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Post by Diet Kolos on Mar 18, 2009 23:01:57 GMT -5
So...is the current format of CT permanant? What is the ultimate goal?
I mean, do they want to get a TV deal or are they happy as-is?
Maybe this first big batch of releases could sort be like the KTMA season for MST where they iron out the issues, gain notariety, etc.
So...what do you think the future holds for CT?
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Post by pablum on Mar 19, 2009 0:50:04 GMT -5
Where is CT headed? Probably about where it is now. The future of CT is the same future of all video. 100% digital distribution with no physical media. CT is already halfway there.
IMO all post-MST3K riffing endeavors have gone about as far as they'll ever get until the internet becomes the primary method of distribution for new entertainment content in the world. And I do believe entertainment will reach that point as it seems purely digital distribution and integration of media into an all-in-one service like the internet is happening already. Although by the time such a thing happens I'm not sure CT will still be around.
Unless Jim Mallon is just completely hamstringing such ideas I think CT or some similar MST3K-like show would already have made it to TV if there was a station desiring it.
I think Joel and company are happy doing what they are doing, but it seems MST3K and its spin-offs are a tough sell to TV execs. There are very few original programming stations out there that would dare hold up two hours of broadcasting time for any one recurring show. There are movie stations, but they aren't usually the kind to hand out production budget money.
In the future when everybody turns on their media box and watches some streaming media there should be at least a couple of streaming station execs who would want to add CT or something like it to their line-up. After all, the notion of filling linear blocks of time on a TV station will have become extinct and content companies can have as many shows as they're capable of serving. The worry about TV viewers tuning out of a long 2 hour show will be history. This all-streaming future means you'll be able to watch whatever new show you want at any time, but you'll still have commercial breaks to sit through. Cinematic Titanic (or whatever is around then) will almost assuredly be a part of that since it will be easier on the nerves of executives who previously pandered to audiences with shorter attention spans.
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Post by Donna SadCat Lady on Mar 19, 2009 11:15:40 GMT -5
A very thoughtful, well-written post, pablum. Unless Jim Mallon is just completely hamstringing such ideas I think CT or some similar MST3K-like show would already have made it to TV if there was a station desiring it. I think Joel and company are happy doing what they are doing, but it seems MST3K and its spin-offs are a tough sell to TV execs. There are very few original programming stations out there that would dare hold up two hours of broadcasting time for any one recurring show. There are movie stations, but they aren't usually the kind to hand out production budget money. From what Joel has said, I've gotten the impression that the Titans aren't even interested in putting the show on TV, at least not as another series. Most or all of their post-MST careers have included writing for and pitching to Hollywood. It sounds like they've all had their fill of network and studio interference. At least the way they're doing it now, they're able to do whatever they want. They've got no one to dictate to them, and just their audience (and their own comedic instincts) to tell them what works or not.
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Post by MonsterX on Mar 19, 2009 12:02:55 GMT -5
Where is CT headed? Probably about where it is now. The future of CT is the same future of all video. 100% digital distribution with no physical media. CT is already halfway there. IMO all post-MST3K riffing endeavors have gone about as far as they'll ever get until the internet becomes the primary method of distribution for new entertainment content in the world. And I do believe entertainment will reach that point as it seems purely digital distribution and integration of media into an all-in-one service like the internet is happening already. Although by the time such a thing happens I'm not sure CT will still be around. Unless Jim Mallon is just completely hamstringing such ideas I think CT or some similar MST3K-like show would already have made it to TV if there was a station desiring it. I think Joel and company are happy doing what they are doing, but it seems MST3K and its spin-offs are a tough sell to TV execs. There are very few original programming stations out there that would dare hold up two hours of broadcasting time for any one recurring show. There are movie stations, but they aren't usually the kind to hand out production budget money. In the future when everybody turns on their media box and watches some streaming media there should be at least a couple of streaming station execs who would want to add CT or something like it to their line-up. After all, the notion of filling linear blocks of time on a TV station will have become extinct and content companies can have as many shows as they're capable of serving. The worry about TV viewers tuning out of a long 2 hour show will be history. This all-streaming future means you'll be able to watch whatever new show you want at any time, but you'll still have commercial breaks to sit through. Cinematic Titanic (or whatever is around then) will almost assuredly be a part of that since it will be easier on the nerves of executives who previously pandered to audiences with shorter attention spans. Wow, what a great post. I agree with everything you said.
