I agree with Jack Myers in his appreciation of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (see original article at the link at bottom). It seems that broadcasters are so hungry for a show that targets the entire population that it overlooks shows that can attract a smaller, intelligent viewership. With that idealit’s no wonder that almost every show on is so watered down, politically correct and intent on being unoffending that they don’t strongly appeal to anyone. I remember heated debates about Martin Sheen’s Presidential decisions on West Wing as if he was really the President (I wish). I highly doubt that Deal or No Deal, America’s Got Talent or 30 Rock inspire such thought.
The fact that a show can attract an audience that rarely watches tv is amazing. Has NBC considered that they just tapped into a new revenue stream? Maybe they should take a lesson from their own show and load up on a few reality shows aimed at the masses to counter a couplle of smart, contemporary dramas. I guess they could even play it safe and broadcast Law and Order: The TV Studio.

Of course NBC is concerend about costs, but apparently they never heard the phrase "You Get What You Pay For". It's very inexpensive to hire a bunch of hack writers, hire a bunch of wanna be actors and actresses mostly for their looks, throw up some MDF and lights for a set. But wht do you end up with? Las Vegas? Please. NBC seemed like the smart network, Medium, Heroes, ER (in it's heyday), Earl, the Office, etc. Quality acting, writing and ultimately, quality shows.

I feel similarly about HBO. Where once they had Rome, the Sopranos, Deadwood, Carnivale, Entourage, now they just keep replaying the old good stuff and put out new shows like John from Cincinnati and Flight of the Conchords? I can't even go back to Showtime since the pulled Huff out from under me.

I think that film makers are in a unique position to influence networks. I'd like to see a few financers backing new series distributed through YouTube, Joost or iTunes. I think pretty quickly they'll find advertisers and start a scramble among the networks similar to what Hollywood went through in the early 70s.