What networks actually listen to show creators?

[RangerWickett]

We hear so many horror stories about series creators not being able to make the show they want because of interference from television station executives.

Firefly was shown out of order and they had to make a second pilot.

Crusade was forced to be more WWF-ish, shown out of order, and required to add in more 'hot women.'

The recent thread about Nowhere Man mentioned that the execs wanted one variety of conspiracy, even though the creator had never intended the show to go that way.

So, um, are there any happy stories of shows going the way the creator wanted, with minimal interference?

 

[trancejeremy]

Syndicated shows?

Since they aren't made for a network, but hopefully picked up by local stations, they pretty much can do what they want.

This is not always a good thing, though. And a lot of times if it's a hit, then the star of the show becomes the guy calling the shots, which can be disastrous if he's got a big ego.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

Syndicated shows barely exist anymore. HBO and Showtime stay out of their creators hair for the most part, I think. I've always thought that an HBO Lankhmar series would be awesome.

 

[Vigilance]

All studios have input in the shows they are paying for, even if that show is going to be syndicated.

Brandon Tartikoff had a lot to say about both TNG and DS9. Since he was ultimately signing the checks, you can't begrudge him input.

That said a lot of these guys make dumb calls. In the case of Firefly and Crusade, you wonder why the networks put the shows on in the first place.

Chuck

 

[John Crichton]

After listening to the Babylon 5 DVDs I learned that the studio (WB) stopped giving JMS notes near the beginning of season 2. So the last 3.8 seasons were almost exactly how they were written which is rare.

I'm also pretty sure that Buffy and Angel, once they got going, didn't have much interference from the suits. And after listening to the commentary on the S1 ER DVD after the pilot aired and the viewing numbers broke records that NBC didn't interfere much but I could be wrong.

And yeah, syndicated shows don't report to a network but they do to a studio which can be just as intrusive.

 

[Staffan]

That said a lot of these guys make dumb calls. In the case of Firefly and Crusade, you wonder why the networks put the shows on in the first place.

From what I hear about Crusade, apparently JMS had a great relationship with the LA branch of TNT during season 5 of B5, and they were the ones he got to agree to a Crusade show. Then, for some reason (after about five episodes had been shot), the mother branch in Atlanta took notice, and they were apparently the ones trying to mess with success.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I do not think any do and the bigger the hit the less control the creator will have as people try to jump on the band wagon!