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.)
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.