One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Network Desperation Starting To Set In
As Reuters mentioned yesterday, CBS is going to broadcast the entire first season of Dexter starting in February. The network is also considering borrowing Weeds from its sister network Showtime. Other networks are considering similar reshuffling of shows from their cable-only partners.
It took me a day or so (I know I'm slow) to dwell on this. Initially I was very pleased that more people will have the opportunity to see this gem of a show. Dexter is one of the best things that has appeared on TV in half a decade and the fact that it was on a pay-only network, and Showtime at that, in the shadow of HBO's The Sopranos and The Wire, meant that it was kind of boutique-y and had limited reach, so more people seeing this is better right?? The problem is that this is a series about a serial killer and it's very graphic, bloody, with plenty of language, and some nudity to boot. While TBS might be able to fudge around certain things with Sex and the City since it is also relegated to the cable spectrum, I have the sinking feeling that entire chunks of plot, dialog, and beautiful cinematography are going to end up on the proverbial editing room floor in order for an episode to make it onto CBS. Some episodes in season one are particularly horrific so does that mean CBS will turn Dexter into a 1/2 hour sitcom with the remaining airable footage?
I'm all for more people seeing Dexter but is more exposure better for art if more of the art is censored?
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
