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The 65 Episode Rule
The 65 episode policy: Disney Deception
Written by: Royalscammer
A lot of talk has circulated about the 65 episode policy, why it is in place, what it means, who is for it and who is against it, etc... But I'm going to offer my own observations about it. When I first heard about the 65 episode policy, I was skeptical...I thought that it was a figment of someones imagination. That it didnt exist. But I know now that it DOES exist. And I can tell you my friends, this policy has effected Disney like no other. It has completely stiffled creativity and it has cost the Walt Disney Co. hundreds, if not millions of viewers and lost revenue.
How did I come to know about the 65 episode policy? Kim Possible, one of the best animated series' on TV, made me aware of this situation. As I watched the show and became aware of what was going on, I quickly learned how unfair this policy is. A show as wonderful as Kim Possible ending with just 65 episodes..and nothing more? Even when her popularity is soaring through the roof? Absurd nonsense is the thought that quickly came to my mind. What I thought was...if a show is popular and making you money, common sense tells you to keep it on TV and keep it in production. And indeed, this should be the logic behind ALL TV network's thought processes. But not Disney...they seem to think that money and profitability is more important than keeping fans and viewers happy. They dont understand that if you dont keep your viewers and fans happy, they wont watch...and you will loose money. Why Disney doenst understand this is beyond me. It's simple good customer service. Make your customers happy, and they will make you happy by buying your goods and services. Make them angry and you will loose them to your competitor.
This policy stiffles creativity. The writers of the shows dont get to explore all the storylines they could develop. With a limit..they can only come up with so many ideas, then they are told to stop. This is like someone telling you to stop driving or to stop watching TV after you have had so many hours of it. Would you do that? My guess is probably not, and if that is your answer...then i know beyond the shadow of a doubt the writers feel the same way. Dont stiffle us, dont give us a limit...let us explore all of our story ideas without limitations. Give us the creative freedom we deserve to do this. THATS what the writers would say...and thats what they deserve. Creative freedom.
Why kill a show off when so many watch it! So I knew that Disney was playing a real stupid game here...killing off their most popular shows..and not giving them a chance to grow and thrive. Absurd nonsense indeed. The shows that have less or even no popularity it is easy to understand why they would have a short life span. Shows such as Dave the Barbarian, Brandy and Mr. Whiskers, and this new one, The Buzz on Maggie, can be easily understood why they would get such a short lifespan. The plots are not very well developed, the characters are very forgettable, and the animation leaves A LOT to be desired. But shows like Kim Possible, Gargoyles, Ducktails, and others of high quality are dumped for what I call a "merry go round" schedule, bringing on shows that not even your local PBS station would even air. Disney seems to be ignoring quality standards here. They seem to be putting on shows just to fill a time slot...to use up airwaves. Quality seems to be very low on their list of top priorities. And when a quality show, like Kim Possible, does come along (which is once in a blue moon) they STILL kill it after 65. They dont care about how many are watching, they dont care how much it makes them money in merchandise sales........they just end it after 65. THEY JUST DONT CARE.
And that is why it is up to us to change Disney's way of thinking. We need to make them understand that quality DOES matter, what is produced DOES matter. Just putting something on the air just to fill a time slot is NOT a good way of conducting policy. Disney needs to consider what is and what should never be put on the air. They should let RATINGS tell the story, not some stupid assinine policy. The fans, the viewers, the customers...DO matter. For if it werent for us, Disney would not exist. Shows that are popular and shows that have a large fanbase, SHOULD be kept on the air and in production. NOT ended at 65 shows. Stop limiting the writers and creators creativity. Let them and us, the fans, decide when a shows run has legitimately ended.
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