Post by ~ ♥ Mariska ♥ ~ on Jul 14, 2008 7:57:47 GMT
s the CW Cloning Gossip Girl?
Question: I am so tired of the CW's new obsession with "frenemy"-based teen "dramas." When I heard the WB was merging with UPN to become the CW, I was wary but thought it could work out (yay, Veronica Mars!). Two years later, I feel as if my parents gave away my dog. The CW has completely forgotten about the WB's old viewers. I saw the lineup for the new season of the CW, and apparently the network plans to build on the meager success of Gossip Girl by making more of the same. So we're treated to only two new dramas, both about spoiled, mean, rich girls (and boys) and nothing else! Where are the shows like Gilmore Girls or Buffy or, heck, even Smallville? I can't stand Gossip Girl, and it's like a slap in the face that the powers that be at CW cloned it, a modest ratings success at best, while refusing to replace ratings strongholds like Seventh Heaven, Gilmore Girls and (to a lesser extent) Veronica Mars: stories about smart, driven and focused girls who had real friends and who weren't worried about when the next Gucci handbag was coming out. What show on the CW caters to those fans? I'm definitely in the CW's target market, and I haven't watched a single show there this entire season — and from the new lineup, I don't see that changing. Instead, I've turned to ABC Family to fill the void: I love Kyle XY and I've become kind of hooked on The Middleman. The CW had shows (and has shows) outside of the Gossip prototype, and they were very successful. Why in the world are they clinging so hard to the Gossip Girl model?— Mandissa
Matt Roush: Seems to me what you're missing here is the "heart" that was so evident in a charmer like Gilmore Girls, as well as the emotional connection provided by classic WB shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Felicity and Everwood (to list a few of my past faves). First off, I think you may be selling Gossip Girl a bit short. It is high-gloss trash on one level, but it often upends its own designer-label obsessions with glimmers of irony, wit and even despair. But there's no question it appears on the surface that this season CW is churning out Gossip Girl clones on an assembly line and leaning on nostalgic affection for the old 90210 brand to carry the network into an uncertain future with an obvious lack of inspiration. I haven't yet seen an episode of 90210 or the retitled Privileged (whose clips looked pretty lousy at the Upfronts) so am reserving judgment. But there's no arguing with your perception that something essential from the original DNA of the old WB has been lost in this transition.
Source: TV Guide
Question: I am so tired of the CW's new obsession with "frenemy"-based teen "dramas." When I heard the WB was merging with UPN to become the CW, I was wary but thought it could work out (yay, Veronica Mars!). Two years later, I feel as if my parents gave away my dog. The CW has completely forgotten about the WB's old viewers. I saw the lineup for the new season of the CW, and apparently the network plans to build on the meager success of Gossip Girl by making more of the same. So we're treated to only two new dramas, both about spoiled, mean, rich girls (and boys) and nothing else! Where are the shows like Gilmore Girls or Buffy or, heck, even Smallville? I can't stand Gossip Girl, and it's like a slap in the face that the powers that be at CW cloned it, a modest ratings success at best, while refusing to replace ratings strongholds like Seventh Heaven, Gilmore Girls and (to a lesser extent) Veronica Mars: stories about smart, driven and focused girls who had real friends and who weren't worried about when the next Gucci handbag was coming out. What show on the CW caters to those fans? I'm definitely in the CW's target market, and I haven't watched a single show there this entire season — and from the new lineup, I don't see that changing. Instead, I've turned to ABC Family to fill the void: I love Kyle XY and I've become kind of hooked on The Middleman. The CW had shows (and has shows) outside of the Gossip prototype, and they were very successful. Why in the world are they clinging so hard to the Gossip Girl model?— Mandissa
Matt Roush: Seems to me what you're missing here is the "heart" that was so evident in a charmer like Gilmore Girls, as well as the emotional connection provided by classic WB shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Felicity and Everwood (to list a few of my past faves). First off, I think you may be selling Gossip Girl a bit short. It is high-gloss trash on one level, but it often upends its own designer-label obsessions with glimmers of irony, wit and even despair. But there's no question it appears on the surface that this season CW is churning out Gossip Girl clones on an assembly line and leaning on nostalgic affection for the old 90210 brand to carry the network into an uncertain future with an obvious lack of inspiration. I haven't yet seen an episode of 90210 or the retitled Privileged (whose clips looked pretty lousy at the Upfronts) so am reserving judgment. But there's no arguing with your perception that something essential from the original DNA of the old WB has been lost in this transition.
Source: TV Guide
