'The Event': What's Wrong and How to Fix It

[TV-Tastic]

New commentary on my blog is regarding the disappointing numbers for The Event and how to fix them. Trek Fans will especially appreciate #5.

Enjoy!

-The 'Tastic

'The Event': What's Wrong and How to Fix it in Five Easy Steps

[Temis the Vorta]

I can usually write 1000 word essays on How to Fix This Sucky Show, but The Event stumps me, because everything is wrong with it. The way to fix it is to cancel it and put something better in its timeslot.

1. You got some splainin’ to do.

No, the show needs a premise that is worth explaining.

2. Simplify.

When they come up with a viable premise, yes, it should be simple at its core.

3. Less flashbacks.

If the characters were interesting, maybe the flashbacks would be worthwhile.

4. More ‘splosions, please.

If the story sucks and the characters are dull, the ‘splosions just remind us that they're a distraction from the fact that the show has nothing going for it.

5. Manny Effing Coto.

Not that I'm blaming Coto, but S5 of Dexter was a letdown - the writers have lost track of their premise and the show has lost a lot of its snap. If Coto was partly to blame, sure, get him off Dexter and onto a show where he won't do any damage.

[TV-Tastic]

Temis the Red-Nosed Vorta wrote:

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5. Manny Effing Coto.

Not that I'm blaming Coto, but S5 of Dexter was a letdown - the writers have lost track of their premise and the show has lost a lot of its snap. If Coto was partly to blame, sure, get him off Dexter and onto a show where he won't do any damage.

S5 of Dexter was a letdown because S4 was so good. When you reach the top of your game four seasons in, there's nowhere to go but down. S5 is actually better than S1 - S3 my opinion. The problem is that every season of Dexter from now on is going to be a letdown because of the "Trinity Killer" storyline.

-The 'Tastic

[Kail]

Waaaaay to much jumping around the timeline.

[TV-Tastic]

Temis the Red-Nosed Vorta wrote:

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I can usually write 1000 word essays on How to Fix This Sucky Show, but The Event stumps me, because everything is wrong with it. The way to fix it is to cancel it and put something better in its timeslot.

1. You got some splainin’ to do.

No, the show needs a premise that is worth explaining.

2. Simplify.

When they come up with a viable premise, yes, it should be simple at its core.

3. Less flashbacks.

If the characters were interesting, maybe the flashbacks would be worthwhile.

4. More ‘splosions, please.

If the story sucks and the characters are dull, the ‘splosions just remind us that they're a distraction from the fact that the show has nothing going for it.

Arrghh... should have mentioned this before:

You're coming at this from a completely different perspective than I am. I like the show and the story, I just think they are doing a terrible job production-wise to keep and and attract audiences. I don't think the show in general needs to be fixed, but there are certain aspects about that certainly do.

The issue regarding the action only works if there the story is there to begin with, so in that respect we agree. Action for the sake of action is a distraction if there's no substance. Again, I just don't think that's the case with The Event.

-The 'Tastic

[TV-Tastic]

Kail wrote:

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Waaaaay to much jumping around the timeline.

See #3.

-The 'Tastic

[Temis the Vorta]

S5 of Dexter was a letdown because S4 was so good.

S1 and S2 were even better than S4. S5 was a letdown because the series had established an unusually high standard for its average, but when a series does that, it has an obligation to maintain it. There aren't any shows around as good as Dexter and so it's that much more galling when it starts to slip.

You're coming at this from a completely different perspective than I am. I like the show and the story,

What is it about the story that you like? I can't stand any of the characters and from what I can tell, the story is something about aliens who crash landed decades ago and are trying to do...something. Granted, it got so boring I started making heavy use of the fast-forward button, so I probably skipped over a lot of details, but I'm drawing a blank what it is about the show that's worth saving.

[Level 2 Diagnostic]

I'd say it's a lost cause at this point. It's clear they adopted the 24 method of making shit up as they go along. So even if they attempt to "explain" things it won't make any sense, because they're just making up the "answers" on the fly.

[bigdaddy]

Too much, and too late.

[Captain Pike]

Damn, disappointed; I thought the thread title was a Mitchell/Webb reference..

REMAIN INDOORS!

(ahh.. nevermind :|)

[Jack Bauer]

It's headed for cancellation already...no way it gets a second season. So why bother?

[TV-Tastic]

Temis the Red-Nosed Vorta wrote:

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S1 and S2 were even better than S4. S5 was a letdown because the series had established an unusually high standard for its average, but when a series does that, it has an obligation to maintain it.

