds like they are producing the season exactly the same way - though 14 episodes instead of 13 and then holding the second 7 back for a year. This means they have exactly the same amount of time to make the show and then AMC gets to have two 7 episode seasons to play with. This doesn't really help creatively at all.
Now Weiner mentioned the possibility of this ages ago, so at least he's had some time to plan around it - but two x 7 episode seasons will just have entirely different narrative flow than one x 13 episode season. Can he account for that? Or will he just have to keep in mind that AMC is going to take a break halfway through?
Also, as noted in John August's podcast about variable length/split seasons, this is really a boon for the networks - not the creatives - because essentially the network gets two seasons to promote and garner revenue from but the actors don't get a season bump (in salary). Sure, it's the final season and there's only one more episode being produced, but it's really all to AMC's benefit, not the creatives. By the time the actors are wheeled out to promote the final episodes, they will have finished shooting like 18 months before.
posted by crossoverman at 4:01 PM on September 17, 2013 [5 favorites]
Now Weiner mentioned the possibility of this ages ago, so at least he's had some time to plan around it - but two x 7 episode seasons will just have entirely different narrative flow than one x 13 episode season. Can he account for that? Or will he just have to keep in mind that AMC is going to take a break halfway through?
Also, as noted in John August's podcast about variable length/split seasons, this is really a boon for the networks - not the creatives - because essentially the network gets two seasons to promote and garner revenue from but the actors don't get a season bump (in salary). Sure, it's the final season and there's only one more episode being produced, but it's really all to AMC's benefit, not the creatives. By the time the actors are wheeled out to promote the final episodes, they will have finished shooting like 18 months before.
posted by crossoverman at 4:01 PM on September 17, 2013 [5 favorites]
Some of the best TV ever has come our way from the BBC and they often put no particular shape on a season of TV, just let the creative demands of the project define it. Thus, two six episode seasons of Fawlty Towers. Mini-series like Smiley's People (six hour long episodes), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (seven hour long episodes).
Then why call this two halves of one season instead of two seasons?
posted by kmz at 4:02 PM on September 17, 2013
Then why call this two halves of one season instead of two seasons?
posted by kmz at 4:02 PM on September 17, 2013
Dear TV execs: the more you pull crappy scheduling stunts like this, the more I want to not ever watch any shows until after they've finished their entire run and I can binge-watch the entire show in like a week.
Yes, this decision is actually the antithesis of the Netflix model which has worked so gloriously for them this year. Well done, traditional (cable) networks. Good to see you keeping up with the times!
posted by crossoverman at 4:02 PM on September 17, 2013
Yes, this decision is actually the antithesis of the Netflix model which has worked so gloriously for them this year. Well done, traditional (cable) networks. Good to see you keeping up with the times!
posted by crossoverman at 4:02 PM on September 17, 2013
Whoa there, Veruca.
I want a drama/
Yes of course dear
A period Drama!/
Right away love
With feminist themes and a professional sheen and drinking and smoking and karma!
Don't care how!
I want it now!
posted by The Whelk at 4:03 PM on September 17, 2013 [23 favorites]
I want a drama/
Yes of course dear
A period Drama!/
Right away love
With feminist themes and a professional sheen and drinking and smoking and karma!
Don't care how!
I want it now!
posted by The Whelk at 4:03 PM on September 17, 2013 [23 favorites]
2015, eh? I guess AMC has sent the finale … back to the future.
/flees thread in flying car
posted by gubo at 4:05 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
/flees thread in flying car
posted by gubo at 4:05 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
What I love most from the article's indignation is
“Is the golden age of AMC over?”
All I can say is if they're not going the Bravo route and (a) getting one of their flagship shows--which probably could have gracefully ended its run then--getting poached by a network like Lifetime (Lifetime!) and turned into a cartoon version of itself or (b) getting its remaining prestige choked to death by the kudzu-like multiplication of essentially identical reality shows about bored rich people... then they're probably still OK in my eyes.
posted by psoas at 4:08 PM on September 17, 2013
“Is the golden age of AMC over?”
