King of the Hill to return next season, but with only shorter episodes. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

NASHMAN · 02-22-2005, 12:01 AM

From Variety.com

Web's bubble trouble
Modestly rated vets may be in danger of cancellation

By JOSEF ADALIAN

Watch streaming video of Josef Adalian discuss why shows don't get cheaper as they go deeper on Variety Vision.
The bubble may be about to burst on a number of long-running network shows -- and, believe it or not, the women of "Desperate Housewives" may be partly to blame.

ABC's runaway hit -- along with the Alphabet's "Lost," NBC's "Medium," Fox's "House" and CBS' "Numbers" -- has some network execs suddenly bullish about the state of scripted TV.

In particular, webheads are starting to believe that being bold can pay off -- leaving less room for modestly performing vets with relatively big production pricetags.

As a result, shows that a year ago would have been shoo-ins for renewal -- think "8 Simple Rules," "Bernie Mac," "Third Watch""Third Watch" or "60 Minutes Wednesday" -- find themselves on the bubble, teetering between renewal and cancellation.

"People right now think conditions are ripe for getting a hit," one insider says. "When you're coming off a season like this, in which there are a few smash hits, that boosts everyone's collective optimism."

Most encouraging is the fact that ABC -- a network with one foot in the grave a year ago -- has had the most luck finding hits this year. Competing nets with far stronger underlying skeds are now pondering whether it might be time to clear out the cobwebs and roll the dice on some newcomers.

"What's been proven this year is that it's not a fait accompli that ratings for the networks have to go down every year," says one network suit.

The nets have already cleared some shelf space for next season.

"Everybody Loves Raymond""Everybody Loves Raymond" and "NYPD Blue""NYPD Blue" started the year knowing the end was in sight. More recently, UPNUPN's "Star Trek: Enterprise""Star Trek: Enterprise" and the WBthe WB's "Grounded for Life""Grounded For Life" have had their exits cast in stone.

Other veterans that will have to fight their way back for another year (in addition to the ones mentioned above) include "Judging Amy," "Third Watch," "JAG," the CBS Sunday Movie and "American Dreams."

ABC's "The Bachelor""The Bachelor" will likely be back, but probably won't air as often. "King of the Hill""King Of The Hill" episodes will air next season, but the show might also end up with a much shorter season than usual.

As with most things in network TV, however, money plays a key role in deciding the fate of a veteran skeinskein.

"Unless you can pull a 'Boston Legal,' shows usually don't get cheaper as they go deeper," one web wag observes, noting that cast and writer salary bumps can add millions to a show's budget. At the same time costs soar, ratings almost always dip.

"You look at the time period and say, 'Am I losing money or making money?' " the exec adds.

While it's true that most new shows actually end up scoring lower numbers than the skeins they replaced, the frosh series often cost a hell of a lot less.

"If you sacrifice two-tenths of a ratings point but the new show is $2 million cheaper, then you've done well," the web suit says.

In a perfect world, nets would make decisions on bubble shows right now. That way, producers could pen appropriate finales, while network marketing machines could crank up the hype and start signaling the long goodbye (remember NBC's never-ending swan song for "Friends""Friends"?).

But shows that look old and haggard in February -- when nets are giddy with anticipation over their "best development season ever"-- can seem a lot shinier come May after several promising pilots have crashed and burned.

"Quite often, there's a show that everyone thought was dead, and come May, you're standing at the scheduling board and you're literally a half-hour or hour short," says one scheduling guru. "We shrug and say, 'We thought we wouldn't need it,' and then you reach for the old show and put it on the board."
Date in print: Mon., Feb. 14, 2005, Weekly

:OMG

This could be the end of KOTH's run, will it be? Find out next.

teddybare · 05-23-2005, 12:23 AM

What do you mean by shorter episodes they are only 30 minutes now? or are you talking about the number of episodes that are produced?

NASHMAN · 05-23-2005, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teddybare

What do you mean by shorter episodes they are only 30 minutes now? or are you talking about the number of episodes that are produced?

The # of episodes produced for the 2005-06 season since it is now deemed to be KOTH's last season on the air.

