The Futon Critic Reviewed Cavemen and Hated It

[Superbowl]

The Futon Critic, who I consider to be a pretty fair and reliable reviewer, saw Cavemen and hated it. He gave it one star (his lowest rating). See his list here (click on each show for their full review) :

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/guide....pilot_previews


As I said before this is another ABC sitcom bomb. It will get a good curiosity audience the first week or two, but the ratings will go down and down as people find out more about the show. The only ABC sitcom that has a chance this season is Samantha Who.

If you notice he gives three stars to Samantha Who, The Big Bang Theory and Back To You. Those are the new sitcoms to watch.

[Pavan]

Again, based on the original pilot. The new pilot is going to be way different. And their review of the original pilot says, it is not bad as you think.

TheFutonCritic is not like TV Guide or EW or something. They gave Ugly Betty 1 star last season...while everyone else basically praised it.

[Chelsea]

And having seen a couple of episodes of Ugly Betty, *my* opinion's probably closer to Futon's than the other critics, but maybe Betty just isn't my cup of tea.

I've personally been soured on the Cavemen project since I heard it wouldn't be the actors from the GEICO ads.

[Ireneparalegal]

Like I said, who cares abt critics, when it is the viewers who will tune in (like me). The ratings will tell a different story. How many shows have critics panned in the past? Just look at the current thread abt "shows that critics hated but the viewers loved".

[Pavan]

Originally Posted by Seth

And having seen a couple of episodes of Ugly Betty, *my* opinion's probably closer to Futon's than the other critics, but maybe Betty just isn't my cup of tea.

I've personally been soured on the Cavemen project since I heard it wouldn't be the actors from the GEICO ads.

Betty is hilarious. It's winning every award and it deserves to be. It is serialized really, so you can't just watch a couple episodes here and there. And Futon actually likes the show now. One episode isn't everything...and usually a pilot is not the strongest of the series (which is why I think Back to You has a chance to be better, because the pilot was just OK).

As for Cavemen, I don't think any of the GEICO commercial guys have had any sitcom or any real type of acting experience. With all the hair and such, it doesn't matter...to me they looked the same as the ads.

[Pavan]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Like I said, who cares abt critics, when it is the viewers who will tune in (like me). The ratings will tell a different story. How many shows have critics panned in the past? Just look at the current thread abt "shows that critics hated but the viewers loved".

So true. Critics hated According to Jim...and that show will return for a 7th season. I really think Cavemen will be like Jim.

[Mikado]

i find it hard to believe this will be any good

And Seth, Ugly Betty isnt my cup of tea either, I dont find anything funny in a group of people mistreating someone just cause shes "different"...I thought TV was finally over this sort of thing, I tried watching it twice and went away with a very bad taste in my mouth!

[Superbowl]

No critic is right on every single review or show. Honestly if you look at his reviews for the past three years Ugly Betty is one of the few he missed badly. He was pretty good with the rest, and most of his one star review shows failed. I just looked back carefully at his list and almost every one of his one star shows failed (or had very little success) except for Ugly Betty. I would say he has been very, very accurate.

And Pavan, don't take it personally but you have to stop defending every single ABC sitcom. Most of them stink, and the ratings have shown that. I remember you loving Crumbs, Knights and Jake In Progress, etc. and they all bombed in the ratings. As a matter a fact, I cannot remember the last ABC sitcom you did not love or at least like a lot.

Look, I am being fair with ABC in saying Samantha Who ? has a real chance, but the others not too good. Carpoolers I have not seen, and will withhold judgement, but something tells me it will go down with Cavemen, and we will be watching According to Jim double features by midseason.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by pavanbadal

So true. Critics hated According to Jim...and that show will return for a 7th season. I really think Cavemen will be like Jim.

A show that I LOVE. Good example of a show where the viewers and the ratings keep it on the air. I am so glad it is returning too.

As for Ugly Betty, it is an American version of a serial/soap that was extremely popular in Mexico. I think Latin America has had a couple of versions of this same show.

[Superbowl]

Originally Posted by pavanbadal

So true. Critics hated According to Jim...and that show will return for a 7th season. I really think Cavemen will be like Jim.

Guys, let's get real here. I will say that I like According to Jim, too. I watch it every single week. However, the ratings are terrible, and the only reason it stays on the air is because ABC has nothing else in sitcoms to leave on, which comes back to my original ABC's sitcoms stink argument. They want to have at least one sitcom return for stability. Why do you think Notes From the Underbelly was renewed ? It is because ABC had to renew something in the sitcom genre so they renewed these two lowly rated shows. Nothing bad against Jim because I love it, too, but its ratings stink.

