Erin StapletonShowtime: HBO, yr doin it wrong
September 2nd 2008 06:47
Being a step away from bedridden for the past few weeks, I've been catching up on the television I've missed out on, by having a job/life/study to do. And as such, have discovered an unsettling phenomenon.
HBO has been the home of the fabulous genius television series for a while now. Mostly, because it's producers don't seem to be afraid of sex or swearing. Or actual, astute social commentary. Or well written scripts with big dreams and no money. Thankfully, they've made "Six Feet Under", "Sopranos" and "Oz", all in the face of the conservative American decency which is the US TV industry. And perhaps unfortunately, they've been very very successful. Unfortunately, because it has been noticed.
So in the past couple of weeks, I have watched "Dexter", I have watched "Californication" and "Weeds" and there's a problem. It would seem that Showtime has realised that HBO has been successful, long term, with their low budget, cult following, almost single set productions. Where everything else (and I'm mourning "Firefly" here) has been canceled for the benefit of reality television, HBO worked out that loyal followers of good television will buy the special edition DVDs and the T-shirts and watch the re-runs, etc etc. And so while reality television brings immediate profit, it has little long term, ongoing income.
Showtime was watching, but not carefully enough. So they've brought out an assault team of 'edgy' productions, but they've missed the point. "Californication" is offensive, sexist and boring, but Showtime producers thought it might do well, clearly, because it (poorly) imitates the intelligence of HBO. "Dexter" is the most ridiculous exercise in fence sitting, and blatant white western moralism. He's supposed to be a serial killer and a psychopath. Instead, he's an insipid, nerdy vigilante desperate for a white picket fence. Please, just give me Patrick Bateman in the future.
Basically, for Showtime, this is a predictable and cynical way of jumping on a band wagon, and reintegrating the subversive element back in to the mainstream. It all started with "The L Word" which was clearly aimed at men (scream sellout at Rosie Trioche). Anyway, ignore imitations.
HBO has been the home of the fabulous genius television series for a while now. Mostly, because it's producers don't seem to be afraid of sex or swearing. Or actual, astute social commentary. Or well written scripts with big dreams and no money. Thankfully, they've made "Six Feet Under", "Sopranos" and "Oz", all in the face of the conservative American decency which is the US TV industry. And perhaps unfortunately, they've been very very successful. Unfortunately, because it has been noticed.
(great television)
So in the past couple of weeks, I have watched "Dexter", I have watched "Californication" and "Weeds" and there's a problem. It would seem that Showtime has realised that HBO has been successful, long term, with their low budget, cult following, almost single set productions. Where everything else (and I'm mourning "Firefly" here) has been canceled for the benefit of reality television, HBO worked out that loyal followers of good television will buy the special edition DVDs and the T-shirts and watch the re-runs, etc etc. And so while reality television brings immediate profit, it has little long term, ongoing income.
Showtime was watching, but not carefully enough. So they've brought out an assault team of 'edgy' productions, but they've missed the point. "Californication" is offensive, sexist and boring, but Showtime producers thought it might do well, clearly, because it (poorly) imitates the intelligence of HBO. "Dexter" is the most ridiculous exercise in fence sitting, and blatant white western moralism. He's supposed to be a serial killer and a psychopath. Instead, he's an insipid, nerdy vigilante desperate for a white picket fence. Please, just give me Patrick Bateman in the future.
(bad copy of great television)
Basically, for Showtime, this is a predictable and cynical way of jumping on a band wagon, and reintegrating the subversive element back in to the mainstream. It all started with "The L Word" which was clearly aimed at men (scream sellout at Rosie Trioche). Anyway, ignore imitations.
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Comment by jon
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Comment by Morgan Bell
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you are totally right!
i still enjoy Dexter but his character is exactly as you described, almost like having The Count from Sesame Street as an example of a vampire - pretty generic and inoffensive - Dexter wants a mainstream lifestyle, he wants to fit in rather than celebrating being on the outside
Comment by Erin Stapleton
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