Subject: Re: Twin Peaks Ratings
From: keane@cars.rutgers.edu (John Keane)
Date: 1990-10-12, 12:26
Newsgroups: alt.tv.twin-peaks

Much as I personally love it, I am not optimistic about the long-term
prospects for TP.  I believe that the approach that Lynch/Frost have
taken in the plotline of the show (hordes of complex characters,
multitudes of subplots, little concession to first-time viewers in
terms of plot recaps) discourages new viewers from joining the series.

I have tried to interest a number of friends, who I know to possess
the sort of warped minds that would appreciate the show, into watching
with me, and without exception none has become a regular viewer.  I
have offered to let them review first-season shows (sort of a
"Remedial TP"), but no one has taken me up on the offer.  I think that
the show demands a certain level of involvement from the viewer, and
if you haven't been in on it all along, catching up is very daunting.
Even attempting a verbal summary of the key points of the show so far
would take an hour or two.

I wouldn't want Lynch/Frost to change a thing.  (Well not in regards
to this, anyway :-)  However, I suspect that the attrition of
continuing viewers will exceed the number of new viewers, and result
in a steadily declining audience.  The continuing slipping of the
show's ratings would suggest that this is happening.

I would rather see a satisfactory conclusion to the open questions
introduced so far, than an attempt to make the show "more accessible"
by watering it down.