'Lost' boss praises 'fanboy' writers

[harvey107]

Lost's executive producer Damon Lindelof has revealed that the show's writers can predict the reaction of viewers.

"The majority of the writers on Lost are fanboys," Lindelof told website AMCtv. "There's a ripple effect that occurs where we say, 'Nikki and Paulo are not working. We don't like them, the audience isn't going to like them'.

"By the time the audience starts complaining about Nikki and Paulo, we've already written a script where they get buried alive."

"We're writing a television show that's supposed to be consumed by the masses," Lindelof continued. "In the same way that a gladiator in the Roman arena lived or died based on whether or not he was entertaining, we feel like an instantaneous thumbs up, thumbs down response is huge for us."

Cult - News - 'Lost' boss praises 'fanboy' writers - Digital Spy

[Reed]

So this confirms that Paolo and Nikki were actually infact pointless? I thought they had an actual purpose, or atleast that is what I recall TPTB saying at some point. Surely Paolo was never going to be "liked", while the majority of people probably felt Nikki was slightly entertaining but was pointless nonetheless.

However, it is good that TPTB read into fans' views but they should not get TOO close because we have no idea what we actually want from the show and are likely to complain if we get what we want. It it best we are given what TPTB 'want' to give us. Then again, I suppose they are referring to smaller things - like Paolo and Nikki.

[firebreathingfishies]

I don't think it's a good idea for the writers to go off the fan's reactions, because the reactions really vary. I mean you just have to look at the opinions on this site to see that, and you can just imagine the differences on a bigger site like the fuselage or something. I think paying attention to fan reactions can take their eye off the ball a little. I was reading an interview with Steven Moffatt (the guy who's taking over Doctor Who) and he was saying that when you're in charge of a popular show like that you really have to disconnect yourself from the fans because if you pay too much attention to what they say you can end up with a show that is just there to simply please and give you what you want, instead of making you think and surprising you. And Moffatt is a genius so I agree with him

[Reed]

Originally Posted by firebreathingfishies

I don't think it's a good idea for the writers to go off the fan's reactions, because the reactions really vary. I mean you just have to look at the opinions on this site to see that, and you can just imagine the differences on a bigger site like the fuselage or something. I think paying attention to fan reactions can take their eye off the ball a little. I was reading an interview with Steven Moffatt (the guy who's taking over Doctor Who) and he was saying that when you're in charge of a popular show like that you really have to disconnect yourself from the fans because if you pay too much attention to what they say you can end up with a show that is just there to simply please and give you what you want, instead of making you think and surprising you. And Moffatt is a genius so I agree with him

Presicely, I agree with this. I think we are ultimately going to be suprised because the material will be the producers' ideas first and foremost, but in regards to smaller things it is best they ignore us to an extent. They are likely to alter smaller plots to please fans, whereas as you stated we need to be suprised.

[freckles08]

Well thats no good. I liked thinking that Nikki and Paulo were created for a purpose i didnt understand and that the writers liked them. Now its like so you inflicted that hour of exposé for no reason you could have stopped it by not even bringing the characters in.

The writers should write what they want not what the fans want. So they the think the Fans wanted Locke dead !!! Whats going on???

[Reed]

Originally Posted by freckles08

Well thats no good. I liked thinking that Nikki and Paulo were created for a purpose i didnt understand and that the writers liked them. Now its like so you inflicted that hour of exposé for no reason you could have stopped it by not even bringing the characters in.

The writers should write what they want not what the fans want. So they the think the Fans wanted Locke dead !!! Whats going on???

Well it does not apply to everything that will happen in episodes and presumably not the bigger things. I think Paolo and Nikki were expendable and so killing them off for the fans was no big deal.