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TV Worth Watching's First Reader Quiz: How Much Is "Sex" Worth?
My next column for Broadcasting & Cable magazine, to be published Monday, is all about what I call "made-from-TV movies," pegged to this weekend's release of the big-screen Sex and the City film and, three weeks later, the Get Smart remake. I offered my prediction about how much Sex would earn at the box-office on its opening weekend -- but here at TV Worth Watching, I'm very curious about yours...
My very unscientific formula was based upon such factors as the average audience of 6.1 million viewers for the original 1998-2004 HBO TV series, DVD sales for the lavish box sets, the four-year lag between series finale and movie sequel, and the fact that my daughter Kristin, who just graduated from law school, is taking precious, otherwise hoarded time from studying for her boards to gather some girlfriends and see the movie on opening night, with pre-purchased tickets.
I won't reveal my own guess here. Having my B & C column already edited and on the way to print is the equivalent of sealing my prediction in a well-guarded envelope. It'll be public record Monday morning -- as will the box-office grosses for the first weekend of Sex and the City.
But what's your guess? Let's play by The Price Is Right rules -- closest amount, without going over, is declared the winner. So if the first-weekend total is $50 million, a prediction of $45 million would beat out a $51 million guess, even though the latter is closer. And since all the comments will be posted, you can check out prior bids before making your own -- or stake a claim quickly. Only comments posted before noon ET Friday will be counted, so sneaky people can't check out the lines at their local theaters.
If you're greedy enough to ask "What do I win?," the answer is, not much. But if you guess correctly, and especially if you outguess me, then I guess I can rummage through my pile of old TV crap and come up with something suitable to send as a prize. So what do you think? Will Sex and the City be the next Iron Man? Or the next Speed Racer?
Oh, and Kristin -- if you're reading this, you can play, too. I just won't send you anything if you win...
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Behind David in the picture is the first TV owned by his father, Virgil Bianculli, a 1946 Raytheon. (The TV, not his father. His father was a 1923 Italian.)
David Bianculli has been a TV critic since 1975, including a 14-year stint at the New York Daily News, and sees no reason to stop now. Currently, he's TV critic for NPR's Fresh Air, occasional substitute host for that show's Terry Gross, and teaches TV and film history at New Jersey's Rowan University. His most recent book is 2009's Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story of 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,' and he's at work on another.
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$87 million is my guess
I'm guessing $65 million
$57 million... I imagine that it could be higher, but I feel like the economic crunch is going to take the wind out of 'em. Good luck on your boards Kristin!
$93 million
$35 mil.
Speed Racer DUD. Dudes will not see this movie.
$35 Million - Indiana Jones is still around... (And so is Brooks, who posted the identical guess about 45 minutes before you did. Change your guess, if you'd like, or else you two will have to split whatever meager prize I unearth from my basement floor. -- David B.)
82 mil
Rats! $35 million had that 'feel' to it. Okay, I'll yield to $33 million....I'm a little worried about what might be under the basement floor however...
if baby mama can do 18 million then sex has to at least double that and then some. the theater here in los angeles has 5 midnight screenings... 4 of which are already sold out. all the friday and sat. screenings after 2pm are sold out. everything else is close to being sold out. it's really strange. so i'm guessing... 48 million.
$73 million... all my peers can't wait - and the male significant others are coming along - some begrudgingly, some not!
Price Is Right rules? Then I'll guess $1. (Very, very funny. And, just maybe, very, very clever. -- David B.)
$63 million
Wanted to say a quick two things before I place my bet. First, to Chris Collins -- thanks for the support!! Second, to my dad -- I love you so much I thought I'd take a few minutes from my otherwise hoarded bar prep time to partake in this, even if I can't win anything!
Okay, so while I'm completely biased since I adore the show soooo much and think it will do wonderfully, given that we're playing by "price is right" rules, I'd like to bet $1.00 please dad (to increase my chances of winning a non-existent prize).
If that's not a good enough bet, then I optimistically say $90 M. I just know it will be absof-ckinglutely fabulous!
(sorry daddy, I know it's corny but I had to write that...) (Kristin, sorry to say that you got beaten to the punch, by minutes, on the $1 trick, so you're down for $90 million. And for anyone else reading and wondering -- I'm certain her "abso..." phrase is a direct reference to a Mr. Big line of dialogue from the pilot. She knows this show cold, though others may not, and I don't want anyone getting the wrong impression. -- David B., or in this case, Dad)
$53 Million (Chris -- You're the winner! I'll contact you by email so you can choose and claim your prize! -- David B.)
I'll guess $49 million, but will not be one of those ticket buyers. Loved the show, but hate crowds and have to work the weekend anyway. One day next week I'll go and see if all the hype was worth it.
$47M
($1M for each year of my so-called life)
I'm guessing $111 million. Probably too high... In NYC they were asking guys on the street if they rather be shot or forced by their girl friends to see SATC. My favorite reply was by a guy who said he'd rather be taser gunned.
95 Million domestic
165 Million Worldwide (I'm going to assume you meant in the U.S. but just in case)
There's a ton of hype on this one for months and months.
Since "The City" is NYC, I'll guess $77 Million. (Those with an old transistor radio and a long memory can guess why.)
If I win, you can keep the "prize" and instead interview me for Fresh Air, in one of those "end of show" slots that the local stations always preempt for their pledge breaks.
$48 million
I guess $37 million. I also predict a lot of waiting for the DVD.
Let's go with $38 million.
$475 million--I don't want your prize. Hah! (Made me laugh! Hah right back! -- David B.)
My guess: 62 million domestic, this weekend.
98 million (You just made the deadline! Good luck. -- David B.)
You may have done this in the past (and if you have, please post a link to the story), but are sequels to a successful series mostly a bad idea?
Looking at a list of the top-rated scripted series of the past 25-30 years, have any sequels (if they were made) really worked.
And why was there no sequel to some of the best series ever--e.g., "MASH" ("AfterMASH" doesn't count)? Do really talented writers, producers, actors know they shouldn't mess with an artfully completed package?
My mind is enquiring... (Yes, I have done this topic before -- a my age, I've done EVERY topic before. Spinoffs work well, but sequels, as a rule, don't. I'll explore it anew on a slow day... and this summer will be full of them. Anything for a reader who signs as Kilgore T... Vonnegut is my hero, too. -- David B.)