Local events should practice what they preach.

By Gery L. Deer

Managing Director

GLD Enterprises & Productions

December 31, 2007

Over the last 10 years, we have provided many organizations with entertainment, program development, and public speakers for nearly every kind of event or venue. In that time the majority of our work has been out of town, often several states away, from Tennessee to California. Our local entertainers report the same thing to us as well, that they are working everywhere but at home.

At local events hosted by chambers of commerce, local businesses, and public organizations, we are constantly told to 'buy local' and 'use our resources here at home' to help bolster the local economy. The problem is that the people who are preaching these ideals rarely practice them.

Over the last 12 months, 80% of my own personal performances (music, whip artistry, stand up comedy, master of ceremonies work and speaking engagements) have been outside of the Greater Dayton Area. And 60% of those have been at least one state's distance away from our area entirely. When we have attempted to get on the radar of local event planners, most of which know we're out here anyway, they look at us like the big corporate bankers in the small business banking commercials, as if we don't exist and we're just an annoyance.

Many planners, especially locals who run town festivals, have a flawed concept that if they hire speakers and entertainers from outside the area, they will draw a larger crowd. This is almost never true, short of a huge name like Hannah Montana or Garth Brooks, who they can't afford anyway.

The truth is that hiring local entertainers, who, as I already pointed out, are being hired regularly by people in the same positions in other states, will cost less, and generally draw a much larger crowd because people feel a 'connection' to local names. Often friends, family, and even a small local fan base can help to increase attendance at the average town festival by as much as an estimated 15% for the performance alone - that's pretty good for no additional advertising whatsoever. It's a sure bet that they will charge less too.

Speaking of cost, another misconception is that because local talent is often 'cheaper' you're getting lower quality or less-talented people. That's nonsense. The fact is that it simply costs less for the entertainer or speaker to work locally since they don't have to include travel or expenses associated with out-of-town performances. They will also often offer a lower cost in the name of diplomacy; a 'deal' for the home court, so to speak. Believe me, when they perform elsewhere, they are much more costly.

So if you're someone in charge of a local event, look around. You'll find a wealth of entertainment and expert speakers in your own back yard who will cost your organization less money and generate good feelings in the community by 'buying local.' You won't be sorry.

Network execs are getting more myopic.

By Gery L. Deer

Managing Director

GLD Enterprises & Productions

March 23, 2007

Recently NBC cancelled, or what it calls ‘shelved,’ a new show it premiered in September of 2006 called “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.”  Developed by “West Wing” creator Aaron Sorkin, the dramatic comedy followed the inner-workings of a “Saturday Night Live” style late-night variety show.

Matthew Perry (Friends) and Bradly Whitford (West Wing) portrayed the execs of the show dealing with flaky actors, a neurotic stage crew, and grumpy network executives all in the pursuit of just the right sketch comedy. The show also featured Amanda Peet (The Whole 9 Yards), Ed Asner (Lou Grant), Steven Weber (Wings), and Timothy Busfield (West Wing). 

There is no firm answer on the fate of the show but in the interim it’s been replaced with “The Black Donnellys” – a dark “Sapranos”-like drama following the thuggish behavior of an inner-city family.

I think NBC was hoping to cash in on the early success and cult-following it had achieved with the sci-fi drama ‘HEROS’ by airing Studio 60 on the same night. Unfortunately, I think that the show got a bad timeslot to start with, but at the same time, its 'heady.' It has 'Star Trek' syndrome – but in more than one way, and in a more adult manner. That is, it's too smart for today's audiences and it had a minority following of loyal fans.

We are living in a world where the ketchup on my plate of fries could be the topic for reality television. I loved how Studio 60 approached reality TV. It really is a mess out there. NBC needs to take a look at its mistakes over the last 40 years. Back to Star Trek again - nice call fellas. Don't you wish you had the residuals for that blunder?

I am a 'victim' of reality television. I was a performer on the first season of America's Got Talent. It's not 'reality' TV, but more a reality game show. I turned them down the first time they called to ask me to be a contestant. I didn't want to be humiliated. But when they called again about the 'weird and wacky' contest on the results show it seemed like it would be fun. And it was - but there I was - part of the 'reality' and game show craze.

Studio 60 has too much to offer. It has drama and comedy and a dose of nonsense mixed into the reality that is modern television. Matt Perry is great in that role - it's like "Chandler" hit it big or something and got this great job writing comedy. It's a perfect part without totally casting him to sitcom ****.

