*** Television Fall 2010 ***

[bicker]

Updated the first several messages of this thread with accumulated changes from the last few weeks.

I updated the list of Television Show-specific Threads here on the DIS, as much as I have been able to see the new threads created. If you are a fan of a specific television show, and participate in a thread specific to that show, please check to make sure that I have that thread listed, that my link goes to the right thread, and if this thread is continuing from last year, that my link goes directly to the message where discussions of the new season began.

I also updated the grid, showing which shows are on which nights and at what time. I've added a number of cable comedies and dramas, and reflected start date changes that have been announced.

I also updated the master list of premiere, return and finale dates, again adding a number of cable comedies and dramas, and reflecting start date changes that have been announced.

Finally, I also updated the list of renewals and cancellations, adding the first official renewal of the fall season: Boardwalk Empire.

 

[bicker]

Critics may have collectively loved 'Lone Star,' but that doesn't mean viewers tuned in when the show premiered on Monday night. After a disastrous showing in the ratings -- only 4.1 million people tuned in to Fox for the drama's debut -- the promising new series is now at risk of cancellation.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the show's dismal debut means that 'Lone Star' will inevitably be canceled -- it's just a matter of when. "No one in TV should be happy about this," an agent of a 'Lone Star' writer told THR. "This is going to have a chilling effect on networks taking chances on anything but cookie-cutter shows."

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/09/22/lone-star-on-death-watch-series-faces-cancellation-after-just/

That writer's agent is blowing smoke afaic: A 'Dallas' clone can hardly be immune from being accused of being "cookie-cutter" itself. That's not the issue. If anything, the opposite of the implication is true: We decided against watching Lone Start because it seemed so "cookie-cutter" from its description.

 

[bicker]

Sunday, September 26, 2010
Premieres:
Extreme Makeover Home Edition (ABC)
Desperate Housewives (ABC)
Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
The Simpsons (Fox)
The Cleveland Show (Fox)
Family Guy (Fox)
Bored to Death (new) (HBO)
Eastbound & Down (HBO)
Dexter (Showtime)
60 Minutes (CBS)
The Amazing Race (CBS)
Undercover Boss (CBS)

Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Premieres:
No Ordinary Family (new) (ABC)
Stargate Universe (Syfy)
The Good Wife (CBS)
Finales:
The Colony (Discovery)

Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Premieres:
Law & Order: Los Angeles (new) (NBC)
Finales:
Meet the Browns (TBS)

Friday, October 01, 2010
Premieres:
Human Target (Fox)

 

[MoneyNeverSleeps]

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/09/22/lone-star-on-death-watch-series-faces-cancellation-after-just/

That writer's agent is blowing smoke afaic: A 'Dallas' clone can hardly be immune from being accused of being "cookie-cutter" itself. That's not the issue. If anything, the opposite of the implication is true: We decided against watching Lone Start because it seemed so "cookie-cutter" from its description.

agree with this.. very sad actually. I really enjoyed the Pilot.. I also really liked The Event and Hawaii 5 0. If both of those don't make it past Season 1, I'm most likely ditching network tv except the well known reality shows and just sticking with cable shows that I love where execs don't prematurely cancel.

 

[bicker]

You've outlined the parameters of the quandary, there: The union contracts pay talent and crew a lot less for cable network programs than it pays them for over-the-air broadcast network programs. And NBCU's recent experience shows that the profit to be made is roughly equivalent, vis a vis the amount invested, regardless of whether the program is first run on a cable network versus first run on over-the-air broadcast. So, if viewers adopt the perspective you've outlined, here, they're basically writing the script condemning over-the-air broadcast television, at least as we've known it for the last 50+ years. There are a whole host of people, both in the industry and among viewers, that are doing a lot of chest-beating, these days, regarding how over-the-air broadcast television is in danger. They cast aspertions, in this regard, on industry and government, which are working to find even more efficient uses for the limited broadcast spectrum, when in reality, what is most significantly adversely affecting over-the-air broadcast television is viewers turning their attention to other (often more efficient and/or more profitable) distribution channels for television entertainment (cable, satellite, DVD, Blu-ray, online streaming, etc.), and forms of entertainment (web surfing, video games, etc.).

