|
|
Post by Hodge on Aug 31, 2014 18:19:38 GMT
It's happened before with Canadian shows that got picked up in the US, I'm worried it will happen again. It really is too bad that a channel can't pick it up and run with it. Ooooh, I get what you mean. Your concern is if American money gets involved, they will try to dictate certain "changes" to *Shaftesbury* to make MM more appealing to what they think their advertising demographic wants. So MM gradually evolves into, say, Reign. I doubt that would happen because MM seems to be considered a "Canadian" show, and there would be some outrage if Americans tried to dictate anything concerning it. The audience in the US would probably be considered a "niche" one, the American backers would probably be like: "We have no idea what you did, but please keep on doing it." But the bigger worry would be American money coming in, MM growing dependent on it, ratings dropping for some reason, capricious Americans pulling out, and that leading to the cancellation of MM - taking MM away from the Canadians as well as the Americans for reasons that had nothing to do with the Canadians at all. So, yeah, American involvement has a dark side. Maybe it's possible to talk about American distribution without direct American investment? Wish I could split your quote in two as I'd like to deal with them separately. However.... Paragraphs 1-3: YES!! You've got it! One would hope that any US channel that may pick it up would see it as the success it is but I wouldn't bank on it. Paragraphs 4/5: That's exactly my fear! It wouldn't only take it away from Canadians either, it's seen in around 110 countries so it's not fair to change it to accommodate one country no matter how large the population. The last show I was a huge fan of, Forever Knight another Canadian show set in Toronto, was a huge cult hit across the globe. We had two great seasons then USA Network came in, gave them money, insisted they change two of the main characters, added more characters that added nothing to the story lines then pulled out halfway through the season when their changes didn't work. They managed to finish the season but it killed the show! Most fans still don't acknowledge that 3rd season. That's what bothers me about US money and I don't trust anyone when it comes to money. If an American network would come in and give money w/o insisting on changes that could work but I don't think they could resist sticking their fingers in. However, maybe one of the things that works for MM is that they have to be inventive to work on such a tight budget, $1M per episode is what I've heard. |
|
|
|
Post by snacky on Aug 31, 2014 18:29:23 GMT
Wish I could split your quote in two as I'd like to deal with them separately. However.... YES!! You've got it! One would hope that any US channel that may pick it up would see it as the success it is but I wouldn't bank on it. The secret of how to do this is to cut and paste out anything you want in a separate quote box. Then when you've pasted the text you want in a new quote box outside, highlight it and hit the "quote" button beside the smilies one (the one right before the last one). Wow, I can totally see that happening. I wouldn't want American interference, either. All I want is American distribution/syndication.  That budget is pathetic, and I think it's really sad that Canadian actors can work for years on a show, make it popular, and just have to live with the fact their American counterparts would make millions per episode (i.e. several times the budget of one MM episode, lol). The CBC belt-tightening came at an awful time. This is when they should be pouring budget into that show and promoting it as the Story of Toronto (the fun way). |
|
|
|
Post by Hodge on Aug 31, 2014 18:38:57 GMT
It's funny that you get an American vibe from MM but I get more of a British one, perhaps it lands somewhere in the middle, a Canadian vibe maybe....  Yes, Stargate was made around Vancouver. So, while it had lots of villains with Canadian accents, their villains were mostly different from the Toronto villains with Canadian accents.  Perhaps if you live in Canada it moves your cultural sensitivity dial toward Britain. But you may not really understand what I'm talking about because I watched Stargate as obsessively as I watch MM now, whereas you probably only have a passing familiarity with that show. It goes beyond the structural similarities: the pacing, the beats, etc. are close to American. The difference is in the "types" of stories told, and perhaps the humor as well. They are clearly structured morality tales, closer to stage plays, favoring a bit of symbolism. They aren't as raunchy, corrupt, and pornish as American shows tend to be. Just having said that, I'm wondering if it's easier to "ship" Canadian, and if certain American writers who have pioneered in the "cult TV" style here - say, Joss Whedon - were influenced by the Canadian style in this respect. Anyway, I do think there is a bit of Canadian secret sauce, and