Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


 OPINION 
0

Thanks for the Memories, Bob, 'Cuz 2008 TV Stunk

The golden age of TV may have died this year

Share

(Newser) – Today's golden age of TV lost a little shine this year, Heather Havrilesky writes on Salon. Twelve quick months gobbled up all of the momentum and promise from years past, leaving “a haze of crappy, unoriginal new programming, lackluster sophomore shows, flaccid sitcoms and pointless cable comedies.” Old standbys like Heroes and Weeds wilted, while rookies like My Own Worst Enemy and Easy Money collapsed.

The cancellation of shows like Dirty Sexy Money foreboded trouble for the soap serial, while TV’s implosion revealed a starling pattern: Visionary show creators jilting their projects for lucrative development deals, leaving overwhelmed writers to mimic their work. Concludes Havrilesky: “Times are tough but the golden age could return someday, if the TV industry figures out how to reinvent itself.”

The golden age of television may be over just a few short years after it began, Heather Havrilesky writes for Salon.
The golden age of television may be over just a few short years after it began, Heather Havrilesky writes for Salon.   (AP Photo/Julien's Auctions, Shaan Kokin)
Old standby shows like
Old standby shows like "Lost" disappointed this season, Heather Havrilesky writes.   (AP Photo/ABC, Mario Perez, HO)
New series like
New series like "My Own Worst Enemy," starring Christian Slater, showed promise but failed to attract viewers.   (AP Photo/NBC, Adam Taylor)
Even the serial drama, the darling of a new TV era after the success of
Even the serial drama, the darling of a new TV era after the success of "24" and "Lost," seemed to utterly lose its way this year, Heather Havrilesky writes.   (AP Photo/Fox Broadcasting Co., Kelsey McNeal)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Let's not mince words here: The TV industry is badly run, and there's far too much big money flashed around every corner for sustainable efforts to take root. - Heather Havrilesky

Shows like HBO's Entourage sallied forth clumsily like unholy zombies, defining a whole new subgenre: the plotless, joke-free, cringe-inducing, testosto-moronic half-hour cable tragicomedy.
- Heather Havrilesky, Salon

Despite the obvious effort to be original, few shows felt like anything more than cheap imitations of other, smarter creations, [including] CBS's bubbly Sex and the City wannabe The Ex List.
- Heather Havrilesky, Salon

It's up to the forward thinkers in the industry to redesign their business so that it rewards both talented writers and loyal viewers, instead of shunning both.
- Heather Havrilesky, Salon

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.6.09
Galleon Scandal: Shocked, Shocked by Insider Trading
11.5.09
Rupert Murdoch Is Mad but Cute
0 comments
VIEWING:
 
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

72 Stories

NIKKI FINKE

 Oprah Sets Date for 
 Cable Launch, 
 Show Move 

Discovery Channel to media mogul: 'Move it or lose it'

Nov 5, 09 1:50 PM CST
(Newser) - The long-awaited launch of Oprah's cable network is set for early 2011, and her syndicated talk show will move to the new Oprah Winfrey Network—and from Chicago to Los Angeles. The switch from Discovery Health Channel to OWN was originally set for mid-2009, and Discovery threatened to rescind the... More »

MORE ABOUT:
entertainment • television • CBS • ABC • Oprah Winfrey • Discovery Channel • Discovery Communications • Oprah Winfrey Network • syndication

no free lunch

 Hulu Fees Likely in 2010 

News Corp. talks subscription model; paywall unlikely

Oct 23, 09 10:30 AM CDT
(Newser) - The days of free TV shows on Hulu are likely ending: A News Corp. exec says “it’s time to start getting paid for broadcast content online,” adding that “Hulu concurs with that.” Asked by Broadcasting & Cable what exactly that means, Chase Carey was... More »

MORE ABOUT:
entertainment • television • Internet • NBC • online videos • Fox • Hulu • web video • News Corp • Chase Carey • paywall

tv preview

 'Pathetic' Seinfeld 
 Reunion Invades Curb 

HBO show resuscitates Larry David's other brainchild 10 years later

Oct 4, 09 3:01 PM CDT
(Newser) - Tonight's episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm will go farther than usual to satisfy your Seinfeld craving, but it's hardly the real thing—nor is it meant to be. The eagerly awaited reunion arc kicks off with Jerry Seinfeld himself deeming the very idea "desperate" and "pathetic,"... More »

MORE ABOUT:
entertainment • television • cable TV • HBO • Jerry Seinfeld • Larry David • Curb Your Enthusiasm • Seinfeld • Julia Louis-Dreyfus • sitcom • Michael Richards • network television • sitcoms • Jason Alexander • improvisation



 ABC, CBS 
 Urge Stars 
 to Boycott 
 Leno 

The Jay Leno Show performing well, but many still want it to fail

Oct 1, 09 10:07 AM CDT
(Newser) - Jay Leno touched off a firestorm of industry backlash as he launched his primetime show, and it’s not over yet: Rival networks ABC and CBS are encouraging their stars to boycott The Jay Leno Show since it competes with their own 10pm series, the Los Angeles Times ... More »

MORE ABOUT:
entertainment • NBC • CBS • ABC • Julia Louis-Dreyfus • Jay Leno • late night talk show • Conan O'Brien • TV ratings • Tonight Show

TV REVIEW

 Modern Family 
 Is 'Startlingly Good'  


Sep 23, 09 4:12 PM CDT
(Newser) - ABC's Modern Family is a critics' darling, who generally think it's a clever update of the family sitcom, and one that doesn't sacrifice the tenderness we've come to expect from the classics of the genre. A sampling:
  • The series, "with its multifamily approach and semi-documentary form, redefines, updates
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
television • ABC • pilot • sitcom • network television • Ed O'Neill • Modern Family • family comedy

72 Stories


Don't count out TV just yet
Los Angeles Times

TV's top 10 triumphs of 2008
San Diego Union-Tribune


Arts & Living  •  Media  •  Opinion 
TwitterFollow @NewserArts on Twitter

 
television • NBC • CBS • cable TV • ABC • HBO • Showtime • Fox • USA • network television

from our news partners