All I can say is if they're not going the Bravo route and (a) getting one of their flagship shows--which probably could have gracefully ended its run then--getting poached by a network like Lifetime (Lifetime!) and turned into a cartoon version of itself or (b) getting its remaining prestige choked to death by the kudzu-like multiplication of essentially identical reality shows about bored rich people... then they're probably still OK in my eyes.
posted by psoas at 4:08 PM on September 17, 2013
What kind of howdy doody army are you running here AMC?
The howdy doody circus army kind.
posted by mochapickle at 4:11 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
The howdy doody circus army kind.
posted by mochapickle at 4:11 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
AMC should do The Cuckoo's Calling.
posted by Ad hominem at 4:12 PM on September 17, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Ad hominem at 4:12 PM on September 17, 2013 [4 favorites]
I really think AMC'd get bigger buzz if they allowed us to binge-watch every last episode a la Netflix. I spent a couple weekends doing Orange is the New Black and House of Cards, absolutely absorbed in them, and I think devouring them in such a way, like a page-turning novel, gave me a greater appreciation of the characters and bigger payoff to the story arcs than I would have had if I'd had to watch them week by week.
I'll still never forgive Syfy/BSG for pacing out that awful last season.
posted by mochapickle at 4:18 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'll still never forgive Syfy/BSG for pacing out that awful last season.
posted by mochapickle at 4:18 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yes, this decision is actually the antithesis of the Netflix model which has worked so gloriously for them this year.
I'd counter that it works with Netflix — because of Netflix, even. People binge watch on Netflix before each (semi-)season starts, and go and scour old episodes during the week for hints. The first half-season is uploaded before the second half airs, so you can binge watch those too while you wait, and really comb through them.
posted by Sys Rq at 4:20 PM on September 17, 2013
I'd counter that it works with Netflix — because of Netflix, even. People binge watch on Netflix before each (semi-)season starts, and go and scour old episodes during the week for hints. The first half-season is uploaded before the second half airs, so you can binge watch those too while you wait, and really comb through them.
posted by Sys Rq at 4:20 PM on September 17, 2013
Weirdly, ever since joining the Secret Nielsen Illuminati, I've been watching a whole lot less television and a whole lot more Lets Play YouTube videos.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 4:21 PM on September 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 4:21 PM on September 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
Binge watching television shows sucks. Spreading a series of shows over two years sucks worse. All of this shit sucks. So does Low Winter Sun.
posted by xmutex at 4:28 PM on September 17, 2013 [9 favorites]
posted by xmutex at 4:28 PM on September 17, 2013 [9 favorites]
AMC should do The Cuckoo's Calling.
The BBC is doing Rowling's The Casual Vacancy, I hear, which should make for an excellent series. The Cuckoo's Calling, which I assume is the first book in a soon-to-be ongoing series, would be great too, though.
Also, can HBO pick up Harry Potter and get Gilliam to direct them like he offered to do with the movies and make a film adaptation of that series that does them justice? The movies are a travesty.
posted by Rory Marinich at 4:32 PM on September 17, 2013 [6 favorites]
The BBC is doing Rowling's The Casual Vacancy, I hear, which should make for an excellent series. The Cuckoo's Calling, which I assume is the first book in a soon-to-be ongoing series, would be great too, though.
Also, can HBO pick up Harry Potter and get Gilliam to direct them like he offered to do with the movies and make a film adaptation of that series that does them justice? The movies are a travesty.
posted by Rory Marinich at 4:32 PM on September 17, 2013 [6 favorites]
You know what show has been doing split seasons for ten years and whose fans don't whine about it like spoiled little children?
South Park.
Think about that while you sit on the naughty step.
posted by Sys Rq at 4:38 PM on September 17, 2013
South Park.
Think about that while you sit on the naughty step.
posted by Sys Rq at 4:38 PM on September 17, 2013
Nobody gives a shit about South Park, it's too popular.
posted by Artw at 4:40 PM on September 17, 2013
posted by Artw at 4:40 PM on September 17, 2013
Please, South Park doesn't have fans.
AMC should do The Cuckoo's Calling
I'm on like the first chapter but yeah, could see a nice three hour mini series here, totally up AMC's way.
(careful what you wish for Rory)
posted by The Whelk at 4:41 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
AMC should do The Cuckoo's Calling
I'm on like the first chapter but yeah, could see a nice three hour mini series here, totally up AMC's way.
