So because I've run out of cable dramas to watch I've decided to give some Network dramas a chance. I didn't realize it until recently but the only network shows I watch are comedies and lightweight some reality shows.

So I tried to check out Blacklist last night which is being hailed as the best new drama (isn't it funny how drama on TV would be action in film).

It wasn't awful but damn it was derivative. I mean cribbed heavily from Silence of the Lamb and every character or situation we have seen somewhere before (saw a lot of the Killing in the relationship between the couple).

It was also very Network Drama in the sense that visual realism just doesn't seem at all to be an aspiration. Why is every character super attractive. Do we really think the CIA headquarters looks like that? Contrast the Network depiction of locations with Cable's depiction of CIA HQ in Homeland.

Reminded me of CSI shows I occasionally catch on TV and I marvel at all the good looking detectives working in state of the art futuristic crime labs. Doesn't everyone know that people and the locations don't look anything like that in real life?

So I wonder if it's purposeful. In order to get bigger audiences, are Networks required to create high gloss pretty visuals and tell easy to follow derivative stories?

Do all the great dramas on cable TV have small audiences because they are on cable or are networks correct in passing on Sopranos, Mad Men, etc. because even if they were on network TV they would never do the numbers to sustain them?

Is it the audience or the Networks fault?



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"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson