Final Exam
9/11/01
A TV and Internet Event, Cable TV, No Commercials 6 days, David Letterman- 9/17/01, Saturday Night Live- Rudy Giuliani, Can we be funny? Why start now? At start of show, 9/29/01
The Day After (Nov 20, 1980)
A made for TV film that depicted the effects on a nuclear attack on the US, Largest audience ever to watch a Made for TV film, until Disney's High School Musical, Reshown a week later
Seinfeld (1989-98)
A show about nothing, Urban humor, Many catchphrases were coined, popularized, or re-popularized in the series' run and have become part of popular culture
The Golden Girls
A sitcom focusing on four older women, Dealt with many issues that effect the elderly... health, nursing homes, death of friends, planning for own death's etc.
The Runner (planned for Jan 2002)
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's multimedia company, LivePlanet, conceived of this reality-competition show, "A 'runner' competes for a $1 million- plus prize by completing a series of 'missions' across the country, while three 'agents' try to 'capture' him.", ABC took the financial loss and canceled the show without filming a single episode.
YOSOs/ "teensploitation"
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003), Dawson's Creek (1998-2003), and Felicity (1998-2002) met with surprising critical acclaim.
Who is Rupert Mudoch?
CEO of News Corp and then FOX Network
Key Changes in 1990's
Cable's growth, popularity and critical praise, The explosion Reality TV... MTV, cable fare DVD & DVR's, The Internet, Video Games, Cable and Network News, Birth of the Youth Oriented Soap Opera (YOSO's), Origination of female perspective programming
Controversy about Cagney and Lacey (1982-88, CBS)
Changed actors because of lesbian concerns after first (short) season
What is CATV
Community Antenia Television: a cable television system that receives television broadcasts by antenna and relays them by cable to paying subscribers in areas where direct reception is either poor or not possible
Live Aid (1985)
Concerts Held in London and Philadelphia, PA, Broadcast to 1.9 Billion People in 150 countries, Largest TV Benefit event in history
The Real World
Controversial due to the Wayans' decision to portray African-American humor from the ghetto in a time when black comedy had been set by more upscale shows such as The Cosby Show, causing an eventual feud for control between Fox executives and the Wayans Family (Kim, Shawn and Marlon).
Stephen Bochco's bomb
Cop Rock- 1990, NBC, Most anticipated show of the season, Broadway resurgence, Cops shows everywhere, Glee Comparison
Studio 60 on the sunset strip, 2006-7, NBC
Created by Aaron Sorkin, rapid-fire dialogue and extended monologues using "walk and talk" tracking shots
Key Changes
DVD & DVR's, The Internet (% of homes with rises), Video Games, The Game Show revival- Who wants to be a Millionaire, The NBC and Jay Leno experiment, Familiarity in Spinoffs
Key Players- Video Notes
Darren Star - Beverly Hills, 90210; Melrose Place; Sex and The City Dick Wolf- Law and Order David Letterman- Everybody Loves Raymond Kevin Williamson, Greg Prange, Greg Berlanti Dawson's Creek
The Loss of Shared Experiences
Demassification of TV, Specialized Audiences, Increase in Urban Humor/Urban Shows
Describe In Living Color
Diverse show directed a comedic situations and "hip" music and actors/actresses that addressed social issues in a comedic way
Friday Night Lights (2006-11, NBC/ Direc-TV)
Drama television series about a high school football team, Based on popular film of same name, Critically acclaimed, stayed on air with unique partnership between NBC and Direc-TV, where Direc-TV had first run
The movie industry in the 1990s also changed radically with the growth of digital technology
Films used sophisticated gadgetry designed to play vivid high-end digital soundtracks, and Hollywood filmmakers increasingly relied upon computers to create startling special effects This set a pattern of studios breaking the bank to produce costly epics in the quest for mammoth profits
Hill Street Blues- how unique?
