There’s an interesting (if not revolutionary) paragraph at the end of Nellie Andreeva’s Hollywood Reporter piece about ABC’s Help Me Help You, The Nine, and Men in Trees (and NBC’s Studio 60) scoring additional script orders despite low initial ratings. In it, she notes that producers of those shows, as well as the other struggling series to receive similar votes of confidence — Fox’s Vanished, Standoff, Justice, ‘Til Death, and Happy Hour; NBC’s Friday Night Lights (and possibly 30 Rock); CBS’s The Class — are all hoping to be the next Seinfeld, Cheers, or House, in other words, shows that were "all on the brink of cancellation before exploding into megahits."
Now I know a lot of folks, myself included, frequently deride the networks for pulling the cancellation trigger too quickly (RIP, Smith), but it’s kind of remarkable how many non-successes are still hanging on for life as November approaches. And so, the question I’d like to pose to you, PopWatchers, is which of the above series are you hoping is headed for breakout status? Much like my colleague Mandi Bierly, I’ve become increasingly attached to ABC’s frothy Men in Trees. And while it scored a scant 6.84 million viewers this week, I’m in total agreement with Mediaweek’s Marc Berman that with a move to woeful Six Degrees‘ plum post-Grey’s Anatomy timeslot, lots of viewers might just fall in love with Anne Heche’s romantic comedy. What say you?
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Friday Night Lights offers something so different in tone (less cynical and nastiness-oriented, among other differences) than most other primetime shows, I hope it manages to stay on and do well.
I’ve watched every episode of Studio 60 but I missed the last one, and although the last episode I saw (The One Out-of-towners) was a little sugary for me, I liked how the characters are starting to develop. We are learning more about these characters and their lives are getting interesting. I will keep watching.
On the other hand there is the Class, and I am surprised it is still on the air. It reminds me of Joey. The elements that could make it good are there, but it feels forced. The actors just don’t seem comfortable in their roles, and it seems like the writers are trying their best. Is Paulie G writing for the series.
I love Valerie Cherish. She was one of the best characters on TV.
I gave most of these shows a shot on my DVR at the beginning. I found The Class to be remarkably unfunny. Standoff was unremarkable, in the take it or leave it kind of way. Justice seems like yet another reincarnation of CSI/L&O, but I do love Kerr Smith. The Nine I keep watching because it’s slightly compelling, if incredibly slow. Men in Trees is cute and remains on my DVR if only because there is little competition for slots on Friday night. The one that I absolutely fell in love with though was Friday Night Lights. That show was killed by it’s marketing and time slot. It is much more than a teen drama about football and 8PM is entirely to early for the heavy plot line that FNL is offering. I hope NBC keeps it around– I would be heartbroken to see such high quality TV cut with so little a chance to gain traction.
The Nine and Studio 60 are my picks for breakout hits. The Nine has brought me back each week from the beginning for the “mystery” of the 52 missing hours and for the excellent performances.
I’m an Aaron Sorkin fan, so I was always set to watch Studio 60, but I’ll admit that the first couple of episodes, where the plot and character bios were set up, were less than stellar. However, with the past couple of episodes, this series is beginning to develop. The actors are doing great work, and I’m now able to see how the characters mesh together. Themes are coming to the forefront that make the plot lines more weighty. I’m beginning to feel that happy glow that I felt so often when watching The West Wing. I definitely want to see what awaits these characters in the future.
Friday Night Lights is the best new show this season, hands down. I don’t even care if it develops into a huge hit, just as long as it’s not cancelled.
I think the networks should be congratulated for serving up some interesting fare this Fall season. The problem is that the focus on serialized drama has meant too many shows that demand religiously loyal viewing. I’m hooked on Heroes, but one look at The Nine, Studio 60, and Friday Night Lights and I immediately knew these demanded more of my time than I had to give.
One of the things that works for Men in Trees is that it’s entertaining even if you only watch sporadically. Sometimes we just need something that’s mindless and throwaway… but please no more CSIs or L&Os.
