All the Small Details

      You really gotta work your ass off to be a fan of television and not know this scene. I hadn't watched the show until very recently and even I know about the backwards speaking little person, the dancing that played out over the credits. It was an instant cultural landmark. This scene would have jarred minds today. That much can be seen in American Horror Story's runaway success (Even if not as good as Twin Peaks, it displays the same obsession with absurdity and tonal clashing.) But back in 1990, this scene pretty much dropped bricks in every single set of pants sitting in front of an ABC television. So why's it so damn distinctive?
      Part of why it's such a punch is everything came before it. The show has a predilection to using red, you can practically see it somewhere in every scene. Put this scene marks the absolute apex of that hue domination with some absolutely gorgeous and conscious production design. Everything in this scene is red. Everything that isn't red is in some way or another clashing with it, highlighting the red even more. This essentially punches the viewer in the face and demands their attention and, god damn, did they get it.
      Other notable moments. All the shots are perfectly off, static and full of needless headroom. Everyone's just somewhat off kilter in the shot. Then, for the content of the shots. Cooper's aged make up looks really bad but in a very interesting and subversive way. The way the light tinkles on his makeup is kinda creepier than if the make up was any good.
      And finally, the little guy talks backwards. And... It's just so much. I still can't quite wrap my brain around it.
      Overall, I think this scene's a perfect teacher of tonal crafting. You can see how much effort and planning went into crafting this environment and just how much you can get out of pre-planning and environment crafting.

CBS Launches Online Streaming Service

That's right, you heard me. CBS is the first broadcast network to create a stand-alone streaming option for viewers.

It's been a good week for television fans. On Wednesday, HBO announced that their streaming service will be available to people without their pay-TV subscription starting 2015. On Thursday, CBS announced CBS All Access, a new streaming device for $5.99 a month that includes current and previous programming. That's right, kids. You no longer have an excuse to not watch The Good Wife.

“CBS All Access is another key step in the company’s long-standing strategy of monetizing our local and national content in the ways that viewers want it,” CBS President and CEO Leslie Moonves said in a statement. “This new subscription service will deliver the most of CBS to our biggest fans while being additive to the overall ecosystem. Across the board, we continue to capitalize on technological advances that help consumers engage with our world-class programming, and we look forward to serving our viewers in this new and exciting way.”

This is huge, because CBS is the largest broadcast network. The Big Bang Theory, one of CBS's programs, was the most watched television show of last season, and had more than 18 million tune in for the Season 8 premiere last month. CBS All Access will also include special programming, like the Grammy Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards, and the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. There will be ads for current programming, although commercials will run between 9-12 minutes, as opposed to the 12-16 minutes of advertisement on television. Another big plus is that previous programming, like Twin Peaks (which seriously all of you need to watch if you haven't already), will not have advertisements.

My only complaint is that CBS All Access will not include the NFL games. Hopefully they add those one day. Speaking of adding onto the service, CBS All Access will initially only be available in major cities, including New York City and Los Angeles, of course. The network, however, said it plans to expand.