Look, I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t watched one second of anything Taylor Sheridan has done. I know nothing of Yellowstone, or any show related to that universe, and though I know Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King and 1883 exist, I’ve never watched them. Never really felt compelled to, either. But it’s not like I was avoiding them, they just weren’t that high on my list.
Was, past tense. Now I am. Will be. No Taylor Sheridan for me, thank you. I will actively be avoiding his work now.
After all, if Sheridan can tell THR that he will tell his stories his way — which apparently means by himself, no writer’s room, in a way that makes it sound like it’s his way or the highway then hey, I can decide which stories to watch, by myself. And I won’t be watching any of his.
“The freedom of the artist to create must be unfettered,” Sheridan also thought THR, in what he probably thought was a defense of his art, instead of the worst possible moment to try to have a conversation about the nature of art and collaboration. “If I have to check in creatively with others for a story I’ve wholly built in my brain, that would probably be the end of me telling TV stories.”
But it’s fine, Taylor Sheridan can tell his stories in whatever way he wants. He can pretend art is better when it’s not challenged, and that hearing other people’s POV doesn’t actually improve the final product. Or, he can just not tell any more stories after the WGA hopefully wins their fight. Our loss, or something. Or, well, not mine, because either way, I wasn’t, and won’t ever be consuming anything he puts out there.
We all make our choices here. That’s mine. Taylor Sheridan is apparently eager to make sure you get to make yours too.
