My Latest Beef with the TV Industry
My TV viewing plans for 2012 took a hit over the past couple of weeks as both “Community” and “Cougar Town” did not make the mid-season schedule. Both will eventually return to the air – Community to finish its third season and Cougar Town to start its third – but no one knows when.
I find this disconcerting. In the same week we find out that “Arrested Development” will return to stream shows on Netflix in 2013 as a precursor to a movie, executives took another whack at clever TV comedies by leaving these two shows off the mid-season schedule.
And, yes, “Cougar Town” is a clever comedy. If people would give it a chance, they would see that, but so many people are scared off by the name, the show finds itself in a difficult situation. Not that I’m bitter or anything.
So some executives have seen how a small, but vocal and dedicated, group of fans have pushed for several years for “Arrested Development” to come back, but others decide to just let “Community” and “Cougar Town” twist in the wind even though their fan bases remind you of the people who have pushed for the Bluth family to return.
I know TV revolves around ratings and ad rates, but times are changing. With time-shifting and online viewing, something has to be said for comedies which engender loyalty and passion from their audience. I know “Rules of Engagement” gets a ton of people, many of whom are probably just too lazy to switch the channel after “Big Bang Theory,” but are they the kind of fans who follow online videos from the cast when the show isn’t in production and dissect the multiple timelines from an episode in minute detail?
“Rules of Engagement” may capture the attention of more people during its viewing period, but does it stick with people who will buy DVDs, watch past seasons online and expand the conversation about the show in popular culture? Shows like “Community” and “Cougar Town” do that.
I’m probably just projecting my taste here. I know I shouldn’t expect my selfish desires to overtake the economics of the entertainment business. I just have a hard time agreeing with the decision of an industry which seems to have trouble getting out of its own way and constantly chooses to pander to the least common denominator instead of letting shows which challenge your assumptions have their place at the table.
Zach
November 22, 2011You old blowhard! You know nothing! BTW, you should do a column about the all-knowing intelligence of internet soccer fan.
I don’t understand how some shows continue to get airings and others don’t seem to make the cut. I admit, I didn’t watch the first few episodes of Cougar Town even though I really enjoy the work of @vdoozer. Exactly cause of the connotation listed above. But once I started watching I became a fan. And when I have seen Community, I have enjoyed it. Just that I am a lazy viewer that doesn’t have DVR, forgets about online viewing, and enjoy Big Bang during that time slot.
The TV business needs newer, smarter blood. Along with ‘smart’ shows similar to Sports Night and The West Wing.
brian
November 22, 2011Exactly. I’m not saying ignore the ratings, but they need to appreciate intellectual capital as well. The AMC shows don’t get amazing ratings, but they get the attention and loyalty of a smart, savvy, loyal audience. That has to count for something somewhere.
Tim
November 22, 2011I simply do not understand the TV industry. Can you imagine these jokers running your local grocery store? Anytime they sold one or two less of product X, they’d rearrange the whole grocery store. Every week you would come in and everything would be rearranged. Produce and meat would switch places, they’d move the freezers to where light bulbs were last week and bread would be moved across the store each week in random patterns. Then they would seriously wonder why everyone is going two extra miles down the road to the new grocery store that costs more but also has higher quality.
Network executives are the sort of people that give ADHD a bad name.