Reminiscent of Star Trek Voyager's finale--there also a long-awaited resolution (ie, Voyager making it back to the Alpha Quadrant) was achieved, and people who had gotten bored with the show years before came back just to see it happen.
Funny thing is, this phenomenon did NOT happen for Battlestar Galactica's finale, which much as I disliked how it played out, was certainly done at a much higher level than Monk's or Voyager's.
People had really lost faith in Moore & Co's ability to resolve the story in a satisfactory way, and as it turned out, they were right. Too many balls in the air. Monk and Voyager had much simpler objectives to reach.
Personally, while I would not have missed Monk's finale, I found it disappointing as well. The killer was unmasked too easily, and gave up too quickly--and his motivations really didn't make sense, when you think about it. Also, it was just too easy a way out--he should have gone to prison, which for a judge would be a REALLY fitting punishment. Also, why would he care if they took care of a daughter he'd never cared about? And why would that daughter be completely unbothered by the fact that her biological father murdered her biological mother?
I also didn't buy Monk's OCD suddenly becoming just a few easily manageable quirks.
Or Randy getting together with Sharona, who I guess has done worse, but could certainly do better.
Monk was creatively spent by the end of its second season, but it was a reliable ratings performer for six more seasons after that. Never underestimate the power of giving people the same thing, over and over and over again.
Originally posted by Bruce: I think things reached the point with some of the core that they just needed ONE more reason to stop watching the show. And the move to friday was enough for too many of them. The show turned itself around quality wise, but don't they all ....and thus the show is left to appealing to the general cbs audience which is used to crime shows which throw fastballs and the occasional change up whereas Medium throws sliders and curves. That's the most gentle way I can put it, and I do strive to be gentle.
I would say that's a pretty spot on analysis in concerns to Medium itself. Ugly Betty is largely in the same boat (but on a network with a fairly incompatible lead in and no promotion). That show had declined creatively and ratings wise and the move to Friday was an excuse. It will be fun to see how many Betty fans return on Wednesdays in January. I think 6 million would really be pushing it at this point, but even then the demo would still improve considerably over Eastwick and probably near that 2.0 range.
You know Medium and Ugly Betty followed somewhat of a similar track, while you're on the subject, over their careers. Medium held up a little better under more adverse conditions but the parallels are striking.
- Surprising huge early splash for both shows, a shocker for Betty and surprising for Medium since it was a midseason replacement
- Both shows started to melt in their 2nd years but still were doing above average numbers
- Both actresses won Emmy's for their first season performance
- Both shows have largely been immune to criticism about the quality of the show
- Both shows ended up on Fridays
Now, someone could chime in that "both will be canceled this season." To be determined, but with Monk's numbers in the hand wringing over Medium for this nite can cease
As can Monk's "hand wringing"
Posts: 3328 | Location: Western Pennsylvania | Registered: 13 December 2006
Originally posted by Julie: What in the world happened to Medium last night? It wasn't even doing that badly on NBC last season! I'm really not sure what to make of those ratings, but it lost way too large a portion of the GW audience last night, and at this rate, it isn't going to make it another season.
CBS really needs to do something to get this lineup up. Not one show, not even GW (which was doing around a 2.5+ last season) could crack a 2.0 demo. What is going on here? Is it just that Friday's are diminishing faster than ever, or is the audience just not responding to any of these 3 shows anymore? While Medium should have done much better, I think more worrying should be Ghost Whisperer. It's leading off the night, and I think it's lower ratings this season is hurting the rest of the night. And sadly, CBS did a good job of promoting this entire night during the week. Overall, really, really disappointing results.
Have no fear The Big Bang Theory is coming to Friday night next week to save the night for CBS.
Oh I forgot, CBS will keep it a secret and no one will know it is on so it will probably be in the 3-4 million range.
Thanks for this, Twins.
