If you watched the Emmys
this past year, you heard this current era the “Golden Age of Television” with
shows like Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and The Walking Dead taking the country by storm. All of these shows have had several
season for the excitement and fan base to build, but it seemed as though this
past year everything had finally reached a boiling point, clearly driven by the
climatic end of Breaking Bad, which
as 9/10 people on the street will tell you, is the greatest show TV has ever
seen. What is it about these shows
that have whipped audiences into such fervor?
Ok, I’m going to make a
confession. I still haven’t actually started Breaking Bad. I know. Yes, it seems totally awesome. Yes, I know
something’s wrong with me. For someone looking at the show from an outside
perspective, the hype over Breaking Bad
was like nothing ever seen before.
Friends of mine who I had never seen care particularly about any shows one-way
or the other. These were friends who would casually watch a show when it was
on, out of order, or start a series and leave it unfinished. Suddenly the story
arc of chemistry teacher-turned-drug lord Walter White was sacrosanct, and
everything became second in importance to the newest episode of Breaking Bad. And they were a part of
the 10.3 million people who sat glued to the TV for the last ever Sunday night
with Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul.(Deadline)
From my perspective,
this super obsession over shows is something new. Think back to the dark days of 2003 before any of this
super-fandom. Sure most of us were 11-12, but do you remember anyone freaking
out over any of the network dramas on at that time. There have always been the consistently
popular shows. Seinfeld was, and
continues to be, a fan favorite. Then there were shows like the X-Files, which generated a massive cult
following. But did any of these shows garner the mass critical and popular
appeal that some of the shows today have? Were their writing, casting, or
plotlines so much worse for it?
The argument could be made that this
over-exaggerated hype of primetime television started with LOST in 2004, which provided a unique blend of mystery and mass
appeal that earned it such a wide base of viewership. I remember the frenzied buildup surrounding the series
finale of that show, and even that came nowhere near the wave of some of
today’s shows.
Maybe part of the hype
comes with the added ability to binge-watch shows, through Netflix, Hulu, or any
of those random, virus-ridden 3rd party sites that most of us are
more than willing to risk our hard drives for. And yet, when it comes to some
of these shows, it seems like the trend is reverting to the past, when people
sat down around the TV at 9pm on a Sunday to watch the show the moment it airs,
not wanting to wait to catch it the next day unless they absolutely have
to.
In many ways some of the
frenzy surrounding shows like these seems to have taken a turn away from the
patterns of other TV shows over the past few years. Go on Facebook after a
particular lauded episode of say, House,
and it was more than possible you could run across a status containing a
spoiler, ruining the episode for you. Now look at your Facebook or Twitter
during an episode of Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, or The Walking Dead. Like as
not, not a single person is spoiling that show for anyone else. Sure there are
the requisite “BREAKING BAD, I CAN’T EVEN!!!” but on the whole, everyone is
treating the show, and their fellow viewers, with a degree of respect almost
out of place in this day and age.
Social media no doubt plays a
huge part in this TV phenomenon. Through the simplicity of Facebook or Twitter,
the average person is able to share their love of a show with their friends,
family, or random strangers with a depth of enthusiasm that would’ve required
attending a fan convention just a decade previous. The interface between cast, creators, and fans brings a whole
other element of obsessive fandom.
Take Community for
example. I love Community, and like
its other fans, I was deeply concerned when the question of its cancellation
was brought up. A grassroots
social media campaign was started, helmed by the stars of the show itself, and
the people of Facebook and Twitter responded in an overwhelming wave of enthusiasm,
#SixSeasonsAndAMovie became a rallying cry within the online world, and, if the
current status of the show is any indication, six seasons and a movie is just
what Community fans will get.
Who knows if this is just a trend,
doomed to die down after the finales of those much hyped shows still running.
Networks are always looking for the next to take their place, but can any
capture that magic hold over audiences like Breaking
Bad, Mad Men, or Game of Thrones?