(careful what you wish for Rory)
posted by The Whelk at 4:41 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
So you see, what they're doing, is, they're taking the season, and breaking it and sharing it, just like Peggy said.
posted by Biblio at 4:51 PM on September 17, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Biblio at 4:51 PM on September 17, 2013 [3 favorites]
In other news my wife has started us on watching AMC The Killing and I have Seattle complaints.
(I am pretending not to already know its been stretched to death.)
posted by Artw at 4:52 PM on September 17, 2013
(I am pretending not to already know its been stretched to death.)
posted by Artw at 4:52 PM on September 17, 2013
It could be worse. Like for example Steven Goddam Moffat's Sherlock series. A whole season is 3 episodes. It's been almost a year and a half since the last episode aired, and they just finished shooting Season 3 this month.
posted by charlie don't surf at 4:56 PM on September 17, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by charlie don't surf at 4:56 PM on September 17, 2013 [5 favorites]
Is that why it feels like South Park only airs like 4 episodes a year now?
posted by Drinky Die at 4:57 PM on September 17, 2013
posted by Drinky Die at 4:57 PM on September 17, 2013
South Park is only still on the air because of a disastrous genie wish anyway.
posted by The Whelk at 4:58 PM on September 17, 2013 [11 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 4:58 PM on September 17, 2013 [11 favorites]
I was happy about this. I know it's just to extend the series, but it prolongs THE END, which hopefully won't traumatize me as much as I think because I'll be fully self actualized, and also Kiernan Shipka will be like 16 so cool stuff could happen with her character I Dunno (no Woodstock!!!)
Also Peggy and Don really do need a spinoff to fight crime. How 70s is that?
posted by sweetkid at 5:03 PM on September 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
Also Peggy and Don really do need a spinoff to fight crime. How 70s is that?
posted by sweetkid at 5:03 PM on September 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
The Wire it ain't.
posted by ReeMonster at 5:05 PM on September 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by ReeMonster at 5:05 PM on September 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
Sorry for being dense, but what is the economic reason for this? Can someone explain why AMC apparently makes money by season rather than by episode?
posted by Xalf at 5:11 PM on September 17, 2013
posted by Xalf at 5:11 PM on September 17, 2013
Well, there's two more sets of Emmys to pick up, for one.
posted by psoas at 5:13 PM on September 17, 2013
posted by psoas at 5:13 PM on September 17, 2013
That's it. I'm re-watching The Wire.
posted by Ad hominem at 5:13 PM on September 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Ad hominem at 5:13 PM on September 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
If they're doing any crime solving spinoff it has to be Sally and Roger as a pair of detectives.
posted by drezdn at 5:16 PM on September 17, 2013
posted by drezdn at 5:16 PM on September 17, 2013
No Roger would need...some sort of trio of women...perhaps they could all gather around a speakerphone in their bikinis while he gave them instructions.
posted by sweetkid at 5:22 PM on September 17, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by sweetkid at 5:22 PM on September 17, 2013 [7 favorites]
A show about the shallowness of greed is being exploited in the name of shallow greed? I'm shocked.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 5:23 PM on September 17, 2013
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 5:23 PM on September 17, 2013
Did you guys not read my demon hunter pitch?
Peggy can be the Watcher-ish mentor. Don is the injured retired reserve called in at the last second.
posted by The Whelk at 5:28 PM on September 17, 2013
Peggy can be the Watcher-ish mentor. Don is the injured retired reserve called in at the last second.
posted by The Whelk at 5:28 PM on September 17, 2013
show about the shallowness of greed is being exploited in the name of shallow greed? I'm shocked.
