Recently, DirecTV began airing episodes of "Damages" with subtitles that help explain background information viewers might not know if they missed previous episodes of the complex legal drama.
The on-screen subtitles function as a primer of sorts, appearing every few minutes to flesh out a twisty plot turn or reveal a character's sinister motives...
"It's a way to say to viewers, 'It's not too late to get involved in this show,'" said Paul Guyardo, DirecTV's chief marketing officer. "And it might keep new viewers from throwing in the towel if they can watch episodes that give them extra background and context." [LA Times]
As cable networks and scripted series fight harder to retain viewers, it's likely that these expository subtitles will become widely available across all cable platforms. In a Warming Glow EXCLUSIVE, the following pages reveal how those subtitles will look for some of TV's most popular shows.
![[avatar]](http://p.uproxxcdn.com/photo/226/thumb)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/05/kiersten-essenpreis-gallery1988-day-off-01-batman-joker-banksy-150x150.jpg)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/05/tumblr_mn3o27QSAq1s5e5bko1_400-150x150.gif)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/05/1280-1-boardwalk-empire-terence-winter-150x150.jpg)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/05/kencosgrove-150x150.jpg)
“Somebody got raped” would also be appropriate for any close-ups of the Ben during a Steelers game. Allegedly.
Twitter gave you Futura and you didn’t even use it.
@Tim — I know, my old copy of Photoshop doesn’t have it.
This post is awesome, but it also brings up a serious issue I have with the current state of television: there are not nearly enough shows that feature wet Rachel Bilson.
gODDAMIT if I wanted to read I’d read. A menu. And order a steak.
Gotta go..
ABC did this during Seasons 5-6 of Lost, when they aired reruns of the previous week’s episode (with backstory subtitles) prior to the live showing of each new episode. You basically nailed it in your Lost slide.
I AM EPIC WIN.
the things I would do to Rachel Bilson… the things I would do.
I can’t stand subtitles. I rented Elite Squad this weekend and spent the entire movie having to decide whether I watched the action or read the dialogue.
It was the Sophie’s choice of Brazilian cop films.
DO NOT WANT
Social Networking will be combined with this soon. It’ll be like Pandora and how you can tell if your friend likes a certain artist (meaning I lost a lot of friends when I realized they liked Justin Bieber) but you’ll be able to post your thoughts on certain scenes. And if they havent already thought of this. I need to copyright/register/trademark this shit right now.
I for one think it’d be humorous but only if you’re able to control if you can have it displayed or not.
Missed a chance for a Shameless pic.
I.E. Emmy Rossum shows her tits, something happens… show over
So… it’s Pop-Up video. It’s basically those rebroadcasts of LOST that they ran right before the new episode where they tried to explain to you how Hurly went back in time, had sex with Sawyer and became his own grandpa?
@Homo Erectus
No wonder I thought Lost was a piece of shit…and could only watch 3 episodes
Those subtitles were magnificent. Gracias, Matt.
@Otto Man – I have to use subs as I’m deaf, but I’ve taught my friends how to use it so it’s not so annoying to them.
Basically, as soon as subs come up, just read them straight away and turn your focus back on the action. Some people read them as the characters say the dialogue, but you miss out on stuff. After time, you will barely notice the subs. Well, that’s what my girlfriend and friends say.
As for this, I don’t care about the subs, I just want more seasons of Damages and Rose Byrne.
DG,
As we know from one of the greatest Warming glow posts of all time, Rachael will soon be gracing our screens again, albeit on the CW. I know CHUCK isn’t a popular show around these parts, but I’m a sucker for Josh Schwartz mostly because i pretend the OC ended after season 1 (sometimes 2).
[warmingglow.uproxx.com]
nailed it!
I SLOW REDDER, MUST USE PAWS!
I’ll leave it to Raveonettes to comment
[www.youtube.com]
It’s like those music videos with the popup balloons, isn’t it?
I’m thinking that if ya gotta provide Cliff’s Notes for your show, you’ve got kind of a major story problem.
Still, this might be helpful in other contexts. Fox News, for instance (e.g.) “Glen Beck is a racist homophobe who’s trying to gin up the religious right. By the way, his family has a history of mental illness and he is a former addict”. See… maybe this DOES have potential.