This is my favourite week of the year: Premiere Week for most of the new fall shows on television.
It marks the official beginning of fall and also the unofficial return to a regular routine in most households.
With so many channels and choices, it almost takes a spread sheet to keep it all straight.
Nerds that we are, my friends and I have printed out a schedule of what airs when.
So many things annoy me about the state of television these days.
I am annoyed that the fall season starts so late (it used to coincide with back to school) and it bugs me that the season no longer runs from September to the end of May.
Doesn’t it seem it just get started and then there will be a Christmas break and later an awards season hiatus or a few weeks off for no particular reason?
There are less shows per season, too.
However, for a brief few weeks we can all settle in with an old familiar shows making its return. Seeing the regulars return is like welcoming some old pals back into the living room. (Does it get better than Mark Harmon?)
Plus, here comes a whole slew of new programs that will introduce us to new characters and different storylines.
I have a few suggestions for TV writers/producers in how to please the viewing audience, because Hollywood types are desperate for my input, I’m sure.
If you are at the helm of a returning show like an NCIS, The Rookie, The Good Doctor, Grey's Anatomy, etc.
1. Do not mess with success. We like the teams as they are. Other than guest stars, no need to mess with the core stars. We like them. We are invested. Don’t keep increasing the base. It gets watered down and confusing. I feel like the actors or writers get bored, so they mix it up to keep them interested, but honestly if I like the actors then just tell a good story. It doesn’t always have to be so intense or action-packed.
2. Don’t make the stories so complicated that we need a political science degree to figure it out.
3. Stop doing scenes where the pivotal message is sent via text which appears on a teeny tiny cellphone screen for four seconds. I am not fast enough and my eyes aren’t good enough to catch it. If you must do this, have the actor read the text aloud or at least do a closeup on the screen for a good 10 seconds.
4. Try to limit the use of doorbells or cellphones ringing during the program. I spend the next scene rushing to my door or phone to see if it was my bells or yours. Very annoying. (This goes double for you, commercial makers!)
5. If you are debuting a new show, give us at least six weeks to get a feel for it before you yank it off the air, saying it had no audience. While most things in life seem to be instant, it takes time to get comfortable with a show’s premise or warm up to certain characters. Give it a little time. Let it breathe.
6. Stop changing the day and times. This is likely a network decision, but it is so frustrating. People are creatures of habit. I like knowing my Monday shows and my Tuesday shows. People also can be fickle. If you keep changing schedules, I think a lot of people just give up. We are not as loyal as we used to be. There are too many choices and channels to make us jump through hoops to find something.
7. Use current events. It makes it much more engaging. It can also be so educational. It boggles my mind how ahead of the curve these writers can be.
8. Mark occasions. I adore it when the shows write around Hallowe’en, Thanksgiving or Christmas. It makes it so relatable.
And with those suggestions, I shall park myself on the couch with snacks and await the new crop of shows with my remote in hand and my PVR cleared.
Action!
