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RSSTo Screen or Not to Screen for Critics. Is that a question?
Moments after I posted Monday's column as if they were waiting for me, I received the following email from The CW:
"The CW and our studio partner CBS Paramount Network Television have made the strategic marketing decision not to screen "90210" for any media in advance of its premiere. We're not hiding anything . . . simply keeping a lid on 90210 until 9.02, riding the curiosity and anticipation into premiere night, and letting all our constituents see it at the same time."
Now, of course, I don't have any particular right to see the series premiere of 90210 before you do. Sure that's the way things are usually done but the CW can decide not to play nice. It just smarts a little. They did send me the first three episodes of Gossip Girl but I'm still a little cranky with them.
The decision also ensures that the ratings for the premiere are going to be huge. The network is doing a heck of a job generating interest -- from the stories of Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty's first day on the set together (OMG! There was no -- gasp -- fighting) to the news that Tori Spelling had dropped out of the series to those ads with the scantily clad (and wet) new residents of television's most famous zip code.
And obviously not screening the pilot for critics just ups the level of curiosity about the new series to a frenzied level. But it also makes me a little worried. Usually it's not a good sign when networks chose not to let critics see a new series. And sure I could chose to not write anything about 90210 in retaliation but, let's be honest, at this point it's a little like asking me not to breathe.
What do you think of the CW's decision not to send out screeners in advance? Does it make you worried? Does it change the way you feel about the show? Or do you not think anything about it? Talk about it below.
Also just wanted to let you know about this now so you can program your DVRs. SOAPnet will air a 24-hour marathon of the original Beverly Hills, 90210 on Labor Day, (Sept. 1) starting at midnight and going through the entire day. It will feature 24 of show's biggest episodes of the first four seasons including the Halloween episode where Donna was dressed as a mermaid (the episode that made me decided to watch 90210 live and tape Cheers, a pivotal moment in any young girl's life), the episode where Dylan choses Kelly and they tell Brenda (Best. Episode. Ever.), and Donna Martin Graduates! (of course).
Ask TV Gal
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the finale of My Boys. lee-ann
And I would love to tell you my thoughts. I, of course, liked that there was a moment between P.J. and Bobby. But I didn't quite believe that Bobby would go from being totally in love with Elsa to thinking he was marrying the wrong woman. I think the series could have set that up better by not abandoning the Bobby and PJ potential romance in the season premiere. I also didn't really believe that P.J. would still be interested in Jack after he behaved like a petulant child and she had been warned by so many people about his playboy ways. And I really was excited for a Kenny/Stephanie romance so I was disappointed that this idea was skedaddled so quickly. But what I absolutely adore about the show was still there -- particularly the hilarious banter among the boys. What did you think about the season finale of My Boys? Talk about it below.
Ever think about running a column solely about TV fans biggest gripes? One of mine is when spoilers are slipped in, which signal something big about a show. Maggie
Maggie was referring to all the information that is being leaked about the fate of beloved characters on the new 90210 (which I won't repeat so as not to become part of the problem). I think my biggest gripe right now in this very moment is endless product placement and self promotion. Last week on Project Runway when the contestants had to design an outfit for Brooke Shields' character on Lipstick Jungle really annoyed me. Yes it's an exciting prize for the winning designer to see their outfit on TV and yes Brooke was a great guest judge but so much of that episode seemed like a promotion for Lipstick Jungle. It made the episode so clunky. So today's topic is: What is your biggest TV gripe right now. Talk about it below.
Where Have I Seen Them Before?
Missie, Ginni and Donna were the first to recognize this week's most popular face. Vanessa Marano, Luke's daughter April on Gilmore Girls, was the goth girl Theresa on The Closer. Many also remember that Marano played Franchesca on The Comeback. Cheryl White was Theresa's mother (and the mother of the missing boy). You'll see White, who is a popular guest star, in the season premiere of Private Practice and she was Donna in the final two episodes of My Name is Earl last season. She was also Victoria on The Book of Daniel. Daryl Sabara was Sergei's friend Jason. Sabara was Juni in the Spy Kids movies.
Stewart was the first to recognize Colin Hanks was Peggy's new priest on Mad Men. In addition to being Tom Hanks' son, we know him as Alex on Roswell and from the movie Orange County. Bob caught Marguerite Moreau was the prostitute Roger spend some quality time with on Mad Men. She was Suzanne on What About Brian, Reed on The O.C., and Monica on life as we know it.
