Two significant series -- one with a giant following among science-fiction fans, the other a multiple Emmy Award winner -- transition to new networks this month, providing industry observers of every stripe with interesting opportunities to discover if greater creative freedom and fewer content restrictions do indeed make scripted drama more compelling, especially for adult viewers.
Torchwood, the sci-fi show, is an outstanding British import first seen in this country in edited form on BBC America that began its fourth season July 8 on Starz. Damages, the Emmy winner, is a sophisticated legal thriller starring Glenn Close that ran for three seasons on FX and will begin its fourth July 13 on DirecTV. Both shows already had an adult edge when they were telecast on their original, advertiser-supported networks. To judge from early episodes and previews of what's to come, they're both going to take advantage of the envelope pushing that comes with transitioning from broadcast and basic cable to pay cable and other less restrictive platforms.
Ever since the arrivals of game-changers Sex and the City and The Sopranos on HBO and Queer as Folk on Showtime there has been endless conversation among television executives, critics, advertisers and others about how important adult language, nudity, graphic depictions of sexual behavior and sequences of brutal violence are to certain series and, by extension, to their viewers. The only real test of such shows has been and continues to be their off-pay afterlife, when they are repeated in edited form. Anyone who has watched Sex and the City on TBS or E!, or The Sopranos on A&E, or Queer as Folk on Logo or Entourage in broadcast syndication will have to admit that while many episodes of these shows play just fine without curse words and bare breasts and behinds they lack the overall power (dramatic or comedic) they had in their unedited form. (Some of that also has to do with the frequent and frequently overloaded commercial breaks those shows suffer in their new environments.)
Starting tonight, however, we'll be able to see just how different two shows may become while still in first-run status simply because they change home networks. In the episodes of both that I have already seen, Torchwood (known this season as Torchwood: Miracle Day) seems the least different, except for very infrequent cursing and graphic-by-this-franchise's-standards sex scenes, one featuring bi-sexual hero Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman). Damages, on the other hand, suddenly lets the F-bombs fly in its new home on DirecTV. (FX allows almost every other curse word in its shows, but not the Big F.) Interestingly, this harsh language seems to flow very naturally from the cut-throat characters on the canvas and, for better or worse, enhances the realism of the show's gritty storytelling.
This column continues over at MediaPost.
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I did see the premiere on Direct TV and it looks like it will be a good series.
it is now only available to people who purchase satellite service, not to people who purchase cable service, which seems a silly financial gamble.
i was sad to see 'damages' go to directv since i do not have directv.
they are gambling that more people will pay for satellite service than pay for cable.
maybe they are right, but it seems foolish from the point of view of an average watcher who has cable because satellite is unreliable and more expensive where i live.
i will miss 'damages' but i will not switch to satellite just to watch it. it's a very good show, highly enjoyable, but not worth moving to satellite.
That opening episode was very poorly written and edited.
As usual they have a fantastic premise.
Bill Pullman is always very good.
So I'll give it another shot.
But wow, that first episode was rough.
And good riddance, the networks and their saccharine, censored content can't go under fast enough.
Yeah, except that the episodes were already filmed and aired in Britain, which is the primary audience. The move to Starz doesn't give Davies any more freedom; it just reduces the editing needed to show it in america.
Regardless, this move to Starz will probably destroy the torchwood franchise in the US. It wasn't super popular when it was on BBCA, but moving it to a station that costs extra, is going to crush the numbers. (Illegal downloads will likely do a brisk business.)
But not to worry, RTD will be passing on the writing to someone for the next series, should there be one, the way he did with Doctor Who to Steven Moffat. A new writer could bring its downfall, but I'm a fan of RTD's writing. Can he pass the torch(wood) next season and not lose fans? We'll see how well this series turns out. There are those who are still reeling from Children of Earth and I wonder if anything will meet their approval after last series and the demise of Ianto. But life goes on and apparently on and on...
I for one am looking forward to the ride. O Captain, my Captain!
At this point I feel like there is so much backstory, that it will be tough to attract a lot of new viewers. You need to have watched some Doctor Who to understand Jack's history and how he came to be immortal. And then you need to have watched the first three series to appreciate where the story is now. By moving to Starz you may gain a few people who want to see Jack's butt or some other nudity, but you lose a whole bunch of fans that won't pay extra to watch the show.
(If I was calling the shots, the show would be back on BBCA and I would having been pushing CoE like no tomorrow, for the last 6 months to get new fans ahead of series 4. I bet a lot of people could get sucked into the series just from that 5 hours, which was brilliant!.)
Do you know what you're talking about? Torchwood was the highest rated show on BBC America (higher than Doctor Who, especially with the third series) and it just matched those ratings on the initial episode showing on Starz, and that was with Starz giving it away for free on demand and on line. You don't really have a clue about this program, do you?
But being the highest rated show on BBCA isn't that impressive. Most of their lineup is repeats of Top Gear and the 8 different Ramsey shows. The only other show to beat is the graham norton show.
But your point about the ratings actually backs up what I was saying. If the premiere matched the previous rating, with Starz giving it away for free, what do you think will happen when it is no longer free?
It seems like a strategy that will cost you more viewers than it will bring in.
It seems like a foolish move all around.
iTunes and DVD sales. It's all a matter of how much you like the show, and I'm a huge fan, so I'd follow Jack Harkness anywhere. ;-))
Owen Harper: You're a sick man, Harkness. That is disgusting!