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Way OT: Chuck's back!

Chuck is back!  For all you fans out there, some of our favorite network television shows like Chuck, Better off Ted, Dollhouse, and Scrubs will be returning next season.  No telling how long they'll actually last, but they are at least returning, and that's good news.

One thing that's always bothered me with television shows is it's often difficult to find a consolidated list of returning and cancelled shows.  Then I came across this "Fall TV Cheat Sheet" from Ausiello Files and it made my day.

Some of the stranger news for Chuck, for those of you who hadn't heard...  It's a 13 episode pickup, and budget cuts had to be made on the show.  It sounds like one cast member will be gone, and two staff writers.  So that sucks.  But hey...  Chuck's back!

As for Scrubs, Zach Braff will be in 6 episodes next season.  I don't know, I'm pretty disappointed by this news.  It seemed like the season finale was a perfect stopping point last season.  I'm kind of worried they're going to end up following the X-Files path of trying to go past their stars and ruining the show.  We'll see.

Anyway, what do you think?  Are your shows being cancelled?  Are you happy with the returns?  What do you think?  And shouldn't 'Til Death have already died the death that not-funny comedies die?

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

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I watched the first 8 or 10 episodes on Hulu a couple months ago and felt like nothing ever actually happened on that show, even though every episode seems to imply that the next episode would be totally climatic. Needless to say, I was disappointed.

Wisconsin: Famous for dairy, Ryan Rohlinger and not much else.

by Scottsdale on May 19, 2009 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

The show was really about character development, not so much about the story line. In terms of story each episode really stood on its own, but the characters and their histories developed over the course of the show.

A lot happens in the movie, though, which is also very good.

Osiris, lord of the dead, and relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.

by neurofarm on May 19, 2009 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

You’re pretty much spot on with that. And as far as big plot arcs, they basically started a huge one right when the show got canceled. I really wish that show had been given another chance.

Joe Martinez: My fingers are crossed and my palms are together for you.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.

by cornball on May 19, 2009 7:05 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I loved Scrubs back in the day but should it really still be on the air? I didn’t see any of the last season but it just seems like they just need to let it go.

by chilibean_3 on May 19, 2009 10:23 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I think I can watch 1 episode of Scrubs per year. Otherwise, I get Zach Braff overload.

by xanthan on May 19, 2009 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It was very good again this season for the first time in years.

GROUGTHINK ALERT
Chatterbalks dot com: Still with jokes. Now with updates.

by groug on May 19, 2009 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, it was great. Some of the new episodes were great. However, there’s no reason to bring it back (other than the money), especially with how they ended this last season. It’s gonna be terrible if they do what they say they’re gonna do.

Joe Martinez: My fingers are crossed and my palms are together for you.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.

by cornball on May 19, 2009 7:06 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I stopped watching the second JD kerprazzled Eliot’s wedding to Keith. Right when it’s never been more obvious that Eliot and JD have terrible on-screen chemistry and that Eliot’s grown up and found somebody who’s actually worthwhile, they completely burn it to the ground.

Now, I know that was the crappy crappy crap crap season. But I’ve had no investment in the characters or the story ever since then, and that’s made even the good jokes seem unfunny.

Scrubs just makes me sad now.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on May 19, 2009 11:07 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

My Philosophical Question About TV

The series finale of “According to Jim” is on in a couple of weeks, apparently. How the hell has that show been on the air for 8 years? Do you know anyone who’s watched an entire episode? Why has Jim Belushi been allowed to desecrate his late brother’s comedic honor for nearly the entire decade, and yet Arrested Development couldn’t last longer than three seasons?

"Are we bad? No. But right now, we are." Boulderskull, 4.16.09

by Kitspool on May 19, 2009 10:45 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

My friend's brother in law is a writer for that show

I don’t know him too well, but when it came up once I got the feeling he wasn’t too proud of it. Though I’m sure he really likes his Beverly Hills residence.

Speaking of Arrested, has anyone caught Sit Down, Shut Up? So far I’m kinda liking it.

by moonman on May 19, 2009 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

i’m pretty sure fox pulled the plug on sit dow shut up already, i got to see 3 of the 4 episodes & i enjoyed them.

by travis j bagdad on May 19, 2009 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I loved arrested development, but couldn’t bring myself to watch even 5 continuous minutes of sit down shut up…

I feel like there must be some immutable law of the universe that 30 minutes of Fox’s Sunday prime time lineup has to absolutely suck

Wisconsin: Famous for dairy, Ryan Rohlinger and not much else.

by Scottsdale on May 19, 2009 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I’m still asking that about ‘Til Death. Which should be re-titled "Slow and Painful Death. Seriously, Why Hasn’t Fox Cancelled Us Yet?"

