TV Sitcoms: Will it get worse before it gets better? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 04-07-2009, 12:09 AM

Chances are you didn't pick up on the news that The CW will be getting out of the comedy business by season's end. The fledgling network hasn't had a comedy department for many months and, as a result, there were no half-hours developed for the fall schedule. For now, the 1.73 million fans of the CW's sitcom The Game (pictured) may get a reprieve: This week, creator Mara Block Akil is expected to pitch her show as an hour-long dramedy in an attempt to save it. Sadly, there's no such effort being made for the woefully underappreciated Everybody Hates Chris, the CW's other (hilarious) comedy based on Chris Rock's childhood. (A network insider says the show, which only attracts 1.71 million viewers, remains on the bubble for now -- which is industry code for, it ain't looking good, people.)

Forget, for a moment, what the loss of The Game and Everybody Hates Chris says about the already sorry state of shows featuring African-American leads. Their impending departure just isn't good news for the already troubled sitcom genre, which hasn't produced ratings gold since Chuck Lorre brought us Two and a Half Men in 2003. (That's certainly no slight to the outstanding Big Bang Theory, another Lorre creation with Bill Prady, but its audience of 10.1 million doesn't come close to what Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer can still attract.)

And it seems it'll get worse before it gets better for the genre. We already know NBC will air five fewer hours of programming next season to accommodate Jay Leno's new yakker; that means less space on the NBC schedule for comedies, especially when their most critically-beloved sitcoms like The Office (9.1 million) and 30 Rock (7.6 million) aren't exactly rocking the house of Nielsen. Meanwhile, Fox programming chief Kevin Reilly hinted earlier this year that he won't put on any new comedies this fall unless (a) they're awesome, and (b) they're protected with great lead-ins and lots of good promotion (though we have our fingers crossed that he finds room this August for his remake of Absolutely Fabulous). With the "Closed for Repairs" sign going up so much around town at the broadcast nets, its no wonder sitcom writers are finding new life on the kiddie cablers like Nickelodeon and Disney Channel.

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009...k-comedie.html

catlover79 · 04-07-2009, 12:12 AM

We can only hope.

Marvo301 · 04-07-2009, 12:19 AM

At least ABC is still trying to bring sitcoms to television. Hopefully that will help to jump start the genre.

catlover79 · 04-07-2009, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

At least ABC is still trying to bring sitcoms to television. Hopefully that will help to jump start the genre.

I hope so, too. Some of their new series actually sound worth a try!

Marvo301 · 04-07-2009, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I hope so, too. Some of their new series actually sound worth a try!

I'm just about to watch the premiere episode of Surviving Suburbia!

robyrob · 04-07-2009, 09:02 AM

FOX is going to remake Absolutely Fabulous?

MickeyMac · 04-07-2009, 06:05 PM

Its been over for years.

TVFactFan · 04-07-2009, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Chances are you didn't pick up on the news that The CW will be getting out of the comedy business by season's end. The fledgling network hasn't had a comedy department for many months and, as a result, there were no half-hours developed for the fall schedule. For now, the 1.73 million fans of the CW's sitcom The Game (pictured) may get a reprieve: This week, creator Mara Block Akil is expected to pitch her show as an hour-long dramedy in an attempt to save it. Sadly, there's no such effort being made for the woefully underappreciated Everybody Hates Chris, the CW's other (hilarious) comedy based on Chris Rock's childhood. (A network insider says the show, which only attracts 1.71 million viewers, remains on the bubble for now -- which is industry code for, it ain't looking good, people.)

Forget, for a moment, what the loss of The Game and Everybody Hates Chris says about the already sorry state of shows featuring African-American leads. Their impending departure just isn't good news for the already troubled sitcom genre, which hasn't produced ratings gold since Chuck Lorre brought us Two and a Half Men in 2003. (That's certainly no slight to the outstanding Big Bang Theory, another Lorre creation with Bill Prady, but its audience of 10.1 million doesn't come close to what Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer can still attract.)

And it seems it'll get worse before it gets better for the genre. We already know NBC will air five fewer hours of programming next season to accommodate Jay Leno's new yakker; that means less space on the NBC schedule for comedies, especially when their most critically-beloved sitcoms like The Office (9.1 million) and 30 Rock (7.6 million) aren't exactly rocking the house of Nielsen. Meanwhile, Fox programming chief Kevin Reilly hinted earlier this year that he won't put on any new comedies this fall unless (a) they're awesome, and (b) they're protected with great lead-ins and lots of good promotion (though we have our fingers crossed that he finds room this August for his remake of Absolutely Fabulous). With the "Closed for Repairs" sign going up so much around town at the broadcast nets, its no wonder sitcom writers are finding new life on the kiddie cablers like Nickelodeon and Disney Channel.

