Do media producers rely too heavily on tried and tested genres? Discuss with specific examples. (January '03 a)

Intro:
. Firstly talk about the genres that I'm going to use as examples (slasher and comedy)
. Producers what they do to try renovate the genres.

1st para:
. Slasher - they keep making sequels eg. The 'Halloween', 'Friday the 13th', 'Nightmare on Elm street' etc franchise...
. Producers can't do much because they keep repeating everything = 'tried and tested'
. New producers come along and try to renovate films which were very popular without sequels!
. Bring in theorists like... carol clover 'final girl' = the usual scenario for the slasher film.
. Link to question... slasher genre gone 'tried and tested' as they repeat

2nd para:
. Comedy - slapstick humour - 'three stooges', iconic figures of 'Charlie Chaplin' and 'Laurel and Hardy'- paved way for the comedy genre!
. Moved on to sarcastic, dark, adult etc humour... to reflect the 'zeitgeist'... producers try to renovate - however comedy starts to become repetitive - 'Groundhog Day'- comedy day keep repeating but it gets repetitive as the humour changes but still is tried and tested!
. Producers remake comedy films... but the humour still the original one's starts to drag on and become tried and tested = 'Longest Yard' - same plot line different actors and some different jokes only done to reflect the 'Zeitgeist'.

3rd para:
. Comedy and Slasher = both been renovated but in my opinion still is tried and tested as they all seem to reflect the zeitgeist but producers use the same puns an jokes in order to gain audience appeal.
. New producers not that much experience use old films to make a status can prove costly in the sense they can ruin the classics.

Conclusion:
. Slasher and comedy are tried and tested as the genres are being modified but not to such a huge scale... e.g if audience see a boiling pan of water later in the scene the audience know at some stage it will end up burning the character... still is comical but is tried and tested.