« Lost: Episode 3.16 Review | Main | Lost Podcast: Episode 3.16 »
April 12, 2007
I'm Much Too Fast To Take That Test
I fear change. Not unlike Wayne’s associate Garth. I settle into a pattern and pretty much re-enact that pattern ad infinitum, often using Latin to further said pattern.
Over the next few months, however, there will be a lot of changes round these here parts.
It’s good, in a way, that I’m by and large ignored out here on Al Gore’s internets. It allows me to ebb and flow as I see fit, or rather, as life organically leads me. I wrote about this roughly two year ago, when I noted that the blog itself seemed to change about every six months as my mood dictated. Lately, it’s been a “hey, I’m getting married, and in case you couldn’t figure it out, I’m obsessed with ‘Lost’ and the overuse of quotation marks in my entries” phase. That’s been the last six months, by and large.
Moving forward, into the next six months, will find me moving into a more precise blogging area. Or rather, into a specific genre of writing. Even with all of these six-month cycles mirroring my own status as a human being, I’ve by and large operated under a “whatever I feel like writing, I write” modus operandi. And that’s worked great for me, on a personal level, as it’s served as a venting point and given at least 5 people some level of enjoyment over the years.
When I started doing the “Lost” reviews and podcasts, I was quite frankly worried that I was alienating some of the longer term readers. After all, one’s enjoyment of those parts of my online world are predicated largely on one watching and liking “Lost” itself. And, indeed, I’ve gotten more than a few “well, I just don’t watch the show, so I don’t read those bits” emails/IMs/conversations over the past few months. But here’s the other thing: views nearly double on Thursday, the day after I post a “Lost” review, from the previous day. Week in and week out, people who don’t seek out the blog on a daily basis come to check out what I have to say about the most recent episode of “Lost”. And that’s really gratifying. To see steadily growing numbers of podcast listeners is also intensely gratifying as well. For so long, I’ve spoken passionately about the show, only to be met with glazed eyes at best, looks of scorn at worst. But to see validation in terms of increased readership is truly great.
So, moving forth, over the next sixth months leading up to the Fall 2007 premiere of the television schedule, I’ll be working to transform this blog into a repository of reviews and podcasts of television’s most provocative, long-form dramas. Staring this Sunday, I’ll start weekly insta-reviews and podcasts of the new Fox drama, “Drive”. In the fall, in addition to the fourth season of “Lost”, I’ll be adding the second season of “Heroes”. (How much do I love "Heroes"? So much that the new promos feature a Nickelback song and I'm still pumped to watch it. That's how much.) More shows will be added to the weekly list, as I look to form a one-stop center for all things interesting, spectacular, and geek-tastic in television.
The medium of television lends itself to the most provocative type of storytelling. It’s ability to establish a narrative that last over hundreds of hours in unparalleled in modern society. While the old serial tales of Dickens once held similar power (a power consciously emulated by the writers of “Lost”, incidentally), television stands alone in this day and age in terms of the scope and possibility of narrative. It’s those shows that seek to maximize the potential within the genre that excite me the most these days. Quite often, these shows fall into the supernatural, the fantastical, the out-of-the-ordinary. But I won’t limit my scope to simply shows that could send cast members to Comi-Con. So long as the show engages in a long-form narrative that stretches the audience’s imagination, I will be there, with insight and more than a little humor, if all goes well.
I’ll need your help over the next six months, as this site one again organically changes into something new. I hope it’s for the best, and judging by my own level excitement at the prospects, I think it will be. But this is not merely a place for me, but a place for any of you that wish to participate in this process. So drop me a line, leave me a comment, and let’s get on to the work ahead.
Posted by Ryan McGee at April 12, 2007 11:56 PM
Comments
Good for you.
I do enjoy the LOST reviews!!
Posted by: PT at April 13, 2007 10:53 AM
Good luck with the change, I think it's a great idea.
p.s. I'd be an even bigger fan if you decided to add Grey's Anatomy to your list! ;)
Posted by: Kate at April 13, 2007 01:48 PM