A Game of Thrones - TV Show Discussion Thread

[Wezil]

You realize you are citing an Awards Show that gave their Best Drama prize to GREY'S ANATOMY one year, right?

Yes.

See my post above.

[Wezil]

I support Wezil on this. I think the last 2 or 3 years have marked a big change. A few years ago there were great "must watch" shows from the networks. But I can't think of any new ones that started in the last few years. House is still great but that's ending, that's the only one I can think of.

I loved House and still watch but I think it went off the rails a few years ago.

And it's not just cable networks it's pretty much entirely HBO and Showtime.

And AMC. Imran rightly notes AMC is the "tamest" of the lot and has programming that could probably go to broadcast TV with few changes. Mad Men would have to lose the smoking, Walking Dead would have to stop shooting kids in the head and The Killing would need to find an ending...

Homeland is currently screening here, it's great.

I watched that and was most impressed. Looking forward to the DVDs.

[Wezil]

For interest sake, the Emmy lists for the same time period (winner listed first):

2006 24 FOX
Grey's Anatomy ABC
House FOX
The Sopranos HBO
The West Wing NBC

2007 The Sopranos HBO
Boston Legal ABC
Grey's Anatomy
Heroes NBC
House FOX

2008 Mad Men AMC
Boston Legal ABC
Damages FX
Dexter Showtime
House FOX
Lost ABC

2009 Mad Men AMC
Big Love HBO
Breaking Bad AMC
Damages FX
Dexter Showtime
House FOX
Lost ABC

2010 Mad Men AMC
Breaking Bad AMC
Dexter Showtime
The Good Wife CBS
Lost ABC
True Blood HBO

2011 Mad Men AMC
Boardwalk Empire HBO
Dexter Showtime
Friday Night Lights DirecTV/NBC
Game of Thrones HBO
The Good Wife CBS

[Wezil]

Anyway Imran, I've enjoyed the debate but tire of it.

I think your point about financing and dollars is important and I consider it one of the reasons for the change in the past few years. Shows like Game of Thrones can't air on broadcast (regardless of content) simply because they cost too much to produce. Broadcast TV still does comedy well in part for the low cost of producing it compared to drama. This of course also explains the plague of "reality TV" shows. They are cheap to produce.

Also important is format. The ability to write a 40-60 minute episode without the constraints of commercial breaks is liberating from an artistic point of view. This is an inherent liability to which there is no solution for broadcast. They can't get rid of the commercials.

And lastly of course I think the absence of FCC rules (and sponsor opposition as you pointed out earlier) is also a significant artistic freedom enjoyed by cable. They don't have to write with consideration of the censors in the back of their minds and it is reflected in some (not all) of the cable programming.

[Imran Siddiqui]

The commericals I can agree with. That has some limitations in writing. However, the lack of FCC goes both ways. I think just about EVERYONE realized that HBO had to include the "Roz" scenes in Game of Thrones because they had to get their "quota" of nudity in every episode. Which takes away from the plot.

As for Mike's point of "Must Watch Shows" - they tend to be the low ratings ones and get canceled for it (a la, Firefly). Though some of broken through like Lost and Once Upon a Time (same writers). Fringe has also had a number of great seasons though it constantly on the bubble. Friday Night Lights had been getting TONS of love (it's a great show) but it required Direct TV to step in and buy it so it could continue.

[Wezil]

You mentioned Weeds earlier...

Did you see their "Breaking Bad" ending last season?

Was it homage or rip-off?

[Imran Siddiqui]

I dunno. I stopped watching Weeds during the ghastly 2nd season (though I hear the 3rd season got better).

(I do watch Breaking Bad religiously)

[Wezil]

edit - Weeds spoiler if anyone is watching but not up to date...


Yeah, Weeds is another one that went off the rails. They reinvented themselves too many times.

Last season ended very similar to Season 3 of BB. A sniper has a bead on Nancy and the screen goes dark as the rifle goes off...

[Imran Siddiqui]

Spoiler for those who hadn't seen it .

Though I think that's a classic TV trope rather than any rip-off/homage.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Though there are a lot of shows who have one great idea but can't sustain it past one great season. Weeds is one (though like I said, I hear it gets better again, but not as good as S1). Walking Dead is the other obvious one. I think one can fit the Tudors in as well, but their 2-4 seasons were ok rather than horrid.

[Wezil]

Perhaps. It just seemed too soon after BB to be used as a season ender.

Classic Weeds bit. I love how Shane doesn't say a word throughout.

NSFW

[DaShi]

As for West Wing - winner of 4 straight Drama Emmys from 2000 to 2003. I didn't realize 10 years ago was "not current".

10 years is ancient in television. In fact, we're about due for a Seinfeld reboot.

[Tuberski]

Though there are a lot of shows who have one great idea but can't sustain it past one great season. Weeds is one (though like I said, I hear it gets better again, but not as good as S1). Walking Dead is the other obvious one. I think one can fit the Tudors in as well, but their 2-4 seasons were ok rather than horrid.

The Walking Dead has made a hell of a comeback in the second half of season 2. Almost on par with season 1.

ACK!

[Dinner]

One of the guys at work keeps talking about Walking Dead so I may have to rent it or something.

[Sava]

YOU GOIN LET ME PUT THOSE PAPAYAS IN MEY


DAYAM