The Thorn Birds and the Decline of the Mini Series

[gopack]

Loved the Thornbirds but my all time favorite mini series was Rich Man Poor Man!

 

[mom2rtk]

I miss the mini series! Used to love watching them.

Our cable went out for a day around a year ago and I pulled out my Thorn Birds DVD. Kept watching even after the cable went back on. Still loved it.

ETA: Zombie thread, but it doesn't matter. Mini series are still just as dead now as they were 10 years ago. I still miss watching them.

 

[morgan98]

I know this is an old thread, but I love the Thorn Birds, the mini-series and the book. I feel the book has multiple layers of meaning to me and a read it every few years.

My Ex-husband gave me a The Thorn Birds on DVD with a card and put it in a box of my things when we were divorcing. His attempt at some sort of final statement to me, I guess. Luckily, it didn't ruin my love of the story!

 

[Toolulu22]

i just watched Little Fires Everywhere, which is an 8 hour (8 one hour episodes) miniseries adaptation of the book. I loved it. I think this is the modern equivalent of what you all have describe. Thing is, it was so good, they will likely try to get another “season” out of it.

I recall watching a mystery miniseries a few years ago on NBC maybe, but it was average at best.

Network TV likely doesn’t want to invest in mini-series $$$, opting for game shows and reality TV to fill their time slots. Just my thought, I would imagine that something like the North and the South would be expensive to make today, and networks don’t have the view ships the once did.

 

[mjkacmom]

i just watched Little Fires Everywhere, which is an 8 hour (8 one hour episodes) miniseries adaptation of the book. I loved it. I think this is the modern equivalent of what you all have describe. Thing is, it was so good, they will likely try to get another “season” out of it.

I recall watching a mystery miniseries a few years ago on NBC maybe, but it was average at best.

Network TV likely doesn’t want to invest in mini-series $$$, opting for game shows and reality TV to fill their time slots. Just my thought, I would imagine that something like the North and the South would be expensive to make today, and networks don’t have the view ships the once did.

I liked it better than the book, which is rare. My family recently watched The Stand, just because I couldn’t resist.

 

[choirfarm]

I was in high school and a friend taped the last episode of the Thorne Birds and her VCR tape ran out 15 minutes before it ended!!! She was so upset.

 

[RangerPooh]

Oooh a zombie thread.

My dad really enjoyed North and South, we gifted him it on VHS one year. Roots was another one they would watch when it came on every few years. Band of Brothers was watched too. I watched Scarlett and the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice (the best version).

History does mini series around Memorial weekend every few years. Hatfield and McCoys, Sherman (this year), Washington, etc. Those are usually pretty good.

 

[LiteBrite]

I loved Godless on Netflix, and I think it fits the miniseries model.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I miss the mini series! Used to love watching them.

Our cable went out for a day around a year ago and I pulled out my Thorn Birds DVD. Kept watching even after the cable went back on. Still loved it.

ETA: Zombie thread, but it doesn't matter. Mini series are still just as dead now as they were 10 years ago. I still miss watching them.

Are they though? Or did they just change the name to limited series? Little fires everywhere is the one I’m currently watching. There are a few others that have come out too.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

Are they though? Or did they just change the name to limited series? Little fires everywhere is the one I’m currently watching. There are a few others that have come out too.

I agree, I think it became 'limited series' instead of 'mini-series'.

If you like historical romance, there were some made about Phillipa Gregory's books (The White Princess, The White Queen, The Spanish Princess).

 

[Imzadi]

Wow, it's weird having posted to a thread 10 years ago and not even remember it, then to see my own posts - and that there are several of them.

Genie Francis and Jonathan Frakes met during the filming of North and South. They are still married.

 

[Imzadi]

I agree, I think it became 'limited series' instead of 'mini-series'.

A lot of British TV series are only a few to several episodes. Sherlock, with Benedict Cumberbatch, is only three 1-1/2 hr episodes per season/series. In England they call each season a "series."

Downton Abbey is approximately 9 episodes per season.

A lot of cable TV shows are following the same format with less episodes. The actors, especially A-Listers, love it. They aren't burnt out by the end of a 22 episode season. They aren't committed to such a long TV season. They have more time the rest of the year to be with family, or to do another project.

For the viewers, the story arcs are tighter. They have less filler episodes where nothing really happens. Every episodes counts.

Killing Eve: 8 episodes per season
Big Little Lies: 7 episodes per season
Game of Thrones: 10 episodes per season
Suits: 16 episodes per season

 

[Toolulu22]

Funny, I didn’t realize this was a zombie thread when I read the recent posts early this morning. Going back over the posts written 10 years ago- some mentioned The Pillars of the Earth. I’m reading that very book now and when I’m through, will look to see if I can find the miniseries someplace.

 

[bcla]

Yeah it's an old thread, but I'd note that Battlestar Galactica wasn't mentioned. And in a similar sci-fi vein, there were the two V miniseries before that became a series.

These days there are some short series. Unless Watchmen gets a new season, that was about as close to a miniseries as we'll get to these days. Also someone mentioned Lace, which was just two episodes, although there was a sequel.

 

[superme80]

Yeah it's an old thread, but I'd note that Battlestar Galactica wasn't mentioned. And in a similar sci-fi vein, there were the two V miniseries before that became a series.

These days there are some short series. Unless Watchmen gets a new season, that was about as close to a miniseries as we'll get to these days. Also someone mentioned Lace, which was just two episodes, although there was a sequel.

My parents loved the V mini series and tv show. I was about 4 or 5 and completely creeped out!