Awful Reality: Networks Are Doing Better Without Writers

[Brian Damage]

"Wife Swap" and "Supernanny" this week did about the same numbers as "Daisies" and "Practice" earned when they were in originals, with "Supernanny" beating a new-to-NBC episode of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." What's more, the shows cost about one-quarter to one-third as much as their scripted counterparts -- and, as one network partisan noted, they repeat well.

On Mondays, ABC is doing better with newcomer "Dance War" than it did with scripted programming a year ago.

NBC has gotten off to a stronger start this winter with a slew of nonscripted shows. "American Gladiators," "The Biggest Loser" and "The Celebrity Apprentice" are all outperforming NBC's average for scripted shows and has given the Peacock an outside chance to finish in second place for the season.

CBS hasn't unleashed any new reality skeins yet, but the net is praying the first regular season edition of summer hit "Big Brother" can help make up for the lack of scripted originals.

Fox, meanwhile, is about to head into ratings orbit with next week's arrival of "American Idol." Execs there are also confidently predicting big things for new "Jerry Springer"-esque quizzer "Moment of Truth."

With no end in sight for the strike, nets are said to be readying more greenlights for reality shows as well as scripted shows and formats imported from overseas. Announcements on additional strike contingency programs are likely to come later this month, insiders said.

The real question is whether these boffo early numbers for nonscripted shows can be maintained.

In a few months, nets will virtually run out of all original scripted programming, which means reality shows could begin cannibalizing each other -- or that viewers will get sick of all reality, all the time.

But if nets discover they can do well with mostly nonscripted skeds, some execs predict it will lead to fewer hours of scripted shows when the strike is over.


http://www.variety.com/VR1117978850.html

[catlover79]

Just goes to show some people have no taste.

[Brian Damage]

Just goes to show some people have no taste.


More like MOST people. Lol

[catlover79]

More like MOST people. Lol
Good point. ohno:

[bingbangbaby]

Yeah but couldn't it only look like they're doing better because that's all that's there? Like for instance, when I have pizza or pasta or chicken in my fridge, that's what I eat, usually until it's gone or until I get some more. But when I'm out of the good stuff then you'll find me eating the week old lunchmeat, cans of spaghettio's and the leftovers like you'd think I loved them-- until I get some more of the good stuff. :lol: So of course the spaghettio's seem to be going better...it's because there's no linguine carbonara, lasagna, and rigatoni around. :)

[JulieSomoski]

This is basically the first step to seeing reality shows dominate the broadcast networks.

[Stuck In The '70's]

This is basically the first step to seeing reality shows dominate the broadcast networks.
Yea I agree. This is what the networks wanted all along anyway. It's less expensive and brings ratings. They might not repeat well but you can always replace one reality show for another.

[Ireneparalegal]

Yeah but couldn't it only look like they're doing better because that's all that's there? Like for instance, when I have pizza or pasta or chicken in my fridge, that's what I eat, usually until it's gone or until I get some more. But when I'm out of the good stuff then you'll find me eating the week old lunchmeat, cans of spaghettio's and the leftovers like you'd think I loved them-- until I get some more of the good stuff. :lol: So of course the spaghettio's seem to be going better...it's because there's no linguine carbonara, lasagna, and rigatoni around. :)
Excellent post. ;)

[Mikado]

There is still network TV? i hadnt even noticed! :lol:

[Brian Damage]

Yeah but couldn't it only look like they're doing better because that's all that's there? Like for instance, when I have pizza or pasta or chicken in my fridge, that's what I eat, usually until it's gone or until I get some more. But when I'm out of the good stuff then you'll find me eating the week old lunchmeat, cans of spaghettio's and the leftovers like you'd think I loved them-- until I get some more of the good stuff. :lol: So of course the spaghettio's seem to be going better...it's because there's no linguine carbonara, lasagna, and rigatoni around. :)


Good point, but the fact is, with cable and all these other options outside of the networks, ratings shouldn't be as good as they are for these type of shows.

[catlover79]

Thank goodness a lot of my fave classic shows are on DVD - I rarely watch regular TV anymore - and I'm not missing much!!!

[MonarC]

I was surprised to see a NEW episode of Ugly Betty last week. There is also gonna be a new one this week. I was like what happened I thought the writers were on strike. :confused:

[TJL]

This is basically the first step to seeing reality shows dominate the broadcast networks.

I have been saying this for a few years now; reality TV shows will be the death of scripted programming.

Why? as Walking Tall said, they are cheap to make. No stars, no writers, easier to develop than a sitcom or drama so if a show tanks, you have another one ready to go in no time.

You think FOX cares about the strike when "American Idol" is going to bring in 20 million viewers when it premiers?

I really don't want to think about what TV will be like in say a year if the strike is still going on and the Networks are doing an "all Reality" format.

[JulieSomoski]

I have been saying this for a few years now; reality TV shows will be the death of scripted programming.

Why? as Walking Tall said, they are cheap to make. No stars, no writers, easier to develop than a sitcom or drama so if a show tanks, you have another one ready to go in no time.

