Originally posted by dumont: What I do take great objection to, and I have complained to Marc but the post still remains, is the objectionable, vile comment (which I will not repeat or quote) that lost_dom directed towards pisher near the end of Wednesdays ratings discussion.
I felt offended for pisher that he or anyone should be on the receiving end of a comment like that, and that is where an apology or corrective action is called for.
It's a quote from "The Exorcist." Maybe you'd have preferred he give pisher the cleaned-up-for-broadcast-TV version?
YOUR MOTHER SEWS SOCKS THAT SMELL!
There, it's all family friendly now.
There are a large number of quotes that could be lifted from movies and tv (i.e. The Today Show yesterday) that have no place in a civilized discussion forum.
I think ABC is convinced (right or wrong) that pretty much anything will loose the Lost lead-in. That's part of the reason they moved it to 10 last year and why they are moving it to 10 again when Grey's comes back (rather than Wed. at 9). It ES falls to 5 million, I can see them pulling it. Otherwise, there's no reason to think that reruns would do much better.
I think you're absolutely right that ABC is convinced anything will loose the Lost lead-in. So why put original programming there now? Why not remind audience members of a show like Pushing Daisies (or PP or DSM... but I think PD may be a better fit post-Lost than those other two) that *is* going to be back next season? It's low-cost rerun programming... and it would help a freshman show (in the long-term) that the network seems to be invested in. Eli Stone has stumbled. All 13 episodes have already been produced, so the network can choose to air them, sure... but with such low returns, why *waste this time-slot*?
October Road will be out of originals soon and I think The Bachelor is replacing it. Cashmere Mafia is being replaced by Men In Trees. There has to be somewhere else on the schedule for Eli Stone to go. I mean... would it work Thursdays at 8pm leading into Lost? Tuesdays at 10pm when BL runs out of originals?
I understand not canceling stuff earlier this season outright (Big Shots certainly did worse, comparatively, than Eli Stone in this time period but was left on because of the strike). But there are (plenty of) times when I just don't understand what the networks are thinking with their scheduling.
I completely disagree with your assessment of Eli Stone -- it's too early to say it has failed, and quality-wise it's a great show. Like the other poster said, there are so many holes in ABC's current schedule, I'd worry about those first before removing Eli Stone, which is actually a great show. They have holes on pretty much every other day of the week, and Eli Stone is currently pulling in some of their higher demo ratings -- yes, it's mainly because it follows LOST, but that is also your argument for cancelling it. I think it should get a chance to find its audience, and ABC has nothing better to put in its place right now.
You don;t have to refrain from posting. Just be nice or Mr. TV will have to have you stand in the corner!
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Originally posted by pisher:
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I will, thanks. Can't we all just try to get along here?
Marc, again--I'm sorry you've been put to any trouble, and I'll refrain from posting the next few days, so people can cool down. But the only slurs people were getting offended by here were directed at TV shows and their ratings.
Oh, and I may also have made some remarks about spelling and grammar that were not well received.
Have a great weekend, everyone. And I do mean everyone. I am nothing if not forgiving.
I think you're absolutely right that ABC is convinced anything will loose the Lost lead-in. So why put original programming there now? Why not remind audience members of a show like Pushing Daisies (or PP or DSM... but I think PD may be a better fit post-Lost than those other two) that *is* going to be back next season? It's low-cost rerun programming... and it would help a freshman show (in the long-term) that the network seems to be invested in. Eli Stone has stumbled. All 13 episodes have already been produced, so the network can choose to air them, sure... but with such low returns, why *waste this time-slot*?
Because they can't afford the ratings they'd get with repeats of those shows, and there's no evidence that showing them more often would improve their ratings. The opposite has proven to be the case.
I think you're absolutely right that ABC is convinced anything will loose the Lost lead-in. So why put original programming there now? Why not remind audience members of a show like Pushing Daisies (or PP or DSM... but I think PD may be a better fit post-Lost than those other two) that *is* going to be back next season? It's low-cost rerun programming... and it would help a freshman show (in the long-term) that the network seems to be invested in. Eli Stone has stumbled. All 13 episodes have already been produced, so the network can choose to air them, sure... but with such low returns, why *waste this time-slot*?
Because they can't afford the ratings they'd get with repeats of those shows, and there's no evidence that showing them more often would improve their ratings. The opposite has proven to be the case.
There, back ontopic.