DeMorales, Lisa "Broadcasters Ambushed By Hysteria Around ‘Breaking Bad’ Finale" Deadline. 30 September 2013
I embarrassingly have never seen Breaking Bad. That is pretty much a crime in today’s world. I know the basic plot line, but haven’t given it a try yet. It seems everyone everywhere raves about this show. On a side note, my roommate just started the series and she is absolutely hooked. So, I’ve got to be missing out on something remarkable. I’ve tried to watch the popular shows like Game of Thrones, Dexter and The Walking Dead. I just can’t get into them. Don’t be fooled and think that I don’t watch any TV, I am a loyal True Blood and Girls fan. I will say that when everyone was going crazy over Orange is The New Black, I did hop on that train and watched that show and fell in love with it. So maybe I should try out an episode of Breaking Bad. According to Nielsen, six million people look at tweets about each Breaking Bad episode, I’m clearly missing out on something amazing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with John in that this “ super obsession over shows is something new.” There was a show awhile back called The O.C, it seemed everyone loved it but it doesn’t compare to todays fandom. There are other components to consider, Social Media wasn’t as prevalent back then. Social Media in particular has helped shows spread like wildfire. I also agree with John that this crazy fan frenzy was created by Lost. Personally, I watched this show and it became boring after eight episodes. How long can you keep people on an island? That is beside the point; back in 2004 there weren’t many people shouting out spoilers on Social Media.
I would think that Netflix is the most common streaming website that people turn to. Taking into consideration, that the Netflix stock increased by 296% this year; we can say that assumption is right. Netflix is now the second best performing stock in the U.S stock market (Gardner). This is no surprise considering everyone and their mother has a Netflix account. Especially college kids, I have yet to meet a college student who didn’t have an account or did some Netflix binging. I usually watch my shows on HBOGo, so I can’t say I am part of the Netflix binging culture. I also watch my shows live to avoid any spoilers. Let me tell you, not having a DVR at college is an enormous inconvenience. Netflix has made itself a strong competitor in the last few years. It went from mailing movies, to having them in seconds on your computer. It is no surprise that within the last five years broadcaster ratings have decreased(Malloy). Why watch something live, when you can watch it whenever you want at your own convenience?
I don’t believe that this obsession is a trend that is going to change anytime soon. Using Social Media to express how you feel about a certain show has become a way of life. Catching the latest episode of the hottest show is the “cool” thing to do, but people also are just insanely attached to their TV shows. This crazy and obsessive fan behavior isn’t changing anytime soon.
-Kim Fanch
Works Cited
Gardner, Eriq "Netflix Gets Wall Street's Silver Medal in 2013." The Hollywood Reporter 30 Dec. 2013:Print.
Malloy, Tom. "Battered Networks Blow Up Traditional TV Schedule to Take on Cable, Streaming Rivals." The Wrap 13 May 2013 Print.
I'm an enigma when it comes to shows. That's not the case with movies, for me, as going to the movies is like church, to me. I'll make every effort that I can to find a showtime, as well as proper transportation, and whatever is necessary for it.
ReplyDeleteTV? Not at all.
I've never gone crazy, trying to keep up with a show's plot while it is still in production. Well, that's not true, I have kept up to date with How I Met Your Mother, but even then, I don't mark my calendar and say to myself: I MUST be sitting on my couch at this particular time to watch this show. Granted that I'm aware of the schedule when I'm watching a syndicated show, like The Simpsons, Seinfeld, The Office, etc.
I've only watched five or six episodes of Breaking Bad, and yet I have not understood the whole hype around it. Perhaps I need to keep watching and eventually I'll be hooked by it? This seems to be the same case with myself and Mad Men, as well as Game of Thrones. I'm not sure why, as I am willing to sit in front of my computer and watch episodes I've already seen before the hype that surrounded it.
Based on my limited knowledge on this subject, I would say the reason that people are hooked on shows in this day and age is mainly due to the introduction of alternative methods to watch a show, being DVD's, or online streaming, mainly due to the internet. It gives people another chance to see something that they would have no time to see. Perhaps these shows have always been around and we're just aware of them, now? This is the same question that is poised in the medical community.
