They’re dropping like flies I tell ya! And by ”they,” of course, I’m referring to the fall crop of freshman series that are being shot down, one by one, by the network execs who treat them like little more than skeet whizzing through the airwaves. It’s enough to make a blogger want to cry. Or at least my colleague Gary Susman and me. Check out our IM conversation/therapy session from this afternoon.
Slezak (4:42:34 PM): So did you hear, it looks like NBC is pulling the plug on Kidnapped and burning off the remaining episodes on Saturday nights. I’m so glad I emotionally disengaged when the pilot episode tanked in the ratings
Susman (4:43:42 PM): I wonder if that’s why so many fall shows, especially serial dramas like Smith and Studio 60, are having trouble: People don’t want to commit, lest they get burned again.
Slezak (4:44:30 PM): Wait, Smith? Smith is in trouble?
Susman (4:44:51 PM): Yeah, CBS is yanking it and airing reruns of CSI and Criminal Minds starting Tuesday.
Slezak (4:45:09 PM): NOOOO! I already gave Smith my heart! DAMMIT!
Susman (4:46:04 PM): You going to be okay?
Slezak (4:46:21 PM): I don’t know. It’s like when you start dating someone really great, and then suddenly they don’t return your calls. Do you think Studio 60 is setting you up to break your heart? It’s been bleeding viewers over its first three weeks.
Susman (4:46:54 PM): I’m worried! I already have such mixed feelings about the show. I can’t decide if I’ll be disappointed that audiences didn’t stick with it, or that Aaron Sorkin didn’t have time to figure out how to make the comedy parts work.
Slezak (4:47:18 PM): I hear you…I’ve watched the first three episodes, and while the show is flawed, it’s 1,000 times better than CSI: Miami.
Susman (4:47:40 PM): Then again, maybe I’ll just be relieved that I can free up my Monday nights. Though I’m having fun writing about it in my TV Watches.
Slezak (4:47:36 PM): That’s the thing, my DVR is so packed, something has to give at some point.
Susman (4:47:55 PM): If only it had been unambiguously good, it might have been a hit.
Slezak (4:48:11 PM): True. And now that the ratings are slipping, Ifeel like people will jump off the sinking ship, even if they’reenjoying it. It’s tempting, especially when you look at shows like lastseason’s Reunion; you know the networks don’t care about pulling it mid-run, and leaving you with tons of unanswered questions.
Susman (4:49:12 PM): Though I hear with Kidnapped, they came up with an alternate plan to resolve the mystery early if they were forced to.
Slezak(4:49:33 PM): You know what I hate, too? The way the networks saythey’re putting stuff ‘on hiatus’ and you know they’ll never bring itback. Like Fox’s Happy Hour. It’s not like I ever watched that, but…
Susman (4:50:15 PM): Actually, Mike, it’s coming back.Once baseball’s over. Not that I’ve missed it.
Slezak (4:50:28 PM): Oh. What do you think is gonna be next on the chopping block? I decided against putting Friday Night Lights on season pass even before its premiere tanked on Tuesday, but I am not giving up on Men In Trees! You can take my Smith, but you can’t take my Sex in the Alaska!
Susman (4:51:24 PM): I don’t know. I was worried for ‘Til Death and Justice (two other Fox shows that have gone back under the triage knife), but it seems they’ll both be back.
Slezak (4:51:47 PM): Yeah, I read Fox picked up some more script orders for Justice.
Susman (4:52:36 PM): Do you think viewers will stick with The Nine or Six Degrees? As a viewer, I’m having trouble imagining how those shows will keep me interested for a whole season or more.
Slezak (4:53:12 PM): Well, Six Degrees didn’t keep me interested for 15 minutes, but I thought The Nine was riveting.
Susman (4:53:47 PM): I’m not sure I was smart enough to count the hostages.
Slezak (4:54:02 PM): But Gary, they’re pretty hostages.
Susman (4:54:03 PM): It took me most of the episode to figure out who the Nine were.
Slezak (4:54:12 PM): And there’s the other nine -– the nine viewers who are going to care that The CW is swapping Runaway to Sunday nights, where it can get clobbered by a new set of shows.
Susman (4:54:27 PM): That one’s really grim.
Slezak (4:55:15 PM): I guess at least the good news is Heroes got a full-season pickup.
Susman (4:55:24 PM): Yay!
