NB: MyNetworkTV, Yule Logs, and Sean Penn
MyNetworkTV to Say Adios to Telenovelas?
When I first learned that MyNetworkTV, the new “netlet” created in the wake of the merger between The WB and UPN, would feature only telenovelas during prime time, my first thought was about how risky that sounded. A classic telenovela airs each weeknight, with no repeats, for an extended arc of time. In the case of MyNetworkTV, the duration is 13 weeks. It’s difficult enough for networks to entice viewers to show up for a serial drama that airs only once a week for an average season of 22 episodes. If you don’t believe it, just witness the recent failures of the rookie serials Day Break, Kidnapped, The Nine (although it isn’t officially canceled yet), Runaway, Smith, and Vanished. That’s six shows all together, a virtual serial massacre. Given these results, how good of a ratings performance could anyone expect from prime-time soap operas that air five nights a week for 13 straight weeks? As MyNetworkTV has steadily learned since its first two original offerings, Desire and Fashion House, debuted in September, not too good.
The Hollywood Reporter now indicates that meetings have taken place at the new network to reconsider just how much programming time should remain devoted to its all-telenovela concept. Apparently, the ratings for Desire and Fashion House were underwhelming, and those for the latest two soaps that debuted two weeks ago on December 6, Wicked Wicked Games and Watch Over Me, have been even worse. I’m not surprised. The attention span of the viewing public has grown shorter and shorter in recent years, largely due to the fault of network execs themselves, who continuously introduce ambitious new series each season, only to kill them before they can even find an audience. And this cancellation fever has only gotten worse as time has passed, leaving fewer people with time to waste on what many politely consider cheesy entertainment. It’s a safe bet that this time next season, MyNetworkTV will only be telenovela TV some of the prime time, if any of the time.
Two Yule Logs for the Price of One
Have you ever seen a TV Yule Log? It’s really nothing exciting to look at, just a burning log that, well, burns on television all day Christmas Day to give your abode that special atmosphere only a glowing flame in the fireplace can, if you don’t happen to have a real fireplace. Apparently, New York, home since 1970 to the WPIX-TV Yule Log I grew up with, now has a new burning tree stump to rival the original. It’s featured on high-definition channel INHD, where it has been making some serious inroads over the last three years into the audience previously enjoyed only by the WPIX log. Too bad I moved before I had the chance to experience the modern version of this hometown classic, especially since only in New York could residents have dueling holiday Yule Logs.
And Now A Word (or Two) from Sean Penn, the Recipient of the 2006 Christopher Reeve First Amendment Award
There is no way for me to paraphrase the content of Sean Penn’s speech for this honor without irreparably watering it down. Thus, I refer interested parties to the source. Put your thinking cap on and get ready for not just another dumb Hollywood actor.
Photo and logo courtesy of ABC and MyNetworkTV
I like the telenovela genre. Is it cheesy? Yeah, but so what! Everything on TV is not a Golden Glode or Emmy contender. The genre itself is fun. I appreciate its campiness. The storylines are scandalous and ridiculous. The acting is both bad and good, but mostly bad. Yet, the funny thing is that, the acting, wheter, bad or good, adds to the essence of the telenovela genre. Whatever happens with the network, I enjoy it for what it is.
Everything on TV is not a Golden Glode or Emmy contender. The genre itself is fun. I appreciate its campiness.
And you’re not the only one, Reena. The problem for fans of MyNetworkTV’s prime-time fare is that the network has started backing down from its original claim that it would stick by this programming format, seemingly no matter what. Now that the low ratings are a fact instead of a possibility, they appear to be backtracking from their original position.
If I were a frequent viewer of the telenovelas who looked forward to more in the future, I might feel a bit betrayed by this latest development. I don’t happen to watch telenovelas regularly, but I’ve always recognized how difficult it is to attract a loyal audience for serial programming, especially at night. Everyday viewing takes real commitment, and past circumstances have indicated that unless a series is special, it’s often difficult to attract a large enough audience to make serial programs a success.
I personally hope that MyNetworkTV execs don’t change the format since they’re the only ones doing this type of thing in the US market right now. We’ll have to wait and see. Maybe you could contact them and express your support, just to let them know how fans feel about the situation. Sometimes that helps.