TV Viewing for Cynics
The sweetie is a fan of NYPD Blue. I will often watch with him. This season they have added a new pretty blonde character to the show, to replace the pretty blonde character previously played by Charlotte Ross.
Apparently two weeks ago the new pretty blonde was flirting with everyone on the squad, which is not appropriate when you are a New York City detective. Last week she was still kind of flirting and had a fallout with the Latino detective. This week they made up, and everyone is going to live happily ever after.
The cynic in me says that they were testing out the new pretty blonde to see how she worked out - if audiences liked her everyone would make good. If she didn't test well, they'd use the flirting to get her kicked off the force and bring some backup pretty blonde onto the show.
The cynicism always comes out strongest at the end of the season. When cliffhangers are written that basically say, "We are in contract negotiations with this actor right now. If negotiations are successful the character will be back again, but if they aren't successful then they'll take the job in Madagascar and you'll never see them again." It also comes out when you know characters are leaving shows. When Sherry Stringfeld (another pretty blonde) left ER she moved to Arizona. She was able to move back to Chicago several seasons later and rejoin the show. When Anthony Edwards left ER he died. Unless they pull a "Who Killed Mark Green" reminiscent of Dallas he ain't coming back to the show.
The scary thing is, figuring out what plot twists were written in to accommodate audience polling and contract negotiations can be more entertaining than the programs themselves.
Apparently two weeks ago the new pretty blonde was flirting with everyone on the squad, which is not appropriate when you are a New York City detective. Last week she was still kind of flirting and had a fallout with the Latino detective. This week they made up, and everyone is going to live happily ever after.
The cynic in me says that they were testing out the new pretty blonde to see how she worked out - if audiences liked her everyone would make good. If she didn't test well, they'd use the flirting to get her kicked off the force and bring some backup pretty blonde onto the show.
The cynicism always comes out strongest at the end of the season. When cliffhangers are written that basically say, "We are in contract negotiations with this actor right now. If negotiations are successful the character will be back again, but if they aren't successful then they'll take the job in Madagascar and you'll never see them again." It also comes out when you know characters are leaving shows. When Sherry Stringfeld (another pretty blonde) left ER she moved to Arizona. She was able to move back to Chicago several seasons later and rejoin the show. When Anthony Edwards left ER he died. Unless they pull a "Who Killed Mark Green" reminiscent of Dallas he ain't coming back to the show.
The scary thing is, figuring out what plot twists were written in to accommodate audience polling and contract negotiations can be more entertaining than the programs themselves.
posted by Swankette at 11:53 PM
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