Why did Fox quit making funny sitcoms? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 10-26-2009, 06:55 PM

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...DDH81AA20H.DTL

Quote:

What in the world has happened to Fox?

This is a network that has a long history of airing quality sitcoms - though precious few of them have come after that 2001 season. There was "Andy Richter Controls the Universe" and "Greg the Bunny" in 2002. The network's sitcom zenith came in 2003 with "Arrested Development."

Since then? Nothing. Except for a dismal string of unfunny critical and ratings failures.

That's an astonishing creative dry spell. What makes Fox look all the worse is that its network competitors have driven a comeback in the sitcom genre, particularly in the past two seasons. Cable channels, including FX, Fox's sister, have had no trouble making people laugh.

So, what's going on at Fox? Television's biggest mystery, that's what.

Part of the decline can be traced back to Fox falling (more) in love with reality shows and cutting back the number of sitcoms it was producing after 2003. The network also began to solidify its drama ranks and, like many other networks, leaned more heavily in that direction for a while. Then there was the lamented "CBS Lite" phase of Fox's comedy development, which resulted in edgeless duds like "Back to You" and the unexplainable continuation of " 'Til Death." But mixed in was more than a fair share of awfulness: "Quintuplets," "Method & Red," "Stacked," "The War at Home," "Happy Hour," "Do Not Disturb," etc.

What does Fox have? "Glee," which is a genre-busting hourlong series that is primarily a musical but has - by far - the funniest humor Fox has seen in five or six seasons. What does that say to the network? Apparently nothing.

Fox announced recently that it was going to make a sitcom - yep, a sitcom - by using "The Dog Whisperer" as inspiration. Granted, you can't judge anything on paper, and a humorous account of dog trainer Cesar Millan's life just might work, but five or six seasons of rampant development failure says it probably won't.

Hey, Fox. This isn't funny anymore. Fix your comedy development department.

Chocoholic · 10-26-2009, 08:38 PM

Why can't the networks in general make funny, decent, likable sitcoms anymore?

megamanj2004 · 10-27-2009, 03:25 PM

FOX fails because they have potential to produce decent shows but yet they want crappy sitcoms.

When they had the War at Home, they inexplicably gave that show a 2nd season but yet they cancelled Arrested Development.

When they had Back to You and Til' Death, FOX nixed Back to You in favor of the highly-bashed Til' Death.

FOX has one of the worst notorius track records when it comes to them keeping potential quality shows on their sked.

Chocoholic · 10-27-2009, 03:28 PM

^ Don't forget Andy Richter Controls the Universe. That show had great potential.

R.jsheedy · 10-27-2009, 04:06 PM

Hey!!!! I Loved The War At Home!!!!!

dakert · 10-27-2009, 09:32 PM

I never did understand the appeal of Arrested Development

Retro4Life · 10-27-2009, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocoholic

Why can't the networks in general make funny, decent, likable sitcoms anymore?

I think the biggest reason is the lack of good writers. They trot out sitcoms now and then, but most of them just fall flat on their face for the simple reason that they aren't funny. Most TV comedy writers today seem to be mimicking TV shows they grew up with, instead of doing what classic comedy writers always did; draw from their own life experiences to glean material.

Also, classic comedy had a kind of sentimental or compassionate underpinning that I just don't see represented in much modern TV comedy. There's only so long people will follow a show where they are laughing AT a character, but they will follow a character they are laughing WITH a lot longer.

Marvo301 · 10-27-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

I think the biggest reason is the lack of good writers. They trot out sitcoms now and then, but most of them just fall flat on their face for the simple reason that they aren't funny. Most TV comedy writers today seem to be mimicking TV shows they grew up with, instead of doing what classic comedy writers always did; draw from their own life experiences to glean material.

Also, classic comedy had a kind of sentimental or compassionate underpinning that I just don't see represented in much modern TV comedy. There's only so long people will follow a show where they are laughing AT a character, but they will follow a character they are laughing WITH a lot longer.

Very well said Michael! I agree with everything you said.

James · 10-28-2009, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

Most TV comedy writers today seem to be mimicking TV shows they grew up with, instead of doing what classic comedy writers always did; draw from their own life experiences to glean material.

Hopefully this means writers will model shows after wholesome fare like Leave It To Beaver--and earn praise from the Parents Television Council!

Retro4Life · 10-28-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James

Hopefully this means writers will model shows after wholesome fare like Leave It To Beaver--and earn praise from the Parents Television Council!

Unfortunately, most of them seem to have grown up with "Married With Children"!

TVgeek14 · 10-28-2009, 01:40 PM

I wish FOX can power back with their comedies.Animated Comedies is the only fourm FOX are good that and now thanks to The Cleveland Show That genre is starting to suck.

FOX get your head in the game.Ur making ABC comedies look good.

gidgetgrape · 10-28-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

Unfortunately, most of them seem to have grown up with "Married With Children"!

I wonder how many are active readers. I think you need a good worldview to be creative and funny. I forgot how awesome FOX use to be.

Retro4Life · 10-28-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gidgetgrape

I wonder how many are active readers. I think you need a good worldview to be creative and funny. I forgot how awesome FOX use to be.

I think a lot of early TV comedy writers had a background in writing for the theater, too. The immediacy of a live audience might have honed their skills moreso than knowing they had a laugh track to fall back on.

MickeyMac · 10-28-2009, 06:18 PM

Other than Married With Children, what funny and entertaining show has Fox ever made?????

Marvo301 · 10-28-2009, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

I think a lot of early TV comedy writers had a background in writing for the theater, too. The immediacy of a live audience might have honed their skills moreso than knowing they had a laugh track to fall back on.

Many early TV writers got their start on radio. And most of those radio shows were broadcast in front of a live studio audience.

10-27-2009, 03:25 PM	#3
megamanj2004 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 21, 2004 Posts: 2,357	FOX fails because they have potential to produce decent shows but yet they want crappy sitcoms. When they had the War at Home, they inexplicably gave that show a 2nd season but yet they cancelled Arrested Development. When they had Back to You and Til' Death, FOX nixed Back to You in favor of the highly-bashed Til' Death. FOX has one of the worst notorius track records when it comes to them keeping potential quality shows on their sked.
	__________________ 10 AND A HALF YEARS GOING STRONG!!!

10-26-2009, 08:38 PM	#2
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	Why can't the networks in general make funny, decent, likable sitcoms anymore?

10-27-2009, 03:28 PM	#4
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	^ Don't forget Andy Richter Controls the Universe. That show had great potential.

10-27-2009, 04:06 PM	#5
R.jsheedy Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 06, 2008 Posts: 1,035	Hey!!!! I Loved The War At Home!!!!!

10-27-2009, 09:32 PM	#6
dakert Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Altoona PA Posts: 3,411	I never did understand the appeal of Arrested Development

10-28-2009, 01:40 PM	#11
TVgeek14 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 11, 2009 Location: UK but Watch US Shows on Internet Posts: 247	I wish FOX can power back with their comedies.Animated Comedies is the only fourm FOX are good that and now thanks to The Cleveland Show That genre is starting to suck. FOX get your head in the game.Ur making ABC comedies look good.

10-28-2009, 06:18 PM	#14
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,004	Other than Married With Children, what funny and entertaining show has Fox ever made?????