I'm thinking but nothing's happening.

by JRPhillips on May 19, 2009 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I read an article on that show and how it has stayed on the air for so long. From what I remember it has never been that popular, but not as bad as you think in terms of ratings. The biggest reason it is still on the air is it is really cheap to make as the cast doesn’t demand that much money.

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

by WilliamVanLandingham on May 19, 2009 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hey, I was just wondering that a few day ago. I checked, and the show had more episodes than Seinfeld. One of the most unoriginal, unfunny, just plain useless shows I’ve ever seen.

Adoptive parent of Noah Lowry. Because he was awesome once, and, goddammit, he shall be awesome once again!

I hope.

by Cookyman on May 19, 2009 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I’m excited about Chuck. I finally caught up on the last episodes of Scrubs, which were really good. The end of My Finale was perfect if you ask me, and I did not know Peter Gabriel did a cover of the Magnetic Fields’ The Book of Love. It’s a beautiful version.

FOX picked up a series called Human Target, based on the DC comic about a PI/bodyguard who assumes the identity of those he protects. Looks pretty cool.

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 19, 2009 10:55 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I liked Scrubs this year, but I can see why some people wouldn’t like Zach Braff. I heard he did sign on to do a few episodes next year, but won’t be a major character. I’m fine with that as long as they don’t get rid of Dr. Cox and the Janitor.

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

by WilliamVanLandingham on May 19, 2009 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Cox (John C McGinley) has a new pilot that’s likely to get picked up for the fall. I’ve heard that he’d probably sign on, but for a minor role. Same for Sarah Chalke (Eliot) and Donald Faison (Turk), as they both have pilots as well.

Joe Martinez: My fingers are crossed and my palms are together for you.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.

by cornball on May 19, 2009 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

yay for Chuck

Now for the bad news: it won’t be back until 2010.

NBC Announces 2009-2010 Primetime Schedule

Adopted Giant: John Bowker, who is currently walking wild over the PCL.

by rightcenterfielder on May 19, 2009 10:59 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

hm

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 19, 2009 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

The 31 flavors of Law & Order, Office, & Heroes are back. This will preserve Domestic Tranquility. Domestic Tranquility is good.

Where is my beer & chili dog?

by daveinexile on May 19, 2009 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

DON’T FORGET JAY LENO!

Question: What kind of bear is best?

by otis29 on May 19, 2009 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh yeah. WOO! Conan will be back soon.

by chilibean_3 on May 19, 2009 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was almost positive Leno was going to screw over Chuck. With ratings down and five hours a week of primetime scheduling removed thanks to Leno, I didn’t think NBC would find room for Chuck. I fear that the reduced order for season three could get reduced even further if NBC needs to make room for other shows, if people aren’t watching.

Find a Nielson family, tell them to tune in!

I'm thinking but nothing's happening.

by JRPhillips on May 19, 2009 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was thinking the same thing

Apparently, Medium took the bullet for Chuck. I don’t see it on the schedule for the fall, and I heard it got better ratings than both Chuck and Heroes. It’s not like that show is more expensive or something… weird.

They killed “Earl” as well. I never watched it, just acknowledging it’s gone.

by jpolorolu on May 19, 2009 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

shit I liked MNiE

And I thought it was doing well for them.

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 19, 2009 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

According to the Cheat Sheet, Earl is “expected to move to ABC,” and Medium is “expected to move to CBS.” So that’s hopeful.

I'm thinking but nothing's happening.

by JRPhillips on May 19, 2009 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Whoops...

Earl is being shopped to Fox and ABC. It’s not yet expected to move…

I'm thinking but nothing's happening.

by JRPhillips on May 19, 2009 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I’ll gladly take it on ABC. NBC’s sort of screwing the pooch on letting these shows go.

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 19, 2009 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Does that happen often?

