David Chase, the creative force behind HBO’s series, The Sopranos, has sounded a somber note regarding the state of contemporary television. In a recent interview with The Times, he expressed his concern, suggesting that “something is dying,” particularly taking aim at streaming services. As HBO’s The Sopranos marks its 25th anniversary, David Chase views the occasion not as a cause for celebration but as “a funeral” for the industry, harkening back to the varied quality of television when his series debuted in 1999.
Reflecting on the past 25 years as a golden age for television, David Chase noted significant changes in recent years that have fundamentally altered how audiences consume media. He bemoaned the rise of a general audience inability to maintain focus, leading to the creation of content that doesn’t demand too much attention or make too much sense. David Chase remarked, “We’re going back to where we were,” predicting the inclusion of commercials on streaming platforms like Prime Video.
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David Chase shared an anecdote about his recent attempt to pitch a TV drama centred around an escort, only to be met with resistance and the directive to “dumb it down.” This experience underscores his belief that the industry is regressing creatively, mirroring the artistic pitfalls of the late 1990s when networks often compromised the essence of a show during development meetings.
Acknowledging the transformation of the TV industry since the late ’90s, David Chase didn’t shy away from criticising the artistic challenges of that era, stating, “Back then, the networks were in an artistic pit. A shithole. The process was repulsive.” Despite the difficulties, HBO’s The Sopranos emerged as a groundbreaking series, disrupting the industry and reshaping the landscape.
Following the conclusion of HBO’s The Sopranos in 2007, Chase resisted any inclination to return to its world, even after the release of the prequel, Many Saints of Newark, in 2021. He categorically stated in a recent interview, “No. The prequel was it,” closing the door on any potential future ventures within The Sopranos universe.
In a separate part of the interview, David Chase responded to the interviewer’s mention of HBO’s Succession as an example of smart and sophisticated TV. He countered by emphasising that the show was greenlit many years ago, reinforcing his belief that the industry is witnessing a decline rather than continued progress in quality storytelling.
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Overlooked by David Chase though is the dumbing down of America (and many other Western countries) as a result of massive demographic changes over the last 25 years, which inevitably led to a dumbing down of the TV audience studio’s are catering to. Chase also failed to mention the severe constraints on creativity when producers has to be careful not to upset some lunatic fringe group in the name of political correctness.
In David Chase’s candid words, “So, it is a funeral. Something is dying.”
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