Posted by SunViking at dbusr3-96.n-jcenter.com on February 22, 2000 at 19:38:18:
In Reply to: How we got fucked by ABC. Hard. posted by Kevin on February 21, 2000 at 10:07:07:
: Yesterday, we got together and recorded the 'Dogma' DVD commentary in NYC
: at our beloved Gizmo. It was the same crew that did the 'Rats' commentary
: (me, Mewes, Mosier, Vincent, Lee, and Affleck), and this time around, the
: entire commentary was videotaped for inclusion.
: I don't think the stuff's as funny as the 'Rats' commentary. But then,
: it's a really different flick. Strong work from all involved.
: Today, we're taping interviews at the store for a documentary J.M.'s
: putting together as well. Should be cool.
: What's not cool is that airdate ABC gave us. Folks, May 31st pretty much
: insures the show's failure, in my book. Essentially, it seems the network
: doesn't like the show (odd, as they pursued it rather heavily at the start,
: and also told us to our faces how much they dug it). They held test
: screenings for the show in San Diego and Ohio at the start of February and
: got numbers they didn't like. Funny thing was, the audiences they
: recruited for the screenings were for another show, so a very key
: demographic was missing from the mix: the 18 to 24 year olds. This is
: comparable to test screening 'Dogma' for an audience of 55 to 80 year old
: priests. It's inane.
: And it's pretty much over, I guess. Very seldomly does a show launched in
: the summer get picked up. And even though we've got great buzz (which
: started at the Television Critics thing and has built ever since) while
: their Kyra Sedgewick "laugher" was mostly reviled by the critics who saw it
: early, THAT show gets to debut during the season - presumably airing in
: sweeps, if they last - while we're relegated to the dry gulch that is the
: summer, when traditionally 25% of the audience is no longer watching.
: So let's all give Disney-owned ABC a big round of applause. I can't
: believe we got fucked hard by the mouse twice in the span of a year.
: Fucking suits, man. I don't know why I bother...
: In other news (on a far better network), Affleck was great on SNL the other
: night. I was there (though not all week, as I've read; I was only there
: for the live broadcast), and let me tell you: as hard as he worked during
: the show, he worked harder between skits, being raced hither and yon,
: dropping trow for costume changes, donning many a wig. Very rarely does a
: host show up in as many sketches as Ben did. The man deserves some major
: props.
: My apologies to those who went to the Shrine show in L.A., only to discover
: we weren't there. NewsAskew posted earlier in the week that I wasn't going
: to be in attendance. I believe we're making it up, however, on March 19th.
: Come celebrate a show that its own network refuses to believe in. The way
: shit's going, it may be your only chance to see the show.
: No offense to Regis, but how long do they think that show's going to be a
: hit if they keep airing the hell out of it. I guess it doesn't matter in
: short-sighted thinking, as the plan is to win this season, with little
: thought to the next. Which means that 'Millionaire' will pretty much be on
: ABC everytime you turn your television on, over the next few months.
: This is why t.v. sucks, folks. And - with the exception of 'The Simpsons',
: 'Law and Order', and 'The X-Files' - this is why I use my television solely
: as a means to watch DVD's, videos, and porn.
: I guess it's time to go back to the day job. On that subject, wait 'til we
: announce what's next on the horizon. It's a humdinger, and a helluva way
: to close out the Askewniverse flicks. Were it not for this, I'd be a lot
: bluer about ABC's dumping of 'Clerks'.
: But then again, I'm not all that surprised. You go bottomless amongst
: penned up anal rapists like these fucks, sooner or later, you're going to
: get cornholed against your will 'til you