Slezak (4:55:45 PM): And Ugly Betty is a hit too.
Susman(4:56:12 PM): For the rest, though, you’re probably right, it may bebest to pull the plug early and emotionally disengage before you gettoo invested in a show.
Slezak (4:56:32 PM): So who’s cord are you cutting first?
Susman (4:57:06 PM): I’ve already cut Justice; next will be Vanished, now that they’ve killed off the main character already. You?
Slezak (4:57:29 PM): I can’t answer that question. I have to accompany Smith to the emergency room.
Susman (4:57:41 PM): I’ll be praying for you both.
Comments (1-30) of 39 Add your comment
Stay away from Studio 60!!
Never watched Smith and Kidnapped was cliche-ridden crap. I don’t know why critics liked the Pilot. That’s the only show I’ve watched this year that didn’t draw me back to the second episode.
So far, my favorite new shows (UGLY BETTY, HEROES, BROTHERS & SISTERS, and THE CLASS) are doing well enough so that I do not have to worry about getting canceled half way.
I due feel sorry for Aaron Sorkin. As much as I want to like STUDIO 60 (I’m a fan of Perry, Peet, and Paulson), something’s off. It’s not so much that the show isn’t comedic, but I just can’t put my finger on it. I hope it gets better as the season goes on.
Smith!! Noooooo!! Why do I bother watching new shows? And why must the networks expect instant hits? EW just ran a cover story about women and people over 40 depending upon good buzz and word of mouth to get them to see films in the theaters–t.v. works the same way. It takes more than 3-4 episodes for a show to build a rhythm, yet when it seems like everything is cancelled after two episodes, nobody has a chance to find anything.
I can’t believe they are already taking off Smith!! It was one of the better shows this fall. Then crap like Vanished gets to stay around on Fridays so it’s storyline can be played out. This had to be one of the best characters that Amy Smart has every played. She was so evil, along with the Jeff character.
I am glad that Heroes is staying on longer!
Ok, here’s something that has puzzled me all season: we have new episodes, and they are heavily promoted. Then they air at the most inconvienient times, so they are put on the web, or DVR’d. Then they are cancelled because they are porrly rated. Does any of this make sense? Is there a better way of tracking what people watch?
Not Smith!!! Argh!!! Maybe Fox should’ve had this one as they know there’s an audience out there who like their action and know where to get it.
Thanks for nothing CBS! You s.uck! It appears they should stick to reality, (and don’t get me wrong, l watch my share) if that’s what they think the masses want, but damn, re-runs of CSI that l can (and choose not to) catch on 18 other channels?!
*Claws eyes out*
My God this season is moving like a freight train on a downhill slope. Advertisers and network execs have got to learn to relax and take deep breaths!
Putting up a show – building sets – gathering casts and crews – this costs a lot of money. The whole enterprise looks so wasteful and ADHD. Such an incredible waste of time, talent, money, and creativity. Not to mention the way it trains audiences not to care or commit.
I just got a TV again after a seven-year hiatus, and I gotta tell you, crack isn’t whack anymore – it’s the coin of the realm. These shows move at a frenetic, lightning pace, and the characters have been devolved into set dressing or game pieces.
No wonder The Wire has got so many people hooked. When I watched the first Wire ep on DVD, I was all – what the heck? Why is this so slow? But then I remembered – oh yeah, telling a story well and truly takes time. And good writing. And strong actors who are more artist than celebrity. And a good network. And the separation of advertising needs and programming decisions.
Network TV – you must chill, find some cohones, commit to (fewer) shows you believe in, and calm the f down so the audience can digest the stories and worlds you present. We the audience are busy, and pelting us with shows even you don’t care about isn’t doing anyone any favors.
If you don’t, the next world is gonna look a lot like this one – only worse.
Smith!!!!! WTF!!!!! Slezak, my heart is broken as well. The only new show out there with a truly new feel to it, a great cast, and a truly adult only vibe to it. Great, now what? I am so tired of Law & Order and CSI spinoffs. Can some other network please pick this up now? Anyone, ABC? Heck, USA, TNT? Is anyone listening??
I don’t think the networks are giving a lot of their new shows the chances they deserve. All of a sudden, it’s become about having a phenomenom right off the bat, and I think this has to do with how Lost and Desperate Housewives were huge from their first episodes. The networks have become so shallow that they won’t give their freshmen shows breathing room to find an audience. Seinfeld? 24? These weren’t big at the start; they grew. The networks gave them a chance.