Alice Hirson was Annie's mom Jenny on 7th Heaven. She was Amy's grandmother on The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
That's all for today. I'm back on Friday with quotes of the week. Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com. Talk to you on Friday.
You can always tell who the criminal is on Law & Order at the opening guest credits. When a "name" appears, you know s/he has to be involved in the final outcome. Sometimes the actor will only appear for a minute or 2 in the first half-hour, but you know that's a red herring. So-and-so is not making a guest appearance just to give an alebi.
A gripe: those annoying ads that appear in the bottom corners of the screen for upcoming episodes. TNT is the worst for this, though not the only one.
I think no 90210 premiere is a toss-up - the CW could be riding the wave of excitement or running scared 'cause it bites. Not sure. Either way I bet it will premiere big now b/c we'll all tune it to see, including the critics who didn't get to screen it!
I think my biggest gripe about TV is - and please don't yell at me, remember it's just an opinion - is reality TV. Because of it's "success," good shows are actually compromising on quality writing and execution to try and compete. Not to mention quality shows are also getting canceled b/c they are not getting the same ratings as reality shows that manage to show several "complete" seasons in one year. I personally boycott all reality TV on the major networks, but since I don't have a Nielsens box, it doesn't really much matter. Still, I can't stand to watch it, even the commercials for the shows make me cringe. I really thought, or at least hoped, reality TV would have it's moment and then fade away, but unfortunately the cheap production costs and high ratings keep it around and well-written, well-executed shows end up canceled. So THAT is my biggest gripe - reality TV.
I think product placement can be done well. "The Office" always seemed to handle it deftly while "Eureka" is being smart about their Degree Deodorant product placement this season.
AndreaC- I hear where you are coming form, but not all reality TV is created equally. You have to begin to think of it as a genre in and of itself. It's like saying there are too many dramas on TV so comedies don't get produced. I will admit that there is more experimentation with reality TV than other genre's because of the low production costs, but I think that is the capitalistic why, right?
It's always been my experience that if a network or movie studio doesn't want to screen episodes/movie, then it usually is so bad that they are afraid that the word will get out. If it's good (see LOST), then they want all the papers to say '4 stars', 'Check this out', etc.
Hope I'm wrong for your sake, Amy. I'm not a 90210 fan myself.
Blue Sean - I completely understand why networks go with reality TV from a capitalistic standpoint, but I still think the consumer gets cheated. If you want to get picky about genre - reality TV should actually be in the drama genre. The producers actually set up a lot of the action or simply edit clips to show the story in the way they want. To rub salt in the wound though, the audience is convinced this is "reality" when in fact we see only what the producers want us to see. It's cheap, it's popular, and it's manipulative. Nope, it still remains my biggest gripe, whether or not it is its own genre. And actually, I would argue that TV goes back and forth between being more heavily drama to more heavily sitcom b/c of the tide of public popularity. The point is though that the tide usually sways. I don't see reality TV swaying, unfortunately.
Gripe #1: Seasons are TOO LONG. For most shows, 22 episodes are too many to maintain quality. 10-16 eps is enough. HBO, Showtime, TNT and USA succeed nicely on that many and leave us wanting more.
Gripe #2: Stop at Season 4. Past that, most shows drop off in quality (except for procedural dramas). The writers run out of ideas and resort to frequent guest stars (see Will & Grace) The shark gets jumped, flipped, vaulted, whatever.
Of course, none of this will happen because there's too much money to be made.
People or even tv studios leaking spoilers is one of my major gripes. Like last season when Michael came back to Lost. Everyone probably knew he would eventually come back, but did they have to announce him coming back to the show in the summer after season 3? It just made a big reveal of him being on the freighter a little less shocking. Can't we go back to when stories were actually surprising?
Oh, and did Smallville really have to dedicate an entire episode to Stride Gum?
When a network chooses not to let critics screen the premiere of a series, I usually see it as a negative, and perhaps, foreboding of what's to come. Seriously, it's not like secrets on the new '90210' show are going to cause people to go into a frenzy like with an episode of 'Lost' or something. It just seems silly to me. No doubt I'll still tune in for the premiere, though!
My Boys: I agree completely with everything you said Amy! I liked the episode, because I like the show in general, but you hit the nail on the head with each of the problems. But as always, I can't wait to see what happens next!