Yes, Virginia The Big Bang Theory
Medium
Numb3rs
No matter what TBBT does, it will be interesting
Posts: 3328 | Location: Western Pennsylvania | Registered: 13 December 2006
Originally posted by pisher: Personally, while I would not have missed Monk's finale, I found it disappointing as well. The killer was unmasked too easily, and gave up too quickly--and his motivations really didn't make sense, when you think about it. Also, it was just too easy a way out--he should have gone to prison, which for a judge would be a REALLY fitting punishment. Also, why would he care if they took care of a daughter he'd never cared about? And why would that daughter be completely unbothered by the fact that her biological father murdered her biological mother?
I also didn't buy Monk's OCD suddenly becoming just a few easily manageable quirks.
Or Randy getting together with Sharona, who I guess has done worse, but could certainly do better.
Monk was creatively spent by the end of its second season, but it was a reliable ratings performer for six more seasons after that. Never underestimate the power of giving people the same thing, over and over and over again.
You may think it was creatively spent after two seasons. I have read some comments that, by the later seasons, some people had gotten tired of the show. However considering the fact that it continued to win or get nominated for various awards (including emmys and globes) and continued to get the viewers it looks like most people disagree with you that it was creatively spent after the end of its second season.
For those who are wondering about White Collar's ratings for Friday night....The Hollywood Reporter has posted them.
quote:
Boosted by "Monk," the fall finale of USA's freshman series "White Collar" also hit series highs, averaging 5.55 million viewers, the cable network's best performance at 10 p.m. Friday in more than three years, since the series premiere of "Psych."
"Collar" also posted its best numbers in adults 18-49: 2.1 million.
"What a perfect way for 'Monk', our first tentpole success, to finish its run -- going out even stronger than it came in, and helping to launch another great show, 'White Collar'," said USA's president of original programming Jeff Wachtel.
Originally posted by pisher: Personally, while I would not have missed Monk's finale, I found it disappointing as well. The killer was unmasked too easily, and gave up too quickly--and his motivations really didn't make sense, when you think about it. Also, it was just too easy a way out--he should have gone to prison, which for a judge would be a REALLY fitting punishment. Also, why would he care if they took care of a daughter he'd never cared about? And why would that daughter be completely unbothered by the fact that her biological father murdered her biological mother?
I also didn't buy Monk's OCD suddenly becoming just a few easily manageable quirks.
Or Randy getting together with Sharona, who I guess has done worse, but could certainly do better.
Monk was creatively spent by the end of its second season, but it was a reliable ratings performer for six more seasons after that. Never underestimate the power of giving people the same thing, over and over and over again.
'Monk' was never about the crimes or the mysteries; the show was about a character and his extended family. Similar to Columbo, similar to House, similar to The Closer, similar to The Mentalist. Tony Shalhoub deserved his awards, as does Hugh Laurie, but that's another topic. And the finale was about tying up loose ends for the characters. My guess is that each actor had a say in how he/she would like their character's storyline to 'conclude'. 'Monk' is the kind of show that probably wants its fans and its cast to feel good about where the characters end up. I thought the episode did just that.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: saraday,
Originally posted by saraday: 'Monk' was never about the crimes or the mysteries; the show was about a character and his extended family. Similar to Columbo, similar to House, similar to The Mentalist. (Does anyone here really think The Mentalist can go for 6,7,8 seasons?)
Yes? I do. Why not? Who would have thought that Bones or House - both based on one lead character as their titles say - would last this long? Especially Bones. And it's still chugging along contently. Why not The Mentalist? The main character is quite loveable but with a cruel streak, the team is funny - especially Agent Cho - so why not? *shrugs*
'Monk' was never about the crimes or the mysteries;
Oh COME ON now.
quote:
the show was about a character and his extended family.
You might as well say Sherlock Holmes wasn't about the mysteries. Any good mystery needs good characters. And in this genre, good characters need good mysteries, or we end up losing respect for them.
