Necessary Roughness (USA) - cheesebeef's latest

[Stout]

Contemporary television programming drives me crazy!! The way they shift air times and nights, or have a long break between shows in "the same season", etc. (Example: Kiefer Sutherland's new series "Touch" on Fox - had the premiere episode then not another for a month or longer.)

I understand there are rational reasons for the things they do, but it still...

No, I disagree. With rare exception, there is absolutely no fracking reason to put delays in between episodes. Most shows have an episode, skip a week...have two episodes, skip a month...have an episode, skip two weeks...blah blah blah. It's really stupid and really annoying, and it has lost my viewership for a fair amount of shows. Sure, when Fox is airing playoff baseball, for example, that is a reason to skip weeks. When there's a special event, like a State of the Union Address, that's a reason to skip a week. If you have a huge season, like 24 episodes, and you want to take a winter break...well, I hate it, but that's a valid reason. Problem is, most shows just do it to do it, with the network having no reason for doing so. Frustrates the hell out of me, as you can tell.

 

[Cheesebeef]

No, I disagree. With rare exception, there is absolutely no fracking reason to put delays in between episodes. Most shows have an episode, skip a week...have two episodes, skip a month...have an episode, skip two weeks...blah blah blah. It's really stupid and really annoying, and it has lost my viewership for a fair amount of shows. Sure, when Fox is airing playoff baseball, for example, that is a reason to skip weeks. When there's a special event, like a State of the Union Address, that's a reason to skip a week. If you have a huge season, like 24 episodes, and you want to take a winter break...well, I hate it, but that's a valid reason. Problem is, most shows just do it to do it, with the network having no reason for doing so. Frustrates the hell out of me, as you can tell.

development, production and post are usually the reasons pre-emptions happen stout. The hiatus' certainly don't happen for no reason.

I don't even know how staffs survive 24 episodes. i've worked a mid-season show for CBS at 13 episodes and that was insane where you're constantly chasing your tail and 16 has been even more interesting on cable. 24 episodes is almost impossible as is and would be completely impossible without those pre-emptions.

people have to realize, that when you write for a show, you're not writing year round.

 

[Stout]

development, production and post are usually the reasons pre-emptions happen stout. The hiatus' certainly don't happen for no reason.

I don't even know how staffs survive 24 episodes. i've worked a mid-season show for CBS at 13 episodes and that was insane where you're constantly chasing your tail and 16 has been even more interesting on cable. 24 episodes is almost impossible as is and would be completely impossible without those pre-emptions.

people have to realize, that when you write for a show, you're not writing year round.

Okay, then why not a simple pattern? Why does it seem like it's simply throwing spaghetti against a wall? And why try to air a show that isn't ready to be aired? As you can tell, this is a particularly sore spot for me.

 

[Chaz]

So I watched season 1 this weekend. I was available on demand from my cable provider until the season 2 premiere.

Pretty good first season. I liked the voice over intros. I especially like the curse started against Arizona and TK arguing with cheesebeef on the hawks messageboard.

 

[Stout]

BUMP

Show is back on for its second season tonight.

 

[Cheesebeef]

BUMP

Show is back on for its second season tonight.

lol... thanks for bumping this Stout! So totally in the weeds breaking episode 214 I totally forgot!

hope y'all enjoy the premiere!

 

[Brian in Mesa]

 

[MadCardDisease]

Another good show but kind of predictable. Took me a while to remember what happened last season. Seemed like a lot has happened in the 6 month jump.

What the hell was up with the shots of TKs bare rear end! Where was the love for us guys? That needs to be fixed soon! I demand you write in some hot chicks and have them show some T&A! Its only fair.

 

[Cheesebeef]

CRAP! I've been so busy breaking Episode 14 that I forgot to pimp my own Story TONIGHT! So, if you're watching or gonna watch, Episode 3's story was written by yours truly.

hope y'all enjoyed it.

 

[AZZenny]

Very good, Cheese - with the ASU reference early on I suspected this was your episode.

