Big Bang Theory’ vs. ‘Parks and Recreation’: Why the Startling Ratings Gap? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Mr. Television · 10-17-2013, 01:53 PM

http://variety.com/2013/tv/news/big-...ap-1200728640/

Big Bang Theory’ vs. ‘Parks and Recreation’: Why the Startling Ratings Gap?

Bang Theory vs Parks and Rec
October 17, 2013 | 08:54AM PT
Chasm between shows widens on DVR viewing
Jon Weisman
Senior Editor @jonweisman

In a sense, there are two kinds of fans of NBC’s “Parks and Recreation.”
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The ones who also like CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” but can’t understand why that show crushes “Parks” so badly in the ratings.
The ones who don’t like CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” and can’t understand why that show crushes “Parks” so badly in the ratings.

I’m a member of the first group, but that’s not really important. The question isn’t why there’s a ratings gap between the two shows, but why is it so freakin’ big?

How big?

Taking last week’s numbers as an example, “Big Bang” drew a 5.1 rating in the 18-49 demo and 17.6 million viewers overall, while its Thursday 8 p.m. counterpart “Parks” managed a 1.2 and 3.2 million.

If you think it’s a case of a bunch of viewers DVR-ing “Parks,” while watching “Big Bang,” think again. When the delayed viewing numbers come in, the gap between the two shows widens.

In Live+3 last week, “Big Bang” improved to a 7.2 rating in the demo, a gain of 41% (2.1 ratings points). By comparison, “Parks” improved to a 1.6, a 33% gain (0.4 ratings points) on a much smaller base number to begin with.

Sure, CBS brings a bigger foundation of viewers to the table, while NBC is far removed from the days of “Must-See” Thursdays. You could also argue that the multi-cam, set-up/joke style of “Big Bang” is easier to settle into than the more nuanced (I almost wrote “cerebral,” but that diminishes “Bang” unfairly) single-cam stylings of “Parks.”

And there’s no doubt that “Big Bang” has benefited from how its syndication saturation widened its tent of viewers, while “Parks” is just getting started down that road.

On the other hand, it’s not as if “Parks” has so little going for it. The cast is nothing if not marketable. Amy Poehler is the former “Saturday Night Live” star and brilliant comic actress who also happens to be part of the most sought-after awards-hosting duo in the business. Aziz Ansari has a hot standup career. Chris Pratt has evolved from lovable oaf to action star. Retta is one of the most adept users of social media around. Rob Lowe is … Rob Lowe. That’s before you even get to Adam Scott, Rashida Jones, Aubrey Plaza, not to mention great guest casting.

I mean, is any character more tailored for a hunk of CBS’ audience than Nick Offerman’s Ron “F’in” Swanson?

Though there are some fans of one show who might find the comparison to the other demeaning, the sensibilities and humor of the two shows are not all that different. Their styles might differ, but both are clever, exceedingly warm and the opposite of mean-spirited. Even the ostensible targets of derision, such as Jerry (Jim O’Heir) are treated with affection. Both series value their characters and serialize their arcs.

“Big Bang” might be multicam, but it’s probably the smartest multicam sitcom around. Its viewership should embrace “Parks” more than the numbers indicate. It’s not as if “Parks” is rocket science to follow or to find the jokes in — or for that matter, the beauty.

Weigh it all together, and as much you expect some gap, the size of the gap remains hard to fathom.

“CBS has been more successful with viewers whereas NBC has been struggling to get an audience,” Horizon Media senior research veep Brad Adgate told Variety. “I think that’s a factor. Plus ‘Big Bang’ is on a top-rated cable network on primetime every night, unlike ‘Parks.’ ‘Big Bang’ is a show that viewers will seek out. I think ‘Parks’ needs help for viewers to find it. It is mysterious, though, I agree. It’s kind of strange, but ‘Big Bang’ is so popular it just kind of builds. “

The chasm has implications beyond the fate of “Parks” itself for NBC, which is struggling more than ever with its Thursday lineup in its first season since “30 Rock” and “The Office” bid farewell. Newcomers “Welcome to the Family,” “Sean Saves the World” and “The Michael J. Fox Show” are in dire straits to various degrees. A new season of “Community” remains at NBC’s disposal, but that’s another example of a cult favorite, not a ratings solution.

All the people at “Parks” can do is continue trying to make the best show they can make.