So there's absolutely no validity in your opinion to the "out of sight, out of mind" phenomenon associated with extended hiatuses of TV shows? I don't necessarily think it applies to shows that have been around for a while and are established (i.e. 24 and Lost), but new shows... I think there would be nothing to lose from trying those repeats out. ABC's going to have to do a massive relaunch campaign in the fall for PD, PP, and DSM anyway and they'll have been completely off the air for 9 months at that point.
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Originally posted by Chimera: I completely disagree with your assessment of Eli Stone -- it's too early to say it has failed, and quality-wise it's a great show. Like the other poster said, there are so many holes in ABC's current schedule, I'd worry about those first before removing Eli Stone, which is actually a great show. They have holes on pretty much every other day of the week, and Eli Stone is currently pulling in some of their higher demo ratings -- yes, it's mainly because it follows LOST, but that is also your argument for cancelling it. I think it should get a chance to find its audience, and ABC has nothing better to put in its place right now.
Well, like I did say, ABC is filling those holes (October Road with The Bachelor and Cashmere Mafia with Men In Threes. And I didn't say to cancel Eli Stone. I don't think it will get renewed with those ratings (although ABC has stood behind WAB? and OR with head-scratching second season renewals in the past). I said move it to somewhere else. It's very clearly not finding its audience Thursdays at 10pm behind Lost.
Lost's ratings are going down, but its production costs are not. I personally think they could easily conclude the story in ten episodes--from any point. So if the ratings keep dropping, ABC might want to consider shortening the rest of the show's run. They really do not have enough story to fill all those eps.
It downright astonishes me people here can write "Lost's" epitaph when it DELIVERED A 5.8 ADULTS 18-49 RATING LAST NIGHT. Only a half-dozen other shows on TV can make that claim. Anyone would kill for those numbers.
Holy sh*t!
Also important to mention: Lost's ratings are up from this point last season. Weekly ratings fluctuate, yes, but it's above last season. It's not "dropping and dropping."
Why people compare Lost's ratings now to what it was drawing in seasons 1 and 2 is beyond me. NO hit series is drawing what it drew 3 seasons ago. American Idol, GA, DH, CSI, CSI Miami, 2 1/2 Men, etc, all of these series are drawing significantly fewer viewers than they did 3-4 years ago. The network audience is significantly smaller now.
Originally posted by TravisYanan: I think you're absolutely right that ABC is convinced anything will loose the Lost lead-in. So why put original programming there now? Why not remind audience members of a show like Pushing Daisies (or PP or DSM... but I think PD may be a better fit post-Lost than those other two) that *is* going to be back next season? It's low-cost rerun programming... and it would help a freshman show (in the long-term) that the network seems to be invested in. Eli Stone has stumbled. All 13 episodes have already been produced, so the network can choose to air them, sure... but with such low returns, why *waste this time-slot*?
I don't think ABC will move it until 1) they think reruns will do better in that times slot and/or 2) they think ES will not drop significantly if they move it away from Lost.
It's doubtful that reruns of PD or DSM will get much over 5 million since originals were only getting 6-7 million. So ES will have to get below 6 million before they consider moving it.
Eli Stone and Lipstick Jungle both aren't cutting it. There's no reason for NBC to air another episode of Lipstick Jungle. They have a few series waiting in the wings and one should take over that slot within the next few weeks. Eli Stone has no purpose on the schedule either, but I'm willing to bet ABC gives it another 13. It'll be the struggling series that they attempt to revive only to be cancelled a season later.
FOX is contractually obligated to show the NAACP Image Awards. So I'm willing to give it a pass. Although, I bet next year it moves to Friday.
Celebrity Apprentice is holding up surprisingly well. 9+ million is not bad for a cheap reality filler during the strike. Perhaps a quick fix could be to do two hour extended versions of Celebrity Apprentice to replace Lipstick Jungle.
Smallville had a huge drop. Which is not good for the CW since it's one of the few shows that actually pulls in viewers to the network. Not impressed with Supernatural's numbers either. It's good in comparison with other CW shows, but if the CW is going to grow next year, I don't know if Supernatural is an asset. There are a glut of shows routinely pulling in the 2 millions and haven't broken into the 3 million threshold.
I'm starting to get sick of all of you who criticize LOST. It is one of the best written (if not the best) shows on the air now and the only show that keeps me glued to my seat for the full hour. All of you who complain about the third season are out of your minds. The reason that you watch the show is because of the unraveling of a mystery -- if all the answers were given -- why would you watch? Enjoy the ride.
Holy sh*t! 
