What are some of the advantages of live television and why do you think it was the prevailing format during TV's first decade? What are its disadvantages? How is "liveness" (or the illusion thereof) used by TV today?
Live television adds a new level of excitement to watching television. There is something thrilling about watching live television and knowing that as viewers are watching at home, the actors are performing this live. It also adds a level of suspense, knowing that if something goes wrong it will be seen by thousands and thousands of people. This is exciting to viewers but a great risk to performers and producers. There is a risk of something going wrong on television that will violate an FCC regulation. This has happened a few times during shows like Saturday Night Live where a guest will accidentally drop the F-bomb. Some of these violations have become infamous. For example, the Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson SuperBowl halftime show mishap in 2004. More recently, Jennifer Lawrence falling up the stairs at The Oscars in 2013. Because these huge events are broadcasted live to millions of viewers, there is no opportunity for these moments to be edited out. I believe that live television was the prevailing format during TV's first decade because it would be too difficult to shoot and edit weekly television programs during this time. Editing on film was a very long process and would be too tedious with a weekly three-camera sitcom. Live television provided people during this time with an easy transition from going to the theatre to watching television. Television today is now trying to push new boundaries with shooting and editing television episodes to seem like mini-movies, which is very far removed from these early live sitcoms and variety shows that we have watched in class.
Live television shows today tend to sway more towards reality TV shows, award shows, sporting events, and news reports. What do we love about these episodes? We love the unpredictable outcomes that could happen. For example, we can look at American Idol. The viewers seriously do not know what is going to happen. We see a performer come on stage for their piece and we like knowing that there is a chance that our least favorite could completely mess up and ruin their chances of winning.
According to Boddy’s article, what we love about live television is the fact that it “bridges the gap instantly and unites the individual at home with the event afar,” “the viewer has a chance to be in two places at once,” and “the sense of immediacy” among many other things. We, as humans, love the ability to be busy and know everything that is happening around us. The more we can achieve, the better.
What I also think is interesting about today’s television is that we watch shows and at the beginning it says, “This episode was filmed in front of a live studio audience.” Why do they do this? I think it could be that we feel like we’re more connected to the show. We can relate more to the reactions of the audience members and it makes it seem more personal knowing that it is not a laugh track but actual human beings laughing at what they are seeing in front of them.
During the beginning years of television, I believe that Live Performances were the primary format because it was the easiest way in which to broadcast shows. They didn’t have the proper technology in which to present these shows as we do today. Think about the fact that in order to just be able to watch a recording of an episode, they had to use the kinescope technique. If it was that much work just to record a live episode, I cannot imagine how hard it would be to produce prerecorded episodes.
As people watch live television, they get excited because they are among the very first to watch the show which we have been waiting for months or even longer time. In addition, since people are watching the same program at the same time, they can discuss funny things happened through Twitter, Facebook and text messages during the show, which actually bring people together and make connections. Furthermore, there is always something to expect for the live television show due to its realness. If the performers make any mistakes, a great number of people will see these on TV. Thus, for the audience, live television is entertaining and exciting to watch. However, live television also presents disadvantages. People are not able to watch shows that do not fit the viewing time of their schedule. They will miss the live show that they have been waiting for long. Moreover, live TV show challenges the performers and the TV crew because any mistakes made during the show, including forgetting the scripts or camera operating problems, could not be erased during the show. Such mistakes will reduce program’s quality.
Since there were editing requires great amount of time and labor, live television was the prevailing format during the TV’s first decades. The technology during that time also did not allow the TV to be well post-produced. Thus, live television show is relatively an easy way to present the program.
Nowadays, television develops to include a variety of programs in different genres. There are not only live TV shows, but also episodes that are well edited.
When TV first came out, one major distinction between television and movie at the time is that TV can broadcast LIVE as oppose to film’s dullness of replaying pre-recorded footages. There is just something about live television. First, at the early stage of broadcast, it is because of the technology limitation and budget that pushed live television on household. Second, it is also because of the imitation of attending a show in person for TV viewers that was so prevailing to them. Finally, anything could happen in live TV, which brings a strange dynamic to the nature of television of early stage.
However, just like its advantage, anything can happen in live television can also bring disadvantages to live television. The inconsistency of the quality of the show could bring down rating along with advertising sponsors. And with some regulation by FCC, some fines could be paid by affiliates if there are inappropriate accidents happen on live television.
Nowadays on television, live broadcast mostly happens in sporting events, award shows, news where the shows are more like events that are important to the time synchronization. Networks are always nervous about live TV shows not only because it is hard to predict the content and length of the show to schedule commercials and programs but its relative difficulty to produce and compete to taped programs on other networks in the more competitive TV environment.
