Why did BTY allow FOX to meddle? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

energy · 05-15-2008, 10:59 AM

Why would BTY allow FOX to dictate to them about things like casting?

Once FOX agreed to 13 episodes, shouldn't it be pretty much understood to be 13 episodes of allowing BTY to use who and what THEY think are the best actors, story lines, etc? Shouldn't it be a situation were FOX is able to make SUGGESTIONS, but BTY isn't obligated to follow through on those suggestions? Shouldn't the attitude of BTY have been, ''If you don't like it, cancel it and we will take it to another network''? Wouldn't that have been better than allowing others, who don't understand the sitcom medium, to dictate to them and still end up getting cancelled anyway?

If BTY would have stood their ground and not allowed the cast changes, they still likely would have been cancelled. But when they shopped the show to other networks, they would have been shopping a show with a cast they felt was the best to put before the cameras, not who FOX thought was the best.

Sitcoms are art. Master artists like Levitan, Grammer, Burrows,etc. should never allow non-artist to stand over their shoulders and dictate brush strokes.

Now, when when they shop this show they are going to have shop it with some of FOX's stink on it.

Just wondering out loud.

JulieSomoski · 05-15-2008, 05:39 PM

Yeah, it seems like the cast changes is what's been hurting the show lately. Since they changed the cast around, ratings have hit lows. They should have just left it the way it was, and let the characters evolve.

Brian Damage · 05-17-2008, 07:52 AM

Really, what choice did the show have? They wanted a reneweal and FOX made it seem that this was the way for them to get it. I see what you are saying about having FOX's stink on it. lol

If BTY was to be picked up by another network, they could always bring back Ayda Field.

JulieSomoski · 05-17-2008, 01:23 PM

Seriously, Grammar even pointed out that just the Friday morning before FOX cancelled the show, all signs were pointing to a renewal. But, just hours later, FOX went ahead and cancelled it, giving these lame excuses as to why they did it.

Plus, it's been said before that the only reason the producers went with FOX in the first place was because FOX promised them great things, but they never kept their promises.

Brian Damage · 05-17-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulieSomoski

Seriously, Grammar even pointed out that just the Friday morning before FOX cancelled the show, all signs were pointing to a renewal. But, just hours later, FOX went ahead and cancelled it, giving these lame excuses as to why they did it.

Plus, it's been said before that the only reason the producers went with FOX in the first place was because FOX promised them great things, but they never kept their promises.

I admit, I too fell for their promises, because not only did they give them a 13 episode order, they also gave it a full season as well.

Sonia · 05-17-2008, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I admit, I too fell for their promises, because not only did they give them a 13 episode order, they also gave it a full season as well.

Seriously, the more I think about, read about, hear about this I just get sick to my stomach. Fox lied to them all along plain and simple. Not only they cancelled them but now, in a way, they have tarnished the image of the show by first forcing the cast changes on the producers (something that alienated a lot of fans) and now by saying that the show was suffering creatively. No wander the producers are having a hard time convincing another network to save the show. For those viewers who have never watched the show and just read por listen to the news, BTY is just a sitcom that was cancelled by FOX. It creates a huge disadvantage for the show.

p.s. I just read that the producers had planned to end season one with "Hug and Tell" episode where they would have that last scene of Chuck and kelly fainting as a cliffhanger. But Fox messed up the whole thing of course!

JulieSomoski · 05-18-2008, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonia

Seriously, the more I think about, read about, hear about this I just get sick to my stomach. Fox lied to them all along plain and simple. Not only they cancelled them but now, in a way, they have tarnished the image of the show by first forcing the cast changes on the producers (something that alienated a lot of fans) and now by saying that the show was suffering creatively. No wander the producers are having a hard time convincing another network to save the show. For those viewers who have never watched the show and just read por listen to the news, BTY is just a sitcom that was cancelled by FOX. It creates a huge disadvantage for the show.

p.s. I just read that the producers had planned to end season one with "Hug and Tell" episode where they would have that last scene of Chuck and kelly fainting as a cliffhanger. But Fox messed up the whole thing of course!

Exactly! Fox messed with the show, then pretty much blamed the low ratings and cancellation on "creative differences." I swear, I will never watch a new show on FOX again.

And I don't get why FOX would give the show a full 24 episodes season order before the strike, but then cut it down to just 18, leave episodes unaired, and cancel it after the strike? If they promised us a 24 episode order, we should have gotten 24 episodes, or at least something near it.

Ending the season with "Hug and Tell" would have been a great idea. The whole Graice storyline was hugely rushed. Even if we did get a second season, where would the episodes begin??

Janice · 05-21-2008, 01:27 PM

I think the biggest mistake was going with FOX in the first place. That never felt like a good fit to me. I read that Steve Levitan thinks that as well. Water under the bridge, but that bugs me.

catlover79 · 05-21-2008, 01:37 PM

I hate it when the networks don't leave well enough alone.

05-15-2008, 10:59 AM	#1
energy Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 07, 2006 Location: florida Posts: 101	Why did BTY allow FOX to meddle? Why would BTY allow FOX to dictate to them about things like casting? Once FOX agreed to 13 episodes, shouldn't it be pretty much understood to be 13 episodes of allowing BTY to use who and what THEY think are the best actors, story lines, etc? Shouldn't it be a situation were FOX is able to make SUGGESTIONS, but BTY isn't obligated to follow through on those suggestions? Shouldn't the attitude of BTY have been, ''If you don't like it, cancel it and we will take it to another network''? Wouldn't that have been better than allowing others, who don't understand the sitcom medium, to dictate to them and still end up getting cancelled anyway? If BTY would have stood their ground and not allowed the cast changes, they still likely would have been cancelled. But when they shopped the show to other networks, they would have been shopping a show with a cast they felt was the best to put before the cameras, not who FOX thought was the best. Sitcoms are art. Master artists like Levitan, Grammer, Burrows,etc. should never allow non-artist to stand over their shoulders and dictate brush strokes. Now, when when they shop this show they are going to have shop it with some of FOX's stink on it. Just wondering out loud.
	Last edited by energy; 05-15-2008 at 10:13 PM.

05-15-2008, 05:39 PM	#2
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	Yeah, it seems like the cast changes is what's been hurting the show lately. Since they changed the cast around, ratings have hit lows. They should have just left it the way it was, and let the characters evolve.
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05-17-2008, 07:52 AM	#3
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Really, what choice did the show have? They wanted a reneweal and FOX made it seem that this was the way for them to get it. I see what you are saying about having FOX's stink on it. lol If BTY was to be picked up by another network, they could always bring back Ayda Field.
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05-21-2008, 01:37 PM	#9
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,396	I hate it when the networks don't leave well enough alone.
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05-17-2008, 01:23 PM	#4
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	Seriously, Grammar even pointed out that just the Friday morning before FOX cancelled the show, all signs were pointing to a renewal. But, just hours later, FOX went ahead and cancelled it, giving these lame excuses as to why they did it. Plus, it's been said before that the only reason the producers went with FOX in the first place was because FOX promised them great things, but they never kept their promises.

05-21-2008, 01:27 PM	#8
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I think the biggest mistake was going with FOX in the first place. That never felt like a good fit to me. I read that Steve Levitan thinks that as well. Water under the bridge, but that bugs me.