News Discovery Would Have Been Different On Regular Television

[Rahul]

Discovery would not have been different at all. The episodes probably averaged 44-48 minutes. Most commercial breaks were planned, and the too-obscene-for-tv content accumulated probably accounts for <30 seconds of screentime.

I have a feeling this show was made to eventually air on TV, or at least to have that option left on the table.

You know, I can easily live without them being able tu use the word "fuck" if they in turn turn the fucking gore down.
I can't stand that shit...

 

[MakeshiftPython]

This is just wrong, just because Netflix dumps all episodes at once for their shows doesn't mean that this is the way a show is "designed for online viewing".
There's nothing wrong with releasing episodes weekly online, I actually prefer it to the Netflix model. Weekly episodes allow for discussions both online and in real life for months, people love it or hate it, episodes are picked apart, we come up with theories, there's the anticipation of a new episode finally dropping.

None of that happens when Netflix drops an entire season, take Stranger Things for example, a huge success but people barely talk about it. What happens is a thread is created but because everyone watches at their own pace people can't really talk to each other, they just post opinions under spoiler tags, this goes on for a week or two and then the thread dies.

Communities grow around weekly shows because the vast majority of the audience being on the same level does have an advantage, there's also new content over a longer time which keeps discussion alive.

Internationally Netflix has quite a few shows that air weekly in the US and they're following their schedule. In germany for example it's not just Discovery. Riverdale, Black Lightning, Shadowhunters and Scream release episodes weekly for example and it works just fine and Netflix is already moving away from "everything at once" for some of their shows, some split their seasons into two halfs. I wouldn't be surprised if the binge model goes away eventually and Netflix will move to releasing episodes weekly for their own shows.

I whole heartily agree with this sentiment. When first going through DAREDEVIL I found it nearly impossible to try to discuss it online because everyone was on different pace, so I rarely joined in on discussions over that and any other Netflix show. I actually like that Hulu has stuck to the weekly method, as that built a lot of anticipation for shows like THE HANDMAID'S TALE. Plus I hardly ever binge watch shows anyway, even older shows because I try to take each episode in once a day rather than try to plow through.

 

[lawman]

Sez who? Back in the mid-sixties there were WAY fewer one hour dramas and sitcoms being broadcast. There were even fewer GOOD one hour dramas and sitcoms. ...
Why would it take a "distinctive kind of talent" to write a one hour teleplay? It's just a story that can be wrapped up in one hour. The only reason there were more back then was because TV audiences were a lot less sophisticated and needed to see everything wrapped up at the end of an hour. My mother would get crazy if one of her shows dared to do een a two parter.
...
I would venture to say that there are tons more screenwriters in Hollywood today than back in the sixties. That fact alone means there is also at least a statistical probability that there are also more good screenwriters today.

For clarity's sake: I didn't say there was an overall lack of writing talent in Hollywood. (By no means!) Nor was I talking about episodic television in general (like original Star Trek). I was referring specifically to anthology shows, like Twilight Zone, where every episode is completely independent from every other episode — no continuing characters, nothing.

There were a ton of these in the 1950s and early '60s — not just TZ, but Philco Television Playhouse and Kraft Television Theatre and Four Star Playhouse and Ford Television Theatre and Robert Montgomery Presents and Fireside Theater and Goodyear Television Playhouse and Science Fiction Theatre and Tales of Tomorrow and The Outer Limits and Climax! and Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse and Schlitz Playhouse of Stars and Alfred Hitchcock Presents and heaven only knows how many more. They told original scripted stories, or adapted published novels, stories, and stageplays. A lot of them won critical acclaim and awards, and attracted major stars. And it's a style of television that's (almost) nonexistent today. I'm not saying it requires more writing talent than current styles of television... I'm just saying it requires a different kind of talent. That's why I'm skeptical that any new take on TZ, no matter who the showrunner is, can live up to the original.

 

[gblews]

For clarity's sake: I didn't say there was an overall lack of writing talent in Hollywood. (By no means!) Nor was I talking about episodic television in general (like original Star Trek). I was referring specifically to anthology shows, like Twilight Zone, where every episode is completely independent from every other episode — no continuing characters, nothing.

