Comedy no longer central to TV networks' prime-time programming - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

waichingliu81 · 05-16-2015, 08:29 PM

Comedy may still be a desired staple of prime-time TV, but broadcasters haven't found much to laugh about for the upcoming season.

The TV networks unleashed their 2015-16 evening lineups in New York this week, leaving industry insiders buzzing about the Great Comedy Rollback. Burned by a high number of sitcom flops in recent years, programmers have decided to stop trying to bring the funny.

NBC, onetime home to generation-defining hits "Friends" and "Seinfeld," has exiled comedy to the dead zone of Friday nights. CBS benched "2 Broke Girls" until midseason and decided to take a flier on the drama reboot of "Supergirl," setting up a superhero battle on Mondays with Fox's young-Batman epic, "Gotham."

Here's a telling fact: This will be the first time since 1949 that CBS hasn't kicked off Mondays with a comedy.

Programmers' aversion to new comedy also makes more sense when one takes into account that many teenagers and twentysomethings never watch any network sitcoms.

"Young viewers in particular cruise YouTube for hours looking for funny content," said Jeffrey McCall, a TV expert and media studies professor at DePauw University. "Sitcoms are working in a very crowded arena these days."

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment...ry.html#page=1

as a sitcom fan, this is very worrying.

Mr. Television · 05-16-2015, 08:50 PM

yes very sad. Network sitcoms are practically dead. It's been bad before and they seem to always come back. But this is the first time that I've seen the networks actually give up on them. Maybe sitcoms weren't meant to survive the 20th Century. It seems like that's when the best sitcoms aired.

Patty Duke · 05-16-2015, 08:55 PM

It's heartbreaking.

There are no sitcoms on now that I consider watchable, that is my opinion. I'd rather watch the grass grow than settle for the junk the networks air now.

waichingliu81 · 05-16-2015, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Television

yes very sad. Network sitcoms are practically dead. It's been bad before and they seem to always come back. But this is the first time that I've seen the networks actually give up on them. Maybe sitcoms weren't meant to survive the 20th Century. It seems like that's when the best sitcoms aired.

i just can't imagine a genre that i grew up watching as a child into my 30s is on the brink of being extinct on the major networks. yet on cable TV, i've noticed a fair share of multi cam sitcoms crop up on there.

sitcoms make me happy, as well as laugh and smile. the characters, the interactions, the cast. i wouldn't be worried so much if sitcoms were given as much exposure to dramas and reality TV. but sadly that is not the case.

Mr. Television · 05-16-2015, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but CBS led off Mondays nights with Gunsmoke for nearly a decade around 1970. I don't know if there are other exceptions.

I think it's the first time since 1949 that no comedy has been on CBS Monday at the start of the season. I know it's been that way since I Love Lucy.

waichingliu81 · 05-16-2015, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patty Duke

It's heartbreaking.

There are no sitcoms on now that I consider watchable, that is my opinion. I'd rather watch the grass grow than settle for the junk the networks air now.

these networks only care about one thing: ratings. they don't care about viewers, especially ones who want to see more sitcoms on air.

tlc38tlc38 · 05-16-2015, 09:34 PM

I don't really like any new sitcoms (except 2 Broke Girls) anyway and they seem to be getting worse so I could really care less about them taking them off or not making more.

For comedy, I just watch my classic TV on DVDs and replay the film strips in my mind...my mind always makes me chuckle a little. Lol

broadmoor · 05-16-2015, 11:55 PM

Comedy has always been a tonic to cheer me up and boost my spirits. But I frankly just don't find 'modern' comedy to be all that amusing, whether sitcoms or stand-up or whatever. I just don't seem to relate to it on any level. The characters and the so-called 'humor' are far more apt nowadays to repel me than entertain me.

But at this point, I can't say I really care anymore. I've just long ago moved on from the networks/cable and what the culture at large seems to offer. And instead, rely on the older comedy fare that somehow addressed my funnybone, and connected with me as a viewer.

BigManMike · 05-17-2015, 08:51 AM

The only two current sitcoms I like are the Big Bang Theory and Mike and Molly. Nothing else on today interests me. That's why I mostly watch Antenna TV and DVDs.

tlc38tlc38 · 05-17-2015, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by broadmoor

Comedy has always been a tonic to cheer me up and boost my spirits. But I frankly just don't find 'modern' comedy to be all that amusing, whether sitcoms or stand-up or whatever. I just don't seem to relate to it on any level. The characters and the so-called 'humor' are far more apt nowadays to repel me than entertain me.

But at this point, I can't say I really care anymore. I've just long ago moved on from the networks/cable and what the culture at large seems to offer. And instead, rely on the older comedy fare that somehow addressed my funnybone, and connected with me as a viewer.

THIS

waichingliu81 · 05-17-2015, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlc38tlc38

I don't really like any new sitcoms (except 2 Broke Girls) anyway and they seem to be getting worse so I could really care less about them taking them off or not making more.