Sometimes that's just impossible. Most shows that maintain any kind of significant history have that one great season that just plays out perfectly and when you hit the top there's nowhere else to go but down. 24, Prison Break, Heroes, and even Lost to an extent are shows that in recent memory had this happen to them. I think people are expecting far too much from the producers. This is art, not auto parts. Not every Shakespeare play was Hamlet.

I've said the same thing about NuBSG. Sequels and pre-quels are pointless no matter how original the concept. No susbsequent BSG is ever going to be up to the standadrd of NuBSG no matter how original or successful it is. That being said it doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy Caprica or that I won't enjoy Blood & Chrome, I'm just not going into it expecting it to maintain the same level of NuBSG.

There aren't any shows around as good as Dexter and so it's that much more galling when it starts to slip.

Been watching Dexter since the first episode aired and I couldn't disagree more. Dexter, S1 wasn't even the best show on Showtime at the time and the series still only cracks my top 5 (still, despite the bit of a letdown of S5) today. But then again, to each his/her own. That's what makes the debate so fun.

You're coming at this from a completely different perspective than I am. I like the show and the story,

What is it about the story that you like? I can't stand any of the characters and from what I can tell, the story is something about aliens who crash landed decades ago and are trying to do...something. Granted, it got so boring I started making heavy use of the fast-forward button, so I probably skipped over a lot of details, but I'm drawing a blank what it is about the show that's worth saving.

It doesn't sound to me like you are watching it at all anymore because you could have gotten that out of the first one or two episodes, but then again, like I said, I cetainly understand why people jumped ship early on.

The storyline is very compelling as are the mysteries and twists. That's what's keeping me coming back. As far as the characters are concerned, this isn't a character driven show, it's an event-driven show but it doesn't seem to understand that which was the point I was making in the post in item #3 re: flashbacks. Genuine character relatibility really should be a non-issue with this show just as it was with 24. All you needed to know in 24 is who the good guys were and who the bad guys were and from there you would sit back and try to figure out which one was the mole at CTU. With the Event, it's not much different, at least, it shouldn't be.

As far as why it's worth saving, at this point, as much as I like it, I don't think it's worth saving at all. The show has to appeal to a general audience and it's simply not doing that. It's only worth saving if they make dramatic changes to what they are doing with it now.

Jolly Good Bauer wrote:

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It's headed for cancellation already...no way it gets a second season. So why bother?

Not necessarily. It's definitely a bubble-show but there are a lot more new shows on NBC that are far worse off and destined for cancellation.

NBC wants this show to succeed and they are gong to try to help it along as much as they feasibly can for a couple of reasons. First, NBC has wanted their own 24 for some time now (they had even considered picking it up last year from FOX before they saw the books and the pricetag that FOX was asking). They had hoped that Heroes would be the answer but it never panned out that way and they gave that show a lot more time clean up its act then they probably should have. They aren't FOX. NBC has a history of giving shows a chance even when they probably shouldn't.

Second, Universal has a crapload of money tied up in Evan Katz to run this show and The Event was the only reason they signed him to a two-year, multi-million dollar contract to begin with.

As I noted, the two-hour recap episode airing on February 28 is an attempt to spark new audience interest and perhaps bring back people who may have left. The other thing to consider is the fact they ordered new episodes last month and they didn't have to do that. The Event is a very expensive show to produce and if they didn't have faith in it, they would have cut their losses, not ordered the reamining episodes of the season.

-The 'Tastic

[Spot's Meow]

There is something in what you've said about The Event not seeming to know whether it is a character or event driven show. They are stuck somewhere in the middle, doing both half-heartedly, when really they should have either focused entirely on making us love these characters no matter what's going on in the story, or really involving us in a compelling story no matter who the characters are. Unfortunately we just have mediocre characters acting out a mediocre story, and it just doesn't capture my attention.

[Starbreaker]

It needs Betty White.

[Temis the Vorta]

It doesn't sound to me like you are watching it at all anymore because you could have gotten that out of the first one or two episodes, but then again, like I said, I cetainly understand why people jumped ship early on.

You're right, I've just been skimming. But you still haven't described what it is about the show that is worth saving. Why not try explaining it to a new viewer who doesn't know squat about it? I'll take what you post and see what I can come up with to rescue it.

As for its chances of renewal, NBC is facing another disastrous lineup this season, and my hunch is The Cape will be another instant-cancellation fodder show for them. They very well might make an extra effort to rescue The Event.