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TV: Where have the episodes gone?
Mon, 13 Nov 2006

I admit, I too wanted long story arcs. Still do. But I imagine on the third day of writer-school, novelists learn something called pacing. Keep it moving, giving away enough of the plot each time to keep the viewer or reader enticed. Plan ahead so that you've always got something consistent and interesting going on.

We liked Desparate Housewives in the first season, but over the summer we lost interest. We liked Lost, then started to tire of it. We liked Heroes, but are already sick of it, only a few episodes in. We're watching Lost on and off again, but only holding barely on.

Lost is supposed to be a mystery .. whose actually lost? the survivors of the plane crash? the others on the island? the viewers?

I say, what is lost is: the audience.

You see, these guys can't do pacing.. any of these shows. So many people I've talked to agree -- the shows are great on DVD when you can camp out and watch it all in fast forward, or in one big sitting. But no one can stand hanging on for several years to find out the writers really are just winging it.

So go back to episodic content; its obviously easier, or better understood. We like House -- it has a light overall arc sure, but each episode is an item unto itself. Lost/Heroes/Housewives .. go watch Star Trek Next Gen for gods sake.. a show that had wit, charm, and was still whacked out content and people liked it. You can't an empire build on Eva Longoria.

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