quote:

Originally posted by mrpotato531:
But, still, the series high from that October 30 outing out of Heroes (which still remains the series high) was only in the 8 millions. With so much critical acclaim, and even being Time Magazine's #3 show of 2006, FNL could - and should - be doing better. I love the series to death but it simply cannot anchor Wednesday nights...especially when American Idol is expanded to 2 hours.

I'm glad, though, that they didn't move it to Sundays (like they were thinking about before deciding on Wednesdays). The Sunday 8pm hour already targets enough family audiences with 7th Heaven and Extreme Makeover. And then guys - which FNL also seems to grab - are watching the FOX animated sitcoms. Tough decision to make, I imagine.

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I think part of NBC's strategy is that it realizes it's not going to get the most viewers, so it's going for quality and trying to build off that. Better that than popping new replacements of lesser quality in all over the schedule and letting them fail after a few weeks. They're sticking with higher quality material and letting them develop. I read a quote recently where one of the heads of NBC programming recently called this strategy a way to "counter-balance" lower overall ratings.

It's sure nice to see some of this network's attempts at trying different ideas, rather than running the same thing. In staying with some of these higher concept ideas, some should click over time. Most of NBC's batch of freshmen series this season fall into this category.

quote:

Originally posted by A.C.:
You really have to wonder what the mindset of 3 million people to just abandone TBD right in the middle of the show. Was it the actors being unappealing, the storyline not engaging enough. I really can't remember a time where I didn't watch a show-not like it-but not at least stick it through to the end of the episode to see if it got any better(GRAY'S ANATOMY & DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES comes to mind...I watched the pilots-hated it and never watched again but at least I finished the episode. You figure a viewer can at least do that. How about it board members...have you ever given up in the middle of an episode?

There were no commercials in the first half hour. The first commerical was almost exactly at 10:30.

quote:

Originally posted by Fred Farrar:
Travis, if its not too much trouble, how badly did "Donnellys" lose to the Oprah special in the second half hour?

Through the wonders of DVRS I watched both and while her show was sweet and nice and uplifting and clearly important to her, it certainly didn't figure to be a ratings magnet -- much less to whip up on the highly-promoted Irish mob kids over on NBC. But it did, at least in average viewers.

Amazing.

So now what are the odds on how long NBC will stay with "TBD"?

If the show could deliver a 3.0 in the demo next week (with those encores on NBC, USA and Bravo coming up...) NBC should stick with it.

I absolutely loved TBD! I am a fan of Paul Haggis since way back - the Due South days - a brilliant, underrated series. I loved Crash and I had a great time watching the pilot of TBD last night. In fact, I logged in here to check up on its ratings - I am so in love with that show.
I am hoping it catches on and NBC allows it to develop.
I also enjoyed Heroes last night.

quote:

So now what are the odds on how long NBC will stay with "TBD"?

I think at least through March. beyond that, lets see what the numbers are then.

quote:

Originally posted by mrpotato531:
But, still, the series high from that October 30 outing out of Heroes (which still remains the series high) was only in the 8 millions. With so much critical acclaim, and even being Time Magazine's #3 show of 2006, FNL could - and should - be doing better. I love the series to death but it simply cannot anchor Wednesday nights...especially when American Idol is expanded to 2 hours.

I don't think anyone expects it to anchor, though the Idol effect is obvious when comparing the results of last week's episode to the week prior, which were regular timeslot highs. That airing after Heroes remains its best numbers, and it performed better than Studio 60 did in that slot at the time even.

I don't expect NBC to move it anymore (there are 4 episodes left, presumably airing late April-early May). But its performance indicates that it can pick up viewers, but has trouble keeping them. I bet NBC renews it out of the four series (FNL, S60, 30Rock, TBD) because it is not only the best reviewed but I'd say most consistent performer, even given the numbers.

quote:

Originally posted by meggie:

quote:

Originally posted by Vic De Salvo:
I thought TBD was pretty bad. Basically, it was clear that the episode wanted to lay out a ton of exposition. So, we have a character questioned by police about "the bodies." Apparently, though, the police don't tell him which bodies, and he doesn't bother to ask. Instead, he proceeds to tell them a sweeping history of Donnelly family history. Oh, and yeah, he throws in some infomation about bodies. Not, mind you, the bodies in question, but a completely different set of bodies.

