TVSquad

[via Adfreak]

It seems that more and more cable networks want to get into the drama game. FX has certainly been on a roll with it. TNT and Brenda Leigh Johnson have shown that they know drama. And that whole Mad Men deal they have running over at AMC is a winner. The folks at Spike TV have made runs at it before, with Blade and The Kill Point, but it just never really caught on. Despite those attempts, the network is largely regarded as the Maxim of cable.

Well, they're trying it again. The network has ordered a two hour pilot, and this time the subject matter is the Irish mob. After the boss leaves his position, a battle commences for control of the streets. The interesting twist to the story isn't on the screen though, it's behind the scenes. The show is being produced by Dana White. Those of you that have ever even mistakenly clicked by Spike have probably seen his work. As the president of the UFC, White is responsible for approximately 87 percent of Spike's programming at the moment, or so it often seems. Needless to say, the success they've had with the UFC has given him some freedom with the network.

With our ever expanding channel lineups it is getting harder and harder for a new show, especially one tucked away on cable with no big name stars attached, to get noticed. Seeing a network release a show online before the premiere isn't new, but seeing one release a pilot on P2P networks with no DRM is a bit more original. And that is just what the folks over at Spike have done with their new show, Factory.

The network has made the show available on its website, at downloadable video stores like iTunes, and in working with the Jun group, on P2P networks. Although my first reaction at the mention of Limewire was surprise that people are still using Limewire, I do agree with their thinking behind the move. Todd Ames, marketing VP at Spike, said they went with the P2P as an acknowledgment of "what people are really doing, and the way consumers are really looking for content." He also notes that there are no plans to make any additional episodes available that way, but it's a step in the right direction that they are paying attention to the viewers.

Hey, check it out! A show got renewed for another season. The Hollywood Reporter says Spike TV gave the go-ahead for another ten episode batch of its fun MANswers late-night series. The show answers those questions that men think about but that may not be socially acceptable to actually ask around real live people. Then through re-enactments, one-on-one interviews and other methods they find the answers. It's slickly produced and actually does answer some interesting questions, but I'm a guy. Maybe women think all the questions are stupid. They probably are. They're GUY questions!

I know, I know: 69% of you are saying, "what the heck is The Kill Point?" (50% of you might even be saying, "what the heck is Spike?" I call those people "women.")

Spike has canceled the Donnie Wahlberg drama after only one season. The show actually got decent ratings, especially among guys of a certain age, but the network has decided to go crazy on reality shows instead of investing in original, scripted programming. A spokesman for the network gave this quote: "We are out of the serialized one-hour business. We need programming that we can repeat." Oh, I'm sure TV fans are gritting their teeth over that one.