Shows getting shipped to another network altogether? Scrubs comes to mind, but that’s all I can think of.

by jpolorolu on May 19, 2009 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Uh…. Family Matters?

by Natto on May 19, 2009 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It doesn’t happen often, but it’s been known to happen. Buffy changed networks, so did Animaniacs… Everyone I knew hoped Arrested Development and Firefly would change networks, but neither happened… Letterman changed networks, but he also changed shows, if not formats. I’m running out of examples now…

I'm thinking but nothing's happening.

by JRPhillips on May 19, 2009 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Animaniacs moving probably had to do with WB getting its own network.

by Natto on May 19, 2009 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It had a lot to do with it. But it still changed networks.

I'm thinking but nothing's happening.

by JRPhillips on May 19, 2009 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, I’m just stating the reason for it.

by Natto on May 19, 2009 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I didn’t have a lot of examples of shows getting picked up by another network, so Animaniacs essentially became a throw-in for that reason.

I'm thinking but nothing's happening.

by JRPhillips on May 19, 2009 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

The original Get Smart moved from NBC to CBS for its final season. HBO was apparently all set to pick up Sports Night after ABC cancelled it, but Aaron Sorkin decided to focus on The West Wing instead.

Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.

by EliminateMe on May 19, 2009 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Stargate SG-1 was canceled after five years and moved to Sci-Fi.

by kaliber on May 19, 2009 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ooh, MST3K went from like Comedy Central to Sci-Fi, right?

I'm thinking but nothing's happening.

by JRPhillips on May 19, 2009 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

However, both Comedy Central and Sci-Fi are owned by NBC Universal.

by kaliber on May 19, 2009 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Which is owned by Shinehardt Wig.

I'm thinking but nothing's happening.

by JRPhillips on May 19, 2009 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

/high five

Randy Winn is going to catch that. And he'll do it real classy-like too.

by oldjacket on May 19, 2009 10:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I am not big network TV watcher but the way NBC messes with the scheduled times way too much and it causes my wife a lot of grief. Which then becomes my grief. I really wish NBC scheduling executives would pull their heads out of there arses.

Where is my beer & chili dog?

by daveinexile on May 19, 2009 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Tim Goodman from sfgate.com wrote great article called Network TV for Dummies. It’s a great, sensible article about how networks really should run their operations. What you mention is listed right in there.

Link

As a prime example, if I didn’t have a DVR set to record Rules of Engagement, I’d have missed two of the last four episodes. That’s pretty ridiculous.

I'm thinking but nothing's happening.

by JRPhillips on May 19, 2009 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Here's a short story mentioning that:

CBS Studios responds on ‘Medium’

I was amused by the quote from the NBC guy in that story. According to him, both shows were the Adam Dunn of TV programs.

Adopted Giant: John Bowker, who is currently walking wild over the PCL.

by rightcenterfielder on May 19, 2009 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Crap

Looks like “Life” was cancelled.

Question: What kind of bear is best?

by otis29 on May 19, 2009 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah. I loved Life. But I’m glad Chuck will be back.

Sergio Romo: striking out professional hitters since 2005. And winner of the 2012 NL Fireman of the Year Award!

by Lyle on May 20, 2009 8:55 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I’ve never seen Chuck. But I’m totally loving the new season of Breaking Bad. The show has really outdone itself this season.

A++++ WOULD WATCH AGAIN

I’ve got Mad Men Season 1 coming to me soon on Netflix. I’ve heard good things about that show. I’m also watching Deadwood again, cocksuckers.

by xanthan on May 19, 2009 11:57 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Mad Men: so good.

Deadwood: I fuckin’ conjure the cocksucker who don’t like Deadwood ain’t welcome in this fuckin’ town.

GROUGTHINK ALERT
Chatterbalks dot com: Still with jokes. Now with updates.

by groug on May 19, 2009 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Mad Men is boss. I’m rewatching Season 1 right now.

Joe Martinez: My fingers are crossed and my palms are together for you.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.

by cornball on May 19, 2009 7:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

motherfucker

I never saw Deadwood but is it worth a look? All i hear about it is how much the cowboys cuss.

Chuck is awesome and you should see it. It’s about a dude with a computer in his brain. Seeing as you are a computer, you could identify with this character.

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 19, 2009 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Deadwood is amazing and I think it might have one of my favorite TV characters ever on the show. Highly recommended!

