(no subject)

[sekritomg]

So my first thought is, are they going to actually script these 10 ahead or time? Or are they not going to sleep for 10 weeks in a row now?

“Why did we do seven and seven to begin with?” Mr. Stone said.

Because according to you guys making each in under a week was really fucking hard?


ETA: “We want to keep ‘South Park’ going for a long time to come, and given what is going on in television, I don’t think it matters as much how many episodes you have,” Mr. Stone said.

Well, that's nice, I guess. I suppose I take some comfort in the idea that they could drop SP if they wanted and seem disinterested in doing so.

Comments

[formerdinosaur.livejournal.com]

It just sounded like a good number, and we won’t break up the year so we can more easily do other stuff.

I feel like they still care about South Park, but it's moving into a place of nostalgia/obligation for them rather than excitement, whereas they're excited about this other stuff that they are actively freeing up time for. :/// However, if they tried a different writing style, I would appreciate that. Stuff that they've obviously been working on longer, at least in the idea stages, is always better than a whole episode devoted to a joke about everyone drinking Butters' come, even if we do get to see Clyde's tits in the process.

But that is what I will miss and what makes me angry as an entitled fandomer - 14 opportunities to learn something about the minor characters that I only care about in a fandom sense, and to see this get developed in fan art and maybe even fanfic - it's like, 4 fewer opportunities to discover some stupid little character deal that I like, and I'm really bummed about that.

[sekrit-omg.livejournal.com]

>> 4 fewer opportunities to discover some stupid little character deal

You're right about that, of course, and I hadn't really considered that yet and I do find it very sad! I guess I'm just hoping that shaking up the structure of the show (which they've done before, just not recently) will cause some kind of shift in the writing or the approach they take to episodes. It's completely possible for them to make good on that 10-episode run and tell some kind of story, while still incorporating a certain amount of topicality. Or decide to refocus the storytelling on character development, or something. I seriously don't think they will -- but then, I also sort of thought the reason why they stuck to that six-day schedule when they seemed to really find it difficult was just because they'd been doing it like that. But they're totally capable of changing that, so -- ugh, we'll see. I guess my biggest concern, fandom-wise, is that 10 months between runs is a lot, and offers plenty of time for people to forget what they liked about the show while it's off the air. Of course, that game should be out soonish ... gotta buy my Xbox in March I guess...

[formerdinosaur.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, is it seriously coming out in March? I thought it had been delayed by all that bankruptcy stuff.

They seemed to hate the six day schedule, and I suspect it contributed to the 50/50 split on whether episodes were great and rewatchable or the kind of thing you don't need/want to see more than once.

[sekrit-omg.livejournal.com]

Oof, I dunno, I guess maybe it's been delayed past March? I seriously don't know. It's kind of making me antsy! I want to buy this Xbobx, but this is the only game I actually want to play on it.

That six-day schedule is fucking terrible. I can think of times when it led to legendary absurdity (crab people, obviously), but often it just seems like an excuse to not have to think rationally about how to write a story.

[formerdinosaur.livejournal.com]

Holy shit, apparently it comes out on March 5! I think I heard '2013' last year and was like 'ohh, that's about five years away...' or something. I've actually pre-ordered the game, but yeah, need to acquire an xBox.

it just seems like an excuse to not have to think rationally about how to write a story.

Agree - and when they actually take the time to plan stuff out, like the two-parter about Stan's depression and Cartman Finds Love, it's so much better.

[kyley-b.livejournal.com]

Ugh, that last statement is the only thing that really gives me even a shred of hope.

I kind of share Holly's feeling about it seeming more like nostalgia/obligation for them. It makes me really sad. Maybe they will try to do something different and plan ahead, because yeah, they could barely pull off seven weeks in a row. They're going to have to change something, and hopefully it's for the better.

[sekrit-omg.livejournal.com]

I mean, it might also just be that they love money? Because seriously, every six days each of them basically gets a direct deposit of like, $2 million.

(NB, I didn't actually do the math but it's absurd.)

[kyley-b.livejournal.com]

Ugggggghhhh. I have to believe they still love these babies, even if it hasn't felt like it lately. I mean, with The Book of Mormon being as successful as it is, do they really need $2 million a week? (Don't answer that, like, literally.)

Also, I'm in the middle of writing you a giant email. Get ready.

[sekrit-omg.livejournal.com]

I mean, I think they treat the characters with a real kind of investment, so to speak. Otherwise, why do storylines about Stan being sad, Cartman killing his stuffed animals, etc.? My best guess is that they're of two minds, one where they hate themselves for continuing to do the show because it's been 20 fucking years and what the hell? But then they also probably can't stand to not have SP to go to, like, it's an anchor or something. I dunno. Most people have complicated feelings.

I'm always ready for giant e-mails.