You would think that but a lot of shows that supposedly push the edge only create the illusion of doing so, don't get me wrong, an AMC or an FX are outliers but there needs to be potential of broad appeal and a show about street life in Brooklyn or whatever has no mass appeal as it is and would need to be reworked in one way or another and that process is lengthy. I sat at the meetings, and I've gone to bat for a lot of screenwriters who didn't make it in my time.
Yeah, but that's two different things.
Yes this show won't appeal to the mainstream....but that doesn't mean TV is safe and "middle of the road" any more.
And I'm not even talking about cable. NBC has "Hannibal" which is one of the most critically acclaimed shows on TV and it's about a murderous cannibal serial killer. That would've never happened 15-20 years ago. Hell, on NBC it wouldn't have happened 5 years ago.
Pre-"Sopranos" I could
kinda understand what you're saying....but TV is currently the leading platform for writers and directors....which is why you have everyone from Rian Johnson to David Fincher directing TV....it's why you have McConaughey and Lawrence Fishburne acting in series.
Fred.