Jack Cleveland
Second Unit
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2005
- Messages
- 330
In college, I was a Radio, Television and Film major at the University of Maryland. I took a course in 1983 called Television Programming. We simulated three television seasons. Some of the class were networks, some advertisiers, and some television producers. We sold the shows to the networks, who then got advertisers to back the show. A mock TV Guide was created, listing the network shows airing against each other, and students on campus were asked to say which programs they would watch. Ratings were compiled from this survey, and shows were either cancelled or renewed based on the response of the "sample" audience.
I was a TV producer in the simulation, and created a show for Lucy. The premise? Lucy is living in a retirement village, sharing an apartment with Eve Arden. Gale Gordon played the mayor of the "village", and was Lucy's constant foil. Granted, in many ways it was the standard Lucy sitcom, but the retirement village gave it a "Golden Girls" feel, which would have allowed her to branch off into new territory. Teaming her with Eve Arden as her co-star a-la Vivian Vance gave her a partner.
Interestingly, the show debuted in the mock second season and did well enough to be renewed for a sophomore season. Remember, these were college kids that reviewed the TV guide and took the survey. The show performed well both seasons, and would have been renewed for a third season if the simulation had continued.
It is interesting to play the "what if" game... And it is a shame that "Life with Lucy" was the disapointment that it was. A fresh spin really could have made the difference. The college kids in 1983 seemed to take to it.
I was a TV producer in the simulation, and created a show for Lucy. The premise? Lucy is living in a retirement village, sharing an apartment with Eve Arden. Gale Gordon played the mayor of the "village", and was Lucy's constant foil. Granted, in many ways it was the standard Lucy sitcom, but the retirement village gave it a "Golden Girls" feel, which would have allowed her to branch off into new territory. Teaming her with Eve Arden as her co-star a-la Vivian Vance gave her a partner.
Interestingly, the show debuted in the mock second season and did well enough to be renewed for a sophomore season. Remember, these were college kids that reviewed the TV guide and took the survey. The show performed well both seasons, and would have been renewed for a third season if the simulation had continued.
It is interesting to play the "what if" game... And it is a shame that "Life with Lucy" was the disapointment that it was. A fresh spin really could have made the difference. The college kids in 1983 seemed to take to it.