Mas y menos
The Mas: Lovely hiking around Mt. Tamalpais with Transmoocow and Woof (today). An unbelievably cool surprise engagement party last weekend (everyone I know but especially Transmoocow, Nancy and See-Yin. Thank you so much). Awesome West coast weather i.e. middle of February, 75 degrees F (the last few days). Jameson whiskey, even though my current fave is Clontarf (now). Making friends in grad school (ongoing).
The Menos: Network TV, particularly Lost and Heroes. I mean, would it kill them to actually patch the plot holes? Sure it may sound a bit whiney but I love comics and high-concept fantasy and Lost and Heroes do their very utmost to make them as STUPID AS POSSIBLE. There is no reason that sci-fi needs to be dumb, as Heinlein, Farmer, Bradbury, Le Guin, Card and so many others have proven. And I have ultimate respect for pioneers like Stan Lee who make their artistic vision and passion a reality. But let's be honest and admit that Stan Lee imitators like the aforementioned shows are not homages to his spirit; they are committee-led facsimilies of the poorest quality. People sense stupidity, and even if you're a network bigwig computing "present-value" returns on your latest schlock you can probably do the math and realize that making a hit show that lasts more than a few seasons would be a golden ticket. Why does sci-fi have to be synonymous with awful writing when produced for general audiences? I admit that I doubt the sensibilities of "mainstream America" particularly after electing Bush. Twice. But Jesus F. Christ, I know the writers who make these shows are intelligent, and someone who holds power at the networks should in theory have some brains, so it boggles my mind that they could therefore be so damn cynical that they would produce such crap as I witnessed tonight. I guess they know that people will still watch, and their advertisers will still get "impressions" and stupid people are more susceptible to spending money on advertised goods/services so they keep dumbing their product down to maximize their revenue.
On another note, business school is going great.
The Menos: Network TV, particularly Lost and Heroes. I mean, would it kill them to actually patch the plot holes? Sure it may sound a bit whiney but I love comics and high-concept fantasy and Lost and Heroes do their very utmost to make them as STUPID AS POSSIBLE. There is no reason that sci-fi needs to be dumb, as Heinlein, Farmer, Bradbury, Le Guin, Card and so many others have proven. And I have ultimate respect for pioneers like Stan Lee who make their artistic vision and passion a reality. But let's be honest and admit that Stan Lee imitators like the aforementioned shows are not homages to his spirit; they are committee-led facsimilies of the poorest quality. People sense stupidity, and even if you're a network bigwig computing "present-value" returns on your latest schlock you can probably do the math and realize that making a hit show that lasts more than a few seasons would be a golden ticket. Why does sci-fi have to be synonymous with awful writing when produced for general audiences? I admit that I doubt the sensibilities of "mainstream America" particularly after electing Bush. Twice. But Jesus F. Christ, I know the writers who make these shows are intelligent, and someone who holds power at the networks should in theory have some brains, so it boggles my mind that they could therefore be so damn cynical that they would produce such crap as I witnessed tonight. I guess they know that people will still watch, and their advertisers will still get "impressions" and stupid people are more susceptible to spending money on advertised goods/services so they keep dumbing their product down to maximize their revenue.
On another note, business school is going great.
2 Comments:
I'm going to assume you never watched Heroes before tonight, and move on. (And it doesn't *sound* whiney, it IS.) Goodnight.
1) we're on the same page. i just blogged about bsg.
2) i really need a primer on who these pseudonymical friends of yours are.
3) do you remember counting fed ex trucks in oakland for TWELVE HOURS? i just remembered that the other day and thought you'd want to as well.
good times.
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