A Kingly Challenge
On ew.com, Stephen King challenges the Lost executives/creators/writers to tell the story and let it end. He urges them to violate the "Prime Network Directive" (i.e., "Thou Shalt Not Kill the Cash Cow"), if the story calls for an ending before the ratings do.
I agree with King. (He's surely breathing a sigh of relief at that news!) While I hate to see a good show end, I hate it more when a good show deteriorates into a not-so-good show before it ends. King points to The X-Files as the prototypical example of the latter. I point to The West Wing as a current example.
Thanks to Trailhead for the tip.
P.S. I tend not to agree with King that the secrets of the Lost island lie in it being Purgatory. I don't think the islanders are dead. I'm not sure what I think, but I have faith in JJ Abrams and Damon Lindelof to tell a more original story than that. (On the other hand, if the island is Purgatory and the islanders are dead, it won't ruin the journey for me, which in the first season was among the best ever.)
posted by Wasteland Fan @ 1:32 PM
2 Comments:
I was a devoted X-phile, but the last season was just -- painful. Or should we call this the Will and Grace principle?
Yes, Will and Grace and ER have both overstayed their welccome. I wonder if they are less examples of keeping the show on longer than the story requires and more examples of (1) the inevitable caricaturization (is that a word?) of sitcome characters and (2) a victim of 100% turnover in cast. Of course, Law and Order is arguably still a vital show despite 100% turnover in cast. So, maybe not.
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