Friday, August 03, 2007

Chris O'Donnell Has a Great Idea

Chris O'Donnell is starring in a new "limited" series that starts this week. The show will run for six hour long episodes. What he wants to do next is what's really interesting. He would like to be on a 24 hour series. No, not the show 24. He would like to be on a show that has 24 episodes. One season. And then the show is over. And the story is told. The End.

He thinks this idea would open up several doors. First it would bring in some top named actors who otherwise wouldn't consider a television show. Secondly it would allow fans of the show to have closure sooner rather than later. He used Lost as an example of a show that never really gives any closure. He also believes that the storytelling would be tighter and the story arcs more creative if there was a real end in sight for writers.

I believe the guy might be on to something. I certainly don't want all television shows to go this way. I think that would basically end the golden age that television has been experiencing the last five years or so. But I think the idea is great because it certainly would open itself to a larger viewing audience. One that may tune in to a story if they know there is a beginning, middle, and end.

I think the show 24 would have been a perfect premiere for this type of series. The show has certainly gone down in quality every year since. Nevertheless, I believe that all kinds of new, exciting, creative ways of telling stories through an hour long weekly show could be conceived with this format.

What do you think? Would you watch a one-season series? What would matter more, a big named star or a unique story-telling device?

OUT!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

That's interesting. There's some potential there. My guess is if you put a quality show out there with a good cast, and a new idea attached to it, people will tune in.