You think FOX cares about the strike when "American Idol" is going to bring in 20 million viewers when it premiers?

I really don't want to think about what TV will be like in say a year if the strike is still going on and the Networks are doing an "all Reality" format.

American Idol has literally NO competition this year at all. It could just be it's biggest season yet. Everyone knows there's a strike going on, so the first thing they're gonna head to is AI. I wouldn't be surprised to see it take in 30 million viewers each week, especially for the auditions.

If any network went alll-reality, NBC would definitely be first. They've been coming in dead last all fall (either that, or switching on and off with FOX), yet now with this strike, they've brought in all these reality shows, and now they're winning.

[clj2]

Actually, I'm starting to like Supernanny and Wife Swap. Much better than all of those serialized ABC shows (Pushing Daisies, Private Practice, Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives..).

[EmoJoe]

American Idol has literally NO competition this year at all. It could just be it's biggest season yet. Everyone knows there's a strike going on, so the first thing they're gonna head to is AI. I wouldn't be surprised to see it take in 30 million viewers each week, especially for the auditions.

If any network went alll-reality, NBC would definitely be first. They've been coming in dead last all fall (either that, or switching on and off with FOX), yet now with this strike, they've brought in all these reality shows, and now they're winning.
it does that anyway for auditions :lol: but i agree with you, it could be the biggest season yet.

but i dunno, i dont think itll last forever. reality TV was kind of dying out on network TV until this strike, and there has to be a reason for that. i mean how many dance competitions or shows about nannies handling unruly kids can you watch before it just all starts to get old?

[JulieSomoski]

it does that anyway for auditions :lol: but i agree with you, it could be the biggest season yet.

but i dunno, i dont think itll last forever. reality TV was kind of dying out on network TV until this strike, and there has to be a reason for that. i mean how many dance competitions or shows about nannies handling unruly kids can you watch before it just all starts to get old?

That's true. And to think about, the only Reality Shows or Game shows that do well nowdays are the ones that have been on the air for awhile already. American Idol, Deal or No Deal, Dancing with the Stars, Supernanny, Wifeswap - those have all been on the air already, so everyone knows what to expect when they watch them

The new reality shows/game shows - Power of 10, Dance War, Duel, Singing Bee - are all realitively newer, and are not holding up in the ratings as well as should have been expected. Just another sign that as soon as the big reality shows get old, that could be it.

[EmoJoe]

yeah, reality TV has moved over to cable now. like you said, the only shows doing well are the old favorites (with the exception of The Apprentice which had been slipping but came back), the new ones aren't really holding up.

[waichingliu81]

I have been saying this for a few years now; reality TV shows will be the death of scripted programming.

Why? as Walking Tall said, they are cheap to make. No stars, no writers, easier to develop than a sitcom or drama so if a show tanks, you have another one ready to go in no time.

You think FOX cares about the strike when "American Idol" is going to bring in 20 million viewers when it premiers?

I really don't want to think about what TV will be like in say a year if the strike is still going on and the Networks are doing an "all Reality" format.

all this reality tv is making me sick. i know that its dominance on tv has nothing remotely to do with killing off children's tv today, but still the cartoon industry looks to be all but dead, and now sitcoms are going to follow in its exact footsteps. nobody in tv land cares about scripted based TV unless its some drama or dramedy. this is one of the reasons why i watch my favourite shows on dvd and youtube

[catlover79]

I am staunchly anti-reality TV. I can't stand it!! :mad:

[JulieSomoski]

yeah, reality TV has moved over to cable now. like you said, the only shows doing well are the old favorites (with the exception of The Apprentice which had been slipping but came back), the new ones aren't really holding up.

Speaking of The Apprentice, I was surprised it didn't slip more, with new Grey's Anatomy and CSi up against it last week. I'll bet this week, since both are repeats (right?) it'll see a ratings increase. It's still doing better than it was last year, which is a good sign.

[Stuck In The '70's]

Speaking of The Apprentice, I was surprised it didn't slip more, with new Grey's Anatomy and CSi up against it last week. I'll bet this week, since both are repeats (right?) it'll see a ratings increase. It's still doing better than it was last year, which is a good sign.
That just proves what people want anymore...you wait .Script shows are going to be outdone by reality tv in the years to come. The networks probably also feel like its much less of a headache.

[Faith_27]

Some of then are scripted some are not but what they only want is the ratings.

[EmoJoe]

That just proves what people want anymore...you wait .Script shows are going to be outdone by reality tv in the years to come. The networks probably also feel like its much less of a headache.
i really dont think so. reality shows were losing popularity on network TV up until this strike. and most of the new ones are still doing poorly.

[JulieSomoski]

i really dont think so. reality shows were losing popularity on network TV up until this strike. and most of the new ones are still doing poorly.

That doesn't really mean anything though. It just means that because of this strike, reality TV is strong again. It's A LOT cheaper to produce than scripted TV shows, most reality shows have been doing either the same or better than scripted shows this season, and people seem to like reality shows more than they do scripted shows. Like Walking Tall said, it's a lot less of a headache.