Followed lives of 13 major characters- an unheard of number at the time- and the number would grow each season, First show to use disjointed/fragmented narrative structure- actions happen without explanation, Episodes were written in blocks of four to focus on particular characters and story arcs, First primetime show to use Cinema verite style, Hand held cameras, and long scenes, first show to show two men talking while using urinals
HBO becomes a contender
HBO moved even farther into its own TV productions in the 1990s, The Larry Sanders Show (1992-98), Oz (1997-2003)- groundbreaking prison show, Sex and the City (1998-2004), helping jump-start HBO, The Sopranos (1999-2007)
How HBO changed TV
HBO spends more money on its shows. HBO spends 50+% more per half-hour & hour than anyone else, No Commercial Breaks, means deeper viewing in an age of distraction, More realism in violence, sex and language, HBO is really open to killing off important characters in dramas. Action-dramas are much better when the risk of death is credible
Sex and Comedies
HBO- Sex and The City -1998, Showtime- Rude Awakenings
product placement
Having advertised products in the shows themselves
MUST SEE TV ON NBC
Hill Street Blues,Family Ties, St. Elsewhere, Cheers, Miami Vice, Cosby, LA Law, an advertising slogan that was used by NBC to brand its prime time blocks during the 1990s, and most often applied to the network's Thursday night lineup, which featured some of its most popular sitcoms and drama series of the period, allowing the network to dominate prime time ratings on Thursday nights
Murder She Wrote (1984-96, CBS)
Mystery drama staring Angela Lansbury as mystery writer, turned detective Jessica Fletcher, First older woman in sole leading role, Drew few younger viewers, though a top ten show most of its run
What happened to Fred Silverman after the1980 Moscow Olympics- NBC
President Carter pulled the American team out of the Russian Olympics, NBC lost a bunch of money and Fred Silverman tried to respond with quality television, meanwhile cable channels were stealing viewers and he was fired
Roseanne (1988-1997, ABC) Controversy
Pushed limits on acceptability: Son's masturbation, daughter's birth control, daughter's breast reduction surgery, gay and lesbian characters, and a lesbian kiss, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Generated enormous controversy before it aired because it included a same-sex kiss between Roseanne and Sharon, played by guest star Mariel Hemingway. ABC initially planned not to air the episode. The network eventually relented and the episode was viewed by an audience of some 30 million people.
Mass Media- The Era of Fragmentation
Radio and television provided a kind of cultural glue; their programs penetrated nearly every segment of the national population, The control of the television industry by only three companies had produced, among other things, a unified mass culture, the products of which were experienced by nearly everyone. That era ended in the 1990s.
Controversy The Thorn Birds (1983, ABC)
Relationship between Meggie Cleary her parents and her relationship with Father Ralph de Bricassart , Father Ralph must choose between advancement in the church and love for Meggie, Began airing on palm Sunday, and running through Holy Week, Protest, McDonalds only advertised for part of broadcast, Eventually becomes a Cardinal, while Meggie marries a sheep shearer and ends up a maid- later episodes show Father Ralph visiting her, in what Newsweek called the most erotic scene to ever hit the home screen Meggie gives birth to Fr. Ralph's son, who grows up and becomes a priest, Became second highest rated mini-series ever (behind Roots)
What is RCD
Remote Control Device: Zenith Space Command- first wireless RCD, Change in viewership strategies- fast forward, grazing, changing channels during commercials, etc, Networks developed "Hot Switch", no break between shows
Return of Evening Soaps
Return with more youth focus, The decade also saw the return of prime time soap operas, a genre that had been popular in the 1980s and early 1990s (Dawson's Creek, The O.C., One Tree Hill, Desperate Housewives)
Stephen J. Cannell
Rockford Files Greatest American Hero The A-Team Hunter 21 Jump Street Hardcastle and McCormick Wiseguy The Commish Profit Silk Stalkings
Why is Television in the 1980s Television's Second Golden Age
Ronald Reagan elected president, Cable television growth/explosion in popularity and channels, remote controls, create of Fox Network, Moscow Olympics-everyone was watching
30 Rock (2006-2013, NBC)
Satirical television comedy based on Tina Fey's experiences as head writer on Saturday Night Live, Single Camera Comedy, The show was influential in its extensive use of smash cuts
Shonda Rhime
Shondaland Productions: Grey's Anatomy (2005-present), Private Practice (2008-2013), How to Get Away with Murder (2014-present), Scandal (2012-present)
The Tudors- Historical Dramas
Showtime, History of Henry VIII, Part History, Part Soap opera, with less censored sex and violence
American Idol (2002-2016, Fox; 2018, ABC)
Singing Competition, Many Winners (and non-winners) became popular performers, unprecedented eight consecutive years, from the 2003 through 2011, it ranked number one in U.S. television ratings
How did ESPN start?
