Subject: Re: Feb 18 episode From: ewm@caen.engin.umich.edu (Ernst W Mayer) Date: 1991-02-18, 13:10 Newsgroups: alt.tv.twin-peaks In article <1991Feb18.175627.25229@watserv1.waterloo.edu>, alternat@watserv1.waterloo.edu (Ann Hodgins) writes: |> The main effect this last episode had on me was to whet my |> appetite for more. Hopefully, Ontario's Global network will not |> waste the 6 episodes that have already been filmed and will show |> them, starting March 2. |> |> I want to know what happened to Josie. I want to see more of Windom |> Earle. I want to meet Norma's sister, the nun from another place and |> time. I want to find out what the owls are. I want to catch Bob or at |> least find out where he comes from. Want all of the above? Then write a letter! I've copied the one I wrote to Robert Iger at ABC below. The \'s and {} stuff are there because I was using the LaTeX document preparation system, those of you who have it on your system but haven't used it to write a letter can simply copy the stuff between the ------ lines into a file called, say, letter.tex, insert your own address and text, and type "latex letter.tex" and whatever commands your local system uses to convert the resulting file to postscript form and print that sucker. In any case, write ABC and Lynch/Frost a letter today (don't blame Lynch/Frost for the cancellation, just tell them how much you liked the show and some postings to the net, if you like) if you want to see TP return to television! ---------------- \documentstyle[12pt]{letter} \textheight=9.5in \textwidth=6.5in \oddsidemargin=0in \evensidemargin=0in \headheight=0in \headsep=0in \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \begin{letter}{Robert Iger\\ Entertainment President\\ ABC\\ 2040 Avenue of the Stars\\ Century City, CA 90067} \address{Ernst W. Mayer\\ 2155 Cram Place, Apt. 7\\ Ann Arbor, MI 48105\\ Ph: (313) 763-3280 (office)\\ \ \ \ \ \ \ (313) 763-6819 (home)} \signature{\parbox{10cm}{Ernst W. Mayer}} \opening{Dear Mr. Iger,} I was surprised and disappointed by ABC's recent announcement to the effect that the show {\sl Twin Peaks} is being shelved until further notice. Having watched and thoroughly enjoyed {\sl Twin Peaks} since its initial broadcast last year, I have trouble understand the reasoning behind this decision. I know that the ratings for the show have slipped quite a bit since the Laura Palmer thread was (for the most part) resolved, but there are, in my opinion, a number of good reasons not to discontinue the show. Foremost among these is the fact that {\sl Twin Peaks'} regular audience, although it may be small, is extremely loyal and very actively involved in the plot, direction and casting of the show. Moreover, this audience is not just a bunch of dreamy abolecents who dress up as their favorite characters and dream of getting the actors' autographs at conventions and so forth. I belong to a computer network newsgroup (a sort of international electronic bulletin board) dedicated to {\sl Twin Peaks}, and the postings to this newsgroup indicate a very well-educated, interested audience for the show, many of whom you've no doubt heard from as I write this. Many of these people have indicated that {\sl Twin Peaks} is about the only reason they have these days for watching network television, and I put myself in this category, too. For people such as us, ABC's decision only reinforces the general impression that the networks are committed to banal, trite, mindless programming, with audience share according to A. C. Nielsen \& Co. (and hence profitability) being the only barometer by which to measure a show. This is short-sighted and a grave mistake. For one, the Nielsen ratings have no good way to measure audience loyalty. The type of people who watch {\sl Twin Peaks} may not be as numerous as the {\sl Doogie Howser} crowd, but they are generally better educated, and better informed (read: well-heeled, if you like,) which should have some pull with advertisers. Secondly, poor ratings in many cases are, in good part, a result of bad decisions by the networks regarding the broadcast time of shows. In my opinion (and this was voiced by several people I know and dozens in the above-mentioned newsgroup,) moving {\sl Twin Peaks} to Saturday nights was a poor decision. Most of these people still watched the show, but often videotapedit while they were out (Saturday nights having mysteriously become a sort of social occasion in our society in the past year) and watched it later. This also allowed them the luxury of fast-forwarding through the commercials, something that advertisers don't like to hear about. The general opinion is that {\sl Twin Peaks} would have maintained much better ratings had it been left on weekday evenings. Thirdly, a show like {\sl Twin Peaks} has influence beyond its audience share because it is one of the very few shows on network television which is truly original and willing to take some creative risks. The networks airing those shows have something to point to, a sort of creative feather in their corporate cap if you will, upon which to base an argument that they are committed to quality programming. Finally, ABC and the other networks should be especially careful these days in their decisions about which shows to cancel because they are no longer the only game in town. I'm sure I don't need to go into any detail with you about steadily shrinking audience shares, jittery advertisers and the growing influence of cable television, except to say that the cancellation of shows such as {\sl Twin Peaks} is probably the main reason for the ``flight away from the big three'' in the past decade. If people can't get it at your place, they don't have to do without anymore --- they'll simply go someplace else. If, in addition, they feel that their intelligence has been insulted, they won't be back. I urge you to reconsider this decision, and to put {\sl Twin Peaks} back on the air soon. If copies of any or all of the postings to the above newsgroup ({\sl alt.tv.twin-peaks}) will help convince you of the high level of interest that {\sl Twin Peaks} has generated, please let me know. I can arrange to have the information sent to you. \closing{Regards,} \end{letter} \end{document} ---------- *--Ernst W. Mayer - GSRA, Aerospace Engineering/Applied Mathematics-* | The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. | | Internet: ewm@caen.engin.umich.edu, ewm@math.lsa.umich.edu | | FishNet : salmon.swim.upstream@spawning.time :-o ? ;->...:-) ! | | .. .. | *----"Was nicht totet, hartet." - F. Nietzsche----------------------*