What? That is not what this show is about.
posted by sweetkid at 5:28 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
What? That is not what this show is about.
posted by sweetkid at 5:28 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
"mr. Draper maybe the literal demons aren't the only ones your fighting!"
posted by The Whelk at 5:29 PM on September 17, 2013
posted by The Whelk at 5:29 PM on September 17, 2013
Be the fanfic you want to see in the world.
posted by Dr. Zira at 5:29 PM on September 17, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by Dr. Zira at 5:29 PM on September 17, 2013 [5 favorites]
This is obviously a terrible idea, since Breaking Bad already tried exactly the same thing, and it's doing so poorly now.
posted by Mothlight at 5:29 PM on September 17, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Mothlight at 5:29 PM on September 17, 2013 [4 favorites]
Be the fanfic you want to see in the world
Dude.
posted by The Whelk at 5:32 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
Dude.
posted by The Whelk at 5:32 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
Sorry for being dense, but what is the economic reason for this? Can someone explain why AMC apparently makes money by season rather than by episode?
Reason One (which I know about solely because I work for a TV series): Accounting. Presumably they can play with outlay and divide the production and (especially) promotion costs over two years. DVD/streaming revenue for the first half will start to come in a bit before the second half airs, and then many months later there's an additional uptick from releasing the last shows to the secondary markets. Looks great on the books.
Reason Two (which is speculation): AMC has had a run of well-received, highly watched, infinitely discussed series. Breaking Bad is over in a couple weeks. The Walking Dead is showing cracks-- season 3 had about 10 shows worth of material that they turned into 16 episodes, and the awesome showdown that was promised turned out to be pathetic. Lots of fans are rightfully pissed off and they must have some doubts about that. The Killing has fantastic acting and is beautifully shot, but again, they messed with the viewers by turning about five episodes of plot into two seasons, and it went so far off the rails that the viewers ended up feeling like Krusty after he watched "Worker and Parasite." Accordingly, no one watched Season 3 and it's cancelled. Nothing else they've developed has worked.
The remaining franchise is Mad Men. If that's gone, the empire's resting on the questionable continued success of "Walking Dead." Stretching out Mad Men gives them another year of interest while AMC frantically tries to develop some shows that will draw eyeballs.
I'm annoyed, but I hope their gambit works. I'm very easily insulted by television and AMC has made the only shows I've wanted to watch outside of PBS and (my guilty pleasure) The Amazing Race for the last three or five years. If they can't get their shit together, the American TV landscape is going to be much dumber and bleaker.
posted by Mayor Curley at 5:54 PM on September 17, 2013 [9 favorites]
Reason One (which I know about solely because I work for a TV series): Accounting. Presumably they can play with outlay and divide the production and (especially) promotion costs over two years. DVD/streaming revenue for the first half will start to come in a bit before the second half airs, and then many months later there's an additional uptick from releasing the last shows to the secondary markets. Looks great on the books.
Reason Two (which is speculation): AMC has had a run of well-received, highly watched, infinitely discussed series. Breaking Bad is over in a couple weeks. The Walking Dead is showing cracks-- season 3 had about 10 shows worth of material that they turned into 16 episodes, and the awesome showdown that was promised turned out to be pathetic. Lots of fans are rightfully pissed off and they must have some doubts about that. The Killing has fantastic acting and is beautifully shot, but again, they messed with the viewers by turning about five episodes of plot into two seasons, and it went so far off the rails that the viewers ended up feeling like Krusty after he watched "Worker and Parasite." Accordingly, no one watched Season 3 and it's cancelled. Nothing else they've developed has worked.
The remaining franchise is Mad Men. If that's gone, the empire's resting on the questionable continued success of "Walking Dead." Stretching out Mad Men gives them another year of interest while AMC frantically tries to develop some shows that will draw eyeballs.
I'm annoyed, but I hope their gambit works. I'm very easily insulted by television and AMC has made the only shows I've wanted to watch outside of PBS and (my guilty pleasure) The Amazing Race for the last three or five years. If they can't get their shit together, the American TV landscape is going to be much dumber and bleaker.
posted by Mayor Curley at 5:54 PM on September 17, 2013 [9 favorites]
They have sucked you in and now they are going to extract every single surplus penny there is to be extracted. Every time somebody offers you a deal you got to wait and spend too much energy investigating "what is the catch?"
There is always a catch.
posted by bukvich at 5:58 PM on September 17, 2013
There is always a catch.
posted by bukvich at 5:58 PM on September 17, 2013
Also, as Mothlight noted: it gets them a double-dip at the higher season-premiere / season-finale ratings.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 6:00 PM on September 17, 2013
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 6:00 PM on September 17, 2013
Seasons are why American TV sucks.