Honestly, I’m writing this in worry for Studio 60 because I love the show and love the writing and can’t understand why it isn’t doing so well and why people are flawed–I think it deserves a chance. But my opinion applies with all the shows…the good shows, I mean; some should be yanked before the pilot is even finished.
Well, I’ve become very attached to Smith and Kidnapped, so I will be pretty pissed if they get pulled. I also like Runaway a lot; it’s a nice vacation from lots of complicated storylines, so again I will be mad if that goes away. My favorite new show of the season is The Nine – it rocked my socks off. I pray that it makes it. I want to know what happened in that damn bank.
The plug might have been pulled a little early on Smith, but with the ratings it was getting and it’s budget I knew it was a goner. I gave up on it after seeing last weeks ratings.
There will probably only be a handful of new dramas that will make it to a second season. Leading contenders are Ugly Betty, Hero’s, and Brother’s and Sister’s. I knew Kidnapped wasn’t going to make it to a full season just from reading its premise, and that Friday Night lights wasn’t going to translate to a large TV audience. It will probably be gone after next weeks airing. Same goes for Six Degrees. Bad premise from the get go. I watched The Nine pilot and wasn’t that impressed. I see it getting shelved a little latter down the line.
I am surprised by the lack of viewers Studio 60 has been getting. I thought it was going to be a hit. I didn’t expect it to be a bust. NBC just can’t seem to find a runaway hit. It looks like it will be another season where their new lineup is completely scratched.
As for Men in Trees, the ratings haven’t been great, but it does seem to have found a niche Friday audience. Also it hasn’t been getting a proper lead-in. So I think ABC might let this one breate a little.
I’ve been enjoying Justice quite a bit, so I’m glad to hear it’s getting more scripts ordered. Hopefully those will all make it to air. I was starting to get interested in Kidnapped, but hadn’t heard much buzz, so I wasn’t letting myself fully commit to it. Heroes, though, I had no choice about – it just grabbed me when I saw the premiere, so that news is GREAT.
Smith, eh… I had a real hard time caring about the main characters since they were all such bad guys and the “family” tension just felt too manufactured. Oh well. Not to sad to see it go.
kinglouieXVIII, I agree with you about Studio 60. I thought I was going to love that show, but I can barely get myself to admit I like it! I think my problem with it is that I keep feeling as though I’m being lectured every week–about conservatism vs. liberalism, about free speech, about censorship, what have you. It’s definitely not the cast; they’re uniformly great and I enjoy watching them. It’s not even the writing, which is as literate as anything Aaron Sorkin has ever done. It’s the tone. It’s like having lunch with the smartest kid in school, who knows he’s the smartest kid in school, and who constantly has to remind you of how smart he is. Maybe if Sorkin let some other writers’ voices in, the show would breathe a bit more. Anyway, just my opinion.
As for Smith, I love the show, but let’s face it. CBS never commits to anything edgy or adult unless the title starts with a C, continues with an S, and ends with an I. Maybe Fox will take the show and do something with it. And I loved The Nine. Perfect companion to Lost.
My dvr is way too busy lately and I’m not even recording ALL of the new shows. I was beginning to really like “Smith” and I’m sad to hear of it’s demise. I’m trying to stick with “Studio 60″ but it’s not easy. After loving “The West Wing” because of it’s political slant, it’s hard to get worked up about people making a sketch show. If anyone else was writing it but Sorkin, it wouldn’t bother me, I’m sure. I’m super happy that the super “Heroes” is picked up for the whole season. I’m thinking it’s my favorite new show of the season.
Tv.Hmmm. what to watch. Well, I love Studio 60, it’s not the same cliche CSI, L&O, or conspiracy theory show. Matthew Perry is at his BEST! Please, I’m begging you, don’t take it. Smith, I’ve watched all 3 so far, and thought it was decent. Loved Amy Smart. I actually like 6 degrees, but I’m sure that will be gone too. I guess nothing is really safe in this world of TV. BTW-glad to know Hero’s is safe, could be my new Lost if they don’t start wrapping some things up on that show!
