FOX President Offers Measured Hope To OC Fans! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Buffyboy323 · 07-28-2006, 04:15 PM

Fox president offers measured hope to fans of SoCal drama series; loyalists better tune in, or else.

The O.C. LOS ANGELES--Soak up the sun while you can.

Fox president Peter Ligouri has a message for trembling fans of beleaguered teen drama The O.C.. Loyal viewers became alarmed when, after a mediocre ratings season, Fox ordered only 16 episodes of the show instead of 22, the normal full-season order.

"I wouldn't read too much into it," he assured. "A couple of things: One, we ordered 16 because we're going to start the show November 1st...after baseball."

Liguori, speaking yesterday at the Television Critics Association's summer press tour, said the net wanted to run all-new O.C. episodes together in a block, rather than have repeats scattered throughout the season. This tactic is also being used by ABC in an effort to shore up ratings for its serialized dramas, which don't fare well in repeats.

Liguori credited The O.C. with helping Fox on Thursdays, and said there are some good surprises planned this season.

"The O.C.'s ratings have been a bit challenged recently. I think the audience is loyal. Frankly, Thursday night has been a weak spot for us, and The O.C. has done well," he said. "I mean last year we were up 30 percent in that 9 p.m. time slot with The O.C.. Having heard [the planned] stories this year--[there are] a lot of stories to tell, and they're juicy, and they're good. Our bet is that The O.C. loyalists are going to be back."

The Fox network president echoed statements made by ABC president Stephen McPherson and NBC president Kevin Reilly when he said Thursdays this fall would be a big battleground.

"I'll be the third person to talk about the difficulties of Thursday night and the challenges of Thursday night," he said. "There's no doubt about it. Thursday night is going to be one monster, competitive night of television."

While admitting that the outlook for The O.C. isn't rosy, Liguori sounded a hopeful note about the future of the show and compared it to the network's own trajectory.

"It is a challenge, make no bones about it. But shows need to grow, you know, especially young shows. But the fact that they are leaving high school should be able to open it up to more of an 18-24 audience. In a microcosm, what's going on with The O.C. is somewhat analagous to what is going on with Fox--here we are consistently winning teens, consistently winning young adults, now we are starting to win 18-49."

Buffyboy323 · 07-28-2006, 04:16 PM

This article has me thinking....Good News???? Or is the FOX President just trying to hold the peace with The OC fans, and knows it's the last year....Hmmm...

Rachel3118 · 08-09-2006, 08:23 PM

Yah, you can't really know if it's good news because they could just be trying to get people to watch the first 16 episodes and not be too upseat yet.

PrettyinPink55 · 08-10-2006, 01:18 AM

Probably trying to stop a boycott/uproar before it happens.

Buffyboy323 · 08-12-2006, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyinPink55

Probably trying to stop a boycott/uproar before it happens.

I think that too! I think they know they're axing it after next season, and they only renewed it to fill in their time-slots.

rosered · 08-22-2006, 10:55 PM

I dont think it will be a problem if they get the show back to its roots - the Cohens and Ryan. I thought last season was not nearly as good as past ones, 'cause it got into all these...characters that weren't integral to the show.

Rachel3118 · 09-22-2006, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosered

I dont think it will be a problem if they get the show back to its roots - the Cohens and Ryan. I thought last season was not nearly as good as past ones, 'cause it got into all these...characters that weren't integral to the show.

Season 4 will be even worse since they are going to make Caitlin, her friends, and Taylor bigger parts of the show.

Chain Gang Member · 09-22-2006, 03:08 PM

I don't know about Caitlin and her friends,but I think Taylor will make an excellent star character for the show

07-28-2006, 04:15 PM	#1
Buffyboy323 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 24, 2005 Posts: 6,104	FOX President Offers Measured Hope To OC Fans! Fox president offers measured hope to fans of SoCal drama series; loyalists better tune in, or else. The O.C. LOS ANGELES--Soak up the sun while you can. Fox president Peter Ligouri has a message for trembling fans of beleaguered teen drama The O.C.. Loyal viewers became alarmed when, after a mediocre ratings season, Fox ordered only 16 episodes of the show instead of 22, the normal full-season order. "I wouldn't read too much into it," he assured. "A couple of things: One, we ordered 16 because we're going to start the show November 1st...after baseball." Liguori, speaking yesterday at the Television Critics Association's summer press tour, said the net wanted to run all-new O.C. episodes together in a block, rather than have repeats scattered throughout the season. This tactic is also being used by ABC in an effort to shore up ratings for its serialized dramas, which don't fare well in repeats. Liguori credited The O.C. with helping Fox on Thursdays, and said there are some good surprises planned this season. "The O.C.'s ratings have been a bit challenged recently. I think the audience is loyal. Frankly, Thursday night has been a weak spot for us, and The O.C. has done well," he said. "I mean last year we were up 30 percent in that 9 p.m. time slot with The O.C.. Having heard [the planned] stories this year--[there are] a lot of stories to tell, and they're juicy, and they're good. Our bet is that The O.C. loyalists are going to be back." The Fox network president echoed statements made by ABC president Stephen McPherson and NBC president Kevin Reilly when he said Thursdays this fall would be a big battleground. "I'll be the third person to talk about the difficulties of Thursday night and the challenges of Thursday night," he said. "There's no doubt about it. Thursday night is going to be one monster, competitive night of television." While admitting that the outlook for The O.C. isn't rosy, Liguori sounded a hopeful note about the future of the show and compared it to the network's own trajectory. "It is a challenge, make no bones about it. But shows need to grow, you know, especially young shows. But the fact that they are leaving high school should be able to open it up to more of an 18-24 audience. In a microcosm, what's going on with The O.C. is somewhat analagous to what is going on with Fox--here we are consistently winning teens, consistently winning young adults, now we are starting to win 18-49."

08-09-2006, 08:23 PM	#3
Rachel3118 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 13, 2005 Posts: 1,768	Yah, you can't really know if it's good news because they could just be trying to get people to watch the first 16 episodes and not be too upseat yet.
	__________________ Rachel

08-10-2006, 01:18 AM	#4
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	Probably trying to stop a boycott/uproar before it happens.
	__________________ ♥♥♥

09-22-2006, 03:08 PM	#8
Chain Gang Member 1st Female Triple Crown Champ Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Watching Three's Company & Wrestling Posts: 8,926	I don't know about Caitlin and her friends,but I think Taylor will make an excellent star character for the show
	__________________ Mickie is the best woman to step inside the ring http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOTh3hVT0HU

07-28-2006, 04:16 PM	#2
Buffyboy323 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 24, 2005 Posts: 6,104	This article has me thinking....Good News???? Or is the FOX President just trying to hold the peace with The OC fans, and knows it's the last year....Hmmm...

08-22-2006, 10:55 PM	#6
rosered Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 20, 2006 Location: Washington, D.C. Posts: 342	I dont think it will be a problem if they get the show back to its roots - the Cohens and Ryan. I thought last season was not nearly as good as past ones, 'cause it got into all these...characters that weren't integral to the show.