90210
Turns out the CW is rehashing an old, popular television series, Beverly HIlls, 90210, and calling it 90210. Unfortunately, they did this without completely thinking this one through, as they're only now starting to realize that what might have been a really popular show in the past does not translate to a really popular show in the present. First off, the cadre of people who loved the show has grown up. The people they are trying to attract for the show are young people who have never, or rarely, ever seen the show, and certainly never watched it while it was airing. So, you don't have a new generation of people just dying to know whta happened to Dylan and others (I think that was one of the characters...to be honest, I never watched it, so I'm just going on memory of a show that aired during my time but never attracted me).
So, CW is now just realizing it needs to attract young people to its show. Then, once they realized this was not going to be an easy task because unlike the old 90210, this show is competing directly against some pretty popular shows that do exactly what their show is going to try to do. First off, you have shows like Gossip Girl that seem to attract that demographic they are seeking, and unlike the past when Beverly Hills, 90210 aired, you have a ton of reality shows that ironically have the exact plot lines that you'd get in a 90210 show (that's kind of what made those reality shows where people live in the same building for a year so attractive).
Therefore, CW is trying to attract its old cadre of fans by bringing back some of the heroes of the old show. They say the show will be about both the kids and the adults, unlike last time when it was just about the kids. Well, I got news for them, but that's a really bad idea. The show takes place around a high school and involves very, very wealthy kids who seem to have the world handed to them on a silver plate. That means that in order to really place an old character into this environment, they have to do what they're planning to do: Make them a teacher. Now, I don't know about you, but if I was a fan of the old show where it was all about one-upping the others and showing how wealthy you are, coming back to a show where you're now a high school teacher seems like a pretty low blow for your character. In other words, you didn't make it big, you weren't the great success you were planning to be, but you're in one of the most disrespected occupations in US history. You're a high school teacher. Even if actors came back as city leaders, it woiuld still be akin to watching someone play one of the joke leaders in Weeds, where Kevin Nealon probably has mastered that role of someone in city government who really shouldn't be there.
So, what's to see in 90210 that's going to attract anyoine? Literally, they're selling the idea on the actors/actresses coming back without realizing that people aren't there to see the actors, but to see the characters, and if those characters are placed in the positions that they're already claiming, they're going to have a hard time selling this show.
I'm not saying they can't succeed, but they have a lot of work ahead of them. What they really need to do is focus on the question: Why would someone in high school TODAY feel a desire to watch this show? And what makes this show any better than the numerous alternatives that are already available?
Stumble It!
So, CW is now just realizing it needs to attract young people to its show. Then, once they realized this was not going to be an easy task because unlike the old 90210, this show is competing directly against some pretty popular shows that do exactly what their show is going to try to do. First off, you have shows like Gossip Girl that seem to attract that demographic they are seeking, and unlike the past when Beverly Hills, 90210 aired, you have a ton of reality shows that ironically have the exact plot lines that you'd get in a 90210 show (that's kind of what made those reality shows where people live in the same building for a year so attractive).
Therefore, CW is trying to attract its old cadre of fans by bringing back some of the heroes of the old show. They say the show will be about both the kids and the adults, unlike last time when it was just about the kids. Well, I got news for them, but that's a really bad idea. The show takes place around a high school and involves very, very wealthy kids who seem to have the world handed to them on a silver plate. That means that in order to really place an old character into this environment, they have to do what they're planning to do: Make them a teacher. Now, I don't know about you, but if I was a fan of the old show where it was all about one-upping the others and showing how wealthy you are, coming back to a show where you're now a high school teacher seems like a pretty low blow for your character. In other words, you didn't make it big, you weren't the great success you were planning to be, but you're in one of the most disrespected occupations in US history. You're a high school teacher. Even if actors came back as city leaders, it woiuld still be akin to watching someone play one of the joke leaders in Weeds, where Kevin Nealon probably has mastered that role of someone in city government who really shouldn't be there.
So, what's to see in 90210 that's going to attract anyoine? Literally, they're selling the idea on the actors/actresses coming back without realizing that people aren't there to see the actors, but to see the characters, and if those characters are placed in the positions that they're already claiming, they're going to have a hard time selling this show.
I'm not saying they can't succeed, but they have a lot of work ahead of them. What they really need to do is focus on the question: Why would someone in high school TODAY feel a desire to watch this show? And what makes this show any better than the numerous alternatives that are already available?
Labels: Television
Stumble It!
posted by Duane @ 11:17 AM
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