Hey everyone’s forgetting Jericho which has performed pretty well given it’s time slot and such. My favorites are Heroes, Ugly Betty and Jericho. Justice is semi favorite but it needs to find a bet plot, because the one they have now can not sustain my intrest. Let them lose or let them actually win, while the client is actually guilty.
I’ll agree with Kidnapped. It’s all over the place. But, monkey around with Studio 60, NBC, and we’ve got trouble. What would go on in it’s place, Law and Order:Janitorial Staff?
All I care about is “The Office” getting it’s butt kicked by “Ugly Betty” & “Survivor”. NBC-please move this show (and “Earl”) back to Tuesdays. Burn off “Kidnapped” on Thursday’s 8-9 slot, then repeats of “Dateline’s Predator Stings”or new episodes of “Deal or No Deal” can fill that time slot. Move “Friday Night Lights” to “Deal’s” Mondays at 8 PM slot, Viola!
Snarky, I would love if they moved The Office because I *really* want to watch Ugly Betty and as a lowly college student I don’t have a DVR.
That being said, I don’t really think that it’s word about ratings that get people to jump ship in anticipation of cancellation. Because, really, the only people who track ratings are people obsessed with whichever show or TV in general. I do think, however, that people have been trained to not bother with a show in its first season. I love TV, but unless I really want to see something, like I’m absolutely dying, I stay far away from new shows because I know the odds are it will be pulled. The networks have shot themselves in the foot by cancelling new shows barely a month after the pilot airs. People know it happens and as a result they don’t watch– especially when, if it gets picked up for a second season, it’s so easy to rent or buy the first season on DVD or download it from iTunes to catch up.
Also (and I would really like to see some commentary on this from EW, whether it’s in blog form or an article) I really think the Neilsen’s are obsolete. With DVR, networks airing their shows multiple times per week on different stations (I almost didn’t watch S60 on Monday because I knew I could catch it Wednesday on Bravo, and apparently, they aired the pilot Tuesday or Wednesday on USA as well), and iTunes downloads, how can any network accurately judge the number of people watching any given show? They can’t. If 9 million people watch Studio 60 on Monday, 6 million watch it on Bravo’s re-airing on Wednesday, and 3 million download it from iTunes, is that 18 million different people or the same 9 million re-watching? I’m not 100 percent sure if Neilsen logs if the same people are watching it again, but in the case of iTunes downloads there is no way to know. The answer to this is probably that they don’t care, they want to know how many are watching live for their advertisers so they could make money, but then, in a weird way, that means the success of a show isn’t really about the popularity is it? Just how many happen to watch it when and how the network wants them to.
I’m glad I didn’t check out Smith now (sorry, Slezak!). But Studio 60, you’re breaking my heart…
If you support smith, write cbs.com / Feedback…like you I got attached to it…but I can’t do this anymore…because the networks want quick results they don’t even want to wait 13 FRIGGING WEEKS! to see if the show gets viewers. That’s sad. Hope Smith finds a home on cable or maybe Fox/CW. As for Kidnapped…advice to the writers – don’t have the kidnap in the first 20 min. of the show…have it during the end of the show so it’s a cliffhanger…one of the better A-list actors…but Tim Hutchins seemed to sleep walking through his role…and I couldn’t get into the family…no sympathy…maybe it’s for the better because who wants to watch a kidnap for 26 weeks??
Bootsy: The lunch with the smartest kid in school analogy was right on target with my sentiments on STUDIO 60. I have to say I just watched this week’s episode last night and it seems to be getting better. The cast, specially Amanda Peet and Mathew Perry, is on fire. And I just realized that this is a sort of a reunion for Peet and Paulson who got their big breaks on JACK & JILL. Mmmmm…
Well, I also gave SMITH my heart. But I’m okay with it. I fell out of Love with Studio 60 on the third episode, it was like dating someone who insisted that they were right even though you knew they were wrong. Now that Vanished lost it’s lead, I’m also took it off my viewing schedule, though I did enjoy the first few episodes in a sleazy I can’t believe I’m watching this sorta way. I loved the Pilot of Friday Night Lights, it’s riveting, Clearly the best written show in television, and perhaps the best pilot ever mad, but I don’t wanna give it my heart cause I saw cancellation a mile away…. This week I fell asleep during Six Degrees, so I’m calling it an end to that little love affair. But I didn’t watch the NINE… I plan to stream it from abc.com today… since I heard such good things about it.(I hate the fall. when do I get my life back.)
