Why did Fox's Tuesday sitcom block fail? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 01-23-2013, 10:30 PM

http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-wat...-hells-kitchen

With "Ben and Kate's" cancellation, Fox is hoping "Hell's Kitchen" can help out "New Girl" and "The Mindy Project."

TVFactFan · 01-24-2013, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-wat...-hells-kitchen

With "Ben and Kate's" cancellation, Fox is hoping "Hell's Kitchen" can help out "New Girl" and "The Mindy Project."

Probably because of NBC at 9pm

Milkamplifier · 01-24-2013, 02:13 AM

Perhaps because these quirky single-camera comedies of today are too niche to pull mass audiences? ABC's The Middle and Modern Family are notable exceptions, but I imagine their family-centric premise and cast chemistry play an important role in their success.

ABC's and NBC's comedies on Tuesday night are failing miserably, too. Without "The Voice" lead-in NBC's "Go On" and "The New Normal" have lost 40-50% of their typical post-Voice audience and are now matching the ratings of FOX's "Ben & Kate" which just got pulled.

ABC's "Don't Trust the B---- in Apt 23" (which also got pulled and is most certainly on the chopping block) had the lowest ratings of them all. "Happy Endings" did a little better than "Apt 23" (yet worse than FOX's "Ben & Kate"), but is still well below the ABC scripted average, so it's getting the burn-off treatment.

Ryan Chamberlain · 01-24-2013, 02:19 AM

^I agree with what you said about the niche sitcoms. They only cater to a certain audience. The 18-24 college crowd, mostly the ones that are white, liberal and upper middle class, who live in the big city. Friends started this horrible trend. But, it least it was somewhat funny.

I find each batch of these new sitcoms more boring and less funny as the years move on.

Sitcoms have blown since the late 90s.

Milkamplifier · 01-24-2013, 02:57 AM

Yes, most of them do seem to cater to such audiences plus reflect what people in Hollywood themselves might enjoy watching.

Though - to be fair - some CBS comedies like "How I Met Your Mother" and "2 Broke Girls" also focus on the same audience, but their ratings are double (or now almost triple) than the ratings of, say, NBC's "Go On." In which case, I think the old-fashioned multi-camera format might be making them more appealing.

I wish we could see more characters along the lines of Sheriff Andy Taylor, Hazel or Rob and Laura Petrie today.

Ryan Chamberlain · 01-24-2013, 03:11 AM

I'm more of a 70s/80s sitcom fan. But, it would be nice to go back to the olden type comedies for awhile.

I was having a blast watching a Diff'rent Strokes marathon last night.

That's another thing from the past that is gone now. Catch phrases like "Whatchu Talkin' about Willis?" the only recent catch phrase I know of is "And, that's what she said" from The Office.

Milkamplifier · 01-24-2013, 03:25 AM

I would think Barney Stinson's ["How I Met Your Mother"]: "legen-wait for it-dary" also qualifies as a popular catchphrase.

As for FOX, I think "New Girl" and "Raising Hope" will be coming back next fall for sure, but the jury is still out on "The Mindy Project" or the 4-comedy block.

70s show watcher · 01-24-2013, 06:51 AM

i watched 3 out of the 4 comedies on fox and while i liked ben and kate it was the comedy that i laughed the least at whereas new girl and raising hope i find laugh out loud funny ben and kate was not bad but very weak in spots i have only watcherd one ep of the mindy project i enjoyed it but not enough to quit watching the new normal on nbc

DJM77 · 01-24-2013, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weareclouds

That's another thing from the past that is gone now. Catch phrases like "Whatchu Talkin' about Willis?" the only recent catch phrase I know of is "And, that's what she said" from The Office.

There's "Bazinga" from The Big Bang Theory. But yeah, catch phrases are gone for the most part.

ryan423 · 01-24-2013, 11:09 AM

This block not working out had nothing to do with how supposedly "niche" these shows were. 'New Girl' wasn't stable enough to anchor a block, and 'Raising Hope' wasn't successful enough to start off the night.

And I think a lot of people confuse "niche" with intelligent programming. Apparently, America isn't smart enough to understand the humor in many of these programs, and it's sad.

Mr. Television · 01-24-2013, 11:21 AM

The only one of those sitcoms that I like is Raising Hope. The rest aren't funny. It's as plain as that.

icecream · 01-24-2013, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan423

And I think a lot of people confuse "niche" with intelligent programming. Apparently, America isn't smart enough to understand the humor in many of these programs, and it's sad.

That type of elitist attitude is what causes people to stay away from certain shows. You may think it's intelligent but that does not make it a fact, nor does it make America dumb...

clj2 · 01-24-2013, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catsrule

That type of elitist attitude is what causes people to stay away from certain shows. You may think it's intelligent but that does not make it a fact, nor does it make America dumb...

Exactly!

