Hmm

[¤I Love Clay Aiken¤]

Wasnt a spinoff and wasnt a one year wonder. But have you ever wondered about these new shows being cancelled after like, 3 episodes?? Look at the Brady Bunch-- got mediocre ratings and BAD reviews, but look at it now-EVERYONE knows it and its all over the place, spinoffs, movies, merchandise...its probably one of the few shows that has had so much popularity still strong!! Same with Leave it to Beaver--never got great ratings, but it laster quite a while. Maybe if tv network executives didnt ax shows after 3 episodes because it didnt get millions of watchers they mightve just had the next Brady Bunch.

[17Mar59]

I think it's true about just about any type of show these days.
TPTB seem more eager to cancel shows than they were in the
past.

[TJL]

In the old days Networks were run by fewer people, so if a network president liked a particular show, then it was kept on the air. I've heard quite a few stories about some classic show that was saved because some Network bigwig thought it was funny.
Nowadays, networks are owned by huge corporations who only want something that will make them profit more. No profit? Get rid of it.

[¤I Love Clay Aiken¤]

Yeah, which sucks, because they can get really good critic reviews, but if they get mediocre ratings, its BUH-BYE! The only stations that seem to keep shows on are UPN and WB, but thats only bc they are @ the bottom of the pack.
Shows like Once & Again got REALLY good reviews, but got axed. I cant say anything for it, bc I never watched it....but you would think a show that got good reviews would be good, bc then peple would tune in to see what all the fuss is about. And whats up with HBO getting 93 emmy nominations??!?! Just imagine how many they would have gotten if the Sopranos had made the emmy deadline cut. Its an honor to get a lot of nominations...but Im sorry, 93 is ridiculous. Sex & The City and 6 Feet Under arent the only shows on TV.

[treky]

yea, I know, like with MASH. I heard that got lousy ratings in the first season, and CBS wanted to cancel it. But the only reason it was renewed was because Bill Paley (the president of CBS in the 70s), his wife liked it. That wouldn't be good enough for them today. :wave:

[TJL]

Another thing you have to consider is in the classic days of TV, there were what, 3 or 4 major networks? Today ABC, CBS, and NBC not only face competition from other major networks fighting for attention (FOX, WB, etc.) but you have hundreds of cable channels, DVD, pay per view, and video games all diverting viewers attention from your network shows. The big three are desperate to stay on top or to just keep up, so if a prime time show doesn't cut it, it's gone after only three episodes...

[¤I Love Clay Aiken¤]

Yeah, which is stupid...because look at Seinfeld, Simpsons, SNL, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Survivor, Friends...

Those were all fresh shows (some still are) that are now listed as TOp 100 shows in books!!! (except for the game shows). They need to make a show thats fresh and new, but with good actors, episodes etc...not just something to bring in the cash.