[Pavan]

Originally Posted by Superbowl

And Pavan, don't take it personally but you have to stop defending every single ABC sitcom. Most of them stink, and the ratings have shown that. I remember you loving Crumbs, Knights and Jake In Progress, etc. and they all bombed in the ratings. As a matter a fact, I cannot remember the last ABC sitcom you did not love or at least like a lot.

First, I never said I loved Cavemen. I've repeatedly said it was just OK and that they better make the pilot better. I never loved Jake in Progress either. I watched it, but didn't love it. The only episode that I liked was the suburb one. The only ABC sitcoms that I loved since 8 Simple Rules were Crumbs and Knights of Prosperity. I liked Sons & Daughters and Hope & Faith, too, but those other two were better. OK and maybe In Case of Emergency, I like too. The rest were blah...(Big Day, etc).

The only reason you keep saying this is because you are still mad at over the cancelation of 8 Simple Rules. Yes, I thought it could have lasted another season at least, but stop already. That is how the TV business goes...it is not always fair.

Notice you never say anything about other network's sitcoms, like Fox. They have had more failures in sitcoms (non-animated) than any other network lately. According to Jim did way better than 'Til Death. The only time 'Til Death did good was when it was after Idol. And Jim did hit over 8 million a few times in January...very good for an ABC sitcom now.

So if for some reason CBS cancels Big Bang Theory (which I hope not!), I bet you'll do the same for CBS. I hope you do, at least. If it gets ratings like The Class did, which they paid a ton of money for and it was labeled as the next Friends (everyone thought it would do very very well), they will not bring it back. 8-9 million will not do for CBS in that slot. At least I hope you will bitch about CBS, because after three seasons you continue to say this.

[Ireneparalegal]

If ABC wanted to keep a sitcom, they could have kept George Lopez. That's another sitcom ABC could have kept, so saying that ATJ is remaining solely because ABC needs a sitcom, doesn't sound correct.

[Superbowl]

Originally Posted by pavanbadal

First, I never said I loved Cavemen. I've repeatedly said it was just OK and that they better make the pilot better. I never loved Jake in Progress either. I watched it, but didn't love it. The only episode that I liked was the suburb one. The only ABC sitcoms that I loved since 8 Simple Rules were Crumbs and Knights of Prosperity. I liked Sons & Daughters and Hope & Faith, too, but those other two were better. OK and maybe In Case of Emergency, I like too. The rest were blah...(Big Day, etc).

The only reason you keep saying this is because you are still mad at over the cancelation of 8 Simple Rules. Yes, I thought it could have lasted another season at least, but stop already. That is how the TV business goes...it is not always fair.

Notice you never say anything about other network's sitcoms, like Fox. They have had more failures in sitcoms (non-animated) than any other network lately. According to Jim did way better than 'Til Death. The only time 'Til Death did good was when it was after Idol. And Jim did hit over 8 million a few times in January...very good for an ABC sitcom now.

So if for some reason CBS cancels Big Bang Theory (which I hope not!), I bet you'll do the same for CBS. I hope you do, at least. If it gets ratings like The Class did, which they paid a ton of money for and it was labeled as the next Friends (everyone thought it would do very very well), they will not bring it back. 8-9 million will not do for CBS in that slot. At least I hope you will bitch about CBS, because after three seasons you continue to say this.

First of all, I watch very little FOX, so I rarely comment about their shows. I am still annoyed at ABC for canceling 8SR, and it proved out to be the most idiotic decision they could make, because every single sitcom they have brought after it has been worse. If they simply moved it off that terrible Friday night death slot it would have done fine and you know it.

You are unobjective over the ABC stuff. I know you have contacts there and try to pump them up, but their sitcoms have been terrible. I admit I have been hard on ABC, but I have been right almost every single time. Their sitcoms simply have stunk since I begged that idiot McPherson not to cancel 8 Simple Rules. It was and has been better than every single sitcom they brought on since.

As to CBS, and The Big Bang Theory. Yes, I do want the show to succeed. Everyone knows here I was a huge 8 Simple Rules fan, and want it to succeed because I do like Kaley Cuoco. Just FYI, I do not like Rules of Engagement with David Spade, so I am not 8 Simple Rules blind. Now as to what I will say if they cancel it will depend. Just remember, CBS has a much better sitcom inventory than ABC has or had. They have Old Christine on the bench and I am sure others in the pipeline. I hate ABC for canceling 8SR, because they did not have anything better to replace it with. They simply took a disliking to the show, moved to that awful Friday time slot, and then canceled it. We will see how CBS treats BBT, and what replaces it if it goes, before passing judgement.

