Shows being pushed to their limits?

[boldfire]

This is something I've been wondering over the past few weeks of watching Rev3 shows. All of the shows (imo) that I watch are still great but they seem to be either getting shorter, repetitive or just plain out of ideas.

I've noticed this especially with Systm and Tekzilla, they are both fun to watch and interesting but they do seem to be getting to the point where they are "just doing it".

In regards to Systm, I thought this week was very very fun but people in the forum did not - one went so far as to unsubscribe and some of the more recent projects have either failed, didn't finish or were not very 'systmy' at all.

And for Tekzilla it's obvious that the show is only as good as the questions asked, which of recent weeks have often become pretty simple google search, instant answer type questions.

Once again, I really like these shows but I think maybe it's time to rejig things a bit and put a bit more momentum into it. I think perhaps Systm could do with a month off to fully develop succesfull ideas and Tekzilla could do more reviews, tech news and a more detailed "website we just cant get enough of" or "on the prowl" kind of segment where a couple of sites and programs are covered.

Keep doing what you're doing, it's working! I'm just throwing out a couple of ideas to help keep it fresh.

(Ps: another show which is getting shorter is Diggnation)

[bigshotprof]

Kind of makes you have a little more grudging respect for people like Regis Philbin who have been doing the same thing for a million years.

[alaskalonewolf]

shorter, repetitive...

Systm and Tekzilla are fitting into that category with alarming regularity.

...or just plain out of ideas.

...with the rest of the shows coming disasterously
close to this hallmark of death.

...to the point where they are "just doing it".

Diggnation seems like it's getting to be a chore, neither of our
illustrious heros seem to be interested in anymore. Especially
after watching the ho-hum episode of Alex mid-hangover...
...sh!t man, I wanna see them mid-drunkenness, not the next day,
sheesh. I could look in the mirror if I wanted to see a hangover.
I know what you mean, it seems like at this point the only show
that seems fresh and interesting is Hak5 these days, and continously
keeps me interested. I mean, if they wanted people to watch
"The Digg Reel" they should embed it into the Digg Frontpage
when it comes out each week. Of course, that would fit into
the category of shameless self-promotion. Maybe it's just me, but
I am starting to get a little worried at this point.

[samureye]

Meh, I like to roll with the punches. It's not easy doing what they're doing and I don't get tech video content anywhere else so I will deal with it. They need more people to work on the teams though.

[secret-steve-crumbles]

If I were Kevin, I'd be considering pulling a Seinfeld and selling while they are worth the most.

Nothing has really replaced inDigita, or theBroken.

CTRL-ALT-CHICKEN was REALLY fun to watch.

Instead we get the most noob show on this planet (tekzilla) and Systm, which just consists of Patrick reading a "really neat article" he printed off of wikipedia for 30 minutes.

Lame. Sell or get better shows.

[alaskalonewolf]

Oh, but that's da thing about 'teh Brokn' though,
you put up ah show 'bout how to make thermite
an' there's 10,000 fires in California for the next
decade. Put up a show on how to hack an ATM
and suddenly we're in a recession. It would be kewl,
but it's just too risky to actually show people how
to go around causing mayhem. We've got enough
of that going on in the world already. e.g., WWIII (http://www.wired.com/politics/security/magazine/15-09/ff_estonia)

[boldfire]

It's not easy doing what they're doing and I don't get tech video content anywhere else so I will deal with it.
No, absolutely. I'm just giving a couple of ideas from reading the boards and personal feelings on some of the output.

What they are doing is great, for me there's no doubting that but with everything there are ways to improve and they should be embraced.

[alaskalonewolf]

....I agree, embraced, unexpectantly dipped deeply, and passionately kissed.

[darknessgp]

...
And for Tekzilla it's obvious that the show is only as good as the questions asked, which of recent weeks have often become pretty simple google search, instant answer type questions.

Once again, I really like these shows but I think maybe it's time to rejig things a bit and put a bit more momentum into it. I think perhaps Systm could do with a month off to fully develop succesfull ideas and Tekzilla could do more reviews, tech news and a more detailed "website we just cant get enough of" or "on the prowl" kind of segment where a couple of sites and programs are covered.
...

I agree with everything except the argument that Tekzilla is only as good as the questions. Because, they pick which questions to use, maybe they are skipping over some really good questions. and because, like you suggested, the whole show doesn't have to be all about questions. I truly enjoyed Tekzilla up until the last few months. I've just stopped watching, because it was basic information.

I want to see them handle a bit more in depth stuff, do reviews and even handle a few of these easy questions really quick. Also, I'd like to see them manage video questions better. We don't need an intro to the video and the video for a very basic question. If the answer is longer than the video and setup for the video, there is an issue. Hell, I'd say even if it was only 1.5 times as long there is an issue.

[boldfire]

I guess that's a pretty valid argument. I was going on the assumption that Tekzilla only have a limited range of basic questions asked each week, but for all we know they have more advanced questions.

Perhaps the 'newbie' questions (most of the time) is because they've gained an audience in this market... then again, maybe it's just because it's easier.

What I will say is that when Kevin and Alex talked about answering silly questions in the letmegooglethatforyou.com story I thought they were describing Tekzilla pretty well.

[alaskalonewolf]

I... want to see them handle a bit more in depth stuff... there is an issue. Hell, I'd say even if it was only 1.5 times as long there is an issue.