Netflix has done SO much for me, when it comes to watching things. I probably would never have watched Arrested Development, were it not for a year's free subscription that i received from my aunt and uncle. But here's the funnier part: when it was announced that Arrested Development would return to production, but would bring the episodes on Netflix, I still haven't even finished the new season! Nearly a year later!
Edward Jay Epstein has summed it up pretty well by saying that television is overtaking the spotlight from movies, probably starting with the creation of HBO. Television is no longer limited to primetime essentials, most of the momentum is coming from cable networks, like Breaking Bad and Mad Men on AMC, or Conan O'Brien starting his own talk show on TBS, or Monk on USA, which I didn't understand at all when they were first announced. I can't emphasize how much of a transition I've seen in people's enthusiasm towards television. I've never expected people to have such devotion to television now, compared to when I was younger. Well, I was a couch potato, but so is everybody when you're seven years old.
Now we have shows that are Netflix originals, such as House of Cards or Orange is the New Black, and they're all being nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards. How are we to handle this?
The Atlantic
“Netflix, 'House of Cards,' and the Golden Age of Television”
Atlantic Media Company
Released: February 07, 2013
Accessed: February 17, 2014
Derek Thompson
Kevin Ganey
I think the level of hype surrounding many of todays most popular television series is something unique to our generation. The way that we watch television, and our level of involvement in the shows that we watch is beyond anything that our parents or grandparents could probably ever have imagined. Viewers are not passive entities consuming TV series through an actual television anymore, the concept seems so old-world and quaint to us now. I look back to the days when my mom and I used to sit down together on Tuesday nights and watch the latest episode of Gilmore Girls together. Today we watch TV series by streaming them via our computers, cell phones or tablets, we binge-watch, we live tweet, we record on our DVRs when we wont be able to catch a show live. And all of this significantly changes our involvement with the shows that we are passionate about. The ease and immediacy of viewing TV series now has seriously altered the way we think about television. “Never before has so much high-quality, original programming been available to viewers whenever they want it” (Malloy). All this content available online doesn’t come cheap for Netflix, one of the most popular online streaming sites. “Netflix spends some $2.7 billion on content -- more than twice as much as Amazon -- which leads some investment analysts to continue to worry about costs” (Gardner). But avid Netflix users will definitely argue that the investment is worth it. I cant remember the last time I actually turned on the TV in my room, but I am more involved in television series than I can ever remember.
ReplyDeleteI my love affair with binge-watching TV series online started with my introduction to the show Girls, then Shameless, then Ray Donovan, then Breaking Bad, Friday Night Lights, Mad Men….and I still currently have a laundry list of series recommended to me that I’ve yet to start. The ability to watch hours of episodes back to back that increases a viewers personal attachment to a show exponentially. This intense personal connection to television series combined with the ability of fans to further connect with the show through social media has turned viewers into fans, and fans into super-fans. We now have so much control over what we watch, when we watch it, and how we connect with it on social media, it is no surprise that the hype surrounding television series has grown to such a level.
Works Cited:
Malloy. Tim. "Battered Networks Blow Up Traditional TV Schedule to Take on Cable, Streaming Rivals." The Wrap. 14 May 2013. Web.
Gardner, Eriq. "Netflix Gets Wall Street's Silver Medal in 2013." The Hollywood Reporter. 30 Dec. 2013. Web.
Cara Gilmartin
ReplyDeleteJohn, I’ll admit that I’ve never seen Breaking Bad, either. One time, I started watching an episode of Mad Men and fell asleep, but that’s neither here nor there. I definitely believe that in more recent times we have seen this surge of hype regarding television shows. With technology advancing rapidly, such as social media and time shifting, it is almost impossible to have no idea about what is happening on a television show regardless of whether you watch it or not. Like I said, I’ve never seen Breaking Bad, but I can promise that I know some of the major things that have happened on the show throughout its time on air. Many of my friends would use social media to talk about the show, constantly adding fuel to the show’s fire.
