Theme of the week

Dude DVRs all the series dramas (and a few sitcoms) he can pack into the box, and he watches them in chronological order (natch).

About two years ago, we started noticing something very odd: Across all the dramas, across all the networks, there would be a theme of the week. It’s as if The Great Producer in the Sky (aka James Cameron) said to all the writers in television, “Okay. This week’s writing prompt is underground BDSM sex parties, a murder, and collector’s wine. GO!”

Amongst a good dozen dramas, this writing prompt will show up at least three times, sometimes four, all in different permutations. Now it’s just a running joke. Dude says, “The theme of the week is…”

While it’s interesting and curious to see how each writing team interpreted the prompt to fit their characters and canon, it’s super annoying and gets very old very fast.

And it’s one reason I’ve pretty much stopped watching TV dramas. Homogeneity pretty much sucks the fun out of…well, everything.

9 thoughts on “Theme of the week

  • January 16, 2010 at 4:27 pm
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    Not sure about theme of the week on TV, but I’ve definitely see that effect in city traffic. One day it’s Cyclists Running Stop Signs, other days it’s Pedestrians Crossing Against the Light, etc. Had to see three instances of a phenomenon in a 20-minute commute for it to be declared a Theme of the Day. Surprising how often that occurred!

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  • January 16, 2010 at 4:43 pm
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    I’ve noticed this too. That’s why I get bored! Maybe the first one or two shows with whatever trope happens catches my attention. But then I need a change. Meh. It happens. I just hope to not do this with my series. *fear*

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  • January 16, 2010 at 5:14 pm
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    I must not be paying enough attention cuz I hadn’t noticed.

    What shows does he record?

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  • January 16, 2010 at 5:54 pm
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    Where have you been? It’s been rampant in the last few years, especially. I think I finally figured out it was an actual conspiracy around the time everyone was having sex parties in animal costumes. *snicker*

    How ’bout those cross-series double-headers to try to get you hooked on another lame show, too? Ack.

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  • January 16, 2010 at 5:59 pm
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    Yes I’ve noticed that too. Sometimes in real life as well. For example, this week’s theme at my house is disgusting bodily fluids. Yech.

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  • January 17, 2010 at 8:06 am
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    Dude watches CSI, Law and Order, NCIS, Ghost Whisperer, Medium, Castle,Criminal Minds, Men of a Certain Age (relates to all 3 dudes), Scrubs (don’t like school theme), Grey’s Anatomy,Private Practice, Numbers, The Mentalist (what the heck is The CBI and why didn’t Dude ever hear of them in 35 yrs living in California).

    Dude also is annoyed that guide says a show is “NEW” every time it shows in a week. It is only new the first day.

    Haggis doesn’t like Furries?

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  • January 17, 2010 at 1:16 pm
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    The reason isn’t as dramatic as it sounds. Once you get in Hollywood (the virtual entity) you pretty much know what will be going on. Heck, read Variety magazine and you’ll get a heads up for what’s coming up.

    Writers know each other, either by reputation or because they’ve worked together. They talk. Producers know each other. They hear things. Bit actors and extras talk about other shows they’ve worked on.

    It’s not that shows copy each other (though they do that too), there isn’t time, its that they hear ideas and copy those. That’s why you occasionally get several movies at the time on the same subject. (And why producers sometimes do wacky things, like buy up all the costumes and book all the sets for a particular genre.)

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  • January 17, 2010 at 5:23 pm
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    MoJo thinks they sit around playing poker together and talk about it. Dude wonders if that is true, and maybe they even bet on it. Winner of the night gets his theme used, and everyone else has to incorporate it into their shows.

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  • January 18, 2010 at 5:53 pm
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    In the strange synchronicity department, seeing promos for Life Unexpected (CW) immediately made me think of My Girl (TV Asahi), which debuted in October (though based on a manga that came out two years ago). Both series are about singles becoming instant parents to a biological daughter well after the fact (you know, sparing them all that bother with potty training). I wonder if studios employ clipping services that simply troll the world for ideas, ideas, ideas.

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