 

[Pikester]

I've been meaning to comment on The Whole Truth even though I haven't actually watched it (Just going by commercials and the description on this thread). I seem to remember a show that was very similar on a few years ago. The story would start with the person on trial, show both sides working to win their case, the verdict would be read and then the audience would get to see what REALLY happened. Sometimes the jury made the right call and other times they didn't.

 

[bicker]

With little surprise (at least on my part), Lone Star has been bumped from the schedule, due to abomitable ratings. Lie To Me will replace it.

 

[MoneyNeverSleeps]

With little surprise (at least on my part), Lone Star has been bumped from the schedule, due to abomitable ratings. Lie To Me will replace it.

Bicker, any predictions on Rubicon? I'm really getting into it but not sure what AMC is going to do.

 

[bicker]

With AMC, there's really no way to know. They're not like USA or TNT (either of which would be surely be upset about a 0.2 rating.) They could look at Mad Men and say, "Mad Men does well, so Rubicon should do just as well." Or, they could look at Mad Men and say, "Mad Men does well, so Rubicon doesn't need to do as well."

 

[MoneyNeverSleeps]

With AMC, there's really no way to know. They're not like USA or TNT (either of which would be surely be upset about a 0.2 rating.) They could look at Mad Men and say, "Mad Men does well, so Rubicon should do just as well." Or, they could look at Mad Men and say, "Mad Men does well, so Rubicon doesn't need to do as well."

I'm hoping it's the latter. I mean there is way too much competition on Sundays at the 9pm EST time slot... Boardwalk Empire, Dexter, Sunday Night Football, and sometimes the Amazing Race cuts into that time slow. It's crazy.

 

[bicker]

Yeah, but Boardwalk Empire and Dexter are rebroadcast later in the week right?

 

[bicker]

Sunday, October 03, 2010
Premieres:
America's Funniest Home Videos (ABC)
American Dad (Fox)
CSI: Miami (CBS)
Next Iron Chef (Food Network)
Law & Order: UK (BBC America)
Finales:
The Glades (A&E)

Monday, October 04, 2010
Premieres:
Lie to Me (Fox)

Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Returns:
Caprica (Syfy)

Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Returns:
Mythbusters (Discovery)
First-run in Syndication/Off-Network:
Burn Notice (MyNetworkTV)

Thursday, October 07, 2010
Premieres:
The Old House Hour (PBS)

Friday, October 08, 2010
Finales:
Haven (Syfy)

 

[bicker]

One of the best resources for knowing how well your favorite shows are doing is TV by the Numbers. They have a great system, factoring-in a number of considerations, reducing it down to a very simple index, which has proven, over several years, to be one of the better predictors. (They've even made it more graphical and whimsical this year.)

They just put out their data for last week. At this point in the season, the numbers begin to get a bit more reliable and definitive.

• At ABC, The Whole Truth is doing as badly as the already-canceled My Generation was doing; Detroit 1-8-7 is doing poorly.
• CBS continues to have the best overall situation, with only long-in-the-tooth Medium in serious danger, so far; even The Defenders, which looked gloomy last week, seems to be holding on.
• At CW, it is a mystery why Life Unexpected isn't dead yet.
• At Fox, The Good Guys has the distinction of having the very worst index of all major network programs, far worse than the already-been-canceled Lone Star; Running Wilde is struggling.
• At NBC, Outlaw is as good as dead; The Undercovers is in trouble.

 

[bicker]

Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Finales:
Melissa & Joey (ABC Family)

Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Returns:
Storm Chasers (Discovery)

Friday, October 15, 2010
Premieres:
Sanctuary (Syfy)

 

[MoneyNeverSleeps]

Yeah, but Boardwalk Empire and Dexter are rebroadcast later in the week right?

