from the TV Barn archives
Click here to return to the home page.

Copyright this

by John Zipperer

One might think that a country as hyper market-oriented as the United States would have sounder trademark and copyright laws than it does. But then, one might think the same thing about patent laws, but Amazon.com's successful attempts to patent business practices have disillusioned more than a few. The fact is, people who enjoy "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" or "Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles" so much that they write stories based on the characters or paint/draw/sculpt scenes from the series--and then want to share those creations with other fans--are at the mercy of studios jealous to protect their copyrighted material. And if one critic is right, it's more than just a little fan idealism that's getting tramped on.

In an intriguing online article, Henry Jenkins, director of the Program in Comparative Media Studies at MIT, charges that our culture is being stolen from us by the attempts by media corporations to fully control their creations. With every move by studios to shut down "Buffy" or other SF TV fan Web sites, the creative fans are denied an opportunity to participate in the popular culture. "These fans are also shock troops in a struggle that will define the digital age," writes Jenkins. These efforts to make people act like well-behaved consumers makes enjoying a science fiction tale about as joyful as a visit to your Grandma who's been collecting glass figurines for a few too-many years; there are many things you can look at but not touch. Behave.

(continued)

"Schimmel": From dessert topping to floor wax

Just call me Carnac. After TV Barn declared Robert Schimmel's eponymous sitcom on Fox one of the worst pilots shown at last week's upfront presentations, the network abruptly yanked "Schimmel" off its fall lineup. Into the vacated 8:30 p.m. Wednesday time period goes the John Goodman sitcom "Don't Ask." A "Malcolm in the Middle" repeat will lead off the evening. The Schimmel project will return midseason, or not.

The ostensible reason given for the change is that "Schimmel" show runner Mike Scully was having trouble juggling his duties on that show and "The Simpsons," which he will also run next season. Scully told Variety that he requested the delay after realizing over the weekend that he was "insane" to take on both shows at once.

But I seriously doubt that Scully's time management would have been an issue had the "Schimmel" pilot not been such a groan-worthy dud. Though Schimmel can be brilliant when allowed to work "raw," the 3-minute preview for "Schimmel" was both inoffensive and unfunny. Not helping matters, Schimmel mugged uncomfortably for the camera in every scene.

Pick to click

When has personal embarrassment or regard for his viewers' taste ever stopped Canadian funnyman Tom Green? Bear that rhetorical question in mind before you tune in "The Tom Green Cancer Special" (10 p.m., MTV)

The Pepsi pitchman and star of the new stupid-human-tricks movie "Road Trip" was recently treated for testicular cancer. Naturally, he brought the cameras along for his treatment sessions. MTV promises that some scenes in tonight's special will be "outrageously weird." In other words, look for Green to be his normal self.

Also tonight: Gore defender Al Franken and former Nixon aide Ben Stein purport to square off in a wiseacre version of ``Crossfire'' on "Turn Ben Stein On" (10 p.m., Comedy Central).

On this date...

in 1999, the WB network airs the finales of two of its longer-running shows. While "Sister, Sister's" Jackee Harry prepares for her wedding, and "Unhappily Ever After's" daughter Tiffany heads to Harvard, things are not so bright for Bobcat Goldthwaite's talking stuffed rabbit in "Le Morte D'Floppy." -- Tom Heald

Previously at TV Barn:

On the wires:

 

Copyright © 1999-2001 Aaron Barnhart | Back to TV Barn home