No doubt. It's why I started watching Hak5, and went
so far as going all the way back and reviewing all their
episodes once again. It's like TekZilla has more Zzzzzz's
these past few weeks.

[boldfire]

Do you think a reason could be because Tekzilla and Systm are both (almost) the same teams and they have to split their time between two shows, both of which are becoming a bit lackluster as a result?

When you consider the team has 2 weekly shows they actually do a fantastic job but perhaps if someone else takes over the running of one of the shows more time can go into both of them and have better content as a result. But like somebody mentioned this is probably because of lack of qualified people who are as awesome at what they do as Roger + co.

[alaskalonewolf]

I think it might have something to do with the fact
that money is tight, their workload is huge, and the
shows are in need of a new fresh batch of content.

[matsie]

Do you think a reason could be because Tekzilla and Systm are both (almost) the same teams and they have to split their time between two shows, both of which are becoming a bit lackluster as a result?

When you consider the team has 2 weekly shows they actually do a fantastic job but perhaps if someone else takes over the running of one of the shows more time can go into both of them and have better content as a result. But like somebody mentioned this is probably because of lack of qualified people who are as awesome at what they do as Roger + co.

I've always felt that Systm and Tekzilla should really be combined. I think one issue that Rev3 has is instead of diversifying their content, they choose to take a few ideas and spread them around several shows. That's basically writing a death letter to your shows. By adding variety segments into a show, you make it easier to grow and mature them.

Let's say Tekzilla and Systm were combined and they had a really big project. Then they would have to answer less questions and save some good ones for the following week. Or if the project was a small one, they could answer more questions or poohaps add interviews with tech important people.

I love Tekzilla and Systm and what I'm saying isn't out of dislike for either show.

[comhcinc]

Question: is it the shows that are some how weaking or is it your own bored setting in?

[matsie]

Question: is it the shows that are some how weaking or is it your own bored setting in?

It's not my boredom because I don't watch the shows often enough to be bored by them. Yes, they are weakening from being too narrow of a niche. Niche marketing and programming is great, but you have to find that sweet spot within the niche.

[secret-steve-crumbles]

Question: is it the shows that are some how weaking or is it your own bored setting in?
I don't think it's my boredom. inDigital was great all the way through. Never got bored with that.

I still enjoy watching thebroken episodes today.

I agree matsie on this one. It seems like they are trying to get more and more shows for advertising purposes, when in reality, they only have one great show spread out to about 20.

[boldfire]

I also must clarify it's not out of boredom for me, they still are good enough to watch. But content wise look back on inDigital and the first Tekzilla and Systm episodes. The formats and content are drastically different.

Systm did sucessful projects I would actually want to recreate (Blue Peter effect for anybody in UK?) and Tekzilla did little bits like how to properly record videos which I still remember watching and use some of the tips!

The only recent question in Tekzilla that I can remember is the sock headphones, and that's because it was different.

[mebe]

I agree with op. Some stuff seem really thrown together.

[heyseuss]

Kind of makes you have a little more grudging respect for people like Regis Philbin who have been doing the same thing for a million years.

Nope. I'd rathr get 5 mins of substantial content, than an hour of Regis.

[heyseuss]

Also, I'd like to see them manage video questions better. We don't need an intro to the video and the video for a very basic question. If the answer is longer than the video and setup for the video, there is an issue. Hell, I'd say even if it was only 1.5 times as long there is an issue.

That doesn't make any sense.

[skyz]

Niche marketing and programming is great, but you have to find that sweet spot within the niche.

i think matsie is spot on

it is difficult to be sparkling and brilliant all the time (the shows)

and with pretty much anything it is easy for the original intense thrill to wane (the viewers)

[bigshotprof]

Nope. I'd rathr get 5 mins of substantial content, than an hour of Regis.

Me too, but the point is he has lasted like fifty years because people tune in to see HIM and it doesn't really matter what he is doing. Good tv is personality driven. you watch the people do what they do whatever they do. (of course that is a huge generalization)

[heyseuss]

Me too, but the point is he has lasted like fifty years because people tune in to see HIM and it doesn't really matter what he is doing.

Contradictory.

Good tv is personality driven. you watch the people do what they do whatever they do. (of course that is a huge generalization)

I know what you're saying, not trying to be argumentative, but tpeople also like Carlos Mencia.

[darknessgp]

That doesn't make any sense.

I'll try to clarify, I think they spend too much time getting to the question when it is in video format than they should be for some questions. They introduce the person on the video and then run the video, when it would have taken a lot less time to just say his question themselves. This is most annoying when the answer to the question is short. I just think that they should try not to show videos unless the answer is going to be long enough to warrant that setup, and I don't think that an answer that is 1.5 times the question length would warrant that.

[heyseuss]

I'll try to clarify, I think they spend too much time getting to the question when it is in video format than they should be for some questions. They introduce the person on the video and then run the video, when it would have taken a lot less time to just say his question themselves. This is most annoying when the answer to the question is short. I just think that they should try not to show videos unless the answer is going to be long enough to warrant that setup, and I don't think that an answer that is 1.5 times the question length would warrant that.

Yeh, that's what I thought, but you fucked up and said it backwards. I couldn't understand why you would want short answers.