FOX, The Network You Love To Hate - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

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:

Quote:

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

Quote:

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

Quote:

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

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA

Futurama (2003)

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

Quote:

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

Quote:

Originally posted by dawsongirl
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.

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

Quote:

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.

07-13-2004, 04:39 PM	#4
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,128	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.
	__________________ Sonny

07-13-2004, 07:09 PM	#6
Mrs. Ducky Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,461	I no longer have any respect for FOX because they treated Oliver Beene like ****.
	__________________ “If television's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who won't shut up.” Dorothy Gambrell

07-14-2004, 08:24 AM	#10
TheWhiteStripe Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 13, 2004 Location: Huntington Beach, California Posts: 49	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.
	__________________ -Luke Messimer-

07-15-2004, 10:35 AM	#15
ClassicComedyFan2 Coolicious! Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 28, 2001 Location: AL, United States, Alpha Quadrant Posts: 698	Let's see...FOX has cancelled Futurama, The Tick, The Lone Gunmen... The only show I watch on FOX any more is The Simpsons.
	__________________ The world always looks brighter from behind a smile. ~Author Unknown Optimism is the foundation of courage. ~Nicholas Murray Butler Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you - not because they are nice, but because you are. ~Author Unknown It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice. ~ John Cassis ~

07-13-2004, 03:34 PM	#2
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	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.

07-13-2004, 04:14 PM	#3
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	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.

07-13-2004, 05:44 PM	#5
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	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)

07-14-2004, 04:19 PM	#13
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	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).