A slightly longer ranty comment on American Torchwood

[neadods]

This is in my feedback to Staggering Stories, but I thought I'd elaborate here.

In the announcement that Fox wasn't picking up an American version of Torchwood, it was said that BBC or Davies (or both; I'm unclear on this) was insisting on a 13-episode commitment.

I was cynical about Davies' and Gardener's move here in the first place, and if that announcement is true, I've just lost my last shred of sympathy. Who in their right mind does not research the requirements of their own profession in a new area?

American TV boils down to one of three things:
- 4-6 episode miniseries
- 12 episode midseason replacements or summer series
- 22 episode full seasons.

We don't do 13 episodes here. Our schedules aren't set up for 13 episodes. Our syndication deals aren't set up for 13 episodes. No network is going to change their lineup for a single show - especially one whose best ratings were still, in this country, comparatively tiny.

Comments

[bibliofilen.livejournal.com]

Isn't it just a way to say that the network either do 22 eps or they have to pay a forfeit, so to speak, in the form of a thirteenth episode? That last ep might also make them pick it back up later if they're suddenly in need of filling and already have one episode lying around.

What confuses me is the need to do a US version in the first place.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

What confuses me is the need to do a US version in the first place.

Presumably because the BBCA ratings were so good. The problem was, BBCA ratings were only good *for BBCA.* And our schedules are getting pretty saturated in supernatural style shows.