For comedy, I just watch my classic TV on DVDs and replay the film strips in my mind...my mind always makes me chuckle a little. Lol

i'm in the same boat as you - the modern sitcoms just don't resonate with me at all. i'm more into the classics from the 70s to early 00s. but when i look at it from a TV point of view, this news is disheartening.

icecream · 05-17-2015, 11:57 PM

Modern comedies are mostly too raunchy, they might become popular again if the vulgarness and sex jokes are cut down.

jimpickens · 05-18-2015, 12:36 AM

Two things that have killed the sitcom at least to me for the last 25 years are over reliance on toilet humor and sex jokes and political correctness.

James28 · 05-25-2015, 03:27 AM

Ugh, only four sitcoms on one night (Thursday) on CBS next season. That would make it difficult for Mike & Molly and 2 Broke Girls to return at midseason. If either Life in Pieces or Angel from Hell become successes, then M&M and 2BG are practically screwed. Neither of the new single-camera comedies deserve to be compatible with The Big Bang Theory and/or Mom.

From another board (about hit shows that one hates):

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

[2 Broke Girls] could fade away tomorrow and never return.

No, this should not happen. 2 Broke Girls is not going to be pushed off the air just for some stupid single-camera comedy that could end up being flopping in the ratings or losing at least half of the TBBT or Mom lead-in.

waichingliu81 · 05-25-2015, 09:05 PM

what killed the multicam sitcom

- over reliance of reality shows

- too many drama shows

- networks turning to single camera sitcoms to save costs and money

- lack of multicamera sitcom ideas and shows being commissioned and rights bought by network TV

it appears as though cable networks are picking up the slack when it comes to multicam sitcoms.

05-16-2015, 08:29 PM	#1
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	Comedy no longer central to TV networks' prime-time programming Comedy may still be a desired staple of prime-time TV, but broadcasters haven't found much to laugh about for the upcoming season. The TV networks unleashed their 2015-16 evening lineups in New York this week, leaving industry insiders buzzing about the Great Comedy Rollback. Burned by a high number of sitcom flops in recent years, programmers have decided to stop trying to bring the funny. NBC, onetime home to generation-defining hits "Friends" and "Seinfeld," has exiled comedy to the dead zone of Friday nights. CBS benched "2 Broke Girls" until midseason and decided to take a flier on the drama reboot of "Supergirl," setting up a superhero battle on Mondays with Fox's young-Batman epic, "Gotham." Here's a telling fact: This will be the first time since 1949 that CBS hasn't kicked off Mondays with a comedy. Programmers' aversion to new comedy also makes more sense when one takes into account that many teenagers and twentysomethings never watch any network sitcoms. "Young viewers in particular cruise YouTube for hours looking for funny content," said Jeffrey McCall, a TV expert and media studies professor at DePauw University. "Sitcoms are working in a very crowded arena these days." http://www.latimes.com/entertainment...ry.html#page=1 as a sitcom fan, this is very worrying.

05-16-2015, 08:50 PM	#2
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	yes very sad. Network sitcoms are practically dead. It's been bad before and they seem to always come back. But this is the first time that I've seen the networks actually give up on them. Maybe sitcoms weren't meant to survive the 20th Century. It seems like that's when the best sitcoms aired.
	__________________ Sonny

05-16-2015, 08:55 PM	#3
Patty Duke Good night, John Boy Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 09, 2013 Location: The Land of Milk and Honey Posts: 788	It's heartbreaking. There are no sitcoms on now that I consider watchable, that is my opinion. I'd rather watch the grass grow than settle for the junk the networks air now.
	__________________ Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

05-16-2015, 09:34 PM	#7
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,259	I don't really like any new sitcoms (except 2 Broke Girls) anyway and they seem to be getting worse so I could really care less about them taking them off or not making more. For comedy, I just watch my classic TV on DVDs and replay the film strips in my mind...my mind always makes me chuckle a little. Lol
	__________________ 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.

05-17-2015, 11:57 PM	#12
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,824	Modern comedies are mostly too raunchy, they might become popular again if the vulgarness and sex jokes are cut down.
	__________________ 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

05-16-2015, 11:55 PM	#8
broadmoor Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 10, 2010 Location: texas Posts: 489	Comedy has always been a tonic to cheer me up and boost my spirits. But I frankly just don't find 'modern' comedy to be all that amusing, whether sitcoms or stand-up or whatever. I just don't seem to relate to it on any level. The characters and the so-called 'humor' are far more apt nowadays to repel me than entertain me. But at this point, I can't say I really care anymore. I've just long ago moved on from the networks/cable and what the culture at large seems to offer. And instead, rely on the older comedy fare that somehow addressed my funnybone, and connected with me as a viewer.

05-17-2015, 08:51 AM	#9
BigManMike Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 25, 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 3,022	The only two current sitcoms I like are the Big Bang Theory and Mike and Molly. Nothing else on today interests me. That's why I mostly watch Antenna TV and DVDs.

05-18-2015, 12:36 AM	#13
jimpickens Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2007 Location: weston,wv Posts: 1,391	Two things that have killed the sitcom at least to me for the last 25 years are over reliance on toilet humor and sex jokes and political correctness.

05-25-2015, 09:05 PM	#15
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	what killed the multicam sitcom - over reliance of reality shows - too many drama shows - networks turning to single camera sitcoms to save costs and money - lack of multicamera sitcom ideas and shows being commissioned and rights bought by network TV it appears as though cable networks are picking up the slack when it comes to multicam sitcoms.