In short, yes I have not forgiven ABC but I was proven right, because they replaced the show with nothing but garbage. It is one thing to be angry, but it is another thing to be angry and be right every time. I have critcized ABC and been right every single time. It is plain and simple, there sitcoms have stunk ever since 8 Simple Rules. Maybe you have liked them, but the viewers have voted no on every single one of them.

[HugeTVFan]

Looking at their reviews they seem in my opinion kind of off from Sitcom Online's pilot reviews. Okay so they liked Knights as Pavan did and Crumbs and 20 Good Years....however they gave the following shows that you seem to enjoy one star:
Carpoolers
In Case Of Emergency
The Class.
However they hated 'Til Death and Happy Hour and The Winner and all of those shows which you guys kind of/sort of hated. You guys aren't really harsh though on sitcoms. I've heard zero 'awfuls' but a LOT of 'oks'....and a couple of 'goods'....I don't know.

[Pavan]

Originally Posted by Superbowl

First of all, I watch very little FOX, so I rarely comment about their shows. I am still annoyed at ABC for canceling 8SR, and it proved out to be the most idiotic decision they could make, because every single sitcom they have brought after it has been worse. If they simply moved it off that terrible Friday night death slot it would have done fine and you know it.

I know that and have never denied that. You don't think I was pissed, too? Anyway, no sitcom really performs that well these days so ABC can plug in a drama and do much better.

Originally Posted by Superbowl

You are unobjective over the ABC stuff. I know you have contacts there and try to pump them up, but their sitcoms have been terrible. I admit I have been hard on ABC, but I have been right almost every single time. Their sitcoms simply have stunk since I begged that idiot McPherson not to cancel 8 Simple Rules. It was and has been better than every single sitcom they brought on since.

If I'm unobjective, then you are too. Since you just stated that you are still mad at that situation. And you say the ABC sitcoms have been terrible, yet you have watched quite a few (Crumbs, Jake, etc).

Originally Posted by Superbowl

As to CBS, and The Big Bang Theory. Yes, I do want the show to succeed. Everyone knows here I was a huge 8 Simple Rules fan, and want it to succeed because I do like Kaley Cuoco. Just FYI, I do not like Rules of Engagement with David Spade, so I am not 8 Simple Rules blind. Now as to what I will say if they cancel it will depend. Just remember, CBS has a much better sitcom inventory than ABC has or had. They have Old Christine on the bench and I am sure others in the pipeline. I hate ABC for canceling 8SR, because they did not have anything better to replace it with. They simply took a disliking to the show, moved to that awful Friday time slot, and then canceled it. We will see how CBS treats BBT, and what replaces it if it goes, before passing judgement.

Has ever had? Remember, before Raymond in the mid 90s, CBS was in a huge sitcom drought. ABC had huge sitcoms then like Ellen and Home Improvement. Even when ABC was in their ratings drought post-Millionaire, ABC's sitcoms did decent with 8 Simple Rules, My Wife & Kids, and According to Jim.

CBS does have Old Christine on the bench. So if Rules of Engagement can't hold on to Men's numbers much, I expect Big Bang to move there. CBS also has the mid-season sitcom The Captain on the bench...which is single camera. So if Rules or Bang can't do well enough for them Christine and Captain will come on in. That is all they ordered sitcom wise. Fans of The Class are pissed. Another show that was very good that CBS canned was Out of Practice.

ABC has Miss/Guided coming off the bench in mid-season. I've yet to see that so I can't tell you about it, but I've heard good things about it. It is from Ashton Kutcher. They also will return Notes from the Underbelly. So, at least they are trying to bring on sitcoms, unlike other networks.

As for 8 Simple Rules, had John Ritter still been with us at the time, first we would have not seen it moved to Fridays and I'm sure it would be on the air still today. It is just too bad, because that show could have helped bring on other new comedies because of John.

Originally Posted by Superbowl

In short, yes I have not forgiven ABC but I was proven right, because they replaced the show with nothing but garbage. It is one thing to be angry, but it is another thing to be angry and be right every time. I have critcized ABC and been right every single time. It is plain and simple, there sitcoms have stunk ever since 8 Simple Rules. Maybe you have liked them, but the viewers have voted no on every single one of them.

Viewers have voted no on mostly every sitcom these days. There is not one sitcom besides Two and a Half Men that gets 10+ million on a consistent basis. Even the post-Men show at 9:30pm barely gets 10 million.

ABC is quickly pulling the plug on sitcoms because the dramas do much better in the ratings. Look at NBC, they have not even added a new sitcom this fall. ABC has added THREE. Fox, The CW and CBS also have added just one new ones each.

ABC has tried multi camera and single camera sitcoms...so at least they try. My suggestion is to bring back the multi-cam completely, and I think they are trying to do that for next season's development, with Cedric the Entertainer signing on for a multi cam sitcom.