Started in 1979, Sports 24/7, Created by Hockey Sports Reporter Bill Rasmussen, when he lost his job
Why was the stregy behind MTV
Started with music videos First video played, Video Killed the Radio Star, Showed popular music videos because they paid little to no money for the videos themselves while also giving advertising to the song/band, basically free programming that people wanted to watch
The Fox Network
Targets Urban, Savvy, Youthful audience, News Corp buys 20th century fox and old Dumont stations; launched with 96 stations, Joan Rivers Late Night Show, youth-oriented shows, black and minority audiences
Veronica Mars (2004-2007, UPN/The CW)
Teen Noir Mystery, Most successful Kickstarter campaign for follow-up feature film, Goal $2 million; raised $5.7 Million
Previewing the 2000s
The On- Demand Generation, Demassification of TV/Fragmentation, Social Networking Sites
GAME and Reality SHOW FEVER
The Real World (1992, MTV), Who Wants to be a Millionaire? (1999, ABC), Survivor (2000, CBS), Big Brother (2000, CBS), Temptation Island (Fox, 2000), Fear Factor (NBC, 2000), The Osbournes (2001, MTV), American Idol (2002, Fox), Joe Millionaire (2002, Fox), The Apprentice (2004, NBC), Dancing with the Stars (2005), So you think you can dance? (2005), Deal or No Deal (2005), America's got Talent (2005)
Trading Spaces (2000-2011, TLC)
Two couples redecorate each others spaces, Based on British Show, Changing Rooms, Example of Basic Cable joining the creating original programming
UPN
United Paramount Network, The network was originally owned by Paramount Television. In December 2005, UPN was spun off to CBS Corporation when CBS and Viacom split up into two separate companies, Star Trek: Enterprise, Moesha, Veronica Mars, Everbody Hates Chris, America's Next Top Model, Girlfriends, The Parkers
America's Most Wanted 1988-2012
Was the longest-running TV series in the history of the FOX network, Credited for bringing reality television to mainstream, The idea for the show came from other reality crime shows in the 60s and 80s, Within four days of the first broadcast convicted killer David James Roberts was captured
The 2007-2008 TV writers Strike
Writers Guild of America, Key issues of contention included: (1) DVD residuals, (2) union jurisdiction over animation and reality program writers, and (3) compensation for "new media" -- content for emerging digital technology such as the Internet, Nearly all scripted form show production shut down
Glee (Fox 2009-2015)
a musical comedy-drama television. It centers on the high school glee club, named New Directions, and its show choir competition circuit. Meanwhile, its disparate members deal with social issues, especially regarding sexuality and race, relationships, and learning to become an effective team, "gleeks", Real Death of Cory Monteith, Finn " The Quarterback"
new policy with the introduction of a program ratings code
a requirement that all new television sets be equipped with a violent-program-blocking device known as a V-chip, Ratings codes were required to appear on the screen for 15 seconds at the beginning of each show.
Ownership
changed by Telecommunications Act of 1996, Single owners, who had been restricted to 7 TV stations until 1980, 12 in 1985, and 20 in 1994, were now allowed to own an unlimited number of stations , The "duopoly rule," which forbade any company to own more than one station of its kind (TV, AM radio, FM radio) per market until 1992 was eliminated, Also allowed networks to own cable companies, and telephone companies could own cable systems, Eliminated The Prime Time Access Rule, which had limited networks to three hours of programming from 7:00-11:00 pm.
South park Controversy
claims that South Park's use of language and racial slurs represents the depravity of Western civilization, and is "dangerous to the democracy"
Who is Ted Turner? How did he build his empire?
creates WTCG becomes WTBS, or TBS- The First Superstation
Conglomerates and codes
deals created enormous media conglomerates that included production facilities, broadcast stations, cable channels, and an assortment of other major media venues. (Examples) The Walt Disney Company announced its plans to acquire Capital Cities/ABC in 1995, CBS accepted an offer to be purchased by the Westinghouse Corporation.
Demassification of TV
end of the unified mass culture of tv, more choices, The control of the television industry by only three companies had produced, among other things, a unified mass culture, the products of which were experienced by nearly everyone. That era ended in the 1990s, audience fragmentation
Portrayal of Gay Characters
few gay characters, portrayed badly
NBC Must SEE TV- The 1990s
friends, ER, Cosby, Sweet Justice, Earth 2
Issues- Pay TV and Home Video Expansion
issues that led to the Actor's Strike in 1980, Pay TV- not included in the regular television ex. HBO
Cable's growth, popularity and critical praise
key change in the 1990's, Telecommunication's Act of 1996 Also allowed networks to own cable companies, and telephone companies could own cable systems.
