View Full Version : FOX, The Network You Love To Hate


tvfan0101
07-13-2004, 03:27 PM
http://www.tvweek.com/topstorys/071204critics.html

I'm not going to quote the whole article because it is just too long but I will be quoting sections of it shortly. Before I do, however, I have to make some comments. First, I've been a vocal critic of FOX for a while now, lamenting the loss of many fine shows that the network axed without giving a chance. I've been against the year-round schedule since it was first announced. I think FOX has a lot of potential and in years past was an excellent place to go find quality programming the other networks didn't have.

However, the network has since turned into something along the lines of a greedy child. FOX wants ratings because ratings mean money and FOX wants money. But they don't just want ratings they want ratings now and not later. Much the same way a greedy child wants candy now and lots of it; and if you promise the child a large amount of candy somewhere down the line you will be met with screaming and perhaps hitting.

FOX is no different. The network brings about a lot of good shows only to kill them before giving them a chance to grow and find their audience. What if CBS had killed M*A*S*H back in '72 when it was a failure? Look what happened when the show was given a chance.

That being said, it seems that, at least, "professional" critics more or less agree with what I've been saying for a while now:


Critics 'Bipolar' About Fox

By Leslie Ryan

Fox. The network critics love and love to hate.

Fox can brag about having four shows on the best 10 list in TelevisionWeek's critics poll. But it also has five of the 10 shows that critics deemed the worst on TV.

Critics pat Fox on the back with one hand-thank you for keeping "Arrested Development"- and slap it with the other-shame on you for killing "Wonderfalls."

Fox was also named one of the three networks critics can't live without.


If, by any chance, the year-round schedule fails (and so far it looks like it will be doing so just the other day I read FOX reworked the next three weeks because of ratings problems) I wonder if FOX will ever admit it.

Dean Winchester
07-13-2004, 03:34 PM
the only problem with Fox is that they've gotten too mainstream and ratings conscious, thanks in no small part to American Idol (which I will never support).

Nowadays, they will cancel a show which posts higher in the ratings than Married With Children and Beverly Hills 90210 ever did in their heydays. They cancelled Ally McBeal for posting #59 in the 2001-2002 ratings... even tho a few years earlier, they were happy because Simpsons and MWC were their only programs that were higher than that.

Plus, these days Fox tries too hard to be cutting edge, while in the day, it just came naturally for them.

barwars
07-13-2004, 04:14 PM
Arrested Development is coming back for a second season.... FOX has done right by me.

I can't complain about the network that saved the best current show, even if it hasn't gotten high ratings.

Mr. Television
07-13-2004, 04:39 PM
I hate Fox. I used to like the network but not any more. I only watch 4 shows on it and all of them have been on awhile. When they go off the air I might stop watching fox altogether.

AKA
07-13-2004, 05:44 PM
Here are a few great shows Fox screwed over before they were able to find an audience:

Andy Richter Controls The Universe (2003)
Action (1999)
The Ben Stiller Show (1993)
The Critic (1995)
Family Guy (2002) - I know this one is coming back next year, but it never should have been cancelled in the first place.
Futurama (2003)
The Tick (2001)
TV Nation (1995)
Undeclared (2001)

Mrs. Ducky
07-13-2004, 07:09 PM
I no longer have any respect for FOX because they treated Oliver Beene like ****.

James
07-14-2004, 02:45 AM
Originally posted by Mrs. Ducky
I no longer have any respect for FOX because they treated Oliver Beene like ****.

Does that mean that Oliver Beene has been canceled?

Mrs. Ducky
07-14-2004, 03:00 AM
Originally posted by James
Does that mean that Oliver Beene has been canceled?


Yeah. They're going to use the summer to show the remaining episodes.

dawsongirl
07-14-2004, 03:23 AM
Originally posted by AKA

Futurama (2003)


:nod: May they all die at the hands of a drunken robot for canning this show. May their souls be banished forever by Earth President Nixon's Head.

TheWhiteStripe
07-14-2004, 08:24 AM
I think that they are learning. Next year they got a good line-up and all the shows they got in development for Midseason & Beyond look great, so I think the 2005-2006 season will be great.

Now that they are bringing back Arrested Development for a second season AND bringing back Family Guy, I think they are learning.

I may be getting a sitcom on FOX, so if I do, I will certainly put my two cents in. lol.

tvfan0101
07-14-2004, 09:57 AM
Originally posted by Mrs. Ducky
Yeah. They're going to use the summer to show the remaining episodes.

And I read the other day that they may not oeven burn off the remaining episodes.

Chambers
07-14-2004, 02:11 PM
Originally posted by dawsongirl
:nod: May they all die at the hands of a drunken robot for canning this show. May their souls be banished forever by Earth President Nixon's Head.

:lol: Right on!

AKA
07-14-2004, 04:19 PM
I really wanted to love Oliver Beene, but I just couldn't. It just seems like I'd seen too many shows like it to deem it "unique." It just wasn't enjoyable to me.

I gave it a good try, though, because I'm a big fan of David Cross (who was the show's narrator).

James
07-15-2004, 12:41 AM
Originally posted by AKA
I really wanted to love Oliver Beene, but I just couldn't. It just seems like I'd seen too many shows like it to deem it "unique." It just wasn't enjoyable to me.

I gave it a good try, though, because I'm a big fan of David Cross (who was the show's narrator).

If Fox had made it wholesome and simple like ABC did The Wonder Years I probably would have gotten into it.

ClassicComedyFan2
07-15-2004, 10:35 AM
Let's see...FOX has cancelled Futurama, The Tick, The Lone Gunmen...

The only show I watch on FOX any more is The Simpsons.

Brian Damage
07-15-2004, 11:06 AM
Originally posted by James
If Fox had made it wholesome and simple like ABC did The Wonder Years I probably would have gotten into it.

What age are you living in man?