Paul Dudson
Blog 2 – T.V Industry: Industrial
practices and structures
This section of the book focused on how industrial practices
and rules came into play regarding television show. I wanted
to talk about these three different chapters and how each one hade come under criticism for
doing something that wasn’t either allowed, received too many complaints or just tried someting new . The three
shows however, have become big hits as a result and it show's just how our society is constantly ever changing.
Modern Family – Product placement
Today more than ever, television shows and films are using
product placement in order to gain more financial help. I remember doing a
research on this topic and found out that the latest James Bond film cost $300
million to make, but due to the amount of product placement in it, the
producers only needed to spend around $40 million. However producers and investors look at in, audiences are
starting to notice it more and more and as a result finding it more irritable
and off putting.
Modern Family is one show that did this, especially in one particular episode. This particular episode called “Game Changer” begins
with the farther all set to wake up early the following morning so that he could go out
and get the latest ipad released. As it’s was his birthday and his wife was happy to
know what he actually wanted, she offered to go out for him and buy.
Unfortunately, she falls asleep and the ipad’s are sold out by the time she
gets to the shops. The wife then sets their kids the task of searching Facebook,
chat buzz and bling in order to search for any ipad available. After a series of events,
the farther is united with his ipad and the show comes to an end.
Although the show became a hit with audiences originally, a heated debate began to arise regarding the
ipad’s centric nature. Two groups were formed: Group one side considered "the
ipad integration to be unforgivable and shameless seeking out a profit driven
partnership with its production company twentieth Century Fox, ABC and Apple"(P324).
Group two found the show to be “realistic and convincing, a savvy
creator-fueled storyline that made sense within the shows fictional world”
(P325). Comments went back and forth and the creators claimed that there had
been no finical product placement involved with apples ipad. This was in the
response to a comment claiming the show to have become watered down by branding
and selling out.
This was one episode of many where Modern Family had used
product placement. The show had an agreement with Toyota for the family cars
being used which tallied over 8 minutes of air time, but at the time drew no media attention. Questions were only asked when the ipad episode aired, especially as
Apple was a big shareholder in ABC whilst Steve Jobs sat on the board of the
parent company, Disney.
The problems television and advertisement companies are
fighting against today are that people are now able to skip advertisements whilst
watching their shows. This as a result is a waste of money for the product
companies who then have to go out and find other ways of getting their products
out there. American Pop Idols holds the record for the most product placements
used along with many other reality shows. It has now started to
creep into show scripts such as, “the office”.
A few months later, a producer for Modern Family, spoke
admitting that maybe the show went a little too far during that episode, even
though they never received any payment what so ever. The public then claimed the show to be a sellout.
However you look at this chapter, it would be silly to not
think that shows like Modern Family are often over using product placements
in their shows. This being said, they are just a small show in a world where
everyone is doing it to a certain degree. Like I mentioned earlier even the big
mega money Movies use product placement to help their budget and as long as it
doesn’t become to obvious or repetitive, it can work; you just have to find the
balance.
I always enjoy
watching the clip from Wayne’s World where he is talking about product
placement. Always bring a smile to my face. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjB6r-HDDI0
NYPD BLUE – Content regulation
I enjoyed reading this chapter this show wanted to push the boundaries of television shows and wasn’t afraid of
getting a slap on the wrist in the process. The thing I found most amusing was how much hassle it was
just to get a pilot out to the viewers as ABC and the producers kept arguing
about controversial issues.
NYPD blue aired on ABC from 1993-2005 pushing the boundaries
from the get go. With its profanity and strong adult language, it wasn’t long
before protesters, boycotts and letter the FCC were written complaining about
this show. It wasn’t until 2008, when the FCC finally decided to fine ABC and
NYCD blue for a show that aired some five years earlier.
The episode was called “Nude Awakening” and the incident was
a scene lasting no more than 40 seconds. What followed was years of legal
battles which eventually resulted in the dismissal of all the fines original posed.
This case however, was a substantial win against the FCC and brought forward a
call for the rules and regulations to be changed.
Why was this series so
much in the line of fire? The show centered on detective Andy Sipowicz, who was a racist,
homophobic recovering alcoholic who could never seem to hold a partner down.
The show used adult based language such as BITCH, ASSHOLE and DICK HEAD, along
with vivid description of body parts never used before on primetime TV. Yes
primetime TV, this wasn’t late at night and so was able to be seen by young
children or adults who just didn’t want to have to hear and see that type of
content.
The show however, wanted to show realism; they felt it
important to show the viewing audience, what it is like to be a policeman in
NYC. Not just the language but the dilemmas and tragedies which were
encountered by those in law enforcement. Either way, the show won countless
awards over the years, and it never seemed to lose too many viewer rather than
gain more each season.
With the introduction of cable, viewers were able to watch
more channels and shows at home. This didn’t go down too well with the three
big Networks who began to see show ratings slide in favor of the cable
channels. The problem the big three networks had was that the cable companies
were allowed to show adult content compared to the strict rules they had to
follow themselves. With this something was bound to happen and it did. It was
called NYCD blue.
Before it even aired, like I mentioned earlier it was already
in controversy whilst also being branded, “most racist show ever”. The
directors however did not want to budge on their work; resulting in a year wait before the pilot was aired.