Deadline reports that 10.3 million people watched the series finale of Breaking Bad (De Moraes). While I was not one of those people, social media told me something major happened. Instead of a spoiler being the first thing I saw on my Twitter or Facebook, I came across one tweet that told me what happened. While all it takes is one post or tweet to ruin the ending, I quickly noticed how quiet people were about giving away too much.
With Netflix, we see so many people who opted not to watch the show while it was on television, changing their ways and getting hooked. Some of these people even know how the series drastically ends; yet they watch anyway! I think a huge part of the reason why they still watch is because they fear the idea of missing out on the hype and being left out of the conversation. If you are someone who started watching Breaking Bad shortly after the series ended, chances are you are probably close to or finished, meaning you can still talk about with the die hard fans of the show.
I started watching Scandal on Netflix solely because of how many people I saw talking about on Twitter and how many conversations I overheard about how great the last episode was. I really felt like I was missing out and I needed to figure out what all the hype was about. So one day, I tweeted asking followers what popular show I should begin watching, and I can’t even count how many people tweeted back with Scandal. When season three began, I was fully caught up and prepared to have my eyes glued to my television screen every Thursday night, as one of 12.2 million weekly viewers (Ryan). And if I’m not able to watch that Thursday night, I actually tell people that I can’t watch so they do not spoil anything for me.
So yes, I do think that television has entered an age of ultra-hype. We are seeing many shows have a surge of success because of the passion of its fans. The interaction on social media and the idea of binge viewing are two things I do not see fading out of our culture anytime soon.
Dear TV,
You’re welcome.
Love, Twitter and Netflix
De Moraes, Lisa. "Broadcasters Ambushed By Hysteria Around ‘Breaking Bad’ Finale." Deadline. 30 Sept. 2013. Web.
Ryan, Joel. "The Year's TV Ratings Winners and Losers." Yahoo TV. 17 Dec. 2013. Web.
Well, I haven't seen Breaking Bad either, and I'm often told I'm the world's worst Media Studies student for that reason. I’m actually quite proud of it. Glad I'm not the only one in that boat. I believe that hype around shows is all about perception and preference, however, Breaking Bad is an extreme example of fandom at it's strongest. For example, I'm an avid watcher and self proclaimed super-fan of Mad Men, but most other people I know haven't seen it or say they "want" to watch it but never get the chance to. Of course, these are the same people that lock themselves in their basement with Walter White for hours on end via Netflix, so that argument often seems to lack credit. That being said, I will reiterate that I believe this "Breaking Bad Effect" (De Moraes) was not a trend-starter, but sheer luck that TV audiences took note of fantastic scriptwriting and acting when they saw it. It was no surprise that Breaking Bad took home all of the awards that it did, because let’s be honest, did anyone else even care what was on television at the time? Well, maybe a few other people in this class and I, but that’s about it.
ReplyDeleteI’m always hesitant to jump on media bandwagons out of fear for the product not being as good as those who recommend it proclaim it to be, and also out of my perpetual cynicism toward the mainstream. Not even the social media community aspect brought up in this post can lure me in, apparently. However, I think that’s a great point – people LOVE sharing things about Breaking Bad and the like on social media, whether as a cry for acceptance or inclusion or pure obsession. I’ve seen through my current internship at WWE just how crazy fans can be; for example, I help run a chat room every Monday night during their live show where the same people have attended every week for years and years and years, probably since the very start of the internet. There are diehard WWE fans everywhere, but we don’t hear about them as much because their community is established, and his been established, for years on end. Breaking Bad and shows like it are something new, and fans aren’t really sure what to do with it; so of course they will resort to social media as a means of communication and gathering information and voicing opinions about the show. And as it stands now, the most watched TV events are still sporting and athletic events (Nielsen.com), so I’ll wait until a TV show can collect more viewers than the Super Bowl before I board the bandwagon.
What I appreciate more is the ability for fans to speak up about a show that is not as popular and make it that way, such as the Community example used in this post. I believe this, more than anything, demonstrates the power of community (no pun intended) through social media. This, combined with Netflix, has obviously changed the way we view and think about television, and those of us resisting the change (did I mention I don’t have Netflix either?) are going to need to conform sooner or later to keep up with the media curve.
