In the Loop - Issue 2

[Michael]

Editor's Say

It's been two weeks since the first issue and now we're back with the latest news and reviews. Take a look back at the season with an interview with the two leading men, PIFN President yankeesrj12 and MBN President Jay. As we're nearing the close of this season, there are plenty of season finales on the way. Check out our review of Dynasty, the season finale of which is on Wednesday. Check it out and enjoy reading the magazine!

Contents
Editor's Say
Interview (PIFN President Yankeesrj12, MBN President Jay)
Blunt and Upfronts
Review: Dynasty - Season Finale
Did you know...? (Divergent Point)
Letters to the Editor
Conclusion

Interview (PIFN President Yankeesrj12, MBN President Jay)

With the 2009-2010 season nearly finished, I had an exclusive chat with the Network Directors. Yankeesrj12 is the president of PIFN while Jay is the president of MBN. These networks have done extremely well all season and before we begin, I'd like to say on behalf of everyone that you have both done an immensely amazing job at keeping everything running as smoothly as you could!

Michael: What's been the easiest decision for you as President?
Jay (MBN): This one is easy. Keeping "Falling With Style" on the schedule (sometimes more than once a week).
Yankeesrj12 (PIFN): Renewing Divergent Point. The series has done very well since the beginning, so a renewal was a very easy decision.

Michael: What's been the hardest decision?
Jay: I can't pick just one, so I will go with the broad answer of scheduling. I have tried to have a relatively stable schedule throughout my tenure, so balancing that mandate while trying to find homes for series that will give them the best chance for success is a delicate balancing act, at best.
Yankeesrj12: Cancelling Dr. Heart. With a limited amount of series, cancelling an hour long show is always a hard decision in my opinion.

Michael: What's been your favourite show from your network?
Jay: I'm more of a comedy person myself, even though I do love a good drama (ironically, I actually have only one 'real' network comedy I make a point of catching on a weekly basis), so I would have to say it's a close race - too close to call, really - between "College" and "Being Average". However, in the interest of diplomacy, I support all the series on MBN.
Yankeesrj12: Black Tarmac. I have been in love with the show from the very beginning, and there is always so much suspense. Divergent Point and Notorious are at a very close second.

Michael: What's been your least favourite show from your network?
Jay: I would have to go with "House Rules". Personally, I'm not a fan of the behind-the-scenes political drama genre, but I felt like the series had a good premise - focusing on a group of freshman lawmakers. "House Rules" is one of those ideas that looks good on paper, but doesn't necessarily translate into reality.
Yankeesrj12: The Online Life. The show has been at the bottom of my list from the very beginning, but we still decided to bring it back.

Michael: Jay, you're leaving as MBN President next season. What advice would you give to the next MBN President?
Jay: Don't be afraid to think outside the box. MBN had an April Fool's Day prank about splitting the hour-long "Falling With Style" into two half-hour installments. Obviously, it was a joke and probably wouldn't work, but don't be afraid to 'throw things against the wall to see what sticks' as they say.

Michael: Yankeesrj12, what type of shows are you looking for next season?
Yankeesrj12: For next season, we will be looking for comedies. With Rosie, Life Happens, and a few other comedies already out for next season, we have a very low supply of comedies. Honestly, I think we only have two comedies for next season at this point.

Michael: If you were in charge of the rival network, what would you change and why?
Jay: I actually wouldn't change much at PIFN, their success this season speaks for itself. Sure, they've had their trouble spots, just like MBN has had, but for the most part, their leadership has done a good job this year.
Yankeesrj12: In charge of other network - If I was in charge of MBN, I would air early encores of Falling with Style on another night. Sure you don't want the series to get tired, but I think starting from the early episodes, and airing them on Wednesdays or Fridays would add a spark to the night. Other than that, I think MBN is in pretty good shape.

Michael: Pitching season will begin shortly for next season, what advice would you give to the next generation of show writers?
Jay: This is really simple: keep it simple. My advice is don't get weighed down by too many series. Instead, concentrate on just one or two good ideas. Personally, I would rather have one or two good ideas than half a dozen 'okay' ideas. When a writer starts to spread him/herself too thin, the quality of their work will suffer, which in turn will affect the success of the game. Sometimes, less is more.
Yankeesrj12: If I could give advice to the next generation of writers, I would tell them to prepare for their show ahead of time. You may think you have the greatest show in development, but when you start writing, you have nothing. If you write a few episodes before pitching the series, I think you have a better understanding of which direction the show will go in.

Thank you Jay and Yankeesrj12 for the interview and giving us a good first season!

Blunt and Upfronts

PIFN and MBN recently announced which shows they were cancelling and renewing. Many top TV shows were renewed immediately. MBN renewed Falling with Style and Dynasty for a full season. Hardly a surprise. PIFN were also reluctant to hand out full season renewals with only Gated Community and Divergent Point renewed for more than 20 episodes. Other shows to recieve a 13 episode renewal include PIFN's Notorious, Black Tarmac and You've Got The Wrong Man with possible extensions later in the new season.