Live television adds a new level of excitement to watching television. There is something thrilling about watching live television and knowing that as viewers are watching at home, the actors are performing this live. It also adds a level of suspense, knowing that if something goes wrong it will be seen by thousands and thousands of people.
ReplyDeleteThis is exciting to viewers but a great risk to performers and producers. There is a risk of something going wrong on television that will violate an FCC regulation. This has happened a few times during shows like Saturday Night Live where a guest will accidentally drop the F-bomb. Some of these violations have become infamous. For example, the Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson SuperBowl halftime show mishap in 2004. More recently, Jennifer Lawrence falling up the stairs at The Oscars in 2013. Because these huge events are broadcasted live to millions of viewers, there is no opportunity for these moments to be edited out.
I believe that live television was the prevailing format during TV's first decade because it would be too difficult to shoot and edit weekly television programs during this time. Editing on film was a very long process and would be too tedious with a weekly three-camera sitcom. Live television provided people during this time with an easy transition from going to the theatre to watching television.
Television today is now trying to push new boundaries with shooting and editing television episodes to seem like mini-movies, which is very far removed from these early live sitcoms and variety shows that we have watched in class.
Live television shows today tend to sway more towards reality TV shows, award shows, sporting events, and news reports. What do we love about these episodes? We love the unpredictable outcomes that could happen. For example, we can look at American Idol. The viewers seriously do not know what is going to happen. We see a performer come on stage for their piece and we like knowing that there is a chance that our least favorite could completely mess up and ruin their chances of winning.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Boddy’s article, what we love about live television is the fact that it “bridges the gap instantly and unites the individual at home with the event afar,” “the viewer has a chance to be in two places at once,” and “the sense of immediacy” among many other things. We, as humans, love the ability to be busy and know everything that is happening around us. The more we can achieve, the better.
What I also think is interesting about today’s television is that we watch shows and at the beginning it says, “This episode was filmed in front of a live studio audience.” Why do they do this? I think it could be that we feel like we’re more connected to the show. We can relate more to the reactions of the audience members and it makes it seem more personal knowing that it is not a laugh track but actual human beings laughing at what they are seeing in front of them.
During the beginning years of television, I believe that Live Performances were the primary format because it was the easiest way in which to broadcast shows. They didn’t have the proper technology in which to present these shows as we do today. Think about the fact that in order to just be able to watch a recording of an episode, they had to use the kinescope technique. If it was that much work just to record a live episode, I cannot imagine how hard it would be to produce prerecorded episodes.
ReplyDeleteAs people watch live television, they get excited because they are among the very first to watch the show which we have been waiting for months or even longer time. In addition, since people are watching the same program at the same time, they can discuss funny things happened through Twitter, Facebook and text messages during the show, which actually bring people together and make connections. Furthermore, there is always something to expect for the live television show due to its realness. If the performers make any mistakes, a great number of people will see these on TV. Thus, for the audience, live television is entertaining and exciting to watch. However, live television also presents disadvantages. People are not able to watch shows that do not fit the viewing time of their schedule. They will miss the live show that they have been waiting for long. Moreover, live TV show challenges the performers and the TV crew because any mistakes made during the show, including forgetting the scripts or camera operating problems, could not be erased during the show. Such mistakes will reduce program’s quality.
Since there were editing requires great amount of time and labor, live television was the prevailing format during the TV’s first decades. The technology during that time also did not allow the TV to be well post-produced. Thus, live television show is relatively an easy way to present the program.
Nowadays, television develops to include a variety of programs in different genres. There are not only live TV shows, but also episodes that are well edited.
When TV first came out, one major distinction between television and movie at the time is that TV can broadcast LIVE as oppose to film’s dullness of replaying pre-recorded footages. There is just something about live television. First, at the early stage of broadcast, it is because of the technology limitation and budget that pushed live television on household. Second, it is also because of the imitation of attending a show in person for TV viewers that was so prevailing to them. Finally, anything could happen in live TV, which brings a strange dynamic to the nature of television of early stage.
ReplyDeleteHowever, just like its advantage, anything can happen in live television can also bring disadvantages to live television. The inconsistency of the quality of the show could bring down rating along with advertising sponsors. And with some regulation by FCC, some fines could be paid by affiliates if there are inappropriate accidents happen on live television.
Nowadays on television, live broadcast mostly happens in sporting events, award shows, news where the shows are more like events that are important to the time synchronization. Networks are always nervous about live TV shows not only because it is hard to predict the content and length of the show to schedule commercials and programs but its relative difficulty to produce and compete to taped programs on other networks in the more competitive TV environment.