Works Cited
De Moraes, Lisa. "Broadcasters Ambushed By Hysteria Around ‘Breaking Bad’ Finale." N.p., 30 Sept. 2013. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.
"Newswire ." Tops of 2013: TV and Social Media. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.
I believe it was Public Enemy who once said, “Don’t Believe the Hype.” Well, Chuck D and Flava Flav can now sleep soundly knowing that the hype is clearly justified when it comes to the quality of this new age of television. While I agree with many of the points that John has brought up, including his reasoning as to why this recent batch of programming has received so much praise and attention over the past few years, I also believe that many of these shows are deserving.
ReplyDeleteIt has been argued in recent years the quality of television has surpassed that of its narrative brethren, film. Television provides the creative thinkers in Hollywood with different tools to work with, and much more freedom to enjoy. It’s obviously much easier stretch out a story arc over 10-13 hour-long installments than over a single, succinct two-hour period. The amount of detail and depth you can explore with that amount of time is unmatched on the big screen. That isn’t to say that you always need all that time to tell a story, as movies still can still strike a chord with audiences, but I believe that the writers, directors, and producers in the TV industry have been taking more advantage of their strengths.
The example that’s been brought up constantly is Breaking Bad, a show that capitalized on its depth and our modern day resources to take the country by storm. It incorporated smart, consistent writing with an understanding of the times. The ability to DVR and stream the show, something that couldn’t be done until recently, was a major factor in the spread of the show, as it allowed for more consumers despite their Sunday night habits. Since so many more can follow up on the high praise of a show, hype is something that can be proven or disproven much more easily in 2014 than even as little as ten years ago. Breaking Bad made itself a sustainable product not by over marketing, but by creating something that people got attached to. From there, the hype machine just keeps on trucking. I mean, the show got so popular that AMC created a show just to talk about it. The finale boasted an insane 10.3 million viewers, unheard of for a primetime cable show (Malloy, Nededog, Maglio, Gilman).
Network television has begun to adapt to the trend as well, integrating streaming services of their own and adding more shows the match the format of hits like Mad Men and Game of Thrones. FOX debuted The Following last year to critical acclaim. The show has those same deep, 43-minutes episodes that allow viewers’ hearts to become entrenched in the story and characters. FOX is also being more careful about how they approach new shows. Instead of the high-risk practice of dolling out 22-episode seasons to debutants, they’ve been green lighting other 13-episode show that often prove more successful. People have even more reason to be excited.
Malloy, Tim, Jethro Nededog, Tony Maglio, and Greg Gilman. "Best & Worst 2013: TV's Biggest Winners and Losers of the Year.” The Wrap. 9 Dec. 2013. Web. 17 Feb. 2014.
Malloy, Tim. “Battered Networks Blow Up Traditional TV Schedule to Take on Cable, Streaming Rivals.” The Wrap. 14 May 2013. Web. 17 Feb. 2014.
ReplyDeleteScott Wong
First off, what is wrong with you? I know you have Netflix, go home and watch Breaking Bad. Secondly, I think your concern about television programming being over-hyped is a legitimate one. There’s such a variety of content nowadays that it’s hard to differentiate the great from the so-so; the Louie’s from the Big Bang Theory’s. I think that applications like social media, blogs, even word-of-mouth, definitely play a part in shaping our interest in terms of what we want to watch.
As ideas and society continues to progress, people will undoubtedly have the need to express their opinions. Whether it’s constructive or negative really depends on them, but there’s still the exchanging of ideas happening. I started watching Breaking Bad because my friend wouldn’t stop talking to me about it. It was as if he was subjected to the brainwashing that was shown in your Family Guy video. Humourous as it was, there was an aspect of truth to it.
