Critics vs Viewers - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Sal · 12-08-2003, 03:00 PM

For the last 2 weeks, I've been watching, among other things, "Arrested Development", the new FOX sitcom starring Jason Bateman. I had planned to start watching it because I've heard some good things about it in the press and in magazines like "Entertainment Weekly", which called it the best new sitcom of the season.

Well, that shows you what I know!

I sat down to watch it and, to be very honest, it is awful. It is so not funny that it's sad. Naturally, the viewers must feel the same way because they're tuning out too. (#88 in the ratings two weeks ago.) So I began to wonder: how can a show that is supposed to be so good instead become awful? Is that the critics' fault or the viewers for not watching it and giving it a chance? Sometimes, it works the other way, where critics will give a certain show some awful reviews and, before you know it, much to their surprise and utter bewilderment, the series becomes a huge hit (for example, "Survivor"). How do you explain that? If I knew the answers to all these questions, I'd be a network executive and making a ton of money (American money, naturally!).

As you think them over, see how many shows you can name that were critically acclaimed but were huge failures in the ratings and how many that you remembered that were widely panned but were very successful. It doesn't happen very often but when it does you can bet the networks will take notice and do something about it quick, depending on whether the specific series was a hit or miss. Here's a few that I've thought of to get you started:

HITS WITH CRITICS, MISSES WITH VIEWERS

Arrested Development
Miss Match
Freaks and Geeks
The Days and Nights Of Molly Dodd
Action
The Bernie Mac Show

PANNED BY CRITICS, LOVED BY VIEWERS

The Beverly Hillbillies
Green Acres
The Flying Nun
Gomer Pyle
Gilligan's Island
Full House (for reasons which defy all rules of logic)

Chocoholic · 12-08-2003, 03:07 PM

I never pay much attention to critics. I watch a TV show for myself to decide whether it's good or not. I don't allow other people to tell me what to think. Some of my favorite TV shows are ones that weren't very popular either with TV critics or viewers.

One of my favorite TV shows, Wings, is a show that never seemed to win much respect from critics, but apparently was well-loved by many viewers. NewsRadio, another favorite of mine, was well-loved by critics, but not so many viewers seemed to agree with them.

Central Perk · 12-08-2003, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sal
For the last 2 weeks, I've been watching, among other things, "Arrested Development", the new FOX sitcom starring Jason Bateman. I had planned to start watching it because I've heard some good things about it in the press and in magazines like "Entertainment Weekly", which called it the best new sitcom of the season.

Well, that shows you what I know!

I sat down to watch it and, to be very honest, it is awful. It is so not funny that it's sad. Naturally, the viewers must feel the same way because they're tuning out too. (#88 in the ratings two weeks ago.)

Sorry I have to disagree with you. Arrested Development is a hilarious show, and I personally think the critics were right. The show is unique and different but still manages to be funny. Everything the Bluth family does is hilarious, and it's one of the most creative sitcoms that I've seen in a long time.

Last Season FOX had another show called Andy Richter Controls the Universe, and I absolutely loved it. Everything about it was funny and it was very well acted. The critics also gave it high praise, but it was eventually cancelled.

Both Arrested Development and Andy Richter Controls the Universe are a lot different than the rest of the sitcoms that are on the air right now so maybe that's why the critics liked them so much and the viewers did not seem to like them.

I usually tend to agree with critics but there are some exceptions.

barwars · 12-08-2003, 05:39 PM

My 3 favorite shows are hits with both Critics and Viewers.
(although "Frasier" is going down in the viewer category)

But either way.... I watch I show if I like it.
Not because its popular, or the "cool" thing to watch.
Just because its funny.

jarri · 12-08-2003, 09:18 PM

I also disagree with you. Arrested Development is a great show. It all depends on your age and your personal sense of humor. One other thing you must keep in mind, sometimes an episode may not be as good as some of the other episodes.

But at the same time, you really can't rely on the critics' acclaim. A show only survives by what its viewers think. The critics in the end don't matter.

db108108 · 12-10-2003, 01:14 PM

I think you have to keep the ratings in mind when falling in love with a new show. I mean, why get invested in a show if it's tanking and is going to be cancelled in three weeks?

Steve M. · 12-10-2003, 01:32 PM

Sometimes the viewers and the critics are in sync, like they were in the seventies with CBS's successful sitcoms ("M*A*S*H," "All in the Family," "Mary Tyler Moore," Bob Newhart") and like they are with panned sitcoms like NBC's "Coupling." I never understood myself why critics didn't like "Wings" very much - all it was was "Cheers" set in an airport, and didn't they like "Cheers?"

As for ratings, sometimes overall ratings don't matter. If a show wins its coveted demographic, it's assured a future.

Chocoholic · 12-10-2003, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Steve M.
I never understood myself why critics didn't like "Wings" very much - all it was was "Cheers" set in an airport, and didn't they like "Cheers?"

That makes no sense to me either. They are both very similar TV shows. Personally, I think Wings is better than Cheers, although I do like Cheers too.

