Thoughts on Webseries

Went to El Cid last night to view webisodes.  Paid $8, watched a couple.  A thoughts on all this new stuff...the internet, webisodes, Amazon, Netflix, yada, yada...

On webseries - basically, these are an experimental area for comedy.  A companion to the stand-up circuit.  Dramas do not play well on micro budget, but comedies don't inherently suffer.  Downside of webseries is the same as the stand-up circuit, you gotta wade through a lot of crap to find the good stuff.

On Amazon and Netflix, etc making TV shows - I don't understand why people are excited about this development.  It's just tv.  It's different players getting involved with the tv landscape.  Can they make and select better shows that the networks and cable channels?  Maybe, but I wouldn't bet on it.  Just judging by Amazon using this voting tactic to select shows and to make movies -- I can't think of a worse way to make original, interesting, lasting content.

Regarding House of Cards, I wasn't a fan of the show, but it was regarded well critically.  But Netflix paid through the nose to get a prestige show.  Big deal.  Anyone can overspend and hire A-list people.  We'll see if it lasts.

But...as a content creator it certainly is a better time than 8 years ago when the reality landscape seemed to be taking over TV.  Now TV is back and the web is turning itself more and more into TV.