even shows made for American distribution in Canada benefit from it. What moves my cultural sensitivity dial toward Britain is that I spent the first twenty odd years of my life there! Though I now consider myself firmly Canadian as I've been here longer I do still have some British sensibilities and I see it in MM. I think the pacing is Cdn, as usual stuck between Britain and the US. I have to admit to not seeing too much of Stargate, wasn't my kind of show but I did see some and didn't consider the style. I did like X-files and noticed it wasn't the usual US show but I put that down to it's creator, he had a different style which came through in Millennium as well. I didn't watch many Cdn shows back then as there weren't very many good ones, a view that many Cdns still hold today despite most Cdn shows being as good if not better than many others. Cdns for some reason can't see what we've got here. I admit that the experience gained from making US movies and TV shows here has given Canadian companies a boost which is evident in the quality of domestic programming produced now. Btw, have you seen Haven? Made in Nova Scotia but set in Haven, Maine, based on a short story by Stephen King. Another Cdn made show that is very well done with both Cdn & US actors but made in a Cdn style. Season 5 starts in Sept on Syfy in the US. |
|
|
|
Post by snacky on Aug 31, 2014 18:52:52 GMT
Btw, have you seen Haven? Made in Nova Scotia but set in Haven, Maine, based on a short story by Stephen King. Another Cdn made show that is very well done with both Cdn & US actors but made in a Cdn style. Season 5 starts in Sept on Syfy in the US. Haven shows on the SyFy channel here, and I've made note of it, but I haven't been able to watch it yet - mostly due to scheduling issues. I wonder if Canada tends to make a lot of science fiction shows for US distribution because the SyFy channel is there to pick them up! |
|
|
|
Post by Hodge on Aug 31, 2014 18:57:22 GMT
Wow, I can totally see that happening. I wouldn't want American interference, either. All I want is American distribution/syndication. That budget is pathetic, and I think it's really sad that Canadian actors can work for years on a show, make it popular, and just have to live with the fact their American counterparts would make millions per episode (i.e. several times the budget of one MM episode, lol). The CBC belt-tightening came at an awful time. This is when they should be pouring budget into that show and promoting it as the Story of Toronto (the fun way). I don't think CBC belt tightening is affecting MM. It's their biggest show and has more than doubled it's audience since moving to CBC. I agree it's pathetic what Cdn actors earn in comparison to their US counterparts. I see three of the actors in Big Bang Theory are now making $1M per half hour episode, that's crazy but I don't want to get started on compensation for entertainers/sportsmen.... Maybe I feel that because I don't think the show's funny though. If I told you what I don't find funny i.e. most comedy shows, you'd think I don't have a sense of humour. I don't like being told what I should laugh at though and find humour in most episodes of MM with a couple of exceptions. Remember Yannick has lived and worked in the US for several years and chose to come back to Canada despite the fact he could probably have earned much more in the US. |
|
|
|
Post by Hodge on Aug 31, 2014 19:00:45 GMT
Btw, have you seen Haven? Made in Nova Scotia but set in Haven, Maine, based on a short story by Stephen King. Another Cdn made show that is very well done with both Cdn & US actors but made in a Cdn style. Season 5 starts in Sept on Syfy in the US. Haven shows on the SyFy channel here, and I've made note of it, but I haven't been able to watch it yet - mostly due to scheduling issues. I wonder if Canada tends to make a lot of science fiction shows for US distribution because the SyFy channel is there to pick them up! You'd probably be better seeing Haven from season 1 as the story has progressed throughout the seasons and coming in at 5 would be very confusing by the looks of things. It's another one of my favourite shows, again it's quirky. To be honest most shows I like don't make it past three seasons if they make it that far. I was glad I came to MM in the 7th season or it wouldn't have made it past three! |
|
|
|
Post by snacky on Aug 31, 2014 20:13:14 GMT