Also, the critcs love Everybody Loves Raymond, but they don't seem to like Yes Dear and According to Jim. Aren't they all basically the same show?

Steve M. · 12-10-2003, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Snoopy Also, the critics love Everybody Loves Raymond, but they don't seem to like Yes Dear and According to Jim. Aren't they all basically the same show?

Guess it's how they're written. I like "Everybody Loves Raymond," but I find "Yes Dear" to be juvenile. I've never seen "According To Jim" - it's opposite "Frasier" - but maybe critics' dislike for that show is all politics. You know how Jim Belushi will always draw comparisons to his brother John. And there are critics who will always say Jim can never be as great as John was.

As a regular viewer of "I'm With Her," by the way, I've noticed that many critics are divided on that sitcom - some like it and some don't. I'm sure there are others that critics are divided on; if you need enough reviewers, you'll find they don't agree as often as you think.

12-08-2003, 03:00 PM	#1
Sal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 20, 2001 Location: Oakville, Ont. Canada Posts: 6,155	Critics vs Viewers For the last 2 weeks, I've been watching, among other things, "Arrested Development", the new FOX sitcom starring Jason Bateman. I had planned to start watching it because I've heard some good things about it in the press and in magazines like "Entertainment Weekly", which called it the best new sitcom of the season. Well, that shows you what I know! I sat down to watch it and, to be very honest, it is awful. It is so not funny that it's sad. Naturally, the viewers must feel the same way because they're tuning out too. (#88 in the ratings two weeks ago.) So I began to wonder: how can a show that is supposed to be so good instead become awful? Is that the critics' fault or the viewers for not watching it and giving it a chance? Sometimes, it works the other way, where critics will give a certain show some awful reviews and, before you know it, much to their surprise and utter bewilderment, the series becomes a huge hit (for example, "Survivor"). How do you explain that? If I knew the answers to all these questions, I'd be a network executive and making a ton of money (American money, naturally!). As you think them over, see how many shows you can name that were critically acclaimed but were huge failures in the ratings and how many that you remembered that were widely panned but were very successful. It doesn't happen very often but when it does you can bet the networks will take notice and do something about it quick, depending on whether the specific series was a hit or miss. Here's a few that I've thought of to get you started: HITS WITH CRITICS, MISSES WITH VIEWERS Arrested Development Miss Match Freaks and Geeks The Days and Nights Of Molly Dodd Action The Bernie Mac Show PANNED BY CRITICS, LOVED BY VIEWERS The Beverly Hillbillies Green Acres The Flying Nun Gomer Pyle Gilligan's Island Full House (for reasons which defy all rules of logic)
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12-08-2003, 09:18 PM	#5
jarri Happily divorced Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 20, 2003 Location: New Castle County, DE Posts: 255	I also disagree with you. Arrested Development is a great show. It all depends on your age and your personal sense of humor. One other thing you must keep in mind, sometimes an episode may not be as good as some of the other episodes. But at the same time, you really can't rely on the critics' acclaim. A show only survives by what its viewers think. The critics in the end don't matter.
	__________________ Lady J I Love the 80s!

12-10-2003, 01:32 PM	#7
Steve M. Back on the road to reality Forum Superstar Join Date: Nov 07, 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 33,239	Sometimes the viewers and the critics are in sync, like they were in the seventies with CBS's successful sitcoms ("MAS*H," "All in the Family," "Mary Tyler Moore," Bob Newhart") and like they are with panned sitcoms like NBC's "Coupling." I never understood myself why critics didn't like "Wings" very much - all it was was "Cheers" set in an airport, and didn't they like "Cheers?" As for ratings, sometimes overall ratings don't matter. If a show wins its coveted demographic, it's assured a future.
	__________________ I don't really get out a lot. When I do go out, I couldn't be happier. I love being in a nice milieu. I'm as happy as a clam. Just as long as I'm not in some club playing hip-hop. You hear that sort of thing in a lot of places. That's not my milieu. Rock and roll is good-time music. I love rock. So did my parents.

12-08-2003, 03:07 PM	#2
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	I never pay much attention to critics. I watch a TV show for myself to decide whether it's good or not. I don't allow other people to tell me what to think. Some of my favorite TV shows are ones that weren't very popular either with TV critics or viewers. One of my favorite TV shows, Wings, is a show that never seemed to win much respect from critics, but apparently was well-loved by many viewers. NewsRadio, another favorite of mine, was well-loved by critics, but not so many viewers seemed to agree with them.

12-08-2003, 05:39 PM	#4
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	My 3 favorite shows are hits with both Critics and Viewers. (although "Frasier" is going down in the viewer category) But either way.... I watch I show if I like it. Not because its popular, or the "cool" thing to watch. Just because its funny.

12-10-2003, 01:14 PM	#6
db108108 Teacher (for now) Senior Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2003 Location: 2 hours north of Detroit, 2 hours south of Toronto Posts: 1,023	I think you have to keep the ratings in mind when falling in love with a new show. I mean, why get invested in a show if it's tanking and is going to be cancelled in three weeks?