The Following

HBO. AMC. FX.

These are networks that I could see doing something worthwhile with the premise of The Following. They might even be able to make Kevin Bacon interesting. I don't trust Fox to do either of those things.

It might be the not-so-recent shift of good drama to cable. Or the fact that those dramas have been replaced with interchangeable forensic procedural and the more recent surveillance genre, which is anything but subtle in its derision of the remaining shreds of the concept of privacy (if you want an example of the basics vs. cable, compare CBS' Person of Interest with Showtime's Homeland). Or the fact that the basics can't handle anything outside of a handful of single camera sitcoms and animated shows; and even some of those have opted/fled for the freer, more forgiving lands of cable/content providers (hint hint, Community). Or the lazy reality show ideas that now include celebrities... high-diving? Say what you will about Bravo and TLC's lineups, at least there's admirable talent on Top Chef and a surreal, David Lynch-esque psychology to the Real Housewives and Honey Boo-Boo fare. The networks, by comparison, are dull and outmoded.

Some of my friends tell me The Following looks promising. With a more creative outlet behind it, I could agree with that sentiment. But all I see is a Trojan Horse forensic drama steeped in every thriller cliche from the disgraced FBI agent to the manipulative and creepily calm serial killer. Oh, and Kevin Bacon is there, too. Did you see that Kevin Bacon is doing TV now? Yes, that Kevin Bacon: the guy you've never really liked in anything, but was never offensive, either, assuming you didn't think about his films too much (John Lithgow's son died, you shallow, narcissistic asshole). That adds intrigue to a thing you've seen a thousand times since Twin Peaks made it kind of cool, right?

We're living in a golden age of quality television (it can be easy to miss, but see here). We should all be happy for that. And it's possible that the networks have finally caught on, or will in the future. I haven't seen The Following yet. Having written this, I'll probably now have to (dammit, Fox). My sense is that, at best, it'll be the networks' launching pad into the golden age. In which case, great. At bottom--and most likely--it'll offer a decent case study of why the networks aren't getting there. In which case, at least we'll know.