Conversely: Why should people pay attention to scripted dramas when they get canceled so easily, and without a full run of episodes already in the can?

I do not need the TV networks. I have books. They need me, so they can show me to their advertisers.

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Why should people pay attention to scripted dramas when they get canceled so easily

Because they're enjoyable?

I'm not sure where my head space was two or three years ago, but right now, when I get mad, I get mad that what I like doesn't seem to be commercially viable. Of course I'd rather Wonderfalls run its course, and that the creators I enjoy get to raise their project progeny.

But ... it's just TV. I miss it because I enjoyed it, and I'm glad it enjoyed it.

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I think the madness part of it for me, is when...

a) A show is canceled before it's gotten what reaches my (granted, completely subjective) definition of a fair shot

and

b) I loved it.

When I just like a show that didn't get a "fair shot", I think it's a shame, but I'm glad for what I did see.

When I love a show that got a "fair shot" but it wasn't commercially viable to continue producing/airing it, I think it's a shame, but I am glad for what I did see (cf Angel).

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My late 2cents on the pilot(I was out of town all day yesterday):

Web: utter bastard

Rebecca: eh. We know the basics of her deal, but the "pretty girl in jeopardy" wears thin after a while. Let's see what develops.

In short, I found The Inside interesting, but I don't love it. The gore-factor is one part of that.(Yeah, I know that it wasn't much compared to other shows, but I don't watch those shows due to the goriness)

I'm more interested in what the deal is with the rest of the characters. Not just, what do they bring to the team, but also what's their damage. (Because they all have damage, that much has been made clear by Tim)

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t Skip-skip-skip

Allyson, insent

t running out, stopping to wave at everybody (hey, it's hard to do both things at once)

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sadly, i do not have Cindy's resolve and continue to fall in love with shows that don't seem to appeal to the mainstream public and therefore end up having very short runs. i was surprised(to say the very least) that UPN decided to stick with Veronica Mars even after the less than stellar ratings. VM is a show that captured my heart much in the same way Buffy did and i would love to have seven seasons of it, but i'm not holding my breath. networks don't seem to want to stick with shows that are critically acclaimed, yet get mediocre ratings these days. it's all about their immediate gratification of profit, which i can understand from a business point of view. i don't understand it from a member of the public's view because i would think the networks would want to develop loyal fans.

this turned into a semi-rant that i don't really have time to finish. suffice it to say that i can see both sides of the coin. those who don't want to fall in love with another show just to have it taken away from them and those who don't understand people not just enjoying the few great hours of entertainment that we were given.

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I do think that there might have been a turn-around in networks' attitude for scripted shows this year, what with the success of Lost and Desperate Housewives. (Personally, I don't think DH is all that, but it seems to have a broader appeal than the sort of shows I usually like, and hey! If it makes the suits think an arc-y serial drama is a better bet than another Apprentice knock-off, I'm all for it.) Much as I mourn FF, WF, and Angel (and JoA to some extent), I have to admit that there has been a wealth of good-to-great (non-cancelled so far! *crosses fingers*) new shows this year that helped fill the void left in their wake. (Veronica Mars, Battlestar Galactica and Lost et al.) It makes me rather hopeful for the future of The Inside since these are all character-based/arc-heavy shows.

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Cindy. But you will be watching Veronica Mars? Right? Right?

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I hope I never love another TV show, ever again.

But, Cindy, can't you love what's there without mourning what's not? I mean, I really wish there were more Hepburn/Tracy films (like, a LOT), but that doesn't take away from my enjoyment of the ones that exist. I wish there were 20 more Heyer novels, but not having more doesn't take away from the ones that exist. There are always going to be reasons why we don't get enough of a piece of art we love--the producers run out of money, or a lead actor gets sick of a role, or the writer has a baby and takes time off or it gets canceled or whatever. To my mind, the important thing is what IS there and that it got made at all. I love going to the theatre, and plays are by nature evanescent, but the fact that they have limited runs or will close when the producers aren't making ebough money never keeps me from loving them while I am in the audience, even though I don't have the pleasure of re-watching one gets from film or TV.

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But, Cindy, can't you love what's there without mourning what's not? I mean, I really wish there were more Hepburn/Tracy films (like, a LOT), but that doesn't take away from my enjoyment of the ones that exist.

Films and books, I have no problem loving, because they're completed works. I want to fall in good solid like. Put it this way, I'm not looking for TV love, because when I do, it seems I look in all the wrong places.

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