“As far as ratings go, I don’t really think about it,” “Parks and Recreation” showrunner Michael Schur told Variety. “Or, I try not to. All I know for sure is that the number that comes out at 8 a.m. every day is a wildly inaccurate picture of the number of people who watch any show, and everyone needs to stop reporting it as such. As far as one show versus another, who knows? It’s not one thing — like network or timeslot or something — it’s a combo platter, and one I do not fully understand.

“I (do) think ‘Big Bang’ is an extremely well-made show, and it is not at all a surprise to me that it is a smash hit.”

At the end of the day, maybe the NBC marketing solution should be this: “If you like ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ then you should give ‘Parks and Recreation’ a try.”

tlc38tlc38 · 10-17-2013, 02:09 PM

I don't watch or like either show.

icecream · 10-17-2013, 02:28 PM

Parks and Recreation sucks, I tried an episode once and it wasn't funny at all. It is in last place out of 417 shows on my episode track. The sad thing is Welcome to the Family, my favorite new sitcom this year, is stuck with Parks as a lead-in and will die soon.

comedyfreak · 10-17-2013, 03:09 PM

I like The Big Bang Theory it's actually funny and done live before an audience a multi camera comedy. This is my favorite type comedy.

yankeesrj12 · 10-17-2013, 03:36 PM

The Big Bang Theory has been one of my favorite shows since it came on air.

I do enjoy Parks and Recreation, but I do believe the humor is limited. My parents always seem to call me and ask which shows to watch and I told them to give Parks and Recreation a try. I said it was a bit different, but the chemistry and humor is there. They got back to me a few days later and said Parks and Recreation was one of the worst shows they've ever seen. I just think if you don't understand that type of comedy, then Parks and Recreation is not the show for you.

Skywalker · 10-17-2013, 03:39 PM

You have to give NBC some credit... they just don't know when to quit.

The biggest problem is the people who run NBC don't know anything about tv. The've struggled with their Thursday sitcoms ever since Friends left the air. I believe even when Friends was still on it lost to Survivor sometimes. Then they started airing the single cam shows and the ratings just got worse. I'm not going to trash any of those shows but some of those shows could have been bigger hits like 30 Rock and The Office. All they had to do was move them to a different night and time. Seriously, who decided it would be a good idea to put a show like 30 Rock on at 8:00 pm? And they wonder why their shows don't get good ratings.

mr awesome · 10-17-2013, 04:10 PM

Big fan of Parks, but like BBT. BBT is broader, its just that simple. It, like most multi-cams are joke-based where IMO single cams are more character-focused and usually aren't laugh out loud funny. It's more subtle humor perhaps.

BTW, NBC tried multi-cams the last couple years too and they bombed too, so its not multi vs single it's mainly the fact the shows air on NBC.

Mr. Television · 10-17-2013, 06:01 PM

I just can't get into Parks. Don't find it funny at all. TBBT is the best sitcom currently on TV. It's laugh out loud funny.

cherryade · 10-17-2013, 08:47 PM

America loves mean-spirited belittling comedy (or, as Fox entertainment head Kevin Reilly put it, "salty"). Parks is too warm and positive.

EmoJoe · 10-17-2013, 09:54 PM

America is a horrible place.

benjamoon · 10-17-2013, 10:00 PM

Parks and Recreation is a brilliant show, one of the most consistently funny and witty shows on TV. Everyone calls it niche and I've never really understood why, it's not super "in" like Community. It's actually pretty broad but it is single cam. However, there's no denying that it's never been able to find a big audience. I just don't know why.

EmoJoe · 10-17-2013, 10:03 PM

I don't see how Parks & Rec is "niche" at all. I love Community and 30 Rock but I totally get why shows like that wouldn't attract a broad audience. Parks? I don't get it. Tonally it's not all that different from Modern Family except it's a lot smarter and has much better characters. It's warm, uplifting, optimistic...I don't get why it's never taken off in the ratings, probably because it's on NBC and they've really never promoted it all that well.

