What Has Happened With TV Today That If You're Not A Runaway Hit You're Canned?

[JamesG]

Television has changed a lot over the years and this is one thing that I don't like. It applies to almost every new show that comes out.

I noticed that if a program is not a mega-hit upon release then the network right away throws in the towel; not giving the show a chance.

Some shows have been canned before they were given a chance to find their audience and show what they were capable of.

I'm sure there are others out there but a show that comes to my mind right away is Cheers. Cheers was not a hit at all when it first came out and it faced early cancellation. They however stuck through it and they became one of the best shows on television.


Why do you think this has changed? Networks seem so easy to get rid of you 3 episodes in; the ultimate "sink-or-swim" way of doing things.

[browneyes106]

I think this sort of thing happened with Journeyman. After the first couple of episodes ratings went down but the show had solid acting and good storylines. Journeyman had a great fanbase even the ratings weren't high. Many fans are still grieving the cancellation. NBC really messed up in the 2007-2008 season they canceled Journeyman and aired a dumb choir competition and a remake of American Gladiators. Other examples of this are Pushing Daisies, Miss Guided, Moonlight, New Amsterdam(which might have lasted longer if it aired in the fall of 2007).

Back in 2005 Point Pleasant was a brilliant show that was canceled after nine episodes due to low ratings. Fox probably canned it because it didn't have the ratings of The O.C.

[markway895]

I suppose its because of the competition with cable, satelite tv, the internet, etc, which makes me think thats even more a reason to give shows more time to find their audience.

I wonder why they don't do what they did for Friday Night Lights (having a deal with DirectTV) with more shows. And ABC aired some shows on ABC family. Rarely some shows get a second chance on a cable station.

[ekkostar]

Recession and niche audiences.
The whole niche audience thing needs to die and they need to scale it back old school with their programming and force the young'ns into liking it.

[Marvo301]

The Dick Van Dyke Show is another series that had very low ratings in its first season and was very nearly canceled. Fortunately it survived and we now have 5 seasons of classic comedy to enjoy on DVD of this brilliant show. I wonder how many "could have been classics" we've missed out on over the years just because the networks gave up on them too soon?

[markway895]

They keep falling back on stupid reality shows. Even if they don't make it, their cheaper to produce.

[Tubehead]

thatwhat happend to jericho? the fans wrote the station they add 7 more epsidoes.

[browneyes106]

I suppose its because of the competition with cable, satelite tv, the internet, etc, which makes me think thats even more a reason to give shows more time to find their audience.

I wonder why they don't do what they did for Friday Night Lights (having a deal with DirectTV) with more shows. And ABC aired some shows on ABC family. Rarely some shows get a second chance on a cable station.

I agree with you. Cable, satellite tv and the Internet do give competition to networks. I have a DirecTV and there are times there is really nothing to watch. Even some made for cable shows aren't great. ABC,NBC, CBS and Fox really aren't allowing shows to find their audiences. It has bothered me in the past when certain Fox shows air on FX or certain ABC shows air on ABC Family. Back in 2005 Fox aired reruns of Prison Break on the weekends but they never showed reruns of Reunion which could have been a great show. I really wish Miss Guided would have been encored last spring on ABC Family.

[Classicshowsgurl15]

They did that with the show Studio 60. It was only a season and it the ratings weren't that high so they just cancelled it. I thought it was a great show.

[70s show watcher]

They did that with the show Studio 60. It was only a season and it the ratings weren't that high so they just cancelled it. I thought it was a great show.i agree