Sub plots

[gauchecritic]

When I came in drunk tonight (Wednesdays) the wife was watching CSI Miami. (The ginger bloke can't act so I don't often watch it) I was struck by the fact that lately, and Miami is the worst culprit, quite a few television serials don't actually bother with sub-plot (how home life affects their work, tying two separate cases together, when a team member fucks up and has to be covered by their supervisor etc)
They simply join two distinct stories together to fill the 45 minutes and the only link is the main character. (the can't act ginger bloke)

Is this legitimate? Would you stand for it in a written work? Just exactly how short is your attention span?

 

[Guest]

I hadn't thought of this til now. I guess the reason I watch so little TV is because of lack of subplot or even subtext. The shows I used to watch (e.g., ER) had so many threads running simultansously they kept me interested. Then again, bad acting undoes any good bits.

Your last question is apt, I'm certain most TV serial creators think short attention spans are the ticket.

Perdita

 

[M Crim]

I think the best shows always have subplots. I just watched west wing and it has more subplots than I can shake a stick at. Same thing with good books/stories.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Gauche,

It's the "Law and Order" effect. With the explosion of cable, rerun rights have become very valuable. Folks who buy re-run rights, prefer free-standing shows over those with continuing themes.

Hill Street Blues was a great show, won a bunch of awards, but often had sub-plots stretching over several shows. That gave it a great sense of continuity. But that almost imposes a viewing schedule on those who buy the rerun rights. That's why its rerun value is lower than the shows pumped out by the Law and Order folks (there are a bunch).

Rumple Foreskin

 

[yui]

I like subplots - often more than primary characters.

TV mostly sucks. ER is still good. Alias is fun. Desperate Housewives is a good for what it is. Nip/Tuck is surprisingly good. Other than that, I don't watch TV.

Every show I like gets cancelled.

Luck,

Yui

 

[BlackSnake]

The new show NUMB3RS has potential. It think the interaction between the father and his two sons makes for a great subplot.

 

[yui]

The new show NUMB3RS has potential. It think the interaction between the father and his two sons makes for a great subplot.

Hi BlackSnake,

I googled your show and it does look like it has potential. I will have to check it out. Thanks for the tip!

Luck,

Yui

 

[sweetnpetite]

When I came in drunk tonight (Wednesdays) the wife was watching CSI Miami. (The ginger bloke can't act so I don't often watch it) I was struck by the fact that lately, and Miami is the worst culprit, quite a few television serials don't actually bother with sub-plot (how home life affects their work, tying two separate cases together, when a team member fucks up and has to be covered by their supervisor etc)
They simply join two distinct stories together to fill the 45 minutes and the only link is the main character. (the can't act ginger bloke)

Is this legitimate? Would you stand for it in a written work? Just exactly how short is your attention span?

I read the first sentance.

Then I got bored...

 

[Belegon]

The only TV I watch is sports, Discovery and the History Channel...

 

[cantdog]

Re: Re: Sub plots

I read the first sentance.

Then I got bored...

That's wit, girl.

 

[English Lady]

ER is the only show I MUST watch on TV. I really enjoy it (oooh what a confession) another i watch every night is a wonderful Sitcom drama thing called Born and Bred. Based in a little lancastrian village it's very funny, very touching and has a fair few subplots floating about the place

Otherwise I watch football (lots of bitchin'...I mean sub plot there) or UK style/food. (not so much in the way of plot)

 

[NoJo]

Every US sitcom I watch, I'm totally amazed at the wit and writing quality. That even goes for "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Love and Marriage". Every serious us drama series I see makes me seethe with anger at its pretentions to meaningfulness. (ER, pure entertainment -- just laughably unrealistic, similar to what's happened to Corrie/East Enders over the years). The last great US TV drama series was "Twin Peaks", and that was only because of the guy who spoke backwards.

IMfuckingHO.

 

[elbiscayne]

sub plot? i don't write bdsm.

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

I guess that's one of the charms of Japanese Anime. Some of the shows are nothing but subplot (see Stellvia of the Universe or NeiA_7).

 

[rgraham666]

The last TV show I liked, Babylon 5, had tons of subplot. And great characters. Which is why I liked it so much.

It was never popular though.

Loved Twin Peaks. Sherilyn Fenn. Mmmmm. Especially the scene where she tied the knot in the stem of the cherry.

 

[cloudy]

Twin Peaks was excellent! It's the one show in the last decade or so that I would actually schedule around it so I wouldn't miss a minute, but on that show if you even missed the first five minutes, you were hopelessly lost.

Wonder if that's where I got my coffee obsession from?

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

If you're into sub-plots "West Wing" is a must-see.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[NoJo]

If you're into sub-plots "West Wing" is a must-see.

Rumple Foreskin

Yeah, heard it's good, RF.

BTW, When I go to that great Oubliette in the sky, I'd like to buried in a sub plot.

 

[gauchecritic]

Once again I find myself drowning in a sea of my own vagueness.

Different question then.

In a story, would you as the author, simply write two separate and distinct stories then post them as one under the guise of sub-plotting?

If you found your story to be 749 words long and couldn't possibly add another single word in order that it be submissable, would you write or take another unrelated story, just tack it on and claim valid action under the heading of "sub-plot"

 

[NoJo]

Once again I find myself drowning in a sea of my own vagueness.

eurrrgh...

if my story was 749 words, i'd probably insert the word "notwithstanding" at some random place.

 

[Guest]

Once again I find myself drowning in a sea of my own vagueness.

No, I think it was ale or bitters (see first line of your initial post).

Perdita

 

[NoJo]

Hey, I think you're Perdy.

 

[Guest]

Hey, I think you're Perdy.

Thanks, I wasn't sure if this pic made me look fat.

Oops, did I embarrass myself? Did you mean Gauche?

 

[Guest]

I think "Hunt for Red October" had the best sub plot.

But "Run Silent, Run Deep" did too.

Crossing Jordon is like CSI--a major story, and a minor one, not connected. I wonder if they are both the same amount of broadcast time? Maybe the thinking is they can carve up a 1 hour show into two 1/2 hour runs for rerun syndication.

Short attention spans: let's blame Sesame Street.

 

[NoJo]

Thanks, I wasn't sure if this pic made me look fat.

Oops, did I embarrass myself? Did you mean Gauche?

I meant you. Why? would you like me to call him perdy?