My viewing schedule thus far looks like Mondays- Heroes at 9pm, Tuesdays – Veronica Mars @ 9pm, Wednesdays – Lost @ 9pm, Thursdays – Ugly Betty @8pm and Grey’s Anatomy @9pm (giving The Nine a try) Fridays: DVRing Battlestar Galactica while I go out and get drunk. Saturday Morning – watch said Battlestar Galactica. (I think that’s about as much tv as any person with a life can take before fat start settling in.)
ABC screwed up last year by canceling “Invasion” my favorite new series last season. I watched it with trepidation because I feared an early cancellation but it was picked up for the rest of the season and I really got into it. Then ABC dropped the axe without even resolving the storyline. Reminded me when ABC canceled Lois and Clark with a cliffhanger that denied us a superbaby the next season.
The only new show I watched this season has been Shark and that was only the pilot. I have no intentions of watching “The Nine.” and judging by it’s first episode ratings no one else seems to either.
I’ll just stick with my two favorite shows Lost and Boston Legal. William Shatner and James Spader > Everything Else (except Lost).
It is so hard to get invested in shows knowing that they may not get the chance to bring you to the appropriate conclusions. How HBO treated Carnivale, basically telling Daniel Knauf that he would get to finish and then pulling to plug after 2 seasons, has made it hard for me to trust. If HBO can do it to an amazing show like Carnivale, why should I believe that network stations are going to hold on to their shows? Bring back Carnivale! (Yes, I know it is a little outta date, but just finished watching them again from Netflix)
Michael,
I danced like a schoolgirl on Meth when I found out you were doing a TV Watch for Ugly Betty. And I’m totally going to watch the two episodes I’ve already missed on ABC.com, if I cancel my two hour root canal next Tuesday. (Why does anyone still have a DVR anymore with all the good shows available online now?)
I want Kidnapped to have it’s full season because of Dana Delaney. (For all that is HOLY, why isn’t China Beach out on DVD yet?) But why was kidnapped Leo packing blue cheese into his leg with a razor at the end of the last show?
Vanished is WAY to convoluted, but did they just kill of the lead last week? (I missed that episode, but thank you MySpace.com (hello???) for letting me watch it.
Studio 60 has a few grouches complaining, but the dialogue isn’t at all bad, and the funniest bit last week was (yes, I agree) the Holly Hunter impression from Broadcast News.
I won’t cry over Smith. Has Ray L. has a good role since Field of Dreams?
Finally, I’ll add to the greek chorus requesting a Hero’s TV Watch written by Slezek?
Geez! I swear! Why do I watch televison only to get my heart broken??? Bye Smith, we were so good together. Rehab anyone?
Think I’m gonna stick to books. At least it won’t get ripped from my hands halfway through… and I can pick it up on my own time instead of having it dictated to me.
I’m so bitter…
For the love of all that is holy leave Heroes, Studio 60, Jericho and Ugly Betty alone. These are the only new shows I am watching right now, and I’m loving them.
I am surprised though that Smith is already gone. Although between this Fall and last Fall, is it any wonder that people are gun-shy to begin watching a show (I’m looking at you CBS-Threshold).
I’m loving Men In Trees and The Nine. I was so excited about The Nine that I watched it already but still haven’t watched the first episode of Lost. I couldn’t make it through one episode of Smith, ’til Death or Six Degrees. I killed Justice after two episodes. I really liked Friday Night Lights and I’m glad House is coming back at 9 pm so I can continue to watch FNL. Ugly Betty is cute but I’m not as in love with it as others are.
I do worry about falling in love with a show because it will get killed. We watch Studio 60 because of Sorkin and all the great actors on the show. I still wonder if everyone is getting some of the inside jokes thrown in there. I doubt it will last a season at this rate and it’s a shame.
I hope the networks can check some Tivo and DVR records to see what’s being recorded and watched later. I rarely watch anything at it’s regular time anymore and anytime I get asked to do a tv diary for a week, it’s in the summer when none of the shows I love are on.
If they cut What About Brian, Friday Night Lights or Studio 60 I will cry. Why did FNL tank? It’s an amazing show! Kyle Chandler is the best. But Matt Perry is right up there with him in S60. What a great show! Plus, come on, WAB is amazing! It premiers Monday on ABC. Watch it, people!!!