What was controversy Married With Children
menstrual cycle episode delayed a month by censors, lingerie bra epsidoe with male sale clerk in panties, stockings, and garter belt, Terry Rakolta starts a boycott of the sexual nature of the show by targeting advertisers, Show responds with the "I'll see you in court" episode about sleezy motels
A Fragmented World
more stations, not everyone is watching the same thing
Increase in Urban Humor/urban shows
part of the loss of shared experience
Specialized Audiences (growth in cable channels, programs targeting youth, etc.)
part of the loss of shared experience, growth in youth programs and cable channels
Chuck 2007-2012, NBC - Subway Saves a Show
spy comedy, in danger of cancellation in second season, sponsored by subway, lots of product placement
Why did YOSO's become popoular?
targeted a younger audience, Fox, the WB, and UPN—depended on these signature shows to differentiate themselves for younger viewers from the old, established networks. (Name some) Dawson's Creek, Young Americans, Felicity, One Tree Hill
The O.C.
teen drama created by Josh Schwartz, young man from a broken home who is adopted by the wealthy and philanthropic, dealing with life as outsiders in the high-class world of Newport Beach, CA
Growth of Indie Films
the multiplex blockbuster mentality was paralleled by the growth of "indie" filmmaking daring mostly young directors somehow scraped together enough money to make arty, unconventional films that were marketed by small studios such as Miramax.
Bill Clinton on Arsenio Hall- Play Sax -1991
then-presidential candidate Bill Clinton playing "Heartbreak Hotel" on the saxophone, The appearance is often considered an important moment in Clinton's political career, helping build his popularity among minority and young voters.
Life with Lucy (1986)
was a sitcom starring Lucille Ball that aired for one season on ABC in 1986, Unlike Ball's previous sitcoms, Life with Lucy was critically panned and a ratings flop.
Birth of the Youth Oriented Soap Opera (YOSO's)
All three of the newly formed broadcast networks—Fox, the WB, and UPN—depended on these signature shows to differentiate themselves for younger viewers from the old, established networks, catered to younger audience, stems from popularity of John Hughes- 1980's Teen oriented films
The Jay Leno Show (2009-10, NBC)
Aired M-F, 10 PM on NBC, Low Cost alternative to typical high Cost Dramas
Amy Fisher
Instant made for TV movies- 1992-3, All three networks- NBC, ABC, CBS Amy Fisher: My Story- NBC 12/28 Beyond Control: The Amy Fisher Story- ABC 1/3 Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita- CBS 1/3
CNN
Iraqi War- Gain legitimacy Bernard Shaw Peter Arnett John Holliman; Journalists stay in hotel during the bombing, while all other networks pulled out of Iraq, 1990- Iraqi War- Gain legitimacy
The 2004 Superbowl Halftime Show, CBS
Justin Timberlake & Janet Jackson performed, Wardrobe malfunction, FCC fined CBS a record $550,000, The performance incident made "Janet Jackson" the most searched term, event and image in Internet history, incident provided the inspiration for the creation of YouTube
Friends
Kauffman and Crane began developing Friends under the title Insomnia Café, then Six of One, then Friends Like Us, and Friends, Part of NBC's celebrated Thursday night lineup
Dick Wolf
Law and Order
JJ Abrams; Lost 2004-2010, ABC
Lost had the most expensive pilot ever ($11.5 Million), $250K to build plane crash set in Hawaii; advisory to planes landing in Hawaii during filming
Miami Vice
MTV Cops: Known for the integration of Music and visual effects, Created and popularized a style of dress, Dealt with drug trafficking
Stephen Bochco's Return
NYPD Blue- 1993, Controversy- Flash nudity- (Some, mostly southern Stations...)
OJ Simpson Trial- 1994-1995
Nicole Brown Simpson & Ron Goldman (6/12/94) Bronco "chase" (6/17/94) Trial of the Century Not guilty (10/3/95) Civil Trial -guilty 2/5/97) Reality TV/ The Kadashians
Princess Diana Death (1997)
Nielsen figures show that at least 86% of homes watching television during those two hours Saturday tuned into the funeral. CBS had issued a preliminary projection that roughly 50 million people watched
What is the "Hot Switch", and why did it develop?
No break between shows, because of remote control devices and people changing channels during commercials etc.