10-17-2013, 01:53 PM	#1
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,127	Big Bang Theory’ vs. ‘Parks and Recreation’: Why the Startling Ratings Gap? http://variety.com/2013/tv/news/big-...ap-1200728640/ Big Bang Theory’ vs. ‘Parks and Recreation’: Why the Startling Ratings Gap? Bang Theory vs Parks and Rec October 17, 2013 \| 08:54AM PT Chasm between shows widens on DVR viewing Jon Weisman Senior Editor @jonweisman In a sense, there are two kinds of fans of NBC’s “Parks and Recreation.” Get CBS News and alerts free to your inbox The ones who also like CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” but can’t understand why that show crushes “Parks” so badly in the ratings. The ones who don’t like CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” and can’t understand why that show crushes “Parks” so badly in the ratings. I’m a member of the first group, but that’s not really important. The question isn’t why there’s a ratings gap between the two shows, but why is it so freakin’ big? How big? Taking last week’s numbers as an example, “Big Bang” drew a 5.1 rating in the 18-49 demo and 17.6 million viewers overall, while its Thursday 8 p.m. counterpart “Parks” managed a 1.2 and 3.2 million. If you think it’s a case of a bunch of viewers DVR-ing “Parks,” while watching “Big Bang,” think again. When the delayed viewing numbers come in, the gap between the two shows widens. In Live+3 last week, “Big Bang” improved to a 7.2 rating in the demo, a gain of 41% (2.1 ratings points). By comparison, “Parks” improved to a 1.6, a 33% gain (0.4 ratings points) on a much smaller base number to begin with. Sure, CBS brings a bigger foundation of viewers to the table, while NBC is far removed from the days of “Must-See” Thursdays. You could also argue that the multi-cam, set-up/joke style of “Big Bang” is easier to settle into than the more nuanced (I almost wrote “cerebral,” but that diminishes “Bang” unfairly) single-cam stylings of “Parks.” And there’s no doubt that “Big Bang” has benefited from how its syndication saturation widened its tent of viewers, while “Parks” is just getting started down that road. On the other hand, it’s not as if “Parks” has so little going for it. The cast is nothing if not marketable. Amy Poehler is the former “Saturday Night Live” star and brilliant comic actress who also happens to be part of the most sought-after awards-hosting duo in the business. Aziz Ansari has a hot standup career. Chris Pratt has evolved from lovable oaf to action star. Retta is one of the most adept users of social media around. Rob Lowe is … Rob Lowe. That’s before you even get to Adam Scott, Rashida Jones, Aubrey Plaza, not to mention great guest casting. I mean, is any character more tailored for a hunk of CBS’ audience than Nick Offerman’s Ron “F’in” Swanson? Though there are some fans of one show who might find the comparison to the other demeaning, the sensibilities and humor of the two shows are not all that different. Their styles might differ, but both are clever, exceedingly warm and the opposite of mean-spirited. Even the ostensible targets of derision, such as Jerry (Jim O’Heir) are treated with affection. Both series value their characters and serialize their arcs. “Big Bang” might be multicam, but it’s probably the smartest multicam sitcom around. Its viewership should embrace “Parks” more than the numbers indicate. It’s not as if “Parks” is rocket science to follow or to find the jokes in — or for that matter, the beauty. Weigh it all together, and as much you expect some gap, the size of the gap remains hard to fathom. “CBS has been more successful with viewers whereas NBC has been struggling to get an audience,” Horizon Media senior research veep Brad Adgate told Variety. “I think that’s a factor. Plus ‘Big Bang’ is on a top-rated cable network on primetime every night, unlike ‘Parks.’ ‘Big Bang’ is a show that viewers will seek out. I think ‘Parks’ needs help for viewers to find it. It is mysterious, though, I agree. It’s kind of strange, but ‘Big Bang’ is so popular it just kind of builds. “ The chasm has implications beyond the fate of “Parks” itself for NBC, which is struggling more than ever with its Thursday lineup in its first season since “30 Rock” and “The Office” bid farewell. Newcomers “Welcome to the Family,” “Sean Saves the World” and “The Michael J. Fox Show” are in dire straits to various degrees. A new season of “Community” remains at NBC’s disposal, but that’s another example of a cult favorite, not a ratings solution. All the people at “Parks” can do is continue trying to make the best show they can make. “As far as ratings go, I don’t really think about it,” “Parks and Recreation” showrunner Michael Schur told Variety. “Or, I try not to. All I know for sure is that the number that comes out at 8 a.m. every day is a wildly inaccurate picture of the number of people who watch any show, and everyone needs to stop reporting it as such. As far as one show versus another, who knows? It’s not one thing — like network or timeslot or something — it’s a combo platter, and one I do not fully understand. “I (do) think ‘Big Bang’ is an extremely well-made show, and it is not at all a surprise to me that it is a smash hit.” At the end of the day, maybe the NBC marketing solution should be this: “If you like ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ then you should give ‘Parks and Recreation’ a try.”
	__________________ Sonny

10-17-2013, 02:09 PM	#2
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,257	I don't watch or like either show.
	__________________ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10 In loving memory of my best friend, my Mama.

