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| When approaching the Mistress of the Dark, don't let the gargoyle bite off your toes! |
I never cease to be fascinated by what captures and holds
our interest. Take police procedurals,
for example. These TV shows, featuring
heroes who safeguard our neighborhoods, appeal to a large portion of the
viewing audience. They consistently
score high in the rankings. Yet, unless
they are extraordinary in some way (such as “Miami Vice,” for example), they
are typically forgotten. Even the best
are regarded as disposable items. Who
needs yesterday’s cop show, when you can watch the current version?
Sci-fi, Fantasy and Horror shows usually score lower, and
appeal to a narrower portion of the viewership.
Yet something in them excites and inspires viewers in a way that more mainstream
programming doesn’t. You’ll find far
more clubs, forums, and conventions held for these shows than you will for
police procedurals, dramas, or comedies.
When was the last time you attended a “Miami Vice” convention, belonged
to a Ricardo Tubbs fan club, or purchased any related merchandise? And forget “Hunter,” the series I’ve been
watching lately. Why should anyone care
about “Hunter?” It was just another cop
show, right?
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| Bounce an Elvira check today, and you'll pay for it for eternity. |
At Stan Lee’s Comikaze, an area of the main floor was
devoted to Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.
Examples of the many collectibles produced over the years were on
display. Two game stations had
been set up so attendees could try out the latest Elvira video game. People waited in line to approach Elvira,
on her Victorian settee, and pay for her autograph. Fans continue to seek out her books, videos,
and a plethora of licensed products.
In the last post, I wrote about the connection Elvira forged
with me. It’s obvious I was merely one
among many. “Elvira’s Movie Macabre,” a
pleasant weekend comedy-horror show, with a likeable hostess, started on a
small, independent TV station in Los Angeles and became a national phenomenon. The police procedural “Hunter,” on the other
hand, started on network TV, was seen by more people, and lasted far longer in
its initial series run. But who wants
more “Hunter?” How many even remember
“Hunter?” What do people want? Who continues to fascinate children of all
ages? Who continues to win new fans,
provoke discussion, and sell related merchandise? Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. That’s who.
That’s the power of Sci-fi, Fantasy, and yes, even
Horror. (Now, if someone could just
explain this to the TV executives who consistently cancel these popular and enduring shows)!
Dragon Dave
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