Comments on: In Defense of FOX

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:43:01 +0000

I just want to say that i believe in all of Fox’s decisions regarding thier scheudle except one, the cancellation of the War at Home after just only two seasons. i just want to say fox you made a huge mistake when you did not renew the war at home, you insured that i will never watch your network unless you bring this great series back. i hope you soon relaize the error of your ways, or else you have lost several once faithful viewers.

By: Joe Bua

Joe Bua — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 01:54:05 +0000

Two words: Herman’s Head.

Two more words: The Winner

Five More Words: Andy Richter Controls the Universe

And finally: The War at Home

All perfectly great comedies that Fox pulled prematurely.

Though I have to say I was impressed with the Dollhouse renewal. That took balls. Good for Kevin Reilly.

Now if he would only realize that ‘Til Death is just the worst kind of crap we’d be set.

By: Ace

Ace — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:48:45 +0000

Thanks, B. That is encouraging to hear. I did a Neilsen diary last year and it had you write down if you “time shifted” a show, but I wasn’t sure if that was just for research purposes. Glad they take it into account.

Natalie — For your idea of them committing to a full season, I wouldn’t even mind if they went to cable length seasons (12-15 episodes). I’ll take quality over quantity any day of the week.

By: B

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:06:19 +0000

I work for one of the networks and have to jump in and clarify…

Nielsen DOES report DVR viewing… In fact, the main ratings the networks currently sell advertising based on look strictly at commercial viewing for each show both Live and those that are played back via DVR within 3 days. (Also, the networks track and get credit for viewing of shows through legit websites–i.e. Hulu, abc.com, fox.com, etc.)

By: Natalie J. Damschroder

Natalie J. Damschroder — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 03:06:56 +0000

You make good points, as does Ace. (I figure people watching live leave the room when the commercials come on–bathroom, kitchen, etc.–but DVR watchers actually see them. And I always stop and go back for a Macs and PCs commercial or something that catches my eye. But that’s another topic. )

Here’s what I would like to see (barring the broken ratings system scrapped or fixed) is Fox (or any other network) loading the schedule with a very broad variety of these out-of-the-box shows, committing to them for a full season, and collecting multiple niche audiences. Sure, CSI might beat them on any given night, but collectively, they’ll pull in tons of eyeballs over the course of the week.

Or does that only make sense to me because it’s past 11:00 p.m.?

By: What others have been saying about csi ny « sarahjones

What others have been saying about csi ny « sarahjones — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:21:58 +0000

[...] http://www.thetvaddict.com/2009/08/17/in-defense-of-fox/Unlike other networks who shall not be named (CBS, ABC, NBC) who pat themselves on the back for having the “cajones” to launch such creative endeavors as CSI: NY, NCIS: LOS ANGELES or yet another medical drama (Quick… which’ll be … [...]

By: fred

fred — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:02:44 +0000

It is true that they do take chances and try new/different things, but how the Hell can we not hate them, when they pretend to dare take chances and for example allow Joss Whedon to create the best show ever, only to mess with it, ask for a new pilot, not air episodes in order, and cancel the whole thing before it even aired (or close enough).

It would be true if they really believed and supported shows such as Firefly, Wonderfalls, and all such amazing series they instead decided to trash away. Which, in the end, only trims down chances that in the future such shows could find an audience…

By: Quick Roundup « kimmaz

Quick Roundup « kimmaz — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:48:29 +0000

By: spotupj

spotupj — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:43:27 +0000

Would NBC have been patient with Arrested Development? Well, they were patient with The Office, which didn’t deserve to last past its short season 1 ratings-wise. They were patient with the practically DOA 30 Rock. Just because those paid off and AD didn’t in the Nielsens doesn’t mean Fox’s patience was any more noble.

By: Ace

Ace — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:24:48 +0000

Ok, I’m forewarning that this might get long, but I’ve had a lot of beloved shows cancelled on me in the last year so I get defensive .

At this point, I know I am guilty of this too, it is easy to blame the evil network for cancelling your favorite show. But really what is at fault is the way ratings are done and the audience. You can have a brilliant and different show like Pushing Daisies that the critics love and the network really wants to stand behind, but what are they supposed to do when it gets less than 4 million viewers a week and a tiny share of the people who “really matter” (i.e., 18-49)? And if a show like the Bachelorette is super cheap to make and gets three times the vieweres? Well, then I think they have their answer. I wish they would figure out a way to count DVR watchers, but you also can’t blame the ad buyers for not wanting that to happen (although, I now actually watch the commercials…just really, really fast).

Obviously, shows got cancelled before the writer’s strike, but the way they handled everything really hurt them. Not only did a lot of people realize that there was tons of quality programing on the cable network, but DVRs also started to really catch on during the strike. The best thing they could have done was settle with the writers before the strike even started so that people didn’t go in search for other networks to watch. And then when the strike ended, what did they do? Waiting MONTHS to bring back shows that had a huge buzz so that when they came back people forgot they existed. I can probably count on one hand the number of new shows that survived the strike. Just thankful that Chuck is one of them (for now).

The worst part to me is that as a viewer, it is really hard to get yourself invested in shows now that seems unique/quirkly b/c chances are you are one of the few people actually watching it and it willl be gone in a few weeks (think Kings).

Ok, rant over. Go about your business…nothing to see here…