Is it me or does this midseason feel like an impossible launch pad for new shows?
Daybreak, 3lbs., Big Day, Show Me The Money, and the Rich List have all faired poorly. Granted some of them may not have been great, but Daybreak was advertised to no end(plus ended up being a descent show with some descent reviews) With every network sporting a highly watched medical drama(ER, Grey's, and House) 3lbs. seemed like a shoe-in, and yet that now is not the case.
I'm almost afraid of the networks airing pilots I liked in fear of them also failing. I'd like to see Traveler, and Singles Table hit the tube, but with more solid bets busting at launch I don't see much hope in the saturated serial drama market, and the now impossible comedy market(Seriously why don't we like comedies anymore?)

Anyway what are your thoughts? Is it the shows, or is it the market?

Comedies seem to be having a middle aged crisis. People seem to be sick and tired of the traditional format that has been used for 50 years but not yet ready to embrace the more modern single-camera, no laugh-track model.

Personally,I think the problem is all the people slamming the shows after watching 2 minutes online, etc. Look at how this forum ripped apart Day Break, Big Day and Show Me the Money before they even aired. This is bound to influence others from watching the first episode.

I also think that the networks have not been giving enough time for the shows to catch on. Some you can tell right away that they are duds like Happy Hour on Fox. But others, you need to give more time.

Showing the same show in two or three different time slots does not help either - for new shows OR established shows. Even Boston Legal switching nights - people I know were trying to find it.

Or what NBC has done with 1 vs. 100. Why start a new show and only have it on for three weeks before preempting it with other programs? It does not make sense.

Studio 60, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Heroes, Brothers and Sisters, Ugly Betty - these are all examples of shows that the network is sticking by in the original time slot it was given so that the shows can find their audience. New Adventures of Old Christine made it to Season Two (despite people calling for it to be canceled) and it has found its footing.

So, I think they need to give shows more time to grow and not switch them around so much to begin with.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul Ketz:
Heroes, Ugly Betty - these are all examples of shows that the network is sticking by in the original time slot it was given so that the shows can find their audience.

Not really ... those two were big hits right off the bat. It was hardly brave of NBC and ABC to let 'em stay put.