I'm extremely curious (when you have time) - what's the process? Do they have a season loosely mapped out in advance, and sort of give you where an episode should start and finish and what it should accomplish towards the overall arc, then turn you loose?

 

[Cheesebeef]

Very good, Cheese - with the ASU reference early on I suspected this was your episode.

I'm extremely curious (when you have time) - what's the process? Do they have a season loosely mapped out in advance, and sort of give you where an episode should start and finish and what it should accomplish towards the overall arc, then turn you loose?

yeah, we have a general idea of where the season's gonna go by the end of the first month in the writer's room. then we have check-points throughout the season that we know we have to hit and then on an episode by episode basis, since the show is more serialized this year, we kinda know where each episode starts, but then have to figure out where it ends. basically, each writer gets about 8 days to "break" the story with all the writers on staff in the room... then you go off to write the outline, which goes through the exec. producers, then the studio, then the network... do all of their notes respectively... then it's on to the script, where you go through the same process with the ep's, then studio, then network... and then you get to the production draft where they tell you that can't possibly shoot half the **** you've come up with because of budget concerns and then you re-write again to make it shootable.

it's a pretty insane process, with lots of cooks in the kitchen, but thankfully, I work with some of the best chefs in the business!

and NUMBERS WENT UP last night! Keep watching folks!

 

[DemsMyBoys]

. and then you get to the production draft where they tell you that can't possibly shoot half the **** you've come up with because of budget concerns and then you re-write again to make it shootable.

This made me laugh. You can always spot a writer.

Good job, Cheese. Congratulations on the numbers going up.

 

[Stout]

yeah, we have a general idea of where the season's gonna go by the end of the first month in the writer's room. then we have check-points throughout the season that we know we have to hit and then on an episode by episode basis, since the show is more serialized this year, we kinda know where each episode starts, but then have to figure out where it ends. basically, each writer gets about 8 days to "break" the story with all the writers on staff in the room... then you go off to write the outline, which goes through the exec. producers, then the studio, then the network... do all of their notes respectively... then it's on to the script, where you go through the same process with the ep's, then studio, then network... and then you get to the production draft where they tell you that can't possibly shoot half the **** you've come up with because of budget concerns and then you re-write again to make it shootable.

it's a pretty insane process, with lots of cooks in the kitchen, but thankfully, I work with some of the best chefs in the business!

and NUMBERS WENT UP last night! Keep watching folks!

Awesome insight into the process, Cheese! I have one of my favorite old books that I think would make a smashing HBO-style series, but I doubt I'd ever be a film/screen writer. I'll stick to short stories and novels for now.

Oh, and great show last night. Although...it was lacking in a certain crazy poster's name

 

[Cheesebeef]

Awesome insight into the process, Cheese! I have one of my favorite old books that I think would make a smashing HBO-style series, but I doubt I'd ever be a film/screen writer. I'll stick to short stories and novels for now.

Oh, and great show last night. Although...it was lacking in a certain crazy poster's name

lol... send the book to me and I'll get rich off it!

 

[AZZenny]

So the 'turn you loose' part never quite gets to happen. That would drive me berzerk.

btw -

Spoiler

the initial seeming throwaway about 'when I have kids' was brilliantly done. Smooth, subtle, but both of them missed a half beat before subconsciously deciding to ignore it -- for the moment. GREAT way to introduce conflict for the characters, and then the need to explore options for Dani, who is a settling-down type of woman. I also liked that you didn't write the owner as blaringly one-dimensional as he has the obvious risk of becoming, and really like Nico's development.

 

[Stout]

lol... send the book to me and I'll get rich off it!

The Sea Hawk by Rafael Sabatini. There is a Hollywood movie of that name, but though it was originally going to be about the book, they abandoned the idea and made it completely different. It's a fantastic book from an incredible author. He's the guy who wrote Captain Blood, Errol Flynn's first movie.

