Actually, I've had a show called "The Star" show up in my games when people say they're watching trid, sometimes. Yeah, it's pretty much COPS. But it tends to be a bit more exciting, cause when's the last time you saw the police try to take down a rampaging troll or stumble across a group of runners on a botched job on COPS?

Survivor could go nuts with the current enviroemtn in SR.

I expect there'd be another Star TRek spinoff, too. And probably the latest low-budget sentai series from Japan, as well (how many different Power Ranger series have there been now?)...

But if you want actual favorites... if it was on TV within the last 4-5 years, I didn't see it unless someone put it on YouTube or Google Video. So I'm not entirely sure what's survived to today.

Haven't you read Games of State in SOTA64? That's pretty much the James Bond conception of espionage. As opposed to, you know, reality.

Echo that.

Find an old copy of Shadowbeat, I'm fairly sure "Investigative Reporter" is a Runner Archtype in that book.

If you have knight rider you need Air wolf reincarnated with panzers.

Well it's not like most people would really be all that interested in running a game that stuck pretty closely to how they actually operate in reality would they? So they went the cinematic route.

..."that elf babe Donna is hot!"

---Kelso

Me too. And that actually wraps it up, because I don't watch TV due to the fact that it's a bunch of incredibly stupid crap.

Ah, the old James Bond Style cinematic espionage to prevent the escapist players from getting bored while annoying the hardcore realists trick. That's the second time this month.

Hm. Maybe I just have a chip on my shoulder because in a feat of monumental stupidity, Synner said (not suggested, said) my espionage games were James Bond-esque as opposed to realistic, which is how I use them (Espionage and the Shadows was written as a primer on specifics related to my overall campaigns). Not only has that thoroughly pissed me off to the point of blind rage, but ... Come on? The cinematic route isn't just stupid. It's lazy. God forbid the GM puts some fucking thought into a run/campaign.

There's not already?


Okay, Planet's Funniest Animals will degenerate into a pool of slime with shapeshifters being bribed to do some of the most amazing stunts.


Animal Candid Camera will be born, simply to preserve honesty in the medium, and have a short and honest career, until a passing dragon interrupts a day of filming and is promptly offered a full partnership.

"What are your qualifications for the term 'Animal'?" the dragon asks, preparing to be offended.
"Do you want a job?" the producer asks, knee deep in the muck of the location they're filming at.
"You're avoiding the question."
"Do you want a job?"
"...Yes."


The original show will split into Paranormal Candid Camera (Punk'd for spirits, sentient paracritters and dragons) and Critter Candid Camera (nonsentient stuff like flame jackals) and they will hire outside help for some of the more outrageous set-ups.

This is a joke, right?

I mean... Sure. The cops are close because most cops eventually become (and relish being) living, breathing cliches. But the plots are contrived and unoriginal, the second half is predictable, unrealistic, and simple-minded. The characters are one-dimensional (although, see above), and the dialogue is crap.

But, sure. I guess aside from that it is "awesome."

It wouldn't because CSI isn't exactly realistic. Overlooking the basic fact that the CSIs in that show are one step away from being Street Judges due to the cast compression necessary in a 1-hour weekly show, forensic science is used as a contrived plot device that produces whatever the plot needs. Most of the forensics depected on that show is absurdly accurate, quite a bit is incorrect, and some is downright impossible.

You. DIE!

*SL Jame's computer blows up.*

And yeah. I always hated CSI. They loved the gross-factor too much, and their forensics are a bit... Questionable.

There was a show mentioned in Shadowbeat that was, for all intents and purposes, Fear Factor. The idea, it seemed, was that in 1989-90 when the book was written only by 2050 would society be sick and depraved enough to watch such crap. Unfortunately, they underestimated how sick and sad people are.

True, but everyone would think they can catch the runner with some work. This fact alone would make for bigger investigationsand bigger demand to catch the bad guy instead of the "cut your loses" apathy that allows runners to survive.
Security personel couldnt care less wether or not the runners have been caught since their honor is tarnished anyway and they wont be the ones who do the catching. The guys who do the catching want a quiet day and a hot dog. The guy who gives the orders to the catchers has already written off the loses and is busy to keep his fun bunny a secret from his wife. But when the investor walks up to them and asks wether or not they caught the bad guys, sees this and complains cuz "he knows fuckin forensics" his imagination is the one that needs to be pleased because he can pull out his money anytime.
Granted this is a one time scenario. I might actually make a plot from this. Sounds like a fun way to let them sink deep into it once again without the usuall "Mr. J. fucked you over bad" routine.

I have to agree that CSI's forensics are weird and painted pink in that show, but I still enjoy the suspense. Quite honestly, it's one of the few shows where I dont know who's the bad guy from 5 minutes in and that alone keeps me watching.