No, the lack of an end point is what makes American TV suck. The whole attitude that "we will continue making this until everyone hates it and nobody cares anymore and even then we will try some new twist on the formula hoping to lure back viewers who have fled like rats from a sinking ship" mentality kills creativity and ruins series.
Seinfeld was right for quitting when he did. American Horror Story is also doing it right -- season-long stories, same actors in completely different roles each season.
Stories require a beginning, middle, and end. Having the end be "I haven't bothered to tune into this for years, I didn't even realize it was still being made" is undignified and horrible.
Give me a mini-series like Torchwood: Miracle Day anytime. Sure, that particular set of episodes was pure PTSD in series format, but damn, I respect it so much for that.
posted by hippybear at 6:28 PM on September 17, 2013 [12 favorites]
No, the lack of an end point is what makes American TV suck. The whole attitude that "we will continue making this until everyone hates it and nobody cares anymore and even then we will try some new twist on the formula hoping to lure back viewers who have fled like rats from a sinking ship" mentality kills creativity and ruins series.
Seinfeld was right for quitting when he did. American Horror Story is also doing it right -- season-long stories, same actors in completely different roles each season.
Stories require a beginning, middle, and end. Having the end be "I haven't bothered to tune into this for years, I didn't even realize it was still being made" is undignified and horrible.
Give me a mini-series like Torchwood: Miracle Day anytime. Sure, that particular set of episodes was pure PTSD in series format, but damn, I respect it so much for that.
posted by hippybear at 6:28 PM on September 17, 2013 [12 favorites]
couldn't agree with hippybear more ...
although Seasons also play into this: the mandatory 26 or 13 episode (or whatever) allotment regardless of what might be ideal creatively. It's not that I don't get the economics of doing seasons, but if it's greatness you want, it's always going to be a byproduct as opposed to the intention.
What I love about how things are going of late (the Netflix model, these shortened AMC seasons etc, the longstanding BBC model) is that the starting off point seems to be:
how long should this particular story be that we're telling this "season"?
how many episodes will this require?
And so on.
posted by philip-random at 6:40 PM on September 17, 2013
although Seasons also play into this: the mandatory 26 or 13 episode (or whatever) allotment regardless of what might be ideal creatively. It's not that I don't get the economics of doing seasons, but if it's greatness you want, it's always going to be a byproduct as opposed to the intention.
What I love about how things are going of late (the Netflix model, these shortened AMC seasons etc, the longstanding BBC model) is that the starting off point seems to be:
how long should this particular story be that we're telling this "season"?
how many episodes will this require?
And so on.
posted by philip-random at 6:40 PM on September 17, 2013
I'll still never forgive Syfy/BSG for pacing out that awful last season.
Leaving aside whether or not it was awful - and the fact that BSG's seasons were often split up, the lag time before the last half of BSG's last season came down to the Writers' Guild strike.
posted by crossoverman at 6:54 PM on September 17, 2013
Leaving aside whether or not it was awful - and the fact that BSG's seasons were often split up, the lag time before the last half of BSG's last season came down to the Writers' Guild strike.
posted by crossoverman at 6:54 PM on September 17, 2013
Wait a second....Sherlock only does three episodes per season? What is the reason for that? Is each episode five hours long?
Also, I have high hopes for Better Call Saul, maybe AMC can make their comeback with that in a year or two.
posted by triggerfinger at 6:59 PM on September 17, 2013
Also, I have high hopes for Better Call Saul, maybe AMC can make their comeback with that in a year or two.
posted by triggerfinger at 6:59 PM on September 17, 2013
Sherlock only does three episodes per season? What is the reason for that? Is each episode five hours long?
Each episode is a 90 minute movie.
posted by hippybear at 7:05 PM on September 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
Each episode is a 90 minute movie.
posted by hippybear at 7:05 PM on September 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
Give me a mini-series like Torchwood: Miracle Day anytime.
Surely, you mean - Torchwood: Children of Earth. Surely.
posted by crossoverman at 7:09 PM on September 17, 2013 [6 favorites]
Surely, you mean - Torchwood: Children of Earth. Surely.
posted by crossoverman at 7:09 PM on September 17, 2013 [6 favorites]
The Saul show is really on? Wow.
