The Extratextuals

Two years ago, Just TV’s Jason Mittell, fellow (albeit MIA) Extratexuals Ivan Askwith and Derek Johnson, and I “drafted” the new shows. We had a points system based on how long our team members lasted, and though the strike messed with things a bit, the competition remained. Everything came down to Reaper in the end for me, and when it failed to be renewed, Jason won.

As a sign of American television’s cruelty to new shows, two years later, I note that of the 24 shows drafted, only 5 remain (one questionably). Derek’s team (Bionic Woman, K-Ville, Dirty Sexy Money, Kid Nation, Cavemen, Big Shots) were mostly quick to depart. Ivan’s last man standing is the one I hope will outlive them all, Chuck (his others were Journeyman, Aliens in America, Moonlight, Carpoolers, and Samantha Who?). Officially, my Kitchen Nightmares may return, though I’m not holding my breath, leaving my only other team member standing as Gossip Girl (I also had Life, Life is Wild, Reaper, and Cane). Jason’s faith in Back to You proved misguided, as with Women’s Murder Club, though his trust in Viva Laughlin as the Designated Stinker proved prescient, as with two of his other picks, who are undoubtedly the most successful from that year, Private Practice (ranked #11 in last week’s 18-49 ratings) and Big Bang Theory (ranked a whopping #4). And his other member, Pushing Daisies, will live in my heart for a good long while.

So, kudos, Professor Mittell

draft

As described over on Jason Mittell’s Just TV blog, Jason, Ivan, Derek, and I recently set up a Fantasy Television League draft. The draftees were the new primetime network shows (with Don’t Forget the Lyrics and The Singing Bee dropped from contention due to early starts, and CW Now and Online Nation dropped since, well, they’re different). Each of us got six picks, and as the season progresses, we’ll get 1 point if the show lives to the November sweeps, 2 for February sweeps, 3 for May sweeps, and 4 for renewal. In addition, we could each dub one of our picks a Designated Stinker, and whoever’s stinker is around the least before its network parent kills it, gets 5 points. Obviously, this competition could take a while to decide. But following Jason’s explanation of his picks on his blog, and in the spirit of our blog crossover, Crisis on Infinite Blogs, I’m now explaining my own picks.

First, I should explain how the ordering went. Since I’d seen most of the pilots at the Paley Center, it seemed fair that I pick last. Ivan had seen 8 pilots with me, so he was third. Then, randomly we picked Derek to go first, a pick he squandered with youthful naivety on Bionic Woman. Draft order reversed each round.

I’ve already blogged about my reactions to the pilots, but let me add a few words on my strategery of picking here. In likely contrast to my draft opponents, I’ll probably only watch one of my six shows (Reaper), but I’m happy enough with these as predicted survivors. When Kidnapped can get canned yet The War at Home gets a full season, or when Freaks and Geeks gets the boot, yet Ghost Whisperer (and, indeed, Jennifer Love Hewitt’s career) continues to linger on television like a stubborn fart, one learns quickly not to pick by quality.More below the fold Read more…

draft draft, pilots