I just finished watching Harper’s Island on Hulu. If you’re not aware, it ran on CBS this past spring and summer for 13 bone-chilling, spine-tingling installments. Actually, it wasn’t very scary, but the premise was admirable, if not altogether original. It had a very Screamish feel to it, minus the wild popularity. Poor ratings aside, I still think more series like Harper’s Island should be considered by the “big” networks. Why? Variety is the spice of life, or so I’ve heard.
The big four networks concentrate on three types of hour-long programming: medical dramas, police/law procedurals, and reality TV. Personally, I’m sick and tired of the same old retreads. An impromptu plastic pen tracheotomy on ER is no different than one on Trauma, or Private Practice, or Grey’s Anatomy, or HawthoRNe. An interrogation scene on a Law and Order incarnation is the same as one on a CSI incarnation. And whether it’s singing, dancing, or surviving, all reality-based contest shows utilize a cookie-cutter format.
A couple horror/mystery series sprinkled here and there might help extract a failing net like NBC from its prolonged slump, if it was marketed correctly. Supernatural and True Blood have cultivated rabid fan bases and solid ratings for the CW and HBO, respectively. Granted, both the CW and HBO don’t face the same censorship restrictions as the majors, but Harper’s Island featured a high degree of blood and gore, so the “we can’t get away with that” excuse is weak.
Horror movies have remained a fixture at the local multiplex for decades. In fact, two cash cow horror franchises are set to release their latest chapters in theaters this week: Halloween II, and The Final Destination. The 2007 Halloween grossed over $80 million, while the first three Destination flicks hauled in over $320 million worldwide. Someone’s seeing these movies besides teenyboppers.
What’s the problem then? If a movie corporation studio can pump out countless Jason and Freddy Krueger sequels, why can’t ABC or FOX manufacture a credible horror series? Sorry, soapy shit like Ghost Whisperer doesn’t count. Unfortunately, since Harper’s Island was a ratings albatross, I seriously doubt the big boys will roll the dice again any time soon.
Maybe I’m alone in my desire for terror television. It could be that horror is better suited for a seventy-foot widescreen inside a dark theater. Or perhaps it just plays better on channels like the CW, HBO, and Syfy. Tell me what you think. Are the networks dropping the ball, or have I gone completely insane?
Clacked by Scott Tunstall 
on Aug 25, 2009 @ 15:00 EST5EDT
How about:
https://lifelesstheseries.com/
You’re not alone in wanting more horror on TV. I enjoyed Harper’s Island and I was always a sucker for Twilight Zone, Tales from the Crypt and late-night scariness. Hell, I even watch Ghost Hunters to get my scare on.
I guess mine will be the sole “No” vote. I ended up being disappointed with Harper’s, specifically because it shifted more from the murder mystery it started (and was advertised as) into a more “horror-esque” story.
I liked Harper’s Island and I think that if a show is marketed correctly with good actors and a solid plot that grips your attention, the big networks should pick it up. It isn’t bad to experiment with things like that and see what works and what doesn’t. Harper’s Island didn’t work for CBS but the other networks should try anyway.