Written in the Stars

“What TV show would you like to write an episode for?”

I’ve never wanted to write for TV, except for an occasional “Jeopardy” topic line, and Patty beat me to that one on Monday!

Now, to direct one or more, yes. How many times I have seen a show and thought, “They should have done that line better”.

But I digress.

I get caught up in characters and stories. If they don’t appeal to me, I don’t watch them. It’s that easy.

Back in the olden days when we had few stations, (no cable, no tapes/CVDs, etc.), and we pretty much took what we could get, I was less discerning, I will admit. If you had a new show, to be put on just before or just after a ‘hit’ show were dream-spots, almost guaranteeing you a big audience. People were loath to bother to change stations and were creatures of habit.  Many good shows were sent to, (or started out in), a bad evening slot and were history in a very short time.

But now we have nearly unlimited choices. Even without pay-per-view or Netflix DVDs by mail, there are many, many shows I had not seen that I can pick up on Amazon Prime and Netflix streaming.

I have revisited old favorites, often while multitasking.

I have run through all of the major Star Trek series, (the true ones), “Original” to “Enterprise”, and have only skipped a few.  (When I wrote this early and had no idea if anyone here was a Star Trek fan, I panicked when I saw Wednesday Fox Elaine’s post about Star Trek, but at least a now know that I have others who will understand this post; I feared than none would.)

I would take it on to make a few amendments and fix a few inconsistencies.

When we sit to relax late at night, lately we have been finishing up “Voyager”. I could do without two characters there and frankly, I am upset that the caring, probable romance between the captain and her first officer was blown off and given to one of the throw-aways. It made no sense, so, yeah, I’d rewrite that.

I’d certainly rewrite most of the Original Star Trek stories. You had to enjoy the characters, but goodness, the stories were generally pathetic. I can only think of about half a dozen that I truly enjoyed, (story-wise.)

I’d redo the end of Deep Space Nine; I still can’t make sense of it.

“Enterprise” had an entertaining ending, but they rehashed an old “Next Generation” episode into it, which cause me to shake my head.

And the ‘Cause-and-Effect’ ending of ST:TNG was supposed to be, what? ‘Deep’? Hardly.

And I would put in more episodes with Jeffrey Combs. He guest starred in many episodes, in many of the series, as many characters, (sometimes within an episode), but in  “Enterprise’ as “Shran” and especially “Deep Space 9” as “Weyune” he shone.  I have watched,(without blinking), the DS9 episode “Treachery, Faith and the Great River”  many times. He plays a dual role and it is one of the best pieces of television work ever.

Without him, though, a “Star Trek: Next Generation” episode “Yesterday’s Enterprise” has been hailed as worthy to be called a movie, it is THAT good.

For Heaven’s sake, I’d certainly make sure that the shuttlecrafts were far less accessible and the bay doors were more secure! And those people needed to quit questioning and just throw those shields up already!

(If you are not a Star Trek fan, I apologize; I am sure that you are completely lost.)

As for others series, well, Dexter? You have to be a bit warped like me to enjoy it, but that was also a head-shaking, head-scratching ending, however, I am not sure that I could come up with a story there..

The Husband has often been pre-Treking with an episode of The Addams Family. There aren’t many, which is too bad. Even though The Husband has been known to call me “Morticia”, I’m not sure that I could do them justice. However, I would like to write more episodes, if I could only have a time machine and get Jackie Coogan, Ted Cassidy, and Carolyn Jones back, and to have John Astin again in his prime. I liked the show as a kid, but I can now truly appreciate all the subtleties and acting by the lot of them.  If you haven’t seen it as an adult, you might take a look. A famous psychologist said that they were the best example of a family on TV.
I can see that.

The adults were caring and loved their children unconditionally. The parents loved each other and no one ever tore another family member down. They supported and encouraged each other in a blended and extended family.

How many series can you say that about? (Go ahead and think; I’ll wait.)

As for other endings, if you ever saw what they did to Game of Thrones, well, heads should roll. As long as they went that far, they should have done a better job. They blew the budget and airtime on those stinking dragons. I’d love to get my hands on that last season.

What is out now? I could not tell you. I cut the cable years ago and although I picked up a few either at the network’s site or through few short subscriptions, (like HBO for GoT, after I got hooked binging the first couple of seasons to see what all the noise was about).

I don’t know what is going on, literally.

Supernatural is ending. I did not see last season, I don’t know if I will finish. It lost much over. Relatives tried to get me to watch and it took me years. The first few years they were fantastic, but they changed their philosophy and execution along the way; I think they plain stayed too long at the game, (as have so many other series), but I would like to help them get their old selves back.

Do you have any thoughts on my choices?
Any more come to mind?

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