TV Critics Tour: More Reporters Chase Less News

In my latest column I talk a bit about the changing nature of the TV Critics Assn. tour, which begins this week. Here are a few more thoughts -- and some helpful history -- about that event, which now consists of more reporting conducted at a faster pace, chasing what's usually at best marginal or nonexistent news.

When I started attending TCA close to 25 years ago, the room was filled with critics from newspapers across the country. There was little sense of urgency about most of the sessions, especially for the individual shows. Executives sometimes made news, but the program Q&As were dutifully stored away, usually for use in features that would run closer to the fall premiere, when new series were on people's radar.

Once transcription became common, it wasn't unusual to see some scribes skipping sessions, relying on the transcript and taking advantage of the California weather. There were other more creative misdemeanors, like a critic who supposedly brought his drapes to be cleaned by the hotel, charging it to his newspaper. One year Fox handed out garment bags with gifts in every pocket -- including a "Models Inc" instamatic camera -- that many critics felt crossed a line and returned as excessive swag. Ah, those were the days.

Working for Variety, we paid attention to the execs, but not much to the shows. Besides, being based in L.A. we had regular access to the talent and producers, which our out-of-town brethren lacked. Other big-city newspapers in New York and L.A. generally adopted a similar philosophy, and reports out of TCA were scarce.

Today, the whole affair has changed dramatically. Some of the old faces are there, but fewer of them work for actual newspapers. And while critics once tended to focus on similar issues, the diverse roster of journalists represented now creates a highly disjointed environment and conversation. Online fanboys next to trade hacks next to freelancers collecting string for a fashion piece next to gossip columnists, etc. No wonder the organization representing the cable nets, CTAM, circulates a questionnaire asking attendees to prove they're actually published and paid -- by somebody, anybody -- as part of the credentialing process.

Still, the real logistical shift is how everyone feels compelled to file something -- right away -- even if nothing newsworthy is said. When I started at the Los Angeles Times, getting space for coverage out of press tour could be a struggle. Now, it's not unusual to see several reporters from that paper at every session -- and that's with about half the total staff the Times employed during its peak years, which overlapped with my stint there.

Does this mean the coverage is worse? Not necessarily, but a lot of it is empty and overblown -- competitive zeal, of the "They're jumping off the Empire State Building, so we have to" variety, masquerading as real news.

Of course, lamenting such things sounds hopelessly naive, like an old man yelling at kids to get off his lawn. The world has changed, and breaking news is measured in milliseconds. Besides, the same thing has happened in media devoted to virtually every bastion of power and glamour, from Hollywood to business to sports.

Nevertheless, those kids, with their silly breathless questions and snarky posts, have helped make things a whole lot messier, even if there's no going back to the day of laundered drapes, insanely lavish gift bags and neatly manicured lawns.

Update: A complimentary view from allyourtv.com with some additional history, a bit of quibbling with my contentions and a few points I would echo:

The problem is that the TCA gatherings are now more of a social event than a reporting tool....

It's less clear to me what the networks get out of the deal. If you happen to have a show that has some hip feel to it, then you're probably going to be able to build a bit of buzz from the TCA. But for most shows (and many networks), the buzz you get from critics is likely to be negative or dismissive.
 

And finally....

I don't begrudge anyone who's there.

OK, so maybe I begrudge a little. But that's part of my charm.