Burning or Binging?
The final season of “Parks & Recreation” premieres tomorrow night. The NBC comedy – one of the best shows in the history of TV in my opinion – will conclude just seven weeks later. The network has decided to run the 13-episode season with back-to-back episodes on six straight weeks followed by a one-hour finale on Feb. 24.
I have seen a number of people criticize this strategy. The gist of the complaints is that NBC is “burning” off the final season to be rid of a show that they don’t particularly want, but feel like they have to keep because it does have a cult following and most of the network’s other shows have just tanked miserably.
I can see that mindset. The show has had to hang on for dear life since it’s premiere. Now that the network is letting it go out on its own terms, it can look like they want to get it off the airwaves as soon as they can.
However, let’s consider something different that might show NBC in a better light. I don’t know why I would consider that possibility given that they gave us “Whitney” and burned off the funny “Bent” over three weeks with any publicity whatsoever.
But when you consider that people take binge watching very seriously, maybe that is part of the mindset behind the “Parks & Rec” schedule this season. The show has had trouble finding a large following, so maybe the network thinks if they compress the season, people will feel more engaged. After all, a lot can distract people in 13 weeks. Cut that time frame in half, and more viewers may stay focused on the last look at like in Pawnee, Indiana.
This concept may give too much credit to the people who run television, but the possibility makes me think. Maybe they are doing me a favor by giving me an hour of Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson each week.