Behind The Screen

• 3Aug 08

  What a great afternoon

  I just have to share - since this is somewhat TV related. My husband and I took my 2 1/2 year old to see The Wiggles in concert yesterday. He had the time of his life. He was singing along and dancing and that cute little smile didn't leave his face once. The Wiggles rock!
  • Posted Aug 3, 2008 6:12 pm PT
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• 26Jul 08

  From programming to mothering

  So this one is going to be a more personal post. Like many mothers, I left the professional world to be a stay at home mom. I don't regret it for one second, but I do really miss working. I actually don't miss the most recent job I had, but I do miss working in television programming and research. I am lucky I know. It may not have lasted for long, but I can honestly say I had my dream job - or at least was on a direct path to it. And now I am home, I always wonder about "what might have been." If I had put my career first, I would have made different decisions. After a devastating lay off, I would probably have moved to L.A. rather than Texas. Of course, that also means I wouldn't have married my husband and had my two wonderful children. But would I have been in development by now? Could I have been one of those people I love to read about in trade publications? Would I have been able to tell Ben Silverman what a schmuck I think he is? I had a good thing going. I was making connections. Even as an intern, my bosses saw my passion and began letting me have input in syndicator meetings. I even got to program some local time - just a few OTOs (one time only specials), but it was such a great experience. A few syndicators I met even asked for my resume and kept in touch with me. Once I was working, I volunteered to go in on weekends and pull the ratings. They had to toss me out of the office at night. And I was astounded by the fact that hardly anyone I worked with actually had a passion for television. I'd try to talk about shows I loved, even ones on our own network, and no one had any input. That's what's wrong with television today. Those in charge don't love television. They just do their jobs. They may as well be accountants or bankers or anything else. That's why I worked to get the editorship for Brandon Tartikoff here on this site. He truly LOVED television. He talks in his autobiography about deciding he wanted to work in TV at the age of 7! He wasn't a legacy; he created one... his parents weren't in the business. It was purely his passion that got him there. He was a programming genius. I suppose Les Moonves is about as close as we have come since, but he still can't rival Brandon. And now I am sad. My husband suggested I start a blog to have an outlet for my love of TV, a way to get it all out (and probably leave him alone about it!). He thought it would be good for me, but the more I think about it, the more I keep wondering. And all the more I am confused by who I am. I can never go back. I could always go back to local TV. I am in a Top 10 market, and know a few people. Yet, local isn't where the good stuff takes place. I can never pick up and move to L.A. or NYC. I have made my decision. I do live in a beautiful house, and have great friends, and a wonderful family. I am blessed with what I have, so much so that I feel guilty for those thoughts about TV. I took some acting classes, and was even signed by an agent a couple of years ago, but the truth is that I am so much more interested in what is happening on the business side than in front of the camera. I resigned from the agency last week. I have another agent interested in my children. We'll just have to see if they enjoy it. They do shoot Barney just down the road from us. I am seriously thinking about grad school when my kids are in school. There are a couple of great Television Masters Programs around here. One in particular I was talking to back at my "prime." It's a competitive program though. They told me I wouldn't have a problem getting in back then, but how about now? We'll see. And what would I tell them my goals are? My kids will always be #1 now. I just want to be around the industry. I guess I have time to think that one through. My youngest is well under a year old. For now, I just have to wait for the fall to see the latest crop of programs. Summer is always boring for me. I love September - new shows! Oh wait, there's nothing exciting in the works this year as far as I can tell. Argh!
  • Posted Jul 26, 2008 9:18 am PT
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• 24Jul 08

  Textual Poachers - a fascinating book about TV and its fans

  A few people around here have mentioned that the summertime leaves a lot to be desired for us avid TV watchers. How true that is. In my home, after our last finale, my husband and I turn to each other and ask when football season starts. The next night, we break out the Scrabble.
  
  However, during those long hot summer days I like to find myself sitting by the pool reading a good book - about TV! Last year was a no brainer, Bill Carter's Desperate Networks is a must-read for anyone hung up on the TV industry. This year I just picked up summer reading Book #1, and am already about halfway through. Unlike, Desperate Networks, Textual Poachers focuses on TV Fans, not the shows themselves or even industry insiders. It is about you and me. It's about the types of people who sent their NUTS to CBS to try desperately to save Jericho. It's about the world of television fandom written from a sociological and anthropological perspective. It is actually a slightly older book, written in the early 90's, so it talks a lot of Star Trek, Beauty and The Beast, Quantum Leap, Twin Peaks, and other 80's cult shows. However, the discussion still resonates with shows of today. Besides, I have no doubt that there are fans of the afore mentioned shows right here reading this blog. The text discusses the differences between being a regular viewer of a program, or of TV in general, and being a Fan of a particular show. It talks about taking ownership in a program, "reworking" the "text" to get out of the show that which we are looking to find, and about community - the relationships of the fans with one another and with the writers. It points out the rather interesting differences between male and female fans, and shows that each tend to gravitate towards and why. And more importantly, it respects those of us who care about our shows. I've read countless stories of "those crazy Trekkies/Trekkers" and the like. I've been told that my own love for certain programs is unhealthy. This book introduces television fans as members of a legitimate sub-culture. Not only does it make me feel entirely better about my own interests, but it is truly a fascinating look at my fellow TV Addicts.
  
  So for anyone looking for an interesting summer TV read, I highly suggest this book. Textual Poachers by Henry Jenkins. And if anyone else has suggestions for a great TV read, I'm taking suggestions for Summer Reading Book #2!
  • Posted Jul 24, 2008 6:37 am PT
  • Category: TV
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