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TheCabinet
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Joined: 15 Aug 2006
Posts: 369
Location: Beaverton, OR
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 Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 1:42 am Post subject: Inferior art form? |
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B-Independent brought this up and I had to jump on it.
Television has always been looked down on as the inferior between it and movies. In a lot of ways, this use to be pretty true, but lately the tide seems to have shifted somewhat.
Personally, I think a lot of it has to do with HBO and shows like The Sopranos, Deadwood, Six Feet Under, Carnivale, etc.. What is happening there (and over on Showtime a little) is kind of akin to movie productions in the late 60's/early 70's with the dropping of the Hollywood Production Code. It seems like the artists are bursting through and having fun with things they never could do before. Subsequently, the major networks suddenly find themselves competing in quality (and in some cases ratings) to keep up with the trend. Suddenly A-list talent is starting to produce television shows and even popping up now and again on lowly-old television shows.
Is there anything to this or am I just completely insane? As far as horror goes, is television a decent medium to tell a story? |
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B-Independent.com
Joined: 31 Oct 2006
Posts: 189
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| Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 10:06 am Post subject: |
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Didn't see this thread previously....
The tide has change, definetly. On a network level, I think it's maily due as a reaction to reality programming. Serialized dramas needed to up the ante if they wanted to gain viewers.
As far as cable goes, those shows have always had a level of freedom that escapes the broadcast networks. To pull viewers away from the networks, cable had to be more inventive, and they were. Often, the level of quality is higher than what you've find on the networds too.
Is tv still the inferior art form? No, this and film both serve their purpose, and both now seem to be serving equal amounts of art of disposable entertainment. Looking back at the theatrical releases these past few months, I've opted to stay home and watch television or read a book. What I see playing on the boobtube looks far more interesting then what's at the multiplexes.
As for television being a decent medium to tell a story, I'd have to say "yes" simply based on the success of SUPERNATURAL, a show that does everything right. I've heard nothing but praise for DEXTER, but I'm not about to add a channel for one or two shows. For great horror, you need great characters. Ones that the audience will follow through hell and back because they are worth caring about (ie. clearly defined). |
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TheCabinet
Site Admin
Joined: 15 Aug 2006
Posts: 369
Location: Beaverton, OR
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 1:15 am Post subject: |
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| B-Independent.com wrote: | | The tide has change, definetly. On a network level, I think it's maily due as a reaction to reality programming. Serialized dramas needed to up the ante if they wanted to gain viewers. |
I think the popularity of reality television definitely had a major impact on serialized dramas, but I'm not sure all of the bump in quality is part of that. I attribute that far more to cable programming.
Reality definitely impacted the amount of "drama" these shows have to pump out and even some of stability of the characters. Since shows like Survivor, Amazing Race and American Idol "eliminate" one contestant every week, it seems that the counter-programming from serialized world suddenly had to up the death count of characters as well. Hell, they even advertise that now - "Tune in next week as one of these characters won't survive!" Well, 24 added a bit of that novelty as well, but they at least have it down to a fine art and still try to catch people off guard.
I definitely agree about the art forms and always have been majorly annoyed with the assumption that television was the motion picture's inferior little brother. And that was before television really started dishing out some quality.
I'm even one of those rare people that thinks it is absurd (as well as self-defeating) to even consider reality-tv shows to be inferior to serialized dramas or sitcoms. Like those, there are some good ones and some really bad ones. I remember David Kelley being quite upfront in his disgust of reality shows. A couple years later, does he have a show out there anymore? |
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Tom G
Joined: 01 Nov 2006
Posts: 194
Location: NY
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| Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:44 pm Post subject: |
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A lot of my favorite horror came from TV.
One of my earliest horror influences was the original Kolchak TV movies and series. I'm still extremely Kolchak to this day. Though I hated the remake series.
My current four holy grails of horror are all TV movies or series from the 70s:
-The World of Darkness
-The World Beyond
-Evil Stalks This House (AKA: Tales of the Haunted)
-The Bermuda Depths
I've found but have yet to purchase World Beyond and Bermuda Depths on bootleg.
Twilight Zone (first two incarnations) and Night Gallery are also kickass old shows. The first story on Night Gallery, The Cemetery, starring Roddy McDowell and Ossie Davis really scared the hell out of me back in the day and I still love watching it now that it is on DVD.
I think each decade since the 60s has had its' own strong moments even when there were super low budgets. I still think that the original Dark Shadows kicks ass even with it's dreadful acting, silly soap plots and near zilch budget. There's a charm to it. |
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TheCabinet
Site Admin
Joined: 15 Aug 2006
Posts: 369
Location: Beaverton, OR
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| Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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Dan Curtis was a master when it came to horror television and I often wonder why others haven't followed his lead.
I haven't seen any of your four holy grails and will definitely be hunting them down, but I agree on the 70's. I think in general that the 70's were a golden age for horror. Circle of Fear was a great William Castle series from that era this is still creepy to this day. |
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charm
Joined: 03 Aug 2007
Posts: 15
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