I don't think CBC belt tightening is affecting MM. It's their biggest show and has more than doubled it's audience since moving to CBC. I agree it's pathetic what Cdn actors earn in comparison to their US counterparts. I see three of the actors in Big Bang Theory are now making $1M per half hour episode, that's crazy but I don't want to get started on compensation for entertainers/sportsmen.... Maybe I feel that because I don't think the show's funny though. If I told you what I don't find funny i.e. most comedy shows, you'd think I don't have a sense of humour. I don't like being told what I should laugh at though and find humour in most episodes of MM with a couple of exceptions. Remember Yannick has lived and worked in the US for several years and chose to come back to Canada despite the fact he could probably have earned much more in the US. If I remember correctly, MM received some bad news about their budget not being increased this year, and they've had to get by on the usual shoestring despite their expanding popularity. I really wonder how they've managed to hold on to their actors. I don't have the "sitcom" sense of humor either. I guess some people are just more subtle than that. Or shall we call ourselves sophisticated? Yannick made that choice base on stability and support for his family. I hope the Candadian acting/arts scene responds to that for him, as well as in support of other actors in keeping them in Canada. |
|
|
|
Post by snacky on Aug 31, 2014 20:15:31 GMT
You'd probably be better seeing Haven from season 1 as the story has progressed throughout the seasons and coming in at 5 would be very confusing by the looks of things. It's another one of my favourite shows, again it's quirky. To be honest most shows I like don't make it past three seasons if they make it that far. I was glad I came to MM in the 7th season or it wouldn't have made it past three! Hmm - well if SyFy owns the syndication rights, they probably rerun the earlier episodes during the daytime at some point during the year. I'll look into it! I love quirky! But I love historical quirky more, so MM definitely wins on all points for me. |
|
|
|
Post by Hodge on Aug 31, 2014 20:47:36 GMT
I don't think CBC belt tightening is affecting MM. It's their biggest show and has more than doubled it's audience since moving to CBC. I agree it's pathetic what Cdn actors earn in comparison to their US counterparts. I see three of the actors in Big Bang Theory are now making $1M per half hour episode, that's crazy but I don't want to get started on compensation for entertainers/sportsmen.... Maybe I feel that because I don't think the show's funny though. If I told you what I don't find funny i.e. most comedy shows, you'd think I don't have a sense of humour. I don't like being told what I should laugh at though and find humour in most episodes of MM with a couple of exceptions. Remember Yannick has lived and worked in the US for several years and chose to come back to Canada despite the fact he could probably have earned much more in the US. If I remember correctly, MM received some bad news about their budget not being increased this year, and they've had to get by on the usual shoestring despite their expanding popularity. I really wonder how they've managed to hold on to their actors. I don't have the "sitcom" sense of humor either. I guess some people are just more subtle than that. Or shall we call ourselves sophisticated? Yannick made that choice base on stability and support for his family. I hope the Candadian acting/arts scene responds to that for him, as well as in support of other actors in keeping them in Canada. MM is managing to get by, by all accounts the 8th season is their grandest yet. The actors seem to be pretty committed to the show. I agree, sophisticated!  Yes he made the choice because of his family feeling that LA wasn't a great place for his girls to go to school. He's done ok since moving back having had three series and a number of films. Admittedly not as well as he could have been but I think quality of life means more than money and as long as you have enough to live on and be comfortable why do you need more...? |
|
|
|
Post by Hodge on Aug 31, 2014 20:52:54 GMT
You'd probably be better seeing Haven from season 1 as the story has progressed throughout the seasons and coming in at 5 would be very confusing by the looks of things. It's another one of my favourite shows, again it's quirky. To be honest most shows I like don't make it past three seasons if they make it that far. I was glad I came to MM in the 7th season or it wouldn't have made it past three! Hmm - well if SyFy owns the syndication rights, they probably rerun the earlier episodes during the daytime at some point during the year. I'll look into it! I love quirky! But I love historical quirky more, so MM definitely wins on all points for me. I'm not usually into historical dramas, certainly not the British 'stuffy' kind anyway, so this is a bit of a departure for me. I do have a fondness for Victoriana and love the propriety and manners so of course William is just my kind of man!  I had a great uncle that reminded me of this era, he was a young man when my dad was born in the early twenties. He was always the gentleman, dressed in three piece suits with hat and pocket watch, I loved him and I think he's had a great influence in my taste in men. |
|
|
|
Post by Hodge on Aug 31, 2014 20:57:49 GMT
Have you seen Yannick's interviews with George Strombolopolous? They're worth watching, I don't think he's quite the guy that many would suspect. The interviews are available on YouTube.