Yes, I know. My purpose in pointing out that there are a much greater overall number of TV screenwriters in Hollywood today was to make the point that the much greater number of them is an indication that there is also a greater number of "distinctly talented" writers today. I'm saying that lack of writers who can write anthologies (any writer can do this) is not the reason that anthology shows have fallen out of favor. They tend to be more expensive and audiences just haven't supported them on broadcast TV.

There were a ton of these in the 1950s and early '60s — not just TZ, but Philco Television Playhouse and Kraft Television Theatre and Four Star Playhouse and Ford Television Theatre and Robert Montgomery Presents and Fireside Theater and Goodyear Television Playhouse and Science Fiction Theatre and Tales of Tomorrow and The Outer Limits and Climax! and Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse and Schlitz Playhouse of Stars and Alfred Hitchcock Presents and heaven only knows how many more.

Whoa. That is some nice googling. I'd forgotten some of those.

And it's a style of television that's (almost) nonexistent today. I'm not saying it requires more writing talent than current styles of television... I'm just saying it requires a different kind of talent. That's why I'm skeptical that any new take on TZ, no matter who the showrunner is, can live up to the original.

Here is where we disagree. I don't think it takes a special or different type of talent to write a one hour, one off, self contained teleplay. This has got to be like teleplay writing 101. I actually think that writing a story arc that stretches over 13 to 22 hours of television might be more difficult and take some practice to get right. Especially true, I think, when there is also a need to present a storyline that is resolved at the end of each episode while still pushing the overall arc forward. But that's just my opinion.

I'd venture to say that most, if not all, teleplay writers out there can write anthology or serialized shows to varying degrees of quality. Lack of numbers isn't the issue. The key, as always, is finding writers whose stories can touch an audience whether they are writing a serial or anthology. That will be Jordan Peele's challenge. BTW, having TZ on CBSAA should make the task of keeping the show alive until it can find it's sea legs, less difficult.

 

[lawman]

Here is where we disagree. I don't think it takes a special or different type of talent to write a one hour, one off, self contained teleplay...

Yes, this is where we disagree. Writers get accustomed to working in certain formats; unfamiliar formats test their talents.

The key, as always, is finding writers whose stories can touch an audience whether they are writing a serial or anthology. That will be Jordan Peele's challenge. BTW, having TZ on CBSAA should make the task of keeping the show alive until it can find it's sea legs, less difficult.

I'd certainly like it to be good. At the same time, the only Twilight Zone that really stands the test of time (despite periodic revivals) is the Rod Serling version. I'd be happier if CBS were giving Peele a completely new show and letting it sink or swim on its own merits, without inviting the comparison to a classic. But CBS is all about leveraging its familiar brands, I guess...

 

[fireproof78]

But CBS is all about leveraging its familiar brands, I guess...

Absolutely.

 

[EnderAKH]

Absolutely.

As are pretty much every other network and movie studio.

 

[Ovation]

It’s called capitalism.

 

[fireproof78]

It’s called capitalism.

 

[lawman]

Well, capitalism basically sucks. Or at the very least, is very poorly correlated with creative integrity. We can all agree on that, right?

 

[EnderAKH]

Well, capitalism basically sucks. Or at the very least, is very poorly correlated with creative integrity. We can all agree on that, right?

Yes, on this we can agree.

 

[gblews]

I'd certainly like it to be good.

Really? Cause it kinda sorta sounds like you might already have your mind made up. Your right of course, but lets call it what it is.

I'd be happier if CBS were giving Peele a completely new show and letting it sink or swim on its own merits, without inviting the comparison to a classic. But CBS is all about leveraging its familiar brands, I guess...

I'm actually a bit surprised he took this show. I hope it means that he has a particular love for TZ and is ready for the challenge. If Get Our wasn't so special, I might be a little skeptical as well.

 

[fireproof78]

Well, capitalism basically sucks. Or at the very least, is very poorly correlated with creative integrity. We can all agree on that, right?

Poorly correlated with creative integrity? Yeah, I can get behind that.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Well, capitalism basically sucks. Or at the very least, is very poorly correlated with creative integrity. We can all agree on that, right?

What economic system would correlate better with creative integrity?