I still refuse to watch it, though. Shouldn’t take 50 thousand pounds of peanuts to have a network close a plotline.

I know that straight-to-DVD movies have become more common lately, and have gained more respect than what they used to, because of this Indy movement. I wonder if there will ever be straight-to-DVD TV shows. It doesn’t seem that far-fetched, really. You make a show, air some episodes during another show’s break, and then get people to go out and rent or buy the rest of the season on DVD. Then, if the response is high enough, you do it again for another season. If it’s hot enough, you might even get a full-run of the series on broadcast. I had heard rumors that Family Guy, before the show was picked back up by Fox, was going to do a season on DVD, and imagine they could do that because of the low cost of animation. A show like Heroes, on the other hand, probably couldn’t do that as easily without running a high risk of losing money. But I’d gladly watch a cheap show with great writing and a great concept over a super-glossy show with predictable plotting and a tired premise (see previous example).

I know it’s wishfull thinking, but, like I said, I just wish there was a new medium that would give show creators a place to display their work without network involvement. Maybe the Internet will be that medium.

By the way, I wholeheartedly DISagree with putting Lost on the “didn’t do it right” list. In my opinion, Lost is the only show that has ever done it PERFECTLY. Long breaks and “filler episodes” notwithstanding, Lost is the only drama I’m aware of that truly has integrity and respect for it’s viewers. (Seinfeld being the only comedy.)

Maybe for your “did it right” you should include shows like Battlestar Galactica (though they have a break, they show 10 episodes week to week at a time) or Sopranos (other than their weird seasonal breaks…1-2 years) the also show a weekly episode until the season is done. In fact, just use all HBO shows in general.

I agree about cancelled shows but what can you do? I think a better idea would be to follow the BBC model for shows. Instead of trying to sell the next 22-26 episode monster season for a show, create a concept that you can do in 6-10 episodes, do it and air it and see what happens. Most shows that get past the pilot get investments for that many episodes anyway (even Drive, I think, has that many in the can…and Firefly had double).

Look at great shows like Dr. Who (doing 12 eps, I think), the original Office (6 per season), Coupling (6, as well), etc. I would rather have 5 shows with 6 episodes each that are tightly plotted and enjoyable than one 22 episode season of a show with filler episodes (I am looking at you, Season 7 of Buffy). Drive, a fun concept, doesn’t have 22 episode seasons to me. If anything screams short concept, that is it.

The same could be said for Firefly. I would watch that show for 10 seasons if they had it on but a nice 10 episode season with a beginning, middle and end would be just as satisfying to me. I think we need to get out of the box of “Have to fill 22 episodes to be a series” idea and get into just doing stories that are can be shot and aired and done. If it works, do another series. If it doesn’t, oh well, at least we have one full story to enjoy.

The shows I watch on DVD over and over again are rarely full seasons of the classic Amercian genre shows, like Star Trek, Buffy, etc. I pick bits out and enjoy but that is it. But the HBO shows like Deadwood, Band of Brothers, etc. get yearly viewings because I can watch a full season in a few weeks of casual viewing and get a fully developed and wonderful story.

As for Cliffhangers, they can be good and bad and I think it is a matter of taste. I liked how Heroes ended..it finished the main storyline and gave us more of a teaser for season 2. BSG, on the other hand, gave us a full-on cliffhanger. Both work for me as I am equally excited for both. The best finale with cliffhanger would be the Star Trek the Next Gen series that had Riker standing up and saying “fire!” as he went against the Borg. How fun was that? We all yelled and the screen while giggling, dreading the wait and making us want more. I think that is the key. If you want to come back again, that is awesome. If they do it by wrapping things up for creating a cliffhanger, fine.

Anyway, neat list and fun for discussion.

- Winter breaks are good, I’m on the road visiting family, I’m not watching TV, thank god people still use them, *note* Simpsons, Heroes, Family Guy

- 24 has used those similar big government, terrorist over used plots

- Finally, all the shows you mention are free contact via public broadcast, you get what you pay for, if you want good serialised drama, get HBO and tune in to it’s commercial free seasons.