The only one I on there I watch is The Class. It appears I’m in the minority, but I enjoy it. I watch Studio 60 occasionally, but I could take it or leave it.
I agree with the other posters in hoping that “Friday Night Lights” remains on the air. The show is really about relationships between people, not just football. I also really like the head coach and the wife as the central part of the drama. Having read the book and seen the film, I am glad that they chose to focus on the adult characters more than the previous two incarnations of the story.
Add me to the formidable queue as a fan of Friday Night Lights. Now maybe if iTunes were to carry past episodes (like it does with Heroes), people could catch up and start viewing it regularly. Part of the reason why these series drop in viewership is that there is a way of thinking that it’s difficult to pick up on a series if you haven’t watched from the beginning. Having digital episodes helps tremendously, especially for a tool like me who often forgets to record when I’m out of the house.
One more for the Friday Night Lights fanclub. I’m so in love with this show, it’s not even funny. And for those who claim they won’t like it because it’s about football, understand this. Football to Friday Night Lights is what Medicine is to Grey’s Anatomy. It’s about a group of people that just happen to be united by football. The group of people is what the show’s about. And it’s just so good.
I’ve got my fingers crossed for Friday Night Lights and 30 Rock. Those are the two best new shows I’ve seen (along with Heroes which is in no trouble of being cancelled). Generally the new shows have been quite good, but the problem is there just isn’t enough time to commit to shows on a weekly basis. And it always bothers me when I here that 6 or 8 million viewers isn’t enough. If the audience is loyal, let it live out the season at least. Maybe networks should just start committing to a 12 episode season for all shows (which would help with quality as well) and then if it is a success, bring it back. More of a BBC type thing. That way, shows that are compelling, but fail to bring in huge ratings, can appease the audience that follows it, allowing for some kind of closure. As audience members, we’re all fearful of loving a show only to see it cancelled before the narrative arc is complete.
I will watch Studio 60 until I’m dragged away kicking a screaming, or until NBC drags it away from me (I’ll still be kicking and screaming.) I’ll spare you my plan to “fix” (and I use that term loosely) Studio 60, but I firmly believe that Aaron Sorkin can work this out if NBC and viewers will give him the chance. Well, okay, MORE of a chance…
I’m rooting for Friday Night Lights and definitely for Justice — great show!
Sorry, but I’m still not with you on Men in Trees. I’ve tried and tried but … ew.
I started out the season as a die-hard “Studio 60″ fan. I still enjoy the show, but “Friday Night Lights” has surpassed it as my favorite new series. I hope each of them stick around for a while. Just don’t take them both, please!
I really like “Friday Night Lights” and I hope it makes it this season. I also enjoy “Men in Trees”. “The Class” is one of the worst sitcoms on TV. The fact that they moved it to the 8:30 slot frustrated me.
I’m with you on ‘Men in Trees’-it’s pretty unique for TV these days-I really liked ‘Kidnapped’, sorry that one didn’t catch on.
‘The Class’ is consistently underwhelming, but no more than one of EW’s faves-’How I Met Your Mother’, which, to me, is even less funny-even with Alison Hannigan. ‘Help me, help you’ is funnier than either of those shows, hope it stays around.
To tell you the truth, I haven’t seen any of those shows, and it will be hard for me to watch them, as I only allow myself one hour per night, except for the two hours that make up Ugly Betty and Grey’s Anatomy. I tried to do the same with Heroes and Studio 60, but while I loved Heroes, Studio 60 put me in a suicidal mood before bed, so I stopped watching… hard to believe that NBC is still throwing money at that cancellation to be. I’d like to nominate Studio 60 for Worst Series of the Year. do the emmy’s have a category for crap.
Well since everyone here is clamoring about Friday Night Lights, I’ll do my civic duty and inform everytone its on tonight during Studio 60’s usual 10pm time slot, not quite sure why, but it is. I am not sure if NBC is going to re-run it again tomorrow at 8pm. Who knows anymore?? They’ve been going ga-ga with just throwing DEAL OR NO DEAL on whatver night they want at 8pm, so I’m guessing they might do that tomorrow too. So watch FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS tonight at 10pm on NBC.