|
|
|
|
Post by snacky on Aug 31, 2014 21:22:49 GMT
Yes he made the choice because of his family feeling that LA wasn't a great place for his girls to go to school. He's done ok since moving back having had three series and a number of films. Admittedly not as well as he could have been but I think quality of life means more than money and as long as you have enough to live on and be comfortable why do you need more...? Let's just hope he keeps thinking that way with all girls in college! He seems pretty committed to pimping out that house of his, though! Maybe that's enough. *finger's crossed* But this sounds waaaay too Yannick centric. It seems like Helene has almost walked several times. What if Thomas Craig or Jonny Harris left? Even if Georgina or Lachlan left, the show wouldn't be the same. By the way, no one ever answered my question about whether Lachlan was related in some sideways way to Rupert Murdoch - since his son is also named Lachlan Murdoch. |
|
|
|
Post by snacky on Aug 31, 2014 21:29:50 GMT
Have you seen Yannick's interviews with George Strombolopolous? They're worth watching, I don't think he's quite the guy that many would suspect. The interviews are available on YouTube. Yes, I watched them quite some time ago - but I don't remember him very well. He's very cute pretending he's a bad public speaker, lol. I also remembering him referring to the Canadian "duty" to give back for what you've received, and that really impressed me. No matter what Yannick is "really" like, the image he works hard on generating is such a worthy one. I'm not going to shut up about that being a great model for manhood - at least in the American context, where we are sorely lacking role models these day. I totally wish a men's magazine would interview him for that aspect - the image he projects in regard to respect for and treatment of women and male responsibility in general. I don't know if you remember the fad for "Alaska Men" a decade ago. Supposedly there was a shortage of women in Alaska, so magazines were dedicated to Alaskan man candy. Well, that could be Canadian Men today. *Canadian women run to lock up their men* |
|
|
|
Post by snacky on Aug 31, 2014 21:34:43 GMT
I'm not usually into historical dramas, certainly not the British 'stuffy' kind anyway, so this is a bit of a departure for me. I do have a fondness for Victoriana and love the propriety and manners so of course William is just my kind of man! I had a great uncle that reminded me of this era, he was a young man when my dad was born in the early twenties. He was always the gentleman, dressed in three piece suits with hat and pocket watch, I loved him and I think he's had a great influence in my taste in men. Interestingly, I was not a fan of the Victorian period at all before MM. I think it had something to do with all the mustaches and mutton chops - I literally found the era "unattractive". Thus, while I like "steampunk", I tended to adjust it to earlier eras - Leonardo da Vinci "clockpunk", 17th Century scientific revolution gear geekery, etc. I had never really thought about the turn of the 20th century as the exciting time of change it was. I'm really glad MM introduced me to that: and I'm glad they found a Victorian look for Yannick that kept him good looking. |
|
|
|
Post by Hodge on Aug 31, 2014 22:28:22 GMT
But this sounds waaaay too Yannick centric. It seems like Helene has almost walked several times. What if Thomas Craig or Jonny Harris left? Even if Georgina or Lachlan left, the show wouldn't be the same. By the way, no one ever answered my question about whether Lachlan was related in some sideways way to Rupert Murdoch - since his son is also named Lachlan Murdoch. Haven't heard about Helene almost walking, she has had other work I think but she's not in as many episodes/scenes and she does have to make a living. All the actors are paid by the day. Thomas Craig was upset when he heard that Brackenreid was going to have a will he/won't he cliffhanger. His character was killed off in Coronation St. apparently so Peter Mitchell took him aside and told him in plenty of time instead of springing it on him. I was pretty sure right then that he would be back. I think Jonny Harris is happy where he is. His other job is as a stand up comedian and I remember him saying MM provided him with a steady job for several months of the year where standup doesn't. I think we could weather Georgina or Lachlan leaving.... |
|
I had a great uncle that reminded me of this era, he was a young man when my dad was born in the early twenties. He was always the gentleman, dressed in three piece suits with hat and pocket watch, I loved him and I think he's had a great influence in my taste in men.