Reality Show
Officially Unscripted TV: A 'frankenbite': editing conversations so they end up suggesting something entirely false: if the director needs to show someone swearing or crying, she'll be seen swearing or crying - but she might have been filmed at something completely different from what's portrayed. A 'showmance': a fake romance for the reality show. A 'frenemy': character in a fake feud. A choreographed 'argument': where the situation has obviously been set up- Leading Cameras
Murphy Brown (1988)- Controversy
On May 19, 1992, Vice President Dan Quayle delivered a family-values speech, He chided Murphy Brown --the fictional 40-something, divorced news anchor-- for her decision to have a child outside of marriage.
One Tree Hill (2003-2012), WB/CW
One Tree Hill was first created to be a feature length movie with the title Ravens; However, the network decided that it would be more interesting as a TV series, Then, where Lucas has his first day at Tree Hill High. He meets Mouth and others and realizes that maybe basketball is for him, Shot in same Wilmington, NC location as Dawson's Creek. Many of the same production crew.
Cosby (1982-1992, NBC)
One of the biggest surprise hits of American Television, Based on his stand-up routine, Humor based on family situations, not on one-liners and silly over the top situations... more realistic comedy, First Successful stand-up turned sitcom, others would follow: Rosanne, Drew Carey, Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond
What were the issues involving the Actors Strike 1980; Writers 1981, 1985,1988
Pay TV, Home Video Expansion, Weren't getting paid enough to compensate
What is meant by Time Shifting Argument
People should be able to record shows at home because they can't always be there to watch them when they come on because of work/school/etc.
Vampires
The Vampire Diaries (2009), True Blood (2008), Being Human, The Originals (2013). In film: Twilight series
The WB... The CW...
The WB was first launched on on January 11, 1995, as a joint venture between Time Warner and CBS The network principally aired programs targeting teenagers and young adults between the ages of 13 and 34,The WB Television Network shut down with select programs from both it and competitor UPN moving to The CW, The Wayans, Sister, Sister, 7th Heaven, Jamie Foxx Show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Beverly Hills 90210, Dawson's Creek, Felicity, Roswell, Angel, Charmed; One Tree Hill, Supernatural, Beauty and the Geek
Political Shows in the 1990's
The West Wing (1999-2005) Commander in Chief (2005- 2006) Spin City (1996-2002) Rosanne (1988-1997) The Civil War (PBS, 1991) Jake Behind the Myth (PBS, 1999) Court TV/ The OJ Trial Rise of Cable News & Opinion Shows TV Talk shows as political force Keen Eddie (Euro/US; 2003)
ER (NBC, 1994-2009)
The longest-running American primetime medical drama of all time, author Michael Crichton wrote a screenplay based on his own experiences as a resident physician in a busy hospital emergency room, The script used to shoot the pilot was virtually unchanged from what Crichton had written in 1974
Telecommunications Act of 1996
The most comprehensive communications policy since 1934, Described as "deregulatory and re-regulatory,", The deregulatory aspects of the act changed ownership rules
In Living Color, FOX 1990-94
The title of the series was inspired by the NBC announcement of broadcasts being presented "in living color" during the 1960s, prior to mainstream color television, It also refers to the fact that most of the show's cast were black, Controversial due to the Wayans' decision to portray African-American humor from the ghetto in a time when black comedy had been set by more upscale shows such as The Cosby Show, causing an eventual feud for control between Fox executives and the Wayans Family (Kim, Shawn and Marlon).
The unaired pilot episode of One Tree Hill
The unaired pilot episode which takes place in the past. It tells the story of Karen and Dan and how she got pregnant. Then, where Lucas has his first day at Tree Hill High. He meets Mouth and others and realizes that maybe basketball is for him
Describe Universal City Studios, et al v. Sony Corporation of America (1984)
Timeshifting argument
What was Fox TV Strategy to build audience?
broadcasting 7 nights a week, targeting a young audience, minority based shows
Cable Explosion
cable went from 16% of households having it in 1977 to 68% of households having it in 1999, Creation of the TBS superstation, 11 million people have cable after the recession ends
Jericho (2006-08, CBS)
centers on the residents of the fictional city of Jericho, Kansas, in the aftermath of a limited nuclear attack on 23 major cities in the contiguous United States. It was canceled after its first full season, because of poor ratings. A fan campaign persuaded the network to bring the show back for another season, of seven episodes, after which it was canceled again.