I caught myself thinking, once or twice, what if something happens, and I die before the second part of the Breaking Bad season airs? That ain't right.
posted by thelonius at 7:15 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
I caught myself thinking, once or twice, what if something happens, and I die before the second part of the Breaking Bad season airs? That ain't right.
posted by thelonius at 7:15 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
At least now I'm living til 2015 for the new Star Wars film and the last seven episodes of Mad Men. Makes me feel better.
posted by crossoverman at 7:22 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by crossoverman at 7:22 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
Surely, you mean - Torchwood: Children of Earth. Surely.
Yes, yes. I do mean Children of Earth. Stupid me.
posted by hippybear at 7:27 PM on September 17, 2013
Yes, yes. I do mean Children of Earth. Stupid me.
posted by hippybear at 7:27 PM on September 17, 2013
I trust Weiner to do this right, and use the form in an interesting way. Also, his last episodes tend to be keystones that contextualize the entire season, so it will be nice to get two of those.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:27 PM on September 17, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:27 PM on September 17, 2013 [3 favorites]
Yeah, I have a hard time being even remotely upset with this, given how well this format is working with Breaking Bad. I don't see how giving Weiner & co. more time to work through things turns out badly for us.
posted by COBRA! at 7:39 PM on September 17, 2013
posted by COBRA! at 7:39 PM on September 17, 2013
I'm on like the first chapter but yeah, could see a nice three hour mini series here, totally up AMC's way.
Do you mind if the second ninety minutes is slated for 2017?
posted by dobbs at 7:49 PM on September 17, 2013
Do you mind if the second ninety minutes is slated for 2017?
posted by dobbs at 7:49 PM on September 17, 2013
I don't see how giving Weiner & co. more time to work through things turns out badly for us.
But they AREN'T giving them more time. They are shooting to the same schedule as last season, meaning all 14 episodes will be in the can before season 7a airs next year. The extra year is for AMC, not for Weiner & Co.
posted by crossoverman at 7:58 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
But they AREN'T giving them more time. They are shooting to the same schedule as last season, meaning all 14 episodes will be in the can before season 7a airs next year. The extra year is for AMC, not for Weiner & Co.
posted by crossoverman at 7:58 PM on September 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
I am curious how this will play out with the guy suing AMC or Apple (both?) for not giving him season 5 1/2 when he bought a season pass for Breaking Bad. I actually do find the "we'll call it one season where it's convenient or costs us less money and call it two where it can make us more money" is annoying. Yes, I'm still watching Breaking Bad and enjoying it, but I don't like the split season for this show and I won't like it for Mad Men, either.
posted by jeather at 9:30 PM on September 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by jeather at 9:30 PM on September 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
Dear TV execs: the more you pull crappy scheduling stunts like this, the more I want to not ever watch any shows until after they've finished their entire run and I can binge-watch the entire show in like a week.
And.... they don't care. Unless you pirate it, any way you legally watch it makes them buckets of money still. Dvd/bluray? netflix or amazon prime? itunes? all cash money.
This milks them the most money out of tv and they know the naysaying fans will still end up watching it in a way that more than likely makes them money as well. Which is to say, pretty much the same point i was making about how they have absolutely no reason to listen to whiny star trek fans when it came to the new movies.(and i said that as a whiny star trek fan, and as a whiny mad men fan)
I think it's annoying too, but meh. There's not much we could do to motivate them to do it any different since they'll be laughing all the way to the bank.
posted by emptythought at 11:40 PM on September 17, 2013
And.... they don't care. Unless you pirate it, any way you legally watch it makes them buckets of money still. Dvd/bluray? netflix or amazon prime? itunes? all cash money.
This milks them the most money out of tv and they know the naysaying fans will still end up watching it in a way that more than likely makes them money as well. Which is to say, pretty much the same point i was making about how they have absolutely no reason to listen to whiny star trek fans when it came to the new movies.(and i said that as a whiny star trek fan, and as a whiny mad men fan)
I think it's annoying too, but meh. There's not much we could do to motivate them to do it any different since they'll be laughing all the way to the bank.
posted by emptythought at 11:40 PM on September 17, 2013
Sherlock only does three episodes per season? What is the reason for that? Is each episode five hours long?
