NBC Explains Why it Canceled "The Michael J. Fox Show" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 07-13-2014, 02:25 PM

NBC Explains Why it Canceled "The Michael J. Fox Show"
by James Hibberd
July 13, 2014

NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt told reporters at his Television Critics Association press tour session in Beverly Hills on Sunday why he decided to cancel Michael J. Fox's sitcom.

“I actually thought Michael in and of himself would help us overcome some of those challenges on Thursday, and I think it just reinforced how difficult a night it has become for us—which is why we’re making some significant changes this season on Thursday.”

Greenblatt also mentioned that experimenting with different lead-ins didn’t seem to help "Michael J. Fox" (or "Sean Saves the World", for that matter), and both shows were up against strong competition from the other networks, particularly CBS’s "Big Bang Theory"-led lineup.

http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/07/13/nb...-was-canceled/

TVFactFan · 07-13-2014, 02:27 PM

I thought ratings was always the reason?

Mr. Television · 07-26-2014, 09:26 AM

Some of us could have told him that before TMJFS even premiered.

LTCProductions · 07-26-2014, 10:27 AM

It's a shame that what was once one of NBC's most successful nights has become one of their weakest.

robyrob · 07-26-2014, 11:28 AM

if NBC understood the concept of counter programming, they would have a lot more shows that would do better. They don't have any comedies that are going to beat the Big Bang Theory ratings - and they aren't going to; they need to either put one of their big reality shows on there, or football, or risk one of their more successful dramas taking a hit.

Enough people can watch BBT online or OnDemand so that if there is something else on at the same time that they can't miss, they will watch instead (and NBC's OnDemand sucks so badly it is just a complete waste of time trying to watch anything)

70s show watcher · 07-26-2014, 08:36 PM

it was canceled because for the most part the writing stunk and viewers were smart enough to figure that out for themselves after a few viewings

Yong Fang · 08-21-2014, 02:01 PM

The Michael J. Fox Show was not any good. It was bad, it sucked. I like Michael J. Fox, Betsy Brandt is a hottie and I liked the girl who played the daughter (and the youngest son. The older son was annoying as well as the sister/sister in law. Just a crappy sub story A, sub story B show. Did have one show with Betsy Brandt in a bikini top, so it wasn't all lost.

I have read that the windows in the office of the Head of Programming and offices for the various programming directors are nailed down shut so they wont jump out the windows. A few have been wheeled away to insane asylums and rehabs. One guy just jumps up and down naked in his padded cell with feces covering him mumbling loudly, "Kill CBS. kill CBS, kill CBS."

07-13-2014, 02:25 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 56,951	NBC Explains Why it Canceled "The Michael J. Fox Show" *NBC Explains Why it Canceled "The Michael J. Fox Show"* by James Hibberd July 13, 2014 NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt told reporters at his Television Critics Association press tour session in Beverly Hills on Sunday why he decided to cancel Michael J. Fox's sitcom. “I actually thought Michael in and of himself would help us overcome some of those challenges on Thursday, and I think it just reinforced how difficult a night it has become for us—which is why we’re making some significant changes this season on Thursday.” Greenblatt also mentioned that experimenting with different lead-ins didn’t seem to help "Michael J. Fox" (or "Sean Saves the World", for that matter), and both shows were up against strong competition from the other networks, particularly CBS’s "Big Bang Theory"-led lineup. http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/07/13/nb...-was-canceled/

07-26-2014, 09:26 AM	#3
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	Some of us could have told him that before TMJFS even premiered.
	__________________ Sonny

07-26-2014, 11:28 AM	#5
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,156	if NBC understood the concept of counter programming, they would have a lot more shows that would do better. They don't have any comedies that are going to beat the Big Bang Theory ratings - and they aren't going to; they need to either put one of their big reality shows on there, or football, or risk one of their more successful dramas taking a hit. Enough people can watch BBT online or OnDemand so that if there is something else on at the same time that they can't miss, they will watch instead (and NBC's OnDemand sucks so badly it is just a complete waste of time trying to watch anything)
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07-13-2014, 02:27 PM	#2
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,950	I thought ratings was always the reason?

07-26-2014, 10:27 AM	#4
LTCProductions Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 04, 2014 Posts: 90	It's a shame that what was once one of NBC's most successful nights has become one of their weakest.

07-26-2014, 08:36 PM	#6
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,548	it was canceled because for the most part the writing stunk and viewers were smart enough to figure that out for themselves after a few viewings

08-21-2014, 02:01 PM	#7
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	The Michael J. Fox Show was not any good. It was bad, it sucked. I like Michael J. Fox, Betsy Brandt is a hottie and I liked the girl who played the daughter (and the youngest son. The older son was annoying as well as the sister/sister in law. Just a crappy sub story A, sub story B show. Did have one show with Betsy Brandt in a bikini top, so it wasn't all lost. I have read that the windows in the office of the Head of Programming and offices for the various programming directors are nailed down shut so they wont jump out the windows. A few have been wheeled away to insane asylums and rehabs. One guy just jumps up and down naked in his padded cell with feces covering him mumbling loudly, "Kill CBS. kill CBS, kill CBS."