It wasn't all good news with many shows cancelled, including MBN's comedy Temps and PIFN's Rosie and Life Happens. Comedies seem to be disappearing fast for next season. Will there be plenty of laughs in time for next season? It may be an idea to pitchers to come up with the more funny side of television but those who prefer their dramas to their comedies shouldn't be put off.

On top of this, some harsh realities resurfaced recently. Rumours that a rift had started within the ranks have so far not been confirmed but In the Loop can announce that Pelican Cove, the Killer series and Mega Dodgeball, were cancelled by PIFN's director, yankeesrj12. Walter, writer of these series, was unavailable to comment. It's unknown what will happen with PIFN, who had a lot of their schedule filled with these shows.

Despite all the backstage drama, the show goes on, as they say and Summer Schedules have been announced. MBN appears to be in the lead with their summer schedule, announcing five new dramas, including spin offs of Dynasty (South Beach) and Greatest Day (XYZ Dance). So far, PIFN appear to have no new dramas that have already been used this season but new episodes appear to be popular. PIFN director, yankeesrj12, said: "I am excited with how our schedule is shaping up for the fall. We made our Wednesday schedule as strong as possible to show viewers that the night is still very important to us. Our strong August schedule will allow us to easily promote our new shows to our viewers."

In the first issue of In the Loop, we announced that Jay was stepping down as MBN President. We can now reveal that Fifty is the new MBN President. Fifty is the writer of many popular dramas, including Black Tarmac and Greatest Day, and one of the founders of MBN when it first started. Adrian Chales, a 42-year-old sales consultant from Michigan, has revealed he won $10,000 dollars after Fifty was announced as the odds-on favourite to become the new MBN President.

For more information on renewals and cancellations, click here (PIFN) and here (MBN).

Review: Dynasty - Season Finale

With the season nearly over, there are plenty of season finales coming up and this week's Dynasty is no different. With a special 2 hours finale (Wednesday 9pm and 10pm), Dynasty doesn't do things by halves. Recently, Dynasty has suffered from a lack of viewers on a Wednesday night (something that might have to do with the controversial Daddy's Little Princess, which also ends this week, so if you've stopped watching because of that, come back the week after!). This means that MBN are hoping that the season finale will pull in the viewers.

It's not just a 'season finale' that pulls in the viewers; it's the story as well and boy, it manages it here as many storylines that have been building up come to a conclusion. Plenty of questions are answered throughout the finale but a lot more also emerge, resulting in a nail-biting finale. Will Kyrstina recover? What will happen to Regina? Will Alexis finally become a senator?

Overall, the series finale is well written, providing answers but also making more questions for a new season. Characterization is clear, easy to understand but doesn't fall into a cliché. The question is, will it go out with a bang or end with a whimper? Find out by tuning in on Wednesday!

Did you know...? (Divergent Point)

Two of the names of the main characters are nods to real people JOHN SAXON became JON SAXON for Divergent Point. The real JOHN SAXON is a great actor that A.C, the writer of Divergent Point, loves who said, "He's good in anything he does be it Nightmare on Elm Street to Falcon Crest to being the guy who buried Nick Stokes in a coffin for Taranteina CSI episode. Wish we saw more of him."

CLAIRE YANG....the villanous physician is based on a woman accountant A.C worked with....lovely looking on the outside but with a very mean streak inside. Claire Yang has become his GO TO villain in different works of fiction he has wrote.

Letters to the Editor

I hope we get a third network next season - Walter

I hope the Dynasty finale is up to par with the first half of the season because lately it's been boring - Walter
Note from the Editor: Read our review, it's jam packed with excitement!

The first issue of In the Loop was a real insight into the hard work that the writers and presidents go through every day. I'd like to use this letter to say thank you to all the writers, who have given me enjoyable series to watch. Some of them would be amazing to see on real TV. - James, Texas

The finale of Falling with Style had everything: Love, tension, drama. Amazing. The interview with the show's writer, Smooty, was also brilliant. I'm a bigger fan than ever before and I'm biting my fingernails in wait for the next season! - Suzie, Florida

If you'd like your views to be displayed in the magazine, feel free to send me a Private Message! It's guaranteed a place!

Conclusion

Feel free to give feedback by replying to the thread or sending me a Private Message. I hope you enjoyed Issue 2 of In the Loop. The next issue will be here 2 days after the season ends, Sunday 30th May. We'll bring you all the latest news from up to that point!

Thanks for reading,
Michael - In the Loop Editor.

[Manar]

That was a good read. I loved the interview with the networks presidents.

Good work, Michael.

[A.C.]

Enjoyed reading issue 2...great interviews with the Net Presidents.

I'm sure there was some good behind the scenes stuff involving the sudden end of Pelican Cove, Killers and previously risen from the dead Mega Dodgeball...wish that story could have made it in.