Recycled Lightbulbs

3 Channels, 3 things to watch

100's of channels, at most maybe 10 things to watch

There are seemingly no truly new ideas in TV, just a mish mash of others, blending a well known formula with a smaller market idea to seem new.

This is coming from the premiere of Glee on British TV - all the reviews claim it is High School Musical just with a choir over the drama club, and american rules (football) over basketball.


Friday Night Lights, a staple book for fans of american rules, giving insight into small town, high pressure football, first became a film, detailing mainly the football side of the book. Later a TV series arrived (now up to series 4), which took some artistic liberties, by using the whole concept of the small town, but changing names, places, and some happenings.

The big draw of FNL [TV] is that it can engage non-american rules fans, as the gridiron action is not the focal point. The relationships that make the characters are deepened, exploring some of the issues that may affect viewers, looking at the pressures of being the star player, the no-name back ups, the balancing act of a job you love, and the risks it brings.


Sounds fairly like what seems to be occurring in Glee (this may be completely wrong as I am only 2 episodes in) but look at the following parallels - that only scratch the surface

Coach Taylor can't have a baby, faced with the fear of losing job
Mr Schuester is coping with the idea of having a baby, and having to leave his job to support family

Star Quarterback gets injured, and tries to find a place to fit that isn't the field
Star Quarterback tries to find a place to be himself, which isn't as the QB


Is this the future?
Merge two different ideas, to try and get a winner, that seems original due to pulling from at least one small name concept