They are rebroadcast later in the week and also at later times on Sunday night. But perhaps the people that are watching them are such big fans that they have to see the show the minute it comes on TV.. they don't want to wait for a later time.

 

[bicker]

And, not to scare you or anything, but here are the week's lowest-rated comedy and drama series among the Big Four network's most desired viewers (adults 18-49):

1. Outlaw (canceled)
2. Medium
3. The Good Guys
4. The Whole Truth
5. Detroit 1-8-7
6. Undercovers
7. CSI: NY
8. Blue Bloods
9. Chase
10. The Apprentice

Read more: http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b205191_five_fall_tv_shows_may_be.html

 

[bicker]

Some interesting insights for fans of Fringe and Lie To Me:

In a near exact replay of last season, Fox has several cancelled or certain to be cancelled shows (Lone Star, Running Wilde, The Good Guys), and the same two shows doing poorly (Lie To Me, Fringe) that they’ll have to make renewal or cancellation choices over.

Last May they decided to bring both Lie To Me and Fringe back, perhaps because they knew 3 hours of their Fall 2011 schedule would be The X-Factor and they needed some temporary fill ins. Whatever the reason, they have the same bad choice again this year. Again, I doubt they bring *both* back (but I’ve been wrong before!), and they could easily choose to bring back neither.

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/10/12/fox-fringe-new-season-same-bad-choice/67591

So essentially, we need to look at this season, for both of these shows, as gifts Fox gave fans, giving those two under-performing shows another chance that their performance to-date didn't really earn them. Given that both shows are doing as poorly this year as last, if that doesn't change we can expect them to not be back next fall. Just doing this year what they did last year will not be good enough.

 

[Pikester]

I loved Lie to Me from the very first episode but something has been off for me lately. I just can't seem to put my finger on it though.

I am way behind but I've finally started watching The Glade episodes that I have on my DVR. Not bad so far. I've seen the first 3.

I'm still recording Destination Truth and Ghost Hunters but having a really hard time getting through them. I ended up falling asleep. Even in the middle of the day!

Medium has been OK.

I'm really missing the Ghost Whisperer.

I was having a hard time choosing between Chase and Hawaii 5-0. Went with Chase and one Saturday episode of Hawaii 5-0. Loved the 5-0 so got rid of Chase and am now recording 5-0.

CSI: NY threw me for a loop with no Stella and adding a new character. I am not a fan of Sela Ward. Why did Melina Kanakaredes leave?

CSI: Miami has been a struggle for me for a long time. I think I'm getting bored with it but I just can't seem to let it go. I remember when H use to actually do lab work. Now he just lurks around.

CSI: has been truly awful since Grissom (William Petersen) left. The addtion of Laurence Fishburne has not been an asset in my opinion. His role was made important way too fast. I'd give it up completely but I like Nick and I feel like I'm letting the show down.

Castle and the Mentalist are still good shows!

 

[MoneyNeverSleeps]

Some interesting insights for fans of Fringe and Lie To Me:http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/10/12/fox-fringe-new-season-same-bad-choice/67591

So essentially, we need to look at this season, for both of these shows, as gifts Fox gave fans, giving those two under-performing shows another chance that their performance to-date didn't really earn them. Given that both shows are doing as poorly this year as last, if that doesn't change we can expect them to not be back next fall. Just doing this year what they did last year will not be good enough.

This is another case of setting Lie to Me up for failure. They've put it on Monday nights against MNF Football, Dancing with the Stars, Two and a half Me, The Event. Seriously what is that? They expect to beat all those shows. Give me a f'in break.

 

[bicker]

Perhaps they should have put it on Thursday 9pm, against Grey's Anatomy, CSI and The Office?

Networks don't "set up" programs for failure; that's a myth. Every show that fails feels like it has been "set up" for failure, but the reality is that the shows fail on their own merits or lack thereof.