I’ll have to give Chuck a look-see. Your description sounds interesting.

by xanthan on May 19, 2009 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

plus they make fun of Best Buy

And there’s hot chicks too.

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 19, 2009 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Nerd Herd!

Sergio Romo: striking out professional hitters since 2005. And winner of the 2012 NL Fireman of the Year Award!

by Lyle on May 20, 2009 8:55 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I never saw Deadwood but is it worth a look? All i hear about it is how much the cowboys cuss.

Deadwood is only one of the single greatest TV shows to air on Television ever. And no, the reason it is so good isn’t necessarily the cussing (although that does make certain conversations funny, and it’s historically accurate as people new to the town back then were always shocked by the amount of profanity used by the residents there).

Great acting (Ian McShane, Timothy Olyphant, Brad Dourif to name a few), very colorful characters, great script and dialogue, great (true) story, with almost every character in the show historically based … and yes, Al Swearingen is probably one of the best badass characters you could think find. Basically, it’s shows like Deadwood that set a new high for anyone else making a TV show to look up to. One of the highest quality shows produced, let alone the best western show ever made.

On the other hand, if you’re a Chuck/Scrubs fan, Deadwood might not be for you. (Personally, I think Chuck is funny, but I hate Scrubs).

I’d say just watch the first 2-3 episodes of Season One and you’ll be hooked. And descriptions like “great” or “best ever” just don’t do it justice. Think Shakespeare meets Charles Dickens meets Tombstone if someone made a TV Show that would appeal to Johnny Cash.

"Those boos really motivate me to make something happen." - Bonds

by Persiflage on May 19, 2009 5:31 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I’m a huge Scrubs fan, but I also like grittier historical stuff (like Rome), so I’m gonna give Deadwood a try after Boards.

Joe Martinez: My fingers are crossed and my palms are together for you.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.

by cornball on May 19, 2009 7:14 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was an HBO series junkie for about a year. Carnivale drew me in. Then it went nowhere. I felt the same way about Deadwood after the first few episodes. Money got tight and HBO got canceled, and I never felt bad about it.

I get frustrated with the serial format of most TV series. I just couldn’t get over how you have a bunch of guys with gunsin a small dinky lawless town and there could be ongoing conflict without one side shooting the other, or simply moving on. With Carnivale it was always the ultimate confrontation between “good” and “evil” … next episode.

With Firefly, they could have a series of stories and let the character’s develop, since they were on a spaceship hoping from place to place and mission to mission. With Chuck, the season had a nice progression, nice twists, and new characters/guest stars and by the end of the season it really seemed like people were moving along in their lives rather than frozen in a story setting. Dollhouse went nowhere for a few episodes, but really came on strong in the later part of the season. While I am happy to get to watch the characters in Dollhouse and Chuck next season, I think both ended their seasons in way that could have also satisfactorily ended the program.

It part of what used to attract me to 24 for the first 25 seasons – each episode moved the story along, and then from season to season there was some continuity. Eventually, I got tiered of watching Bauer torture and be tortured.

My opinion on Deadwood is stunted, based on a SSS of the first few episodes. Nothing drew me in, and tuned out (the same thing I did with Dollhouse after trying it out a couple of times in the first few episodes, before someone talked me into checking it out again.)

co-dad of IshikaBOOM w/AfDC.
Ishikawa, let the boy hit against lefties.

by kennv on May 19, 2009 10:08 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I just couldn’t get over how you have a bunch of guys with guns in a small dinky lawless town and there could be ongoing conflict without one side shooting the other …

um … did you see the same Deadwood I did? I seem to remember a whole number of characters dying in various ways.

"Those boos really motivate me to make something happen." - Bonds

by Persiflage on May 20, 2009 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think he only watched 2-3 episodes.

by xanthan on May 20, 2009 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I also love Breaking Bad and Oz. Those aren’t exactly happy fluffy fun time television. I just never tried Deadwood because it was on HBO.

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 19, 2009 10:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Al is easily one of my top 5 TV characters of all time.

by xanthan on May 20, 2009 3:48 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Heh

I’m watching Deadwood again also. Just finished episode 6. I’m still waiting on Wu for the comic relief.

