Currently, three of the most prolific and brilliant minds working in modern television are without TV shows at the moment:
- Joss Whedon recently wrapped up "Dollhouse" after two seasons with the (constantly mucking about) Fox.
- Conan O'Brien left "The Tonight Show" after a very public mess with Jay Leno and NBC.
- Bryan Fuller, creator of "Pushing Daisies," "Wonderfalls," and "Dead Like Me," has a development deal with NBC - but no series on the horizon.
So what should these titans of broadcasting do? I say it's time for them to get out of the business of television. Yes it's time to leave behind the main networks and cable channels for...the internet! Buh?
I'm not the first person to suggest that any of these gentlemen should look elsewhere to continue entertaining their dedicated fanbases. In fact, Whedon has intimated that he may only be pursuing projects on the internet in the future (although this was later undercut when rumour spread that he was going to launch a new show on F/X channel). But I've been thinking about this a great deal, and realize that instead of each going alone, perhaps these truly creative and original voices in entertainment would be better off pooling their resources.
Whedon has already had success on the internet - Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog pretty much broke the internet when it debuted. I'm guessing (though I have no figures) that it at least broke even with iTunes downloads, DVD sales, and soundtrack purchases. Add into that the fact that Whedonites (like myself) tend to follow the man where ever he goes and shell out cash on DVDs and other merchandising - and it becomes rather clear how well suited he would be to launch content for the internet. So why would he need others?
O'Brien is the most mainstream of the three - even for those that don't watch him at least now know his name following the "Tonight Show" debacle. He has been aligned with successful and "unique" creative ventures in the past - "Saturday Night Live" (in its second renaissance) and "The Simpsons" (at its birth). He's used to doing things that are different, bold and are precariously perched on the edge of possible failure. He could probably go to any other network - and most likely will go to Fox - but the internet allows him to be accessed directly by his fanbase: nerds and computer literate younger people. The internet affords O'Brien the freedom to do whatever content he wants without having to worry about mainstream appeal or drawing senior citizen viewers to his shows. His clout as a mainstream success will lend this venture with financial and mainstream credibility coupled with his newfound publicity and popularity.
Fuller is the least well known of this trio - but he brings with him a history of narrative success. His shows have been constantly muddled with (either in scheduling or other network directions) - but they always manage to evoke nothing less than critical praise. His series tend to develop small, but intensely devoted, followings while websites and publications heap accolades on them. Respected for originality and a wit that has been found to be absent in most other network fair, Fuller has always managed to shine. In fact, his work on the craptacular "Heroes" remains the lone shining star of that misbegotten series.
Whedon brings the large fanbase of viewers, O'Brien brings mainstream respectability, and Fuller brings the acceptance and advocacy of critics. If one were to do a venn diagram of their fans, I'm sure there would be a large overlap trending towards nerdy, younger people; while still reaching out to people that are generally not served by most network television (women, smart people, geeks).
This trio could create an internetwork of shows - featuring series created, written and/or produced by each of them. In fact they could expand to include other creators' works, including Felicia Day's popular internet series, "The Guild."
As the brand expands to include other voices - new voices - perhaps a new form of submission could be created to generate and broadcast new series & new talent. As for pay structure, a viewer could pay per episode, per series, or perhaps buy something like a "Network Pass" which allows people to watch whatever they want produced by this new Internetwork. Perhaps users could schedule their own nights of programs - so they slot in an hour block of "The Guild" followed by a half hour of an O'Brien sitcom and then two hours of Fuller's latest fantasy dramedy. It would be like a more specialized Hulu, with an introductory subscription rate; it could also still have some advertising and of course...merchandising!
Of course, there are significant drawbacks to going the internet route: much less money to be made, smaller budgets for the television shows, probably harder to get "bigger" named celebrities to appear. However, if properly motivated and if the quality is there, I think the fans and the money will soon follow. These men have already proven that they are trailblazers when it comes to creating brilliant entertainment - maybe it's time for them to become trailblazers in how we receive that content?
