Spring Break
Curtain closes on some television cult favorites
Nadum
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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Renewals
For anyone that's ever had one of his or her favorite shows cancelled, it's time to get nervous. We've got about a month before we findout who's in, who's out and whether or not a bunch of crazy fans are going to try and burn down any major networks.
If there is a mortal certainty about this time of year, it's that there will be one great television show that gets canned. While the list of victims is too long to list, I still get bent out of shape (and by that I mean violent) when I think about Freaks & Geeks or Arrested Development. Anyways, before I start breaking things, here's the status report on this year.
Give NBC some love for renewing My Name is Earl, The Office, and 30 Rock. None of them are exactly ratings powerhouses, but since comedy makes us laugh and NBC is the only network with any good comedies, it's a good thing. The only real question left is whether or not Scrubs is coming back. Although it finally seems to have found a home on the Thursday night comedy block after 30 Rock, that timeframe is a cushy spot that NBC might want to use for a new comedy next year.
Meanwhile, Friday Night Lights is the best new drama that hasn't been renewed (one of the best dramas period). NBC has another tough decision. They know the show is good. Critics know the show is good. Fans know the show is good. But no one really watches it. The whole "quality programming over viewers" thing works for HBO, but it's a hard sell when you're a subsidiary of General Electric. The good news is that they ordered 6 more scripts of Lights, which, short of an actual renewal, is as positive a sign as any.
Studio 60 looks dead in the water. Bad ratings, so-so reviews and a huge budget are usually a death sentence. Luckily, we will get to see the rest of the season finish out. Rumor has it that they're going to replay the entire series this summer.
No matter what NBC does, they had tough choices and did the best they could. CBS, on the other hand, is actually thinking about canceling How I Met Your Mother because - get this - the president of the company doesn't think it's funny. Now, I don't know him personally, but if CBS's line-up of shows is an indication of this guy's taste in television, the free world might be better served if this jackass went against his instincts when deciding what shows to put on the air.
For anyone that's ever had one of his or her favorite shows cancelled, it's time to get nervous. We've got about a month before we findout who's in, who's out and whether or not a bunch of crazy fans are going to try and burn down any major networks.
If there is a mortal certainty about this time of year, it's that there will be one great television show that gets canned. While the list of victims is too long to list, I still get bent out of shape (and by that I mean violent) when I think about Freaks & Geeks or Arrested Development. Anyways, before I start breaking things, here's the status report on this year.
Give NBC some love for renewing My Name is Earl, The Office, and 30 Rock. None of them are exactly ratings powerhouses, but since comedy makes us laugh and NBC is the only network with any good comedies, it's a good thing. The only real question left is whether or not Scrubs is coming back. Although it finally seems to have found a home on the Thursday night comedy block after 30 Rock, that timeframe is a cushy spot that NBC might want to use for a new comedy next year.
Meanwhile, Friday Night Lights is the best new drama that hasn't been renewed (one of the best dramas period). NBC has another tough decision. They know the show is good. Critics know the show is good. Fans know the show is good. But no one really watches it. The whole "quality programming over viewers" thing works for HBO, but it's a hard sell when you're a subsidiary of General Electric. The good news is that they ordered 6 more scripts of Lights, which, short of an actual renewal, is as positive a sign as any.
Studio 60 looks dead in the water. Bad ratings, so-so reviews and a huge budget are usually a death sentence. Luckily, we will get to see the rest of the season finish out. Rumor has it that they're going to replay the entire series this summer.
No matter what NBC does, they had tough choices and did the best they could. CBS, on the other hand, is actually thinking about canceling How I Met Your Mother because - get this - the president of the company doesn't think it's funny. Now, I don't know him personally, but if CBS's line-up of shows is an indication of this guy's taste in television, the free world might be better served if this jackass went against his instincts when deciding what shows to put on the air.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
edd
posted 4/20/07 @ 11:38 AM EST
Just bring back AD! Best show ever, which needs to come back
Greg
posted 4/20/07 @ 7:13 PM EST
Much of your column I agree with. But as far as "How I Met Your Mother," I don't think it's very funny, either. Plus, now that Neil Patrick Harris is out and proud, it's such a stretch to see him playing a hetero -- especially since so much of his character's persona revolves around the hetero life. (Continued…)
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