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009...k-comedie.html

I applaud CW for making MOVES and staying away from Hip Hop style shows

ekkostar · 04-08-2009, 07:26 AM

It's sad that sitcoms are dead because they had some of the best writers.
I'll never understand why people think that the Tina Fey school of humor is funny.

Sal · 04-08-2009, 04:15 PM

Just the fact that Bob Saget is back on TV every week with his own sitcom should mean that prime time network sitcoms have hit their lowest point ever. There's no denying it, people. This is as bad as it gets. There's no way to go but up from here. Hopefully, Amy Poehler can help. She is a very funny lady but her new series could use a new title. "Parks and Recreation" sounds like the name of a travel brochure and I am not spending half an hour looking at a travel brochure----unless there's nudity in it!

Dusty's Fan · 04-19-2009, 08:03 PM

To me it's a topsy-turvey world when Drew Carey is doing a game show while Bob Saget gets a sitcom. In my opinion, each is better suited to the other's job! LOL (Bob was okay on Full House though, I will say.)

BTW, I agree that "Parks and Recreation" is a questionable title for anything other than documentaries or travel-related types of shows.

04-07-2009, 12:09 AM	#1
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	TV Sitcoms: Will it get worse before it gets better? Chances are you didn't pick up on the news that The CW will be getting out of the comedy business by season's end. The fledgling network hasn't had a comedy department for many months and, as a result, there were no half-hours developed for the fall schedule. For now, the 1.73 million fans of the CW's sitcom The Game (pictured) may get a reprieve: This week, creator Mara Block Akil is expected to pitch her show as an hour-long dramedy in an attempt to save it. Sadly, there's no such effort being made for the woefully underappreciated Everybody Hates Chris, the CW's other (hilarious) comedy based on Chris Rock's childhood. (A network insider says the show, which only attracts 1.71 million viewers, remains on the bubble for now -- which is industry code for, it ain't looking good, people.) Forget, for a moment, what the loss of The Game and Everybody Hates Chris says about the already sorry state of shows featuring African-American leads. Their impending departure just isn't good news for the already troubled sitcom genre, which hasn't produced ratings gold since Chuck Lorre brought us Two and a Half Men in 2003. (That's certainly no slight to the outstanding Big Bang Theory, another Lorre creation with Bill Prady, but its audience of 10.1 million doesn't come close to what Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer can still attract.) And it seems it'll get worse before it gets better for the genre. We already know NBC will air five fewer hours of programming next season to accommodate Jay Leno's new yakker; that means less space on the NBC schedule for comedies, especially when their most critically-beloved sitcoms like The Office (9.1 million) and 30 Rock (7.6 million) aren't exactly rocking the house of Nielsen. Meanwhile, Fox programming chief Kevin Reilly hinted earlier this year that he won't put on any new comedies this fall unless (a) they're awesome, and (b) they're protected with great lead-ins and lots of good promotion (though we have our fingers crossed that he finds room this August for his remake of Absolutely Fabulous). With the "Closed for Repairs" sign going up so much around town at the broadcast nets, its no wonder sitcom writers are finding new life on the kiddie cablers like Nickelodeon and Disney Channel. http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009...k-comedie.html
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04-07-2009, 12:12 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	We can only hope.
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04-07-2009, 12:19 AM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	At least ABC is still trying to bring sitcoms to television. Hopefully that will help to jump start the genre.
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04-07-2009, 09:02 AM	#6
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,200	FOX is going to remake Absolutely Fabulous?
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04-08-2009, 07:26 AM	#9
ekkostar Coffee, Tea & Larroquette! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 16, 2005 Posts: 1,077	It's sad that sitcoms are dead because they had some of the best writers. I'll never understand why people think that the Tina Fey school of humor is funny.
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04-07-2009, 06:05 PM	#7
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	Its been over for years.

04-08-2009, 04:15 PM	#10
Sal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 20, 2001 Location: Oakville, Ont. Canada Posts: 6,193	Just the fact that Bob Saget is back on TV every week with his own sitcom should mean that prime time network sitcoms have hit their lowest point ever. There's no denying it, people. This is as bad as it gets. There's no way to go but up from here. Hopefully, Amy Poehler can help. She is a very funny lady but her new series could use a new title. "Parks and Recreation" sounds like the name of a travel brochure and I am not spending half an hour looking at a travel brochure----unless there's nudity in it!
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04-19-2009, 08:03 PM	#11
Dusty's Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 13, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,092	To me it's a topsy-turvey world when Drew Carey is doing a game show while Bob Saget gets a sitcom. In my opinion, each is better suited to the other's job! LOL (Bob was okay on Full House though, I will say.) BTW, I agree that "Parks and Recreation" is a questionable title for anything other than documentaries or travel-related types of shows.
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