“The Nine”, “Studio 60″, and “30 Rock” are all GREAT shows and deserve to survive. They’ll find an audience. “Standoff” has a lot of charm and I’d like o see it survive. And, much to the surprise of this 42-year-old husband & father, I quite enjoy “Men In Trees”! Just goes to show that “chick shows”, written & acted well, can appeal to a broader audience (“Gilmore Girls” being the perfect example).
I wish Friday Night Lights will be a breakout hit but I’m noticing Brothers and Sisters is getting better each week, and I’m guiltily hooked to Men in Trees. I think Help Me Help You though is surprisingly funny and with the right push and spot, I think it can do well (though right now, it’s in a weird position of being the lone comedy on ABC (not counting Boston Legal or Ugly Betty). I wish The Nine was watched more too but it hasn’t lived up to the pilot yet.
Smith got canned for the same reason Heist and Threshold did, because they were movies. Plus I read that Smith was too expensive to make as a show anyway. It was 3 million an episode.
As for “Help Me”, ahem, Bob Newhart called. He said that the show is a copycat of his first show. And also, it is a splice of the old Judd Hirch series “Dear John”. Plus I found it funny that Jerry Burns was on “D.J.” as Kirk, and now he is on “Help Me”. It is a good show, but I don’t believe that it’s orginal
I’m waiting for The Class to become a break out hit. I was about to earse it from my DVR list but last weeks ep was funny. I think the gay/married man is going to save the show. The others, especially the one from Joey need to go, they’re too forced.
I also agree, Val Cherish was the best character on T.V.
Friday Night Lights is just doing a test run in Studio 60’s slot – it would have been a rerun of Studio 60 anyways. Just to see if it does better in the timeslot than Studio 60 has been doing and if it does better than it’s usual timeslot. They will be reairing the episode in FNL’s usual timeslot on Tuesday at 8.
I’ve been impressed by “Help Me Help You.” Though “Earl” and “Office” might be better, I actually have more laugh-out-loud moments with the Ted Danson comedy. I’m also loving the mystery and character development of “The Nine” (Both of which just made EW’s A List). I haven’t been able to watch “Men in Trees” but have hopes for “30 Rock” and “Friday Night Lights” (and maybe “Studio 60″ if Sorkin can find his “Sports Night” roots). Good riddance to “The Class” and I don’t care about any of Fox’s new shows as long as they give a shot to returning “The Loop”
Personally, the only on the bubble shows that I’m really concerned about are “Studio 60″ & “The Nine” – two very quality shows that, despite their high production costs, I think should get the benefit of the doubt and a full season pick-up.
FOXNews.com has a story that says the cancellation of “Studio 60″ is imminent. I have a feeling that most of the other shows you’ve mentioned are doomed as well!
My two favorite new shows are “Men in Trees” and “The Nine”. Unfortunately, both are struggling in the ratings and ABC will most likely be forced to make a decision on which one to save. Although I think “The Nine” is the better series, “Men in Trees” has more potential to reach a broader audience. And personally,
I think I would miss “Men in Trees” more if it was cancelled than if “The Nine” was.
The only new show I’ve adopted is Heroes. I made an attempt to love Studio 60, but blech! I’ve also adopted Veronica Mars, but it’s not new. I hope it stays on the air now that I understand what’s going on!
“Friday Night Lights” had better survive. That is the greatest drama out there, and second only to “The Office”.
I know I’m supposed to talk about what show should stay on the air (Studio 60) but something more urgent needs to be addressed. I was just on Bestweekever.tv (second best blog in the world–EW, is first of course.) and I found what has to be the most racist social networking site of all time.
http://www.niggaspace.com/
How can something like this exist? Why hasn’t no one taken it down? I hope someone at EW checks it out and writes a blog about it because as a person of color, this offends me more than anything that Flava Flav could do on his TV show (which actually I like).