We don't have 'seasons' in the UK. Programmes come back for a new series, which is as long as it is long, unlike US sitcoms/dramas which are 22 or so episodes, designed to run from Autumn to late spring. I imagine that Sherlock is pretty expensive to make, as well.
Mad Men is the only show I'm following as it airs at the moment - everythign else I'm watching are shows that have already aired and I'm catching up, and I'm avoiding reading about Breaking Bad here as we only just finished season 2 last night. Most viewers in the UK are watching the series via box-sets, as most of us don't have Sky Atlantic, which means that if you;re not willing to pony up for a Sky subscription, you've got a long wait for that final season.
Maybe AMC can do that American remake of Being Erica so that I don't have to hoard the last five episodes.
posted by mippy at 3:53 AM on September 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
We don't have 'seasons' in the UK. Programmes come back for a new series, which is as long as it is long, unlike US sitcoms/dramas which are 22 or so episodes, designed to run from Autumn to late spring. I imagine that Sherlock is pretty expensive to make, as well.
Mad Men is the only show I'm following as it airs at the moment - everythign else I'm watching are shows that have already aired and I'm catching up, and I'm avoiding reading about Breaking Bad here as we only just finished season 2 last night. Most viewers in the UK are watching the series via box-sets, as most of us don't have Sky Atlantic, which means that if you;re not willing to pony up for a Sky subscription, you've got a long wait for that final season.
Maybe AMC can do that American remake of Being Erica so that I don't have to hoard the last five episodes.
posted by mippy at 3:53 AM on September 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
Sherlock only does three episodes per season?
I think the first series was expensive so they limited it to 3 to test the water then were taken by surprise by its popularity and had to order the next lot double quick, but unfortunately in the meantime Watson had grown furry feet and moved to New Zealand and Sherlock was visiting him and then got sucked into some sort of chronoton flux/time vortex that deposited him in the middle of a rehash/hash up of Shatner's greatest moment. So neither was really available for a longer series.
I'm not getting my hopes up for much beyond series 3.
posted by biffa at 4:10 AM on September 18, 2013
I think the first series was expensive so they limited it to 3 to test the water then were taken by surprise by its popularity and had to order the next lot double quick, but unfortunately in the meantime Watson had grown furry feet and moved to New Zealand and Sherlock was visiting him and then got sucked into some sort of chronoton flux/time vortex that deposited him in the middle of a rehash/hash up of Shatner's greatest moment. So neither was really available for a longer series.
I'm not getting my hopes up for much beyond series 3.
posted by biffa at 4:10 AM on September 18, 2013
AMC didn’t invent the two-part final season
...and we're done!
posted by Halloween Jack at 5:44 AM on September 18, 2013
...and we're done!
posted by Halloween Jack at 5:44 AM on September 18, 2013
I can't be bothered over this, even though I love the show. For I am a Venture Brothers fan, you see.
posted by boo_radley at 7:54 AM on September 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by boo_radley at 7:54 AM on September 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
It's only a matter of time before they start splitting the actors in two.
posted by popcassady at 8:28 AM on September 18, 2013
posted by popcassady at 8:28 AM on September 18, 2013
Also, I have high hopes for Better Call Saul
You're the only one.
posted by xmutex at 11:56 AM on September 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
You're the only one.
posted by xmutex at 11:56 AM on September 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
Something I haven't really seen mentioned is that this could be a reaction to new American viewing habits. I have heard many people say, "I'm not watching [insert show] until it comes out on DVD/Netflix, and I can watch the whole season at once." Which is great for the viewer, but terrible for the advertisers who are paying for the production.
If the season is broken up, they can better gauge the show's popularity when selling ads. Which means that the good shows are less likely to get cancelled too early.
posted by LEGO Damashii at 12:44 PM on September 18, 2013
If the season is broken up, they can better gauge the show's popularity when selling ads. Which means that the good shows are less likely to get cancelled too early.
posted by LEGO Damashii at 12:44 PM on September 18, 2013
Also, I have high hopes for Better Call Saul
Sorry, no. I have doubts that will even happen, marketing machine notwithstanding. And forget the prequel stuff - that's just Gilligan keeping the finale under wraps.
