As if Hollywood’s fixation with horror and aliens wasn’t enough, this fall when you switch the television on, be ready for an overdose of these two themes.
From NBC’s
Surface to CBS’
Threshold to ABC’s
Invasion, all harp on aliens, the only difference being the location – Pacific in the first case, Atlantic and the Everglades in the second and third respectively.
As far as horror is concerned, the plate is full with ABC's
Night Stalker, CBS'
Ghost Whisperer and WB's
Supernatural, all trying to cash in on the success of
Lost.
“
Lost has changed the climate for shows that don't answer all your questions by the end of every episode,” says Shaun Cassidy, executive producer of
Invasion.
Agrees
Threshold executive producer David Goyer, “There have been lots of great shows that have complicated mythologies. It didn't seem to hurt
The X-Files, and it doesn't seem to be hurting
Lost,” he says.
According to NBC’s Kevin Reilly, the horror genre, be it from aliens or spooks, ‘is tricky, but when it hits, it can hit huge: Lord of the Rings’. “When you get crossover people, then you can really break out,” he says.
Of course, fear spurred by terrorist attacks and natural calamities always helps increase the viewer ratings of fear-inducing shows. “Historically, when people have been scared and nervous, there's been an uptick in science fantasy horror. You're telling allegorical tales and shining a light back on society,” says CBS’ Goyer.
But the chances of flopping always loom large, unlike family dramas that always find some takers. “I think there is a danger, when shows succeed, that people start to try to pick them apart and find out the secret to them. And the fact is that a lot of it is lightning in a bottle. It is the combination of a multitude of a elements,” says Stephen McPherson, who heads programming on ABC.
“People make the mistake of saying, ‘
Lost is a sci-fi show so we'll do sci-fi rip-offs’. At the heart of
Lost is great character work. That's what people come back to television for: characters,” he adds.
However, those who aren’t so happy about the invasion (pun unintended) of fear into the TV room still have
Desperate Housewives,
My Name Is Earl,
Everybody Hates Chris ,
Kitchen Confidential,
How I Met Your Mother to turn to for laughs.
Prison Break, Bones and Reunion are thrillers that keep good old adrenalin rushing and The Apprentice and Three Wishes, among a host of not-so-real TV shows, are good for some positive reality bytes. All in all, a frightening season coming up.
