Copycat Reality Shows (Should the execs be fired?)

[IdesOmarch]

OK, I realize Hollywood is copy cat city, but seriously, 3, no less, 3 shows about logging? Ax men, Swamp Loggers, and 1 other, can't remember the name now. We really need 3 shows about logging? How is logging interesting in the least? Now we have about 3 or 4 shows about Pawn Shops (I do like Pawn Stars, but 3 shows?) Now they have announced a new show about coal miners? Really? Coal miners. Then I was already complaining about the one the other day about movers? Movers? Really? Movers? How about a show about painters, roofers, floor guys? I mean ok for the HGTV channel that is about home improvement, but for a general reality show?

And then there is the whole vent about the Travel Channel, a great concept for a channel right? Except the Travel Channel wants to be the food channel, since about 80% of its programming is about Food. Really? Food? Really producers you do realize your channel is called the "Travel" channel right? Not the food channel? Does anyone else think that these producers should all be shot, then sent to the Salt mines in Russia? Is it just me? Where do they get these lame producers that think its a good idea to have another logging show? (I'm not necessarily talking about Travel Channel producers but all of these guys.)

BTW I actually went out of my way to sign up on the Travel Channel forum to blast them about that. I asked more shows about actual travel, give me one about travelling around to and rating all the theme parks in the country. That show could take 4 or 5 maybe 6 seasons to get through easy. But they are too busy rating food? I doubt they care or listen, but they certainly should IMO.

 

[Robinrs]

I'm over the "how you should dress" and "too many kids" shows, too. But someone is watching them or the "execs" couldn't get it past the drawing board.

I remember when I worked in Orig Programming at HBO every single prospect started out with "In the tradition of (insert show or premise that is surprisingly successful) because otherwise it wouldn't be considered.

Originality dies a slow death every few years in the television industry.

 

[Guy Incognito]

up next on the History Channel:

Russian Salt Mines

followed by:

the Real Housewives of Jalalabad


and stay tuned after that for the premier episode of:

Landfill Scavengers



television is just a bottomless chum bucket of inane "reality" shows.... but apparently there are enough people watching them (I'm not one of them), so we'll just keep seeing the same thing stamped out from network to network.

 

[Robinrs]

up next on the History Channel:

Russian Salt Mines

followed by:

the Real Housewives of Jalalabad


and stay tuned after that for the premier episode of:

Landfill Scavengers



television is just a bottomless chum bucket of inane "reality" shows.... but apparently there are enough people watching them (I'm not one of them), so we'll just keep seeing the same thing stamped out from network to network.

And don't forget the BEST part...they're much cheaper to make.

No network wants a Charlie Sheen!

 

[IdesOmarch]

I'm over the "how you should dress" and "too many kids" shows, too. But someone is watching them or the "execs" couldn't get it past the drawing board.

I remember when I worked in Orig Programming at HBO every single prospect started out with "In the tradition of (insert show or premise that is surprisingly successful) because otherwise it wouldn't be considered.

Originality dies a slow death every few years in the television industry.

I don't doubt you. It does shock me (well not shocked) but befuddles me to think that these execs think that way. It never occurs to them that hey, maybe we ought to try a few original ideas we have. But no, they want to copy cat because they think that is a safer way to go. I think this just shows that they have number crunchers or risk assessment type people making creative decisions which is a huge mistake IMO.

Its like the musician that writes an original hit song. I think almost all musicians will tell you that their hit song was written from inspiration, not from trying to copy it off another song. Although I realize this does happen occasionally.

Point is these execs have no business having the jobs they do. These are creative decisions that should be made by creative people, not by Entertainment lawyers that don't have a creative bone in their body. Maybe the next tsunami will hit these networks and they'll have to start all over, might make future programming a little more creative. This stuff is ridiculous.