John, you write that people believe we’re in a “Golden Era” of television. It’s hard to argue against that. Especially with everyone claiming we’re in it on social media. With the capacity to bring shows back from the dead (Community, Arrested Development), networks are recognizing the power their audience holds. Nielsen has even begun tracking Twitter activity to keep track of who’s tuning in and saying what. (Nielsen).
I’m not saying social media dictates network programming, but it’s given audience members an open-forum for discussion, and networks have definitely taken notice.
We’re still in the infancy of the social media age, so who knows how the relationship between audience and producers will play out. Programs like American Idol, and other game shows have been incorporating social media to involve their audiences for a while. This might sound far off, but someday maybe the roles of the producer and audiences might be reversed, with social media being the facilitator.
Some people want to voice their opinion; to be the first to post “BREAKING BAD, I CAN'T EVEN!!!”, and who can blame them, Breaking Bad is that good. That feeling of camaraderie is what networks want to tap into. When the Breaking Bad finale was on I was among the 10.3 million viewers (Deadline).
Deciding whether or not something is being over-hyped can be as easy as browsing your Facebook timeline, but deciding whether or not it’s worth the hype, you need to experience it for yourself. With that being said: watch Breaking Bad, John.
Works Cited
“Nielsen Tops of 2013: TV & Social Media.” Nielsen.com. 17 Dec. 2013. Web.
De Moraes, Lisa. "Broadcasters Ambushed By Hysteria Around ‘Breaking Bad’ Finale." N.p., 30 Sept. 2013. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.
I believe that social media has greatly contributed to the "super-fandom" that is discussed in the blog. In the past, fans did not have the ability to express their opinions, excitement, criticism, etc. regarding television shows. Today, people are able to have a voice and share their thoughts with the world, as well as connect with other people about their favorite shows. This "super-fandom" is exemplified by the amount of tweets that were generated throughout the series' of popular shows. Breaking Bad, for example, acquired an "average of six million people viewing Tweets about each new episode of the program" (Media and Entertainment, 2013). The show also ranked #1 on the Nielsen Twitter TV Ratings for the Fall of 2013, generating an average of 521,000 tweets, and took the 10th spot on the top 10 Time-Shifted TV Programs of 2013 (Media and Entertainment, 2013). I think it also has to do with the demographics of the individuals who use social media. Teens and young adults, I believe, are highly active members on social media sites, therefore, they essentially have a great deal of control over a show's popularity - if there is buzz on Twitter or Facebook about a particular show, other members of the social media site will be more likely to look into the show as everyone wants to be "in the loop."
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, people now have the ability to view shows even after they are on the air. As stated in the blog, people often turn to Netfix and Hulu to binge watch television shows, which creates a long lasting fan base. I, at the time that Breaking Bad aired, was not a fan. I did not take part in contributing to the show's viewership. However, I now just finished the series on Netflix, and still discuss it with fans despite the fact that the show last aired over a year ago. The point being, shows now have the ability to grow a larger fan base as people have the capability of watching the series after they are off of the air, thus contributing to the everlasting hype.
As stated in Tom Vanderbilt’s article “The Nielsen Family Is Dead," watching shows on a television screen is "not how we watch [TV shows] anymore" (Vanderbilt, 2013). The article then points out the ways that we do consume television shows now - "Hulu, Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Roku, iTunes, smartphone, tablet" etc (Vanderbilt, 2013). However, Neilsen has not been tracking this type of viewing and therefore has not accounted for the audience that have been watching the show(s) off of the television screen. Nielsen however, will be starting to account for Internet streaming this coming Fall, but I still wonder what the results would have been had Nielsen accounted for the Internet streaming these past few years (would popular shows such as Breaking Bad have double or triple the amount of viewers?) Who knows. In essence, I do believe that the Internet has transformed not only the hype and popularity surrounding television shows, but the amount of viewers that they accumulate as well.
Media and Entertainment. (2013, Dec 17). Tops of 2013: TV and Social Meda. Retrieved from http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/newswire/2013/tops-of-2013-tv-and-social-media.html
Vanderbilt, Tom. (2013, March 19). The Nielsen Family Is Dead. Retrieved from wired.com