The only scenario I see that working in is "My Cousin Saul" - we have to get him out of ABQ. Maybe he goes to a town straight out of "To Kill a Mockingbird" and starts defending people who are sometimes actually innocent.
Take a page from "Frasier" - the character was insufferable. They had to move him across the country and give him an even weirder co-star to turn him into a lead.
AMC had a good run but their keystones are ending, Walking Dead is on the rocks and the whole flawed-protagonist-living-a-double-life setup has a shelf life.
Their original innovations were from desperation - now that they are All Growed Up, are they just another net? Will they continue to innovate or just keep putting the same shows on?
posted by lon_star at 9:41 PM on September 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
Sorry, no. I have doubts that will even happen, marketing machine notwithstanding. And forget the prequel stuff - that's just Gilligan keeping the finale under wraps.
The only scenario I see that working in is "My Cousin Saul" - we have to get him out of ABQ. Maybe he goes to a town straight out of "To Kill a Mockingbird" and starts defending people who are sometimes actually innocent.
Take a page from "Frasier" - the character was insufferable. They had to move him across the country and give him an even weirder co-star to turn him into a lead.
AMC had a good run but their keystones are ending, Walking Dead is on the rocks and the whole flawed-protagonist-living-a-double-life setup has a shelf life.
Their original innovations were from desperation - now that they are All Growed Up, are they just another net? Will they continue to innovate or just keep putting the same shows on?
posted by lon_star at 9:41 PM on September 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
Nooooooooooooooo. But...maybe one season will have Dark Betty, and the other will have Light Betty?
(Nice to see you all again!)
posted by mynameisluka at 10:00 PM on September 18, 2013
(Nice to see you all again!)
posted by mynameisluka at 10:00 PM on September 18, 2013
DARK BETTY LAUGHS AND DANCES AND LIGHTS THE CANDLES ONE BY ONE.
posted by The Whelk at 10:31 PM on September 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 10:31 PM on September 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
(the lack of DARK BETTY as an actual thing on the show is one of my peeves)
posted by The Whelk at 10:31 PM on September 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 10:31 PM on September 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
She's there: pause, check the shadows. Check the spaces between the frames. Look into the mirrOr and say her name thrice.
posted by Artw at 10:39 PM on September 18, 2013
posted by Artw at 10:39 PM on September 18, 2013
The show skipped over it but, Betty in her Liz Taylor hair period totally whipped that squat into shape and was a strong figure in her nascent commune/cult until so called "real life" brought her back down to Earth and she had to put away the radical politics and anarchist philosophy for more pressing matters.
But for a while, in that house on St. Mark's?
Do what thy will shall be the whole of DARK BETTY's law.
posted by The Whelk at 10:47 PM on September 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
But for a while, in that house on St. Mark's?
Do what thy will shall be the whole of DARK BETTY's law.
posted by The Whelk at 10:47 PM on September 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
DARK BETTY pulls all the books off all the shelves. LIES ALL LIES she screams
DARK BETTY instructs her daughter on how to prepare the blood ritual, for the pain, for the throne.
DARK BETTY brings a bone and Bell to the Draper house, ringing once, and laying the bone on the threshold
DARK BETTY, ancient as the sea, more terrible than the dawn, burns the members of the Rye country Parents/Teacher's Association alive. She will make candles from their fat.
posted by The Whelk at 10:51 PM on September 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
DARK BETTY instructs her daughter on how to prepare the blood ritual, for the pain, for the throne.
DARK BETTY brings a bone and Bell to the Draper house, ringing once, and laying the bone on the threshold
DARK BETTY, ancient as the sea, more terrible than the dawn, burns the members of the Rye country Parents/Teacher's Association alive. She will make candles from their fat.
posted by The Whelk at 10:51 PM on September 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'll show them, I'll wait until all 14 episodes are available, then I'll download the torrents.
posted by e40 at 11:36 PM on September 19, 2013
posted by e40 at 11:36 PM on September 19, 2013
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posted by The Whelk at 3:23 PM on September 17, 2013 [15 favorites]