Why do American producers have to milk everything?

[perfectimo]

Hey, kind of already touched this subject so instead of copy and pasting my views, I'll just link to the thread.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.73872

Haha, remember on that thread I also posted a link to a thread I was in about the same thing?
This is the third thread about this in 10 days!


In response to the OP, it's because people keep watching and not turning off their TV's. The average consumer won't stop watching TV because it's boring. So the companies can get away with play the same scenario over and over again within the same series then when people realise what they are doing they stop the show, make a new one, run the same scenario over and over...

 

[PrISM]

It's called 'Capitalism.'

 

[Zaleznikel]

I bet if the producers of a show had more of an emotional investment in it, then they wouldn't milk it to death. There are a few shows that were ended before they turned bad, like Seinfeld. Anyone disagree there?

 

[TomNook]

Because Eurpeans/Aussies are and never have been greedy.

 

[curlycrouton]

Milking T.V. shows? Did someone say:

The Simpsons?

 

[Imitation Saccharin]

They need the money, they're in a recession.

You know this type of comment doesn't help your chances of blending into the Earth population Gorglax

Greed - for lack of a better word - is good.

Greed is right.

Greed works.

Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit.

Greed, in all of its forms - greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge - has marked the upward surge of mankind... but then again it's also to blame for crimes against humanity like 'Meet the Spartans'

So what, Einstein's plan was to cash in on relativity when that fucker went gold?

 

[xitel]

It's Money, plain and simple. The only reason producers pay for things in the first place is to make money. They will grind something to a nub to get as much money as possible, then jump to the next host.

 

[antibonk]

This is hardly a American only thing. Producers everywhere tend to milk things till it falls off.

 

[Altorin]

Why American producers? I think it's safe to say ALL producers milk everything.

In fact, getting the most money out of something is basically the key job description of a producer

 

[GloatingSwine]

Because it's actually very difficult to come up with a new idea and install it in enough brains to actually get it off the ground as a commercial success.

It's a lot easier to let the inertia of a previous successful product do most of your work for you. As mentioned, this is not a problem which is particular to America. A counterexample of British comedy, for example, is Red Dwarf, which managed to lurch on for three full series after it stopped being funny.

 

[Technomage333]

Feels like time for a yahtzee quote now: "... until lucas arts decided to axe the cleverness division in favor of the milking Star Wars license until its udders turn into little black stalactites department." Not exactly a why but another example for you.

 

[penguin123]

well if you ask me it matters how long theve been milking the franchise oh so starwars they should stop milking that uh the simpsons eh not horrible but you have to thinks about it america is about to go into a second depresion because of the bail out

 

[shatnershaman]

Obviously greed comes to mined but also a sentimentally thing. Would you want to leave something that has been so good to you for so long?

 

[JMeganSnow]

There's a psychological tendency in many people to go for a "sure thing" instead of trying something new and risky. The more money at stake, the more conservative people get. Why do you think so few people become venture capitalists or day traders? Sure, the potential return is high, but the risk is ALSO high.

I wouldn't worry about it, creative people with independent judgment eventually get noticed, and we don't want the poor hacks to starve.

 

[Jark212]

Because they care more about money then about their souls

 

[CTU_Agent24]

Greed - for lack of a better word - is good.

Greed is right.

Greed works.

Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit.

Greed, in all of its forms - greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge - has marked the upward surge of mankind... but then again it's also to blame for crimes against humanity like 'Meet the Spartans'

lol. u hear they are remaking wall street. Martin sheen is said o be reprising his role.

 

[Michlo]

Well since you mention British TV (I'm a Brit in Los Angeles, btw), what about the fad of re-making all the good British shows? That is also rather irksome. Is the original creativity spigot running dry or what?

Most of these British shows are successes BECAUSE of their British quirkiness and re-making them seldom works. Absolutely Fabulous will be the latest to get this treatment. The only saving grace is that Jennifer Saunders is on-board as a consultant.

Cheers.

 

[electric discordian]

To be honest I would rather they milk something akin to the Xfiles to death than remake a lack lustre version of an old film or TV show. At least with the episodic nature of something like that it allowed many writing teams to work. With something like one of the sitcoms with its own writing team it can take out upto 14 writers jobs!

Oh and whilst were on this subject I was watching the Colbert report on British Tv last night and it struck me the difference in audiance between that and for example "Have I got news for you" Colbert has a hooting horde of jocks and general stereotypical fat americans, this is meant to be satire! So is the audiance hired with that in mind?

Although the Americans do make some of the most intelligent dramas on TV at the moment, so I am not anti yank by any means. When the UK keeps putting out abortions like Torchwood I will probably keep watching US dramas and British sitcoms!

 

[maffro]

Man, I recall black books. And I remember Fawlty Towers, which was pure amazing and had 12 episodes, I think?

It's partially 'cause our comedy series average 6 episodes at a time, though. Whereas america has about 20 to a season.