After initially a few warnings from the FCC along with
complaints from affiliated companies to ABC, the show decided to show a warning
message before every show aired.
So what got the show in
hot water? Every actor in NYCD blue has a contact stating that they must get naked if the script
requires it. Over the episodes, audiences have grown accustomed to seeing countless
male actors partially naked whilst also showing sex scenes that only cover key
areas. However, it was a woman getting into the shower on the tenth
season that landed NYCD blue and ABC in hot water. The scene lasted 40 seconds
and there was 7 seconds of nudity.
After a string of complaints, the FCC finally decided to act
and fine ABC and forty-five of its affiliates. The fine for ABC was $1,237,500
plus $27,500 for each affiliate. NYCD Blue decided like always to challenge the
FCC. Around this Time the FCC decided to bring out a set of new rules to be
followed by the television companies. The thing was, it seemed like more people
went against these rules, for example: either swearing while at television
awards, or Janet Jackson’s super Bowl slip up.
The FCC had no other choice but to increase fines for shows
that broke the rules. As complaints seemed to rise by thousands each year so
did the fines being handed out. These fines jumped from $32,000 to $325,000.
When the case went to court, NYCD Blue claimed the nude seen
showed the buttocks and that it wasn’t meant in any sexual way and should be
viewed as more of awkwardness. The FCC countered saying there were sexual
organs, which were associated with sexual arousal. In 2010, the 2nd Supreme
Court claimed freedom of speech and the Show was protected by the first
amendment. The fines were overturned.
I enjoyed re reading this chapter as I felt NYCD blue was
right to test the boundaries and make a show that depicted real life events and
situation. Today, there are more shows coming out showing lost of sexual content ( Game of Thrones), which would never of been allowed ten years ago, but as shows like NYPD blue pushed and broke the boundaries, it has enabled other shows to come through. I feel the FCC and people who might complain should focus on other
issues. It doesn’t take much effort to turn the channel over or get parental lock.
Entertainment
tonight – Tabloid news
I don’t know anyone that doesn’t enjoy watching a bit of “rubbish”
on television, as my mum would say. I am often watching MTV news trying to see
what the latest gossip is in the world of celebrities. I would often come home
from work to see my sister glued to the television watching some sort of
celebrity based show. No show based on celebritie news has lasted as long or stayed as
consistently profitable as, Entertainment Tonight.
Until the early 1980’s, “first run” syndicated programs were programs that were seen as fillers in-between the main shows. In 1981, Entertainment Tonight aired and continues to do so today. If you would click through your
television channels just before primetime TV began, you would be greeted
by Mary Hart, who would be reporting on the latest news from Hollywood. Hart was a key figur who helped popularize a new mode of celebrity gossip, which included stories of
celebrity’s private lives and on set exclusives.
Entertainment Tonight was lucky; they were able to do
something that the FCC blocked Hollywood studios from doing. That’s right; the
FCC had blocked Studios from entering into the broadcasting side of the
industry because they didn’t want the power of telling the news to fall into
the hands of just a few. No matter how the studios and big organizations tried
their hardest to get into that particular area, they were always kicked back by
the FCC.
Entertainment Tonight, was created by Alfred Masini, a
former executive, who came up with the idea by studying what was not on the air,
which was entertainment news (P302). Masini was able to do his research to
see if people would really want to know, the top films of the week, year month;
or which celebrity was doing what. The answer was yes. With a few deals thrown
around by the big corporations, the show was able to be seen on cable
televisions on the same day they were recorded, which was a first.
In its first week ET earned itself the highest rating
national newscast. This being said, early reviews were not kind. Comments such
as "the hosts are dreadful” and the show's news was “so soft it squishes” (P303). Over
the next decade the show would continue to come under criticism, but it still
managed to bring in millions of viewers. People soon came to see that
show as a way of getting information not necessarily important, but exciting to
millions of viewers all around America. “The show wasn’t inaccurate; it just
missed the point as ET never had a source for hard news or its journalism”
(P304).
Over time the show eventually became so powerful that it was
seen as leverage for getting or promoting celebrities on their show. The show
however understood that it still needed the celebrities for their own publicity
so they did not let it go to their heads too much. The show grew and changed
the way it was seen by viewers. The show has grown every year and
continues to do so.
Either way you look at it, ET has become very popular and it
hasn’t taken long for other companies to jump on the band wagon and copy that
celebrity style gossip segment. Now, people see shows like this all the time
and will continue for many more years to come. It was a case of one man doing his research inot what wasnt on television that sparked a whole new was of broadcasting news.
Conclusion
From the three blogs I have written about, I have learned a
lot about how the content being placed in them can work for or against the show
as a result. For example; NYPD blue was constantly receiving complaints, but it
still managed to become a massive hit picking up many awards whilst eventually opening the door for other similar shows. They were not afraid
to try something new and push the boundaries and came out winning. The
same applies for Entertainment Tonight, no one knew how the show would come
across to the public as they too were trying something new that hadn’t been done
before. In its first week, it blew up and despite criticism has continued to be around thirty plus years. Modern Family however, was knocked back on one particular show by critiques and audience for
apparently “selling out” by allowing their show to be taken over by product
placements, which viewers saw as off putting and distasteful. Viewers are not stupid and shows have to work on finding that balance otherwise viewers will often tend to leave the showfor another one.
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