"Intelligent" is in the... ear of the beholder.

ryan423 · 01-24-2013, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catsrule

That type of elitist attitude is what causes people to stay away from certain shows. You may think it's intelligent but that does not make it a fact, nor does it make America dumb...

People don't see promos for "Community" or "Louie" or "New Girl" and say, "Wow, their fan base must be elitist, I'm not watching!"

And I'm not referring to all of America. How can I? It's only Nielsen viewers who effect ratings. There are millions of Americans out there who aren't counted watching these shows.

TVFactFan · 01-24-2013, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan423

People don't see promos for "Community" or "Louie" or "New Girl" and say, "Wow, their fan base must be elitist, I'm not watching!"

And I'm not referring to all of America. How can I? It's only Nielsen viewers who effect ratings. There are millions of Americans out there who aren't counted watching these shows.

That's the truth, there is never a real honest evaluation of how appealing a TV show is on network TV

01-23-2013, 10:30 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 127,635	Why did Fox's Tuesday sitcom block fail? http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-wat...-hells-kitchen With "Ben and Kate's" cancellation, Fox is hoping "Hell's Kitchen" can help out "New Girl" and "The Mindy Project."

01-24-2013, 11:21 AM	#11
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	The only one of those sitcoms that I like is Raising Hope. The rest aren't funny. It's as plain as that.
	__________________ Sonny

01-24-2013, 02:13 AM	#3
Milkamplifier Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 08, 2012 Posts: 62	Perhaps because these quirky single-camera comedies of today are too niche to pull mass audiences? ABC's The Middle and Modern Family are notable exceptions, but I imagine their family-centric premise and cast chemistry play an important role in their success. ABC's and NBC's comedies on Tuesday night are failing miserably, too. Without "The Voice" lead-in NBC's "Go On" and "The New Normal" have lost 40-50% of their typical post-Voice audience and are now matching the ratings of FOX's "Ben & Kate" which just got pulled. ABC's "Don't Trust the B---- in Apt 23" (which also got pulled and is most certainly on the chopping block) had the lowest ratings of them all. "Happy Endings" did a little better than "Apt 23" (yet worse than FOX's "Ben & Kate"), but is still well below the ABC scripted average, so it's getting the burn-off treatment.

01-24-2013, 02:19 AM	#4
Ryan Chamberlain Return Of The Silverburg 2018! Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 10, 2011 Location: Still hiding in Miles Silverburg's closet. Posts: 663	^I agree with what you said about the niche sitcoms. They only cater to a certain audience. The 18-24 college crowd, mostly the ones that are white, liberal and upper middle class, who live in the big city. Friends started this horrible trend. But, it least it was somewhat funny. I find each batch of these new sitcoms more boring and less funny as the years move on. Sitcoms have blown since the late 90s.

01-24-2013, 02:57 AM	#5
Milkamplifier Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 08, 2012 Posts: 62	Yes, most of them do seem to cater to such audiences plus reflect what people in Hollywood themselves might enjoy watching. Though - to be fair - some CBS comedies like "How I Met Your Mother" and "2 Broke Girls" also focus on the same audience, but their ratings are double (or now almost triple) than the ratings of, say, NBC's "Go On." In which case, I think the old-fashioned multi-camera format might be making them more appealing. I wish we could see more characters along the lines of Sheriff Andy Taylor, Hazel or Rob and Laura Petrie today.

01-24-2013, 03:11 AM	#6
Ryan Chamberlain Return Of The Silverburg 2018! Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 10, 2011 Location: Still hiding in Miles Silverburg's closet. Posts: 663	I'm more of a 70s/80s sitcom fan. But, it would be nice to go back to the olden type comedies for awhile. I was having a blast watching a Diff'rent Strokes marathon last night. That's another thing from the past that is gone now. Catch phrases like "Whatchu Talkin' about Willis?" the only recent catch phrase I know of is "And, that's what she said" from The Office.

01-24-2013, 03:25 AM	#7
Milkamplifier Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 08, 2012 Posts: 62	I would think Barney Stinson's ["How I Met Your Mother"]: "legen-wait for it-dary" also qualifies as a popular catchphrase. As for FOX, I think "New Girl" and "Raising Hope" will be coming back next fall for sure, but the jury is still out on "The Mindy Project" or the 4-comedy block.

01-24-2013, 06:51 AM	#8
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,549	i watched 3 out of the 4 comedies on fox and while i liked ben and kate it was the comedy that i laughed the least at whereas new girl and raising hope i find laugh out loud funny ben and kate was not bad but very weak in spots i have only watcherd one ep of the mindy project i enjoyed it but not enough to quit watching the new normal on nbc

01-24-2013, 11:09 AM	#10
ryan423 Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2007 Posts: 1,829	This block not working out had nothing to do with how supposedly "niche" these shows were. 'New Girl' wasn't stable enough to anchor a block, and 'Raising Hope' wasn't successful enough to start off the night. And I think a lot of people confuse "niche" with intelligent programming. Apparently, America isn't smart enough to understand the humor in many of these programs, and it's sad.