Following on from the Bonanza Channel, here's a new channel for your perusal: DMAX, located on Sky channel 155 and Virgin channel 197.
I only noticed it because <DEEP BREATH>they're showing Airwolf every day at 3am, 8am, 1pm, 7pm. OMG! OMG! OMG!</DEEP BREATH>, although they're showing it out of order (but tune in folks, season one started again today).
But I have no idea who it's aimed at (following our discussion of Dave) and whether its marketing spiel makes the slightest bit of sense.
Consider its tag line – 'Everyday heroes' – and hateful marketing mission statement:
DMAX, straight-up entertainment 24-hours a day. With compelling drama, action adventure and ground-breaking documentaries, DMAX is a feast of entertainment packed with extraordinary characters you will want to see over and over again.
Yet, now consider its extended marketing hate:
DMAX's on-screen heroes offer a whole new take on reality TV. These are everyday heroes whose real lives make fascinating and compelling viewing. They are cops, mechanics, sailors and squaddies, people who aren't afraid of taking the knocks or getting their hands dirty.
From the fearless fishermen out to land the Deadliest Catch to the body beautifiers of Miami Ink, from the battling bike-builders in American Chopper to the multi award-winning cops of NYPD Blue, these are heroes to believe in.
How exactly are tattooists 'everyday heroes'? Airwolf was many things, but reality TV? I think not? NYPD Blue? Not drastically realistic, but getting there, I admit, but still not reality TV. Their extended marketing spiel directly contradicts the initial marketing hate. What a schizo channel.
Clearly, this is all marketing lies, designed as a 'beard' for men who just want to watch action shows and documentaries about manly men, but who don't want to admit it.
How big do you reckon this demographic is? Or are you just going to be tuning in to watch the documentary about fishermen? Or Airwolf?
February 4, 2008 | Reply
Airwolf? Its a definite case of what you remember over the reality. I caught the ep the other day where string fellow Hawk had to fight the 2nd Airwolf. Except.. it was the same one .. with red tape down the side. It was so poor it ached! I seem to remember watching Hawk play the cello thinking (at 12) how deep.. now I think.. how naff!
Some series get better with age (Blakes 7, Ulysses, Survivors) some get worse.. this is the later!
February 5, 2008 | Reply
Well Retro is back, guys. Just look at the sales of all the season Box Sets that have come out in the past two years and how folks are buying all those old shows left, right and centre. And you know, some of them are still pretty damn good (catch the 1st Season 'espedair'!) on reflection with our cynical grown-up eyes.
There's such a resurgence of interest in 80s shows such as Airwolf, so much so that they've even just released the official Airwolf 2CD Soundtrack, 'Airwolf Themes' for digital downloads last month (it's available on Apple iTunes Store, Pinnacle-Digital.com, Napster and others -- details from www.airwolfthemes.com).
But the biggest interest currently is with the brand new, re-imagined Knight Rider, which is airing its two-hour Pilot TV Movie in mid-February 2008, so will be interesting if it makes it to a full series. A lot of folks have their wish now of "Bring Back The 80s!" ;) Hear Hear say I!
February 5, 2008 | Reply
I second surgefilter on the whole season one thing. The network bosses started messing around with the show with the second season, asking for it to be more family friendly (hence the arrival of Caitlin). By the third season, Donald Bellisario had left because of all the interference, resulting in episode like 'Airwolf II', which is the one you saw. Not as bad as the Canadian-made fourth season, but still pretty awful (how can the mighty war helicopter Airwolf help some disabled kids out in the desert? Seriously, that was a plotline). Season one, though, was pure, unfiltered, cold-war spy stories. Which was cool. And yes, I have the box set - and so should you.
The Knight Rider movie looks like it could be arse. Still, you're never far away from a repeat of the original on Five or Bravo.
Not sure DMAX is a retro channel though. Bar Airwolf and NYPD Blue, it's all modern reality/documentary shows.
February 5, 2008 | Reply
There's such a resurgence of interest in 80s shows such as Airwolf, so much so that they've even just released the official Airwolf 2CD Soundtrack, 'Airwolf Themes' for digital downloads last month (it's available on Apple iTunes Store, Pinnacle-Digital.com, Napster and others -- details from www.airwolfthemes.com).
But those are cover versions (Sylvester Levay's bonus disc notwithstanding)! And while the Knight Rider movie probably will be crap, it can't possibly be worse than Knight Rider 2000 or Team Knight Rider - and come on, nothing with Will Arnett's involvement can be completely worthless.
February 5, 2008 | Reply
I quite liked Knight Rider 2000: not exactly brilliant, but it was a decent try at something different.
On the other hand, the new movie could easily be worse than Knight Rider 2010, even if that did have Hudson Leick in it.