 

[Cheesebeef]

So the 'turn you loose' part never quite gets to happen. That would drive me berzerk.

actually, we get "turned loose" twice... the first time is when we write the writer's outline. We get about 9 days to churn that sucker after the 8 day room break. Then that goes through the meat-grinder. And the second time we get turned loose is once the outline comes out of the meat-grinder, we get two weeks turned loose to write the script. But everywhere else it's a team game.

right now, i just got done breaking episode 14 in the room and am being sent off tomorrow to write the outline. LOVE my stories and can't wait to tear in to them!

btw -

Spoiler

the initial seeming throwaway about 'when I have kids' was brilliantly done. Smooth, subtle, but both of them missed a half beat before subconsciously deciding to ignore it -- for the moment. GREAT way to introduce conflict for the characters, and then the need to explore options for Dani, who is a settling-down type of woman. I also liked that you didn't write the owner as blaringly one-dimensional as he has the obvious risk of becoming, and really like Nico's development.

nice! the next episode gets even deeper into Pittman. You ain't seen nothing yet as far as he's concerned!

 

[Angel]

A bit off topic

The Sea Hawk by Rafael Sabatini. There is a Hollywood movie of that name, but though it was originally going to be about the book, they abandoned the idea and made it completely different. It's a fantastic book from an incredible author. He's the guy who wrote Captain Blood, Errol Flynn's first movie.

You guys have to stop mentioning books, every time one is touted I have to go out and get it, I can't even go into the Books Forum. My reading list is so long I am running out of time to watch TV. )

BTW. . . . .The Sea Hawk. . . . . free for kindle! As are a clutch of Mr. Sabatini's other books, which if the first is that good I will have to add to my list.

 

[Stout]

You guys have to stop mentioning books, every time one is touted I have to go out and get it, I can't even go into the Books Forum. My reading list is so long I am running out of time to watch TV. )

BTW. . . . .The Sea Hawk. . . . . free for kindle! As are a clutch of Mr. Sabatini's other books, which if the first is that good I will have to add to my list.

Don't tell me that! I have sworn off ever getting an e-reader, because I will never leave real books behind...and now you say this!

 

[Angel]

Don't tell me that! I have sworn off ever getting an e-reader, because I will never leave real books behind...and now you say this!

I'm sorry, I have to learn to use that spoiler thing.

eReading doesn't mean you can't have books too. I thought the same way, didn't want to give up the "book" experience. I read…..alot, and the access to reading material is freaking awesome and right at your fingertips. You mentioned a book in a post, I didn’t even have to close the board, went to Amazon looked it up clicked and there it was---for FREE. Also eliminated is my storage problem, couldn't get rid of my books once they were mine, even the ones I didn't really like.

Now I collect my favorites in hardcover and eRead the rest.

 

[Stout]

I'm sorry, I have to learn to use that spoiler thing.

eReading doesn't mean you can't have books too. I thought the same way, didn't want to give up the "book" experience. I read…..alot, and the access to reading material is freaking awesome and right at your fingertips. You mentioned a book in a post, I didn’t even have to close the board, went to Amazon looked it up clicked and there it was---for FREE. Also eliminated is my storage problem, couldn't get rid of my books once they were mine, even the ones I didn't really like.

Now I collect my favorites in hardcover and eRead the rest.

Nah, just can't do it. Aside from it being a completely frivolous cost, I hate reading on a screen. My eyes hate it. Add to that my love for actual books, and I'll only get one if I can't get real books any more, I think.

 

[Cheesebeef]

BUMP.

All new NR tonight, where Dani dives into the world of Baseball and the salacious world of Slumpbusters.

 

[MadCardDisease]

CRAP! I've been so busy breaking Episode 14 that I forgot to pimp my own Story TONIGHT! So, if you're watching or gonna watch, Episode 3's story was written by yours truly.

hope y'all enjoyed it.

Finally got to watch a couple of episodes off my Tivo after being away on travel. Great episode dude. Best one of season two so far.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Finally got to watch a couple of episodes off my Tivo after being away on travel. Great episode dude. Best one of season two so far.

thanks MadCard!

 

[Cheesebeef]

BUMP!

Tonight on an all new Necessary Roughness, TK's back in the Minefield and this time, it's gonna be a War... on twitter.