Something I DON'T Understand About TV Land Pertaining to 'Hot in Cleveland???'

[Brian Damage]

This is what HIC star Jane Leeves said in a recent interview...

Season three will be the longest season yet at 24 episodes. Is it reassuring that TV Land has made that commitment?

"Absolutely yeah, it really is. TV Land is a small cable network, and somebody said that our show is to them what Mad Men was to AMC. We sort of gave them their brand - this is what TV Land does now. The faith they've shown in us strengthens your resolve to do good work, and it strengthens the writers' resolve too. They can start thinking ahead, and they don't have to worry about the future. Everybody just jumps on the train and the train keeps going!"

My question is this, if TV Land really regards HIC as the network's crowning jewel, why not renew it for a couple of seasons instead of one? TBS renewed House of Payne for a few seasons in one shot and FOX did the same thing with The Cleveland Show.

[TV Knowledge Fan]

...TV Land, like most cable networks, doesn't have the same kind of money that traditional broadcast networks do in, say, ordering a full season (22 episodes is the "standard" order) of certain series every season. Most cable channels usually order 13 episodes of a series each season, even if it is successful {i.e. AMC's seasonal allotment of "MAD MEN"}.

In the case of "HOT IN CLEVELAND", TV LAND initially wasn't sure if the show was going to be worth ordering future episodes, so they asked for just 6, as most broadcast networks have done with shows they're not sure about {i.e. NBC's order for six episodes of "100 QUESTIONS (FOR CHARLOTTE PAYNE)", which were quickly "burned off" in May/June 2010}. To make a long story short, Betty White "stole" the show away from her fellow cast members (now, what were their names again?), and viewers wanted to see more. So they ordered another 13.....now, they want a "full season" for next year. And that is a "big order" for a cable outfit like TV LAND...

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...TV Land, like most cable networks, doesn't have the same kind of money that traditional broadcast networks do in, say, ordering a full season (22 episodes is the "standard" order) of certain series every season. Most cable channels usually order 13 episodes of a series each season, even if it is successful {i.e. AMC's seasonal allotment of "MAD MEN"}.

In the case of "HOT IN CLEVELAND", TV LAND initially wasn't sure if the show was going to be worth ordering future episodes, so they asked for just 6, as most broadcast networks have done with shows they're not sure about {i.e. NBC's order for six episodes of "100 QUESTIONS (FOR CHARLOTTE PAYNE)", which were quickly "burned off" in May/June 2010}. To make a long story short, Betty White "stole" the show away from her fellow cast members (now, what were their names again?), and viewers wanted to see more. So they ordered another 13.....now, they want a "full season" for next year. And that is a "big order" for a cable outfit like TV LAND...

Interesting, so you think it all boils down to money?

[TV Knowledge Fan]

EVERYTHING boils down to money, Brian, when you think about it. LIke most other cable networks, TV Land has only "X" amount of dollars for "original programming"- and lately, they've made enough money from "HOT IN CLEVELAND" to start producing more sitcoms. "RETIRED AT 35" is another series that seems to have found an audience, and they're only producing six episodes each "season". Now, they have a new one beginning soon, and that has a trial six-week run as well. Eventually, TV LAND wants a two-hour block of their original comedies.......

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

EVERYTHING boils down to money, Brian, when you think about it. LIke most other cable networks, TV Land has only "X" amount of dollars for "original programming"- and lately, they've made enough money from "HOT IN CLEVELAND" to start producing more sitcoms. "RETIRED AT 35" is another series that seems to have found an audience, and they're only producing six episodes each "season". Now, they have a new one beginning soon, and that has a trial six-week run as well. Eventually, TV LAND wants a two-hour block of their original comedies.......

I suppose you are right, I just figured the more seasons you load up up front, the better case for syndication. Which of course, leads to more cash flow.