Currently one of my favorite shows is Forever Knight, a Canadian produced show about an 800 year old vampire who becomes a Toronto homicide detective in order to pay back society for his crimes. It stars Geraint Wyn Davies, Nigel Bennet and Catherine Disher. It was originally shown on Crime Time after Prime Time on CBS. That idea folded and it was canceled but eventually returned for another season on syndicated television. This season it has been picked up by the USA network. Several of the cast members didn't return this year and the flavor of the show has changed slightly. As one of my friends put it, Forever Knight decided to join in an intellectual merger with Babe Watch.

The intended result, I think, was probably to increase the viewer demographics in that "young male of working age and disposable cash" grouping. The number of shots of women in low cut tops increased overall (the vampire bar was remodeled to become a vampire bar and strip joint) and a young blonde was added as Nick Knight's new partner. I should add that they did add a young guy but they're not showing him in low cut tops so I don't think that's quite fair.

I suppose the show is only doing what the producers think will raise the ratings. I do wonder who they think their audience is. The Forever Knight discussion list and fiction list seem predominately female. I realize that this may not be representative of everyone watching the show but it certainly is a very supportive group. I suppose they don't spend enough money to qualify as a desirable demographic... Obviously the 'powers that be' have never seen a feeding frenzy at a con. Let's talk major cash exchange.

I wonder what the changes in the show would have been like if the producers had decided to go after the female fan demographic. Instead of scantily clad women gyrating around there'd be vampires in black, leather liederhosen. Oh, and to take care of the "lovers of cute knees" demographic there'd be the Scottish vampires in kilts. Instead of these young women gyrating on table tops at the bar there'd be the "All Undead Chippendale Review". That should increase the ratings with females of all ages substantially. And let's face it, this is what 'the powers that be' would do cause they're basically clueless in a big way about what I think we'd really prefer.

I'll make a generalization here and say that most women prefer continuing story lines, character development and personal conflict in their shows. Sure a little bit of violence and the good old "suck his blood out till he's a dried up husk" is always good but it's the continuing characters and problems that bring people back week after week. (Okay, it's also having some cast members that make you thump.) So, if the 'powers that be' wanted to really increase their audience the new, young, female partner would suddenly develop a weight problem that we'd follow across several episodes, starting with her first startling discovery of cellulite on her upper right thigh. Nick Knight would be assigned an undercover job as a transvestite that models Victoria's Secret garments and is forced to get in touch with his feminine side. The new young, male vampire, Vachon, decides to buy a motorcycle and ride around just in leather pants and an open leather jacket. He's a vampire, its not like he'd get cold! And if all that doesn't kick up the female ratings, Nick Knight and his master vampire, Lacroix, who are in perpetual conflict, would decide to try one last time to resolve their differences and take a trip to Disneyland.

All right, probably nobody but me would like the last show idea but hey, I'd love to see what they'd do to that annoying mouse.