Has the Entertainments Industry run out of original ideas?

[lizkempo]

Has the Entertainments Industry run out of original ideas?

This is a very interesting question, but also a very broad question. The phrase “Entertainments Industry” covers such a wide spectrum of things, from TV, film to the stage, musicals, plays, and stand up, dancing, music. I do not believe that the whole of the entertainments industry has run out of originality; however certain sectors do have a tendency to over do a good idea.

One example of this would be the latest “Reality TV” phenomena, an absolutely tremendous idea; however it has now been so over done that all originality has blown out of the window. The format first came to my knowledge when 11 contestants entered the Big Brother house for the first time. The idea was original, putting 11 strangers from different walks of life into a house together for weeks with no contact with the out side world, add a few cameras and see what happens. The first Big Brother was a hit! It caused quite a sensation, everyone was talking about it, some loved some hated but they all still talked about it. Now 3 Big Brothers later and two celebrity Big Brothers later the format has become old and stale, and all originality has gone.

Unfortunately our TV Companies have a habit of over doing good ideas, the “Reality TV” phenomena has totally taken over television at the moment with shows like “The Salon”; a hair salon with cameras, an original idea no body can deny, and I admit when it first came out I was interested but now that the second series has come out, I can’t believe people still tune in to watch! Shows like Holiday Showdown and Wife Swap are also top viewing; I think this says more about the TV Viewers of today than it does about the Entertainments Industry, they will keep producing what the viewers want, as long ratings are good then reality TV will be done to death.

In other areas such as the stage, live theatre is always producing original ideas. I recently went to see “Jerry Springer the Opera”, it is the most original idea I have seen in a long time, turning an American chat show into an Opera, what an idea, and it certainly is not like your traditional musical. It incorporated the format of a musical of course, singing, dancing and acting; it had a narrative, a beginning, middle and an end but the content and context was totally different. It took risks and was cutting edge, and my word it was the funniest thing I have seen. Can you imagine going to see an Opera staring Jerry Springer with a chorus made up of transvestites, hillbillies, White Trash, prostitutes and a grown man obsessed with wearing nappies and living in a cot?

The music Industry has taken a nose dive recently as well, with shows such as “Pop Stars”, “Pop Idol” and “Fame Academy” taken over the charts. Again all original ideas; but stop after the first time around!! These programmes I know have caused much debate about the Pop industry, raising issues about talent verses image, are manufactured bands talented etc. All of this is brilliant, but it has to stop some where.

I am a professional actress so the entertainments is something I take a keen interest in, throughout my training I found that stand–up comedy is one of the hardest things to do. I believe that to be a good stand-up performer you require bags of originality. You need to have new material all the time otherwise you become dry and stale.

Within theatre there is more room to explore new ideas to take risks with out offending, people who go to the theatre seem a lot more excepting to new ideas, if new ideas are explored on television people feel as though they are being put upon, almost as if they are being intruded, this I think is because a TV is in your living room these shows are infecting your living room, where as if you go to the theatre it is less personal.

Like a stand-up comedian who had an original act to start with, the entertainments industry tends over do these ideas until they too become dry and stale.

[Urbanangel]

Hi,

I agree with your gutfeel that the entertainment industry has run out of ideas. Be it Television, movies etc, everywhere a new concept is hard to find. You might have noticed that once a movie with a slightly different concept comes up, ten other are made on the same theme with modifications and an advertising tag that ‘its different’. This trend can be seen all across the world. As u mentioned about the Reality TV shows which fail to hold attention of the viewer when they come up with the same concept again and again.

But I feel that there is no dearth of ideas in this industry. It is only the question of tapping them right. I am sure there are people who will always appreciate good work whether it is theatre, movies, or TV.

What do u feel guys?

[navin]

You have bought a cow and now you are milking it till it drops dead. This seems to be the approach in the entertainment industry. As you pointed out, one reality TV show was a hit and a million followed. In India as well, one family soap opera was a hit and countless others followed. It is so bad that sometimes it is not possible for people to keep track of the story of any of them as they all seem to get all tangles up.
The music industry is not different either, we are experiencing a flood of remixed old songs. It is called creative bankruptcy, you have no imagination so you do what others are doing.

Read a similar article at http://www.navinharish.net/blog/2003/12/1.html

[Solitare]

At times it depends on people's choice as well. Let them have what they want. If they want creative bankruptcy, let them have it.

Atleast we should be aware of our interest and properly safeguard the.

[Editor]

I totally agree with what lizkempo said in her first post...In fact, i am now able to reason it out too. Certain sectors do have a tendency to overdo an original idea.