Don’t go running to send an email. I know that Eureka, attributed to Archimedes, means, “I have found it.” I'm referring here to Eureka, the TV show just beginning its second season on the Sci-Fi Channel. And I’m glad it’s back. Otherwise, this would be a long summer, TV watching wise.
Yes, not only do I watch TV, but I’m not afraid to admit it. Eureka was my favorite amongst the new arrivals last year and I have been anxiously awaiting its return ever since the first season cliffhanger last October. If you want something different, an unusual mix of science fiction, drama, comedy and romance, give it a shot.
If you are a sci-fi fan you might also try “The 4400” over on the USA Network, where you’ll also find the spy drama, “Burn Notice.” There’s also “Big Love” on HBO, and “Weeds” returns August 13th on Showtime.
Notice a pattern here?
Not one of the programs on my “Must See TV” list is on traditional commercial television. Caution, tastes vary and no network would survive if it were programmed for my pleasure. Still, I’m beginning to work on a special Nightly Business Report Series scheduled for November on the future of television and it strikes me as significant that a confessed TV watcher can’t find a single program on CBS, NBC, ABC or Fox to while away a summer night after a hard day at the office.
It seems like every option is a variant of the original amateur hour or some form of “reality” programming, a misnomer if I’ve ever seen one since any reporter knows the presence of an observer affects what is being observed. (See “Heisenberg Uncertainty Principal;” I do watch Nova on PBS)
I assume these programs attract an audience; otherwise the commercial networks wouldn’t be making them. But I wonder if they aren’t shooting themselves in the foot in the process. There does not seem to be a market for re-runs, syndication or DVD sales of these types of programs, and those seem to be a growing source of income for content owners as the entertainment business model evolves. I remember many years ago asking Akio Morita, co-founder of Sony, how he reacted to Wall Street criticism that Sony was paying too much for Columbia. The only way to succeed in the consumer electronics business, Morita said is to ensure that valuable content will be available to consumers in the format your products require. Buying Columbia was insurance that whatever new gadget his engineers invented, there would be content to support it.
I suspect the content of tomorrow is on the cable channels today. NBC may still collect profits from “Friends,” “Seinfeld” and “The West Wing”. But today’s program featuring a 30 something forced, in a battle of the generations variant of “The Bachelor,” to select a mate from a group of 20 somethings and 40 somethings doesn’t seem to have much staying power. NBC does have “30 Rock,” a comedy new last season which I found enjoyable. And “Heroes,” the only real breakaway hit of the 2006-2007 season. But it gave up on “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” a flawed new entry from Aaron Sorkin, creator of “The West Wing.” A few years back it gave up on “American Dreams,” a brilliant coming of age story set in the turbulent 60s, which was another favorite of mine.
NBC is certainly not alone. CBS cancelled an intriguing new program titled “Jericho” about a town with that name which finds itself cut off after nuclear bombs explode in several major cities in the United States. Is it war? Is it terrorism? Who’s in charge and who will survive? After announcing the cancellation, network executives found themselves on the receiving end of more than 40 thousand pounds of nuts sent by protesting fans of the program in a reference to something that happened in the first season’s cliffhanger finale. CBS relented and announced it would buy seven new episodes for broadcast in 2008. The network also challenged fans to talk up the program and encourage new viewers to watch. We shall see.
The bottom line is that the commercial networks don’t stand behind programs any more. They don’t give the shows time to build an audience. Jerry Seinfeld has been quoted saying that in today’s environment, his program would never have made it past the first year. His classic series is still thriving in syndication, and the first eight seasons are top sellers on the TV on DVD charts. But those charts are increasingly dominated by series coming from cable or series long gone from the commercial airwaves.