That's pretty lazy writing.

Especially in the great detail the narrator was able to go into for scenes in which he was not present. Seriously, this was BAD. Horrible, awful writing full of every gangster and Irish cliche you can name.

I'm not sure why going into detail about scenes he wasn't present for should be considered bad. Maybe the show was bad, but I don't get how that particular aspect is bad. Maybe it doesn't make sense, but let's be serious, it's a tv show, not real life.

all of the below and it was not interesting at all

quote:

Originally posted by A.C.:
You really have to wonder what the mindset of 3 million people to just abandone TBD right in the middle of the show. Was it the actors being unappealing, the storyline not engaging enough. I really can't remember a time where I didn't watch a show-not like it-but not at least stick it through to the end of the episode to see if it got any better(GRAY'S ANATOMY & DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES comes to mind...I watched the pilots-hated it and never watched again but at least I finished the episode. You figure a viewer can at least do that. How about it board members...have you ever given up in the middle of an episode?

quote:

Originally posted by A.C.:
How about it board members...have you ever given up in the middle of an episode?

There were plenty of shows that I gave up half way through the episode. Studio 60, Men in Trees, Veronica Mars, CSI: Miami, The Biggest Loser and several others.

Heroes was awsome last night. Infact the last two weeks have been really good. I like the interweaving of the characters history (15 years ago with baby clare).

With as much "down time" each character gets in the season, they seriously should think about 30 episodes next season.

quote:

I also enjoyed Heroes last night.

quote:

Originally posted by TheHunter:

quote:

Originally posted by meggie:

quote:

Originally posted by Vic De Salvo:
I thought TBD was pretty bad. Basically, it was clear that the episode wanted to lay out a ton of exposition. So, we have a character questioned by police about "the bodies." Apparently, though, the police don't tell him which bodies, and he doesn't bother to ask. Instead, he proceeds to tell them a sweeping history of Donnelly family history. Oh, and yeah, he throws in some infomation about bodies. Not, mind you, the bodies in question, but a completely different set of bodies.

That's pretty lazy writing.

Especially in the great detail the narrator was able to go into for scenes in which he was not present. Seriously, this was BAD. Horrible, awful writing full of every gangster and Irish cliche you can name.

I'm not sure why going into detail about scenes he wasn't present for should be considered bad. Maybe the show was bad, but I don't get how that particular aspect is bad. Maybe it doesn't make sense, but let's be serious, it's a tv show, not real life.

Okay, but here's the problem -- what do we believe from last night's show? As others have commented, the narrator appeared to be stupid and untruthful or simply forgetful. Add to that the fact that he wasn't present for most of the things that happened. So, are we supposed to believe anything that happened last night? Are we supposed to believe that what we saw last night was conjecture? Lies? Bad memory?

quote:

Originally posted by Suzaku:

quote:

Originally posted by A.C.:
How about it board members...have you ever given up in the middle of an episode?

There were plenty of shows that I gave up half way through the episode. Studio 60, Men in Trees, Veronica Mars, CSI: Miami, The Biggest Loser and several others.

The only show that I gave up half way through is Criminal Minds...

So, no one's been evil yet and pointed out that every single one of the crappily rated CW sitcoms beat VM in total viewers and the demo?

I wonder how well The Balck D's would play on Sunday Nights at 10pm. The matchup with Heroes is just not a good one.

Perhaps NBC should go for the male demo on Sundays. WHat their doing now obviously isn't working.

Is this guy going to be the narrator for every Black Donnelly's episode? Telling stories about the way the destinies of various people he knew intertwined tragically?

I mean, it's like "How I Whacked Your Mother". Or something.