When I first saw ads announcing The Dresden Files, a new TV series premiering on Jan. 21 on Sci Fi, I assumed it would have something to do with the repercussions of the devastating Allied firebombing of Dresden during World War II. Instead, it appears to be about the wacky adventures of a Chicago private investigator named Harry Dresden, who happens to be a wizard. (At least Sci Fi didn’t give Dresden a gruff, wisecracking sidekick named Sara Srebrenica — or commission a theme song from Jello Biafra.)
It’s rare you get a title that’s both so misleading and in such bad taste. Can you all think of other ill-conceived TV titles? (I seem to remember that a couple of years ago, Fox premiered a show about a doctor that was called House.)
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The whole Dresden – war connection never struck me when I was reading the books. The name doesn’t seem to have hurt the novels! I’m looking forward to a TV show…
The Michael Richards Show, Michael Richards was playing a character named Vic Nardozza so the title made no sense. If they were looking to attract Seinfeld fans they should have called it The Guy Who Played Kramer.
OOOOOOO,
A spiffy new EW.com and Popwatch layout. Besides the point…but there’s no where else to comment.
Tastelessness is in the eye of the beholder. It also depends on the background, education and sensitivity of said beholder. If one is taught that the Germans through both history and pop culture saturation were the bad guys in WWII, then the use of the word Dresden wouldn’t offend anyone today who is so far removed from that point of history, regardless of the amount of ordinary German civilians that were killed in the process. It might as well have been called the Hiroshima Files, because like the Germans, the Japanese were the enemy during WWII. Now if it was called The Pearl Harbor Files or The Auschwitz Files, then it would be more upsetting because from a pro-Allied Forces point of view, these atrocities of war are held to be far more unpleasant.
Speaking of bad names for a product, nothing beats the unfortunate timing of the diet supplements A.Y.D.S. in the early 80’s. “If you want to lose weight, try A.Y.D.S!”
I barely thought of the German reference. Chances are many younger viewers will have it zip right over their heads. Who bothers to read history anymore?
All I’ve thought of is that he’s that guy from “24,” and that I plan on watching the show.
You’re a moron….100 people will read this: 90 wont make the connection, 9 will and won’t care, and 1 will and be offended. and thats if you reread your column.
>(I seem to remember that a couple of years ago, Fox premiered a show about a doctor that was called House.)
Dude, there’s a DOCTOR in the House!
You’re just trying to start controversy here. EW, you can do better than this to draw attention to your blogs.
Man…you guys are all mean when someone other than Slezak (or a semi-regular) posts something.
While I agree that not many people will make the connection between the title of this show and the WWII incident, I’ll answer the question at the end of the post…and I’ll look all the way back to two nights ago:
“The Knights of Prosperity” is a truly terrible title, especially when you consider the former title “Let’s Rob Mick Jagger” was funny and refreshingly straightforward. Since it looks like they’ll be dealing with other celebrities, the show should just be called “Let’s Rob…”
The bombing of Dresden? Really? On the SciFi channel? You’re joking, right? You didn’t really think that, did you? Maybe, maybe if it were on the History channel…but even then it’s a stretch. The guy’s name is DRESDEN…he’s a detective so he has case FILES….and I agree, makes more sense than a show about a doctor caled House…of course, that’s HIS name too.
So I’m even reading Slaughterhouse-five right now and I didn’t even think of the Dresden bombing when I heard the title.
I would think if you were writing a wizard character, you’d name him anything BUT Harry.
Are you kidding with this? A title in bad taste due to an event that happened 62 years ago!? Come on! United 93 and World Trade Center would be titles more in bad taste than this.
You’re kidding right? A show on the *Sci-Fi* network that will have something to do with an Allied bombing? Do you watch much TV at all? Or the *Sci-Fi* channel by any chance before now? Jeez. Talk about scraping the bottom of the logic barrel for filler blog items.
It’s based on a series of books by the same title by Jim Butcher, ya yutz. A really good series. Feel free to check it out.
As mentioned, it’s based off the NY Times bestselling series by Jim Butcher. (If it was an obscure series, Mr. Conroy, I’d understand not doing your homework, but it’s extremely popular and one of those hardcovers that Borders & B&N shove down your throat when you walk in the front door.)
Dresden’s named after Harry Houdini, and the book was written (but not published) before Potter-mania started.
They actually considered renaming him Eric for the show, but decided to stick with Harry.
Meanwhile…yeah, I thought of the city of Dresden when I first heard of the book series. I also thought of it when I heard of the Dresden Dolls. Neither inspired feelings of bad taste by the name.
In a TV culture where reality television shoves aside well written programing, you’re affronted by a series named after the last name of the main character, which happens to coincide with the name of a town?
The city itself has moved on…maybe you should as well.
This is a bestselling series of books. Renaming it for TV would just be stupid, as a lot of people who read the books may not know the series is an adaptation. They’re the files of a detective named Dresden. He happens to have the same name as a place that was firebomed in the 40s. Why exactly is that in bad taste?
Man, you’re so right. And since my last name is “Hicks”, I’d better not do anything that might offend rednecks.
You’re so totally on, man. I’m blown away by the intensity of your insight.
After all, words *never* have meanings and ties other than what you imagine them to be, right?
Something about the lead actor turns me off. even in the posters… I don’t know, he seems sorta smug… not enjoying his acting in the previes, I’ll pass.
Why is everyone being such a d-bag? It’s just an observation. And although I have never heard of the show, I read the title and I thought of the bombing.
And to people claiming that the Dresden events would have no place on the Sci-Fi Channel…haven’t you ever watched the Twilight Zone? I swear every other one is about WWII. Regardless, I don’t think this was a post that warrented latent hostility.
Fatima, they’re no more hostile than his own comments. He didn’t bother to do any research before he posted, and badmouthed what is looking to be a good show based on his perception of the title…not the show. That’s the sort of thing legit mags poke at sites like Comming Attraction and CHUD.com for (which I actually rarely find to be true…those folks have to do their homework, or their own fans tear them apart). If he’s posting as a rep of EW, he should do his homework. Yell at the right person for the name, at least.
And that’s not even scraping the “we should cut out any words that might remind us of something horrible in the past or that’s just plain tacky” angle.
Dresden Files? I thought they meant “Dresden Dolls” of “Coin operated boy” fame. And thanks for getting that song stuck in my head Conroy!
Ok, let’s change it to the London Files–oops, wait, despite the precedent of Jack London, we have to worry about the Blitz. OK, the Tuskeegee Files. No, wait, despite the Tuskeegee Airmen, there’s the Tsukeegee Experiment to consider. We’ll have to rule out all names and just call it the X-Files. Oh, wait….
I don’t really know where to start addressing all the misconceptions of your post, so let’s just stick in the main point
Yes the show is average, yes it might not last the season, it was only the first episode so who knows. But to predict it’s demise because you didn’t understand the title (or choose not to) makes your comment not worth reading.
Since this looks like your first blog for EW (and forgive me if I’m wrong) I’ll offer the following advice; do better, do your research (in this case that would not have been that hard) or find something else to do.