The characters mainly stayed the same, so why did the ratings keep going down--only to come back once the biggest mystery of all was about to be solved? And not even for the first half of that resolution--just for the last hour.
quote:
Similar to Columbo,
?????
Columbo was the ONLY character who appeared in every episode of Columbo. It was not an ensemble show. Of course Falk's quirky portrayal was a huge part of the pleasure, and just like in Monk, we know the killer before he does--but the pleasure is in figuring out how he's going to figure it out. Same as Monk.
quote:
similar to House, similar to The Mentalist.
I wouldn't know. Or care.
quote:
(Does anyone here really think The Mentalist can go for 6,7,8 seasons?)
I sure hope not, but you never know with CBS. It'll probably come down to how reasonable Simon Baker is with his contract renegotiations. Nobody else in the cast matters--they could all be replaced.
quote:
And the finale was about tying up loose ends for the characters.
Well, I'm glad you liked it, but for me, it was too cut and dried. Life isn't like that, and good fiction does tell us something about life, even in the mystery genre.
quote:
My guess is that each actor had a say in how he/she would like their character's storyline to 'conclude'.
I have no idea of you're right, but if it is, that would explain why the finale didn't hang together as a coherent narrative.
I'm not that bothered--it was never my favorite show. And I pretty much stopped watching once the annoying Randy Newman song was substituted for the brilliant first season opening.
I think Randy Newman should have been Trudy's killer.
You may think it was creatively spent after two seasons. I have read some comments that, by the later seasons, some people had gotten tired of the show. However considering the fact that it continued to win or get nominated for various awards (including emmys and globes) and continued to get the viewers it looks like most people disagree with you that it was creatively spent after the end of its second season.
Those nominations were almost entirely for Tony Shalhoub, who I agree was always good, but what's that got to do with the overall creativity of the show? It's a simple fact that when Emmy & GG voters really like an actor (and what's not to like about Shalhoub?), he or she will appear year after year in the nominations.
The show didn't get a single Emmy or Golden Globe nomination for scriptwriting. It got ONE Emmy nomination for directing--did not win. Most other Emmy nominations were for casting, which I certainly agree was good. All its GG nominations were for actors.
So what on earth did you want to bring that up for?
So, new Dollhouse tied the repeat of Smallville in the A18-49 demo. Ugh. Wow. Well, congratulations to Smallville and the CW, I guess. Moving SV to Fridays was one of the few sane decisions they made this year.
Originally posted by curious: So, new Dollhouse tied the repeat of Smallville in the A18-49 demo. Ugh. Wow. Well, congratulations to Smallville and the CW, I guess. Moving SV to Fridays was one of the few sane decisions they made this year.
Considering if SV was on any other night, SV would probably crack 3.5Mish, and only 2 shows on the CW currently are getting better ratings then that(Vampire Diaries and America's Top Next Model), that is(it being a sane desicion) debatable.
Originally posted by curious: So, new Dollhouse tied the repeat of Smallville in the A18-49 demo. Ugh. Wow. Well, congratulations to Smallville and the CW, I guess. Moving SV to Fridays was one of the few sane decisions they made this year.
Considering if SV was on any other night, SV would probably crack 3.5Mish, and only 2 shows on the CW currently are getting better ratings then that(Vampire Diaries and America's Top Next Model), that is(it being a sane desicion) debatable.
SV is the oldest scripted show on the CW. They needed something to anchor the night. Newbie shows would flop for sure on Friday. So why not use the one show that could actually draw someone to Friday? SV is in its 9th season and there isn't much further this show could go. The 10th season will be definitely its last. They don't need it to be in the top 3 shows of their network, they need it to do what it's doing now - giving them much better numbers on Friday that they got there in the past year. So yes, it was a sane decision. Insane was to use it as a lead-in for a repeat of ANTM.
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....and thus the show is left to appealing to the general cbs audience which is used to crime shows which throw fastballs and the occasional change up whereas Medium throws sliders and curves. That's the most gentle way I can put it, and I do strive to be gentle. 