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Post by doctorz on Mar 19, 2009 13:21:40 GMT -5
I think mostly the Titans are into doing live shows right now with the studio DVD's as income generating spin offs of the live stuff. I think they are doing what the Marx Brothers once did. Try out the material on a live audience, see what works and what doesn't then put out a polished performance on DVD for the frenetic, fanatic fan base! I think there is a real difference in quality between the shows they did without first performing before a live audience and the one's they put out after doing the live shows first.
I agree with Donna that they are enjoying the almost complete artistic control of what they are doing now and probably haven't seriously considered any sort of TV deal.
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Post by Beautiful Mind on Mar 19, 2009 16:46:18 GMT -5
They have said in interviews that TV isn't really interested in 2 hour shows these days. I don't think a TV deal is in the offing even if they wanted one. Live shows and (hopefully) studio DVDs are probably the present and future of CT and if you ask me that's awesome!
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Post by Mogol on Apr 8, 2009 13:54:36 GMT -5
I agree that they probably aren't looking to shop it into a series. I think they could possibly put it on air as a special at some point. Like Comedy Central Roasts, as far as I know there's no real schedule to them, just every now and then they have one. CT could reach a similar deal with a network to just once or twice a year air a Cinematic Titanic special, hopefully bring in new people who don't know what it is. It could reasonably fit on TBS, USA, Comedy Central, Spike, E!, VH1, or Bravo, and possibly others.
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Post by Chuck on Apr 8, 2009 18:24:23 GMT -5
TV? They been there. They done that.
They certainly enjoy taking CT on the road. They seem very, very happy doing what they're doing -- they're way and no one else's.
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Post by Donna SadCat Lady on Apr 9, 2009 11:46:58 GMT -5
TV? They been there. They done that. They certainly enjoy taking CT on the road. They seem very, very happy doing what they're doing -- they're way and no one else's. Heh! "Cinematic Titanic - our job, our way."
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Post by eimag on Apr 23, 2009 19:29:38 GMT -5
our.......lanta? dang, that didn't work at all.
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Post by Broadsword on Jul 16, 2009 6:43:22 GMT -5
What are they going to be doing in the future. I rather enjoyed most of their DVD's and hope they continue.
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Post by Fred Burroughs on Jul 17, 2009 14:17:13 GMT -5
They say that TV's not interested in a two hour show, but wrestling has had a successful two hour show (sometimes three hours) for years now. I think TV would buy it if they felt it was entertaining enough, but like you said the CT guys aren't interested in it.
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Post by ca20 on Jul 22, 2009 16:15:18 GMT -5
How entertaining it is probably isn't a big factor. The important part is how profitable it is. Unless they stick with only public domain movies, the show probably would be too expensive to turn enough of a profit for a network to give up two hours.
The main reason MST3K was canceled was probably because it was too expensive. Sci-Fi obviously must have liked the show if they kept it on the air for so long after it was canceled. Getting the rights to these movies just costs too much money.
Wrestling on the other hand is cheap for the networks. I believe WWE, TNA, etc. actually take care of most of the costs. Even though wrestling isn't anywhere near as popular as it was a decade ago, it still gets some of the highest ratings on cable.
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Post by Fred Burroughs on Jul 22, 2009 16:33:44 GMT -5
That's true, and I imagine the cost of MST3K had to be pretty high with the movie rights and all.
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Post by mylungswereaching on Jul 22, 2009 20:15:52 GMT -5
It's not that expensive, but, you've got to negotiate contracts with many different movie owners, then renegotiate when the rights wear out. It gets to be a pain for a marginally rated show. It would work better if they could negotiate with one owner at a time or work for a tv station that owned its own movies.
They're better off where they are. Who needs to have a boss like the ones who told Star Trek to get rid of Spock or The Wizard of Oz to cut Somewhere Over the Rainbow. TV execs usually mess around with a show until they destroy it and then cancel it while saying I told you it would never work.
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