El Presidente Larry Baer's epitaph
"Nothing important ever happened without me."

by ResDog on May 21, 2009 8:33 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Mr Wu = The Best

GROUGTHINK ALERT
Chatterbalks dot com: Still with jokes. Now with updates.

by groug on May 21, 2009 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Justin Miller: More ink'd than an octopus on PCP.

by stealth snail on May 19, 2009 12:51 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I don’t follow, is this some sort of new TV show?

by xanthan on May 19, 2009 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Scene after Saturday’s game.

by Natto on May 19, 2009 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well played!!!

Where is my beer & chili dog?

by daveinexile on May 19, 2009 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Chuck’s awesome. Apparently, it’s coming on after Heroes’ (probably final) run in the fall at the same time slot.

Yay Castle. Anyone seen it? Newish show, also renewed. It’s yet another crime procedural, but somehow has a lighthearted and funny tone. Nathan Fillion, of Firefly fame, is in it (he’s the title character Castle) and he has a lot to do with making the show interesting. It’s pretty good.

by jpolorolu on May 19, 2009 1:46 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

It has Captain Tightpants so that’s all I need.

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 19, 2009 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

He also throws in lines from his old shows here and there. For instance, someone asked him if he was cool with the situation he was in, and he said “Five by five.”

by kaliber on May 19, 2009 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Is it more a reflection of America’s lack of taste, or of the TV execs, that shows like Chuck almost get cancelled, yet Till Death, According to Jim, and the million other effing ridiculous reality shows continue to get renewed each year? I’m sure the networks keep whatever shows get ratings, so in the end, it seems like the fault lies with stupid people that continue to watch this crap.

STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.

by UnleashTheGore on May 20, 2009 8:07 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Reality shows belong in the stupid crap people keep watching category.

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 20, 2009 9:09 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I am convinced reality television is killing tv quality

On any given night, there are probably 4 or 5 reality shows on, most an hour long. It is the taking up of these slots that gets shows like Arrested Development pushed off the air.

STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.

by UnleashTheGore on May 20, 2009 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

And Eli Stone and Pushing Daisies and Firefly and...

We could go on. It’s sad, really.

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 20, 2009 10:04 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It’s a little of each. Basically, there’s a lot of television for people to watch these days. More and more cable channels are putting out good television, and I’m not just talking HBO (which definitely has put out a lot of quality). Shows like Breaking Bad, Sunny in Philadelphia, Monk, Rescue Me, etc. are pulling people away from the big four networks. So what ends up happening is executives need to get more hits on television, but don’t have time to develop them. If a show is getting bad ratings, executives will often cancel it without a second thought because bad ratings mean fewer sponsorship dollars which means the board of directors aren’t getting as rich. That’s bad for them.

However, ‘Til Death is essentially a unique case, as I understand it. ’Til Death was kept by Fox because their track record of new shows that year was horrible. If I recall correctly, ’they cancelled every new comedy (and maybe every drama) that year, but in order to make it seem like the year wasn’t a total loss, they retained ’Til Death, presumably for the star power of Brad Garrett and Finch from American Pie. By the way, I sat through the pilot and wanted to bludgeon Finch “To Death” by the end.

But ultimately, you can push a show and push a show, but if people don’t get drawn into it because they’re dumb or lazy or just watching something else, there’s not much you can do. I remember seeing a lot of previews for Arrested Development, Firefly, Andy Richter Controls the Universe, and other shows that got cancelled prematurely that I liked. But other people just didn’t get into it. So with the ratings-now mentality of network execs to feed the bottom line, quality shows get cancelled, even if the execs really like the show (like AD). Patience is a virtue the big four networks don’t possess these days, and until they figure that out, quality shows are going to continue getting cancelled.

I'm thinking but nothing's happening.

by JRPhillips on May 20, 2009 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

I think the cost of a show also has a lot to do with it. A show like Firefly is expensive to make, with a large ensemble cast and well-regarded writers and creators. Part of the reason reality TV has proliferated is that it is cheap: put a bunch of nobodies in a house and film them. Even if the ratings suck, you haven’t lost much.

Osiris, lord of the dead, and relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.

by neurofarm on May 20, 2009 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That’s a lot of what screwed over Firefly, I think. It was expensive to make and since it was on Friday nights, the ratings were low. If you’re not making back that money through advertising during a show, then that’s got a good chance of ending your show prematurely. They should have aired Firefly on Tuesday nights.

I'm thinking but nothing's happening.

by JRPhillips on May 20, 2009 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

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