10-17-2013, 02:28 PM	#3
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,656	Parks and Recreation sucks, I tried an episode once and it wasn't funny at all. It is in last place out of 417 shows on my episode track. The sad thing is Welcome to the Family, my favorite new sitcom this year, is stuck with Parks as a lead-in and will die soon.
	__________________ Top 200 TV Shows https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...14#post6225214 Top 150 Movies https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...84#post6175384 Top 1100 Scripted TV Characters https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=493306 Top Rookie TV Shows by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=365017 Top Movies by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=473533

10-17-2013, 03:09 PM	#4
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,058	I like The Big Bang Theory it's actually funny and done live before an audience a multi camera comedy. This is my favorite type comedy.
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

10-17-2013, 09:54 PM	#10
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	America is a horrible place.
	__________________ "I know the difference between TV and reality, Jeff. TV has structure, it makes sense, there are likable leading men. In real life, we have this. We have you." - Abed Nadir, Community www.sitcomsarestupid.blogspot.com

10-17-2013, 03:36 PM	#5
yankeesrj12 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 09, 2008 Posts: 4,335	The Big Bang Theory has been one of my favorite shows since it came on air. I do enjoy Parks and Recreation, but I do believe the humor is limited. My parents always seem to call me and ask which shows to watch and I told them to give Parks and Recreation a try. I said it was a bit different, but the chemistry and humor is there. They got back to me a few days later and said Parks and Recreation was one of the worst shows they've ever seen. I just think if you don't understand that type of comedy, then Parks and Recreation is not the show for you.

10-17-2013, 03:39 PM	#6
Skywalker Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2003 Posts: 14,204	You have to give NBC some credit... they just don't know when to quit. The biggest problem is the people who run NBC don't know anything about tv. The've struggled with their Thursday sitcoms ever since Friends left the air. I believe even when Friends was still on it lost to Survivor sometimes. Then they started airing the single cam shows and the ratings just got worse. I'm not going to trash any of those shows but some of those shows could have been bigger hits like 30 Rock and The Office. All they had to do was move them to a different night and time. Seriously, who decided it would be a good idea to put a show like 30 Rock on at 8:00 pm? And they wonder why their shows don't get good ratings.

10-17-2013, 04:10 PM	#7
mr awesome Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 23, 2013 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 275	Big fan of Parks, but like BBT. BBT is broader, its just that simple. It, like most multi-cams are joke-based where IMO single cams are more character-focused and usually aren't laugh out loud funny. It's more subtle humor perhaps. BTW, NBC tried multi-cams the last couple years too and they bombed too, so its not multi vs single it's mainly the fact the shows air on NBC.

10-17-2013, 06:01 PM	#8
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,127	I just can't get into Parks. Don't find it funny at all. TBBT is the best sitcom currently on TV. It's laugh out loud funny.

10-17-2013, 08:47 PM	#9
cherryade Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 01, 2013 Posts: 65	America loves mean-spirited belittling comedy (or, as Fox entertainment head Kevin Reilly put it, "salty"). Parks is too warm and positive.

10-17-2013, 10:00 PM	#11
benjamoon Bewitched Senior Member Join Date: Jun 15, 2000 Location: New York Posts: 1,450	Parks and Recreation is a brilliant show, one of the most consistently funny and witty shows on TV. Everyone calls it niche and I've never really understood why, it's not super "in" like Community. It's actually pretty broad but it is single cam. However, there's no denying that it's never been able to find a big audience. I just don't know why.
	__________________ My Blog: http://benjamonsterstv.blogspot.com/ My Site: peaktvdatabase.weebly.com My favorite TV shows: Bewitched, I Love Lucy, American Dreams, Mary Tyler Moore, The Office, Happy Days, The West Wing, Modern Family, Friday Night Lights, Friends, Mad Men, Parks and Recreation, and Parenthood

10-17-2013, 10:03 PM	#12
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	I don't see how Parks & Rec is "niche" at all. I love Community and 30 Rock but I totally get why shows like that wouldn't attract a broad audience. Parks? I don't get it. Tonally it's not all that different from Modern Family except it's a lot smarter and has much better characters. It's warm, uplifting, optimistic...I don't get why it's never taken off in the ratings, probably because it's on NBC and they've really never promoted it all that well.