For those of you who don't know the story. NBC cancelled the original Star Trek AND passed on options for Star Trek - The Next Generation entirely. This past fall CBS / Paramount spent tons of money re-working the space-effects on the original series and re-released it into syndication.

The 'remastered' version runs generally late in the evening on weekends on local stations. The funny thing is that according to CBS's research, the ONLY show that beat it in its Saturday night spot was SNL. I wonder if any of the shows on today will do as well 40 years from now. I think Studio 60 (like West Wing) will still be running four decades from now and it will still be as interesting. It would be hard to say that about other shows that are on these days. 

Many people hate Star Trek for one reason or another saying it, and the subsequent incarnations were awful right down to the acting. I can’t disagree with some arguments, including some of the acting, but I am not comparing the two shows for production quality. I am really referring to network head honchos who are too short-sighted when they decide what shows will come and go.

Like it or hate it Star Trek is a phenomenon and part of the pop culture. It became a legend - not for its brilliant acting or prize-winning writing but for its popularity and cult following. Had NBC stuck with it, they may have been able to ride that wave a while longer. I have heard, in their own words, NBC execs that were on the scene at the time saying how much they regretted letting it go before it really got its 'legs.' Star Trek is 'space opera' - it’s not the same kind of show as Studio 60 but the two do have one thing in common. People liked them and they got snuffed too soon.

I think Studio 60 has great writing and good actors. I've heard similar complaints about it, however, that people also make about Star Trek - bad acting and bad writing. I have heard that the fast-moving pace of the show’s dialogue bothers people too. The same people slammed West Wing for similar reasons. I don't agree with their take on it - but that's what makes TV work - different tastes. If you take Star Trek too seriously you definitely should move out of your mom's basement. It's the Brady Bunch of science fiction - the galaxy's problems all fixed up in 60 minutes and Shatner's toupee is firmly in place.

To use another bad analogy - Gilligan's Island is one of the worst shows in television history by today's standards. It was a kid’s show full of pratfalls, bad one-liners, and unbelievable plotlines. It was essentially a live-action cartoon about people trapped on an island where all kinds of weird things happen to them. Hey wait, that sounds familiar. Hey, isn’t that the plot of “LOST?” Original, wouldn’t you say?

But good or bad, Gilligan is being aired every minute of every day somewhere in the world. It's been translated into 65 languages and the "Rescue from Gilligan's Island" reunion movie in 1978 was the first reunion movie ever produced. Plus, it was the most watched television movie ever. But was it so popular because of good acting or ingenious writing? Of course not, but I have to say that Jim Backus, Alan Hale, and Natalie Shafer were some of the best actors in Hollywood for more than 40 years.

Most people don't realize that Gilligan was cancelled, not because of bad ratings, but because the wife of the CBS president was upset that Gunsmoke had been finally axed after a bazillion years on the air. The execs cancelled Gilligan, seeing it as expendable, so that they could return Gunsmoke to the weekly line-up. They had no idea what they had done. I work in the independent film industry and do a lot of western work and I like Gunsmoke as much as anyone (it's the Star Trek of westerns - ridiculous but fun) but I KNOW it's not playing as often as Gilligan. I mean can any of you recite the theme music to Gunsmoke? Who DOESN'T know the Gilligan theme?

It's not about good or bad shows - it's about network execs that air crap like the Black Donnellys (a TERRIBLE Sapranos clone) in place of something that people already like. It will continue to happen. All we can do is to keep poking at NBC and the other networks that are making shows that we viewers like or more junk will hit the air. Who knows what is next? What about a psychic CSI show starring, of all people, Jeff Goldblume! What ARE they thinking? (Insert Goldblume voice here: "yes yes... that's it ... yes ... put me on tv... need a career... yes yes.) Or maybe “CSI: Smallville?”

To any network bigwigs who might be reading this - bring back intelligent shows and draw the crowd to your networks that will STAY with you. Reality and game shows will be gone soon. Don't let us down by leaving the intelligent beings on the far side of the 'boob tube' out to dry.  By the way, I have a great reality show idea – Live! Myopic Network Execs Cut Your Favorite Shows! Think about it!

 PS: thanks for Battlestar Galactica, House, and HEROS. We appreciate them.

If you want to help bring back Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip click here and sign the petition!

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