Writing for Episodic TV: From Freelance to Showrunner

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  • #16
    Re: Writing for Episodic TV: From Freelance to Showrunner

    Originally posted by CthulhuRises View Post
    It went to premium channels like HBO.

    Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones, Dexter, The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Homeland, etc.

    There's still plenty of great shows out there. Just fewer on basic cable.
    There was never a time when everything on TV was quality. We only remember the good stuff and tend to forget such gems as Manimal and Homeboys From Outter Space. Supertrain needs a reboot!

    but have you noticed how almost all put 'close to' porn into the show to 'grab' the audience?
    Aint nothin' wrong with that.
    Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue

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    • #17
      Re: Writing for Episodic TV: From Freelance to Showrunner

      Originally posted by christopher jon View Post
      There was never a time when everything on TV was quality. We only remember the good stuff and tend to forget such gems as Manimal and Homeboys From Outter Space. Supertrain needs a reboot!


      Aint nothin' wrong with that.

      Oh, I agree. I never asserted that everything on TV used to be quality. I was simply saying that today the majority of quality shows are on premium channels.

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      • #18
        Re: Writing for Episodic TV: From Freelance to Showrunner

        Oh, I agree. I never asserted that everything on TV used to be quality. I was simply saying that today the majority of quality shows are on premium channels.
        Zoiks!

        My quote of you was supposed to include your quote of filmfeline as to where did quality TV go.

        While I'm here, I just rewatched Space: Above and Beyond and the Highlander TV series for retro shits n' giggles and they make the V reboot and Falling Skies look like masterpiece theater by comparison. They were nowhere near as good as I nostalgically remembered.

        But yeah, the premium channels tend to have a lock on the better shows these days but for whatever reason network shows still get the bulk of the audience. Perhaps we're all TV snobs and not in tune with the unwashed masses.
        Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue

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        • #19
          Re: Writing for Episodic TV: From Freelance to Showrunner

          Originally posted by christopher jon View Post
          Zoiks!

          My quote of you was supposed to include your quote of filmfeline as to where did quality TV go.

          While I'm here, I just rewatched Space: Above and Beyond and the Highlander TV series for retro shits n' giggles and they make the V reboot and Falling Skies look like masterpiece theater by comparison. They were nowhere near as good as I nostalgically remembered.

          But yeah, the premium channels tend to have a lock on the better shows these days but for whatever reason network shows still get the bulk of the audience. Perhaps we're all TV snobs and not in tune with the unwashed masses.

          It always boggles my mind how CBS shows like NCIS and the five hundred CSI's always pull massive ratings. Then I realize, my dad loves all of those shows. And guys like him seem to comprise most of the Nielsen ratings.

          P.S., I used to love the Highlander show! When I was a kid, I would stay up late and watch USA all night. "Highlander", "Silk Stalkings", "Renegade". Great stuff...at least back then I thought it was.

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          • #20
            Re: Writing for Episodic TV: From Freelance to Showrunner

            P.S., I used to love the Highlander show! When I was a kid, I would stay up late and watch USA all night. "Highlander", "Silk Stalkings", "Renegade". Great stuff...at least back then I thought it was.
            Don't look back, you can never look back.

            Don Henley, Boys of Summer


            Some of those old shows don't hold up very well.

            It always boggles my mind how CBS shows like NCIS and the five hundred CSI's always pull massive ratings. Then I realize, my dad loves all of those shows. And guys like him seem to comprise most of the Nielsen ratings.
            Which is why guys like Bruckheimer are so successful, they understand their audience and deliver what that audience wants.

            All of that other stuff writers like to nit-pick over and complain about when stories lack it, Bruckheimer and Co don't care. They toss all that junk out the window and stick to the basics.

            People like to crawl into their couch, turn on the TV and enjoy simple entertainment after a long day at work. Not saying TV is easy but hit the right emotional chords for your audience and they are happy campers.
            Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue

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            • #21
              Re: Writing for Episodic TV: From Freelance to Showrunner

              Nice! Thanks!

              Comment


              • #22
                Re: Writing for Episodic TV: From Freelance to Showrunner

                Originally posted by Filmfelinemeowmeow View Post
                Thanks, but if that's all true, where did 'quality television' go?
                certainly not on CBS
                http://donofreewhite.com

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                • #23
                  Re: Writing for Episodic TV: From Freelance to Showrunner

                  Except that a lot of people think that the Good Wife is the best written show on TV.
                  If you really like it you can have the rights
                  It could make a million for you overnight

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                  • #24
                    Re: Writing for Episodic TV: From Freelance to Showrunner

                    Originally posted by odocoileus View Post
                    Except that a lot of people think that the Good Wife is the best written show on TV.
                    Best written network drama? Yup.
                    I'm always right.

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Re: Writing for Episodic TV: From Freelance to Showrunner

                      Originally posted by Chakala View Post
                      Best written network drama? Yup.
                      otherwise it goes to Breaking Bad hands down
                      http://donofreewhite.com

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                      • #26
                        Re: Writing for Episodic TV: From Freelance to Showrunner

                        Originally posted by odocoileus View Post
                        Except that a lot of people think that the Good Wife is the best written show on TV.
                        Have to agree with that.

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                        • #27
                          Re: Writing for Episodic TV: From Freelance to Showrunner

                          Really appreciate this! It's great. And thanks so much!

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Re: Writing for Episodic TV: From Freelance to Showrunner

                            The links posted in this thread don't work anymore, but if anyone is interested in the booklet this link does work

                            http://www.wga.org/members/career-ad...or-episodic-tv

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              Re: Writing for Episodic TV: From Freelance to Showrunner

                              If you've read down the thread, then you've probably figured out that the previous links are dead. Long Live the Links! The reason is that the booklet is out of date and is currently being rewritten, I think. I heard that there was a discussion because it was out of date. The first section on freelancing is anachronistic, and the business has changed considerably since it was originally written, but there's still some good info and great quotes in the original.

                              So, from my archives I found the PDFs, except for the front page and table of contents, and compiled them into a single PDF.

                              Writing For Episodic TV - A User's Guide

                              HTH,
                              Just my 2 cents, your mileage may vary.

                              -Steve Trautmann
                              3rd & Fairfax: The WGAW Podcast

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                              • #30
                                Re: Writing for Episodic TV: From Freelance to Showrunner

                                Thanks for the link! One can also try the WayBack Machine for these types of things:

                                http://web.archive.org/web/201604091...episodictv.pdf

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