02-22-2005, 12:01 AM	#1
NASHMAN KGW NewsChannel 8 Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 06, 2004 Location: Centralia, WA 98532 Halfway between Seattle & Portland on I-5 Posts: 433	King of the Hill to return next season, but with only shorter episodes. From Variety.com Web's bubble trouble Modestly rated vets may be in danger of cancellation By JOSEF ADALIAN Watch streaming video of Josef Adalian discuss why shows don't get cheaper as they go deeper on Variety Vision. The bubble may be about to burst on a number of long-running network shows -- and, believe it or not, the women of "Desperate Housewives" may be partly to blame. ABC's runaway hit -- along with the Alphabet's "Lost," NBC's "Medium," Fox's "House" and CBS' "Numbers" -- has some network execs suddenly bullish about the state of scripted TV. In particular, webheads are starting to believe that being bold can pay off -- leaving less room for modestly performing vets with relatively big production pricetags. As a result, shows that a year ago would have been shoo-ins for renewal -- think "8 Simple Rules," "Bernie Mac," "Third Watch""Third Watch" or "60 Minutes Wednesday" -- find themselves on the bubble, teetering between renewal and cancellation. "People right now think conditions are ripe for getting a hit," one insider says. "When you're coming off a season like this, in which there are a few smash hits, that boosts everyone's collective optimism." Most encouraging is the fact that ABC -- a network with one foot in the grave a year ago -- has had the most luck finding hits this year. Competing nets with far stronger underlying skeds are now pondering whether it might be time to clear out the cobwebs and roll the dice on some newcomers. "What's been proven this year is that it's not a fait accompli that ratings for the networks have to go down every year," says one network suit. The nets have already cleared some shelf space for next season. "Everybody Loves Raymond""Everybody Loves Raymond" and "NYPD Blue""NYPD Blue" started the year knowing the end was in sight. More recently, UPNUPN's "Star Trek: Enterprise""Star Trek: Enterprise" and the WBthe WB's "Grounded for Life""Grounded For Life" have had their exits cast in stone. Other veterans that will have to fight their way back for another year (in addition to the ones mentioned above) include "Judging Amy," "Third Watch," "JAG," the CBS Sunday Movie and "American Dreams." ABC's "The Bachelor""The Bachelor" will likely be back, but probably won't air as often. "King of the Hill""King Of The Hill" episodes will air next season, but the show might also end up with a much shorter season than usual. As with most things in network TV, however, money plays a key role in deciding the fate of a veteran skeinskein. "Unless you can pull a 'Boston Legal,' shows usually don't get cheaper as they go deeper," one web wag observes, noting that cast and writer salary bumps can add millions to a show's budget. At the same time costs soar, ratings almost always dip. "You look at the time period and say, 'Am I losing money or making money?' " the exec adds. While it's true that most new shows actually end up scoring lower numbers than the skeins they replaced, the frosh series often cost a hell of a lot less. "If you sacrifice two-tenths of a ratings point but the new show is $2 million cheaper, then you've done well," the web suit says. In a perfect world, nets would make decisions on bubble shows right now. That way, producers could pen appropriate finales, while network marketing machines could crank up the hype and start signaling the long goodbye (remember NBC's never-ending swan song for "Friends""Friends"?). But shows that look old and haggard in February -- when nets are giddy with anticipation over their "best development season ever"-- can seem a lot shinier come May after several promising pilots have crashed and burned. "Quite often, there's a show that everyone thought was dead, and come May, you're standing at the scheduling board and you're literally a half-hour or hour short," says one scheduling guru. "We shrug and say, 'We thought we wouldn't need it,' and then you reach for the old show and put it on the board." Date in print: Mon., Feb. 14, 2005, Weekly :OMG This could be the end of KOTH's run, will it be? Find out next.
	__________________ Today, Justice is a Baseball Bat! --Judge Extreme Akim "Eye for an Eye" Eric's last and final words on T70sS: "SO LONG POINT PLACE!" Goodbye Ashton and Topher it is great knowing you. 1998-2005 That '70s Show/Will & Grace (1998-2006) Good Night Wisconsin!!!! http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...lite_Truck.PNG KCRA 3 and KQCA 58 We are Where The News Comes First!

05-23-2005, 12:23 AM	#2
teddybare Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 13, 2003 Location: Martinsville Virginia Posts: 744	What do you mean by shorter episodes they are only 30 minutes now? or are you talking about the number of episodes that are produced?
	__________________ Sanford & Son Fanatic