# 2009 Fall Cancellation Prediction thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 22, 2009, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159 "2009-09-22T23:49:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159/81 "2009-10-04T01:28:40Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > The major networks typically treat December as a dead zone for the holidays. Between holiday specials and people’s vacation plans and parties, viewing is down for regular shows. > > March is typically sweeps, where they run specials to compete for ratings. Picking up a new show they don’t know how it is going to fare is poor planning. They’ll stack the deck with known quantities, and break out the new show afterwards. Except, V _was_ a known quantity until the showtime schedule came out. People were really excited about it and now it’s being treated like a second class citizen. If there’s going to be a four month gap between the first half of the season and the second half, there needs to be a better explanation can “because.” It doesn’t make any sense to do something like that unless there’s a problem. And if they want to avoid “dead zones” of December and January (which are only dead zones because nothing new is ever shown) then they should have premiered it a month ago and let it run through November or saved it until March and run it non-stop until the Summer. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159/82 "2009-10-04T01:29:06Z")
OK. Now I am dying to see “Hank” in all its awfulness. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159/83 "2009-10-04T01:49:26Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > I actually gave Cougartown a shot. I couldn’t even finish the first episode. You all are just DARING me to watch Hank now. [I double-dog dare you](http://abc.go.com/watch/hank/236406). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159/84 "2009-10-04T05:57:28Z")
OK, I watched the premier of Hank on Hulu. I wouldn’t describe it as horrible. It is not much less than horrible, though. Words like trite, boring, and formulaic come to mind. I won’t be watching it. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159/85 "2009-10-09T14:29:28Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > \However I’m also worried that Southland will share the same fate… > \ It appear that you were [correct](http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/10/08/southland-canceled/29999). ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159/86 "2009-10-09T14:41:13Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > It appear that you were [correct](http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/10/08/southland-canceled/29999). What the fuck??? :mad::mad: Does NBC get the first draft pick or something if it finishes dead last in the ratings? I hope Jay Leno fucking loses all control of his bodily functions and shits himself every god damned day of the rest of his miserable fucking life. NBC brass can all come down with untreatable but non-fatal fucking skin rashes, too. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159/87 "2009-10-09T14:48:44Z")
> [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](#): > > I watched Eastwick because I like the book and movie, and I like Lindsay Price and the gal who did a guest stint on Eureka. It was really stunning in its blandness. It might be the perfect show to watch when my husband is working late and I want to knit and “watch” TV, but I doubt it will be around very long. It has none of the guts of the source material, and the guy playing Darryl, no matter how good he might otherwise be, will always simply read as “not Jack Nicholson.” I’ve watched it for the hot women (especially Lindsay Price) but it is only mediocre. I fast forward through a lot of it. Isn’t Darryl the guy from _Due South_? I often find myself I keep thinking _Charmed_. I’ll probably keep recording it until it is canceled. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159/88 "2009-10-09T15:06:36Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > I’ve watched it for the hot women (especially Lindsay Price) but it is only mediocre. I fast forward through a lot of it. Isn’t Darryl the guy from _Due South_? Yes, Paul Gross. This show looks abominable, but I’m tempted to watch it just because I loved _Due South_ so freaking much. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159/89 "2009-10-09T15:08:15Z")
From Alan Sepinwall’s blog: " . . . ABC apparently gave back nine orders to “The Middle,” “Modern Family” and “Cougar Town.” **Please note the distinct absence of “Hank” on that list.** So far, it’s been a very good fall for new shows. “Glee,” “NCIS: LA” and “The Good Wife” already got full season pick-ups, and “The Cleveland Show” had one before it even debuted, due to the weird production schedule of animated shows. Unless it absolutely tanks tonight in the lead-off spot, “Community” will probably get a pick-up soon, too." (Bolding mine.) What does he mean by “back nine” orders? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159/90 "2009-10-09T15:09:49Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > It appear that you were [correct](http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/10/08/southland-canceled/29999). Wow, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that happen. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159/91 "2009-10-09T15:12:45Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > From Alan Sepinwall’s blog: " . . . ABC apparently gave back nine orders to “The Middle,” “Modern Family” and “Cougar Town.” **Please note the distinct absence of “Hank” on that list.** > > So far, it’s been a very good fall for new shows. “Glee,” “NCIS: LA” and “The Good Wife” already got full season pick-ups, and “The Cleveland Show” had one before it even debuted, due to the weird production schedule of animated shows. Unless it absolutely tanks tonight in the lead-off spot, “Community” will probably get a pick-up soon, too." > > (Bolding mine.) > > What does he mean by “back nine” orders? Most shows start with around 13 episodes requested. The “back 9” is the rest of the season to get it up to 22 episodes total. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159/92 "2009-10-09T15:23:02Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Most shows start with around 13 episodes requested. The “back 9” is the rest of the season to get it up to 22 episodes total. Thanks. Since we’re about 4 weeks in to the new season, I was thinking that 9 more means all we’re going to get is 13. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159/93 "2009-10-09T15:55:10Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Thanks. Since we’re about 4 weeks in to the new season, I was thinking that 9 more means all we’re going to get is 13. “Veronica Mars” a few seasons back started the season with a really short order–something like six or eight episodes. But I think the majority of shows start the season with the expectation of producing 13 episodes. I don’t know how many most shows have completed at the start of the season. I know that when “The Beautiful Life” was canceled, they had aired 2 episodes and were still filming others, so my guess is that if you get to week 4 of a season, the shows have at least 2, probably more, episodes complete and ready to air. I’m pretty sure some shows are done filming the original orders by now. I think different shows have different patterns of filming, too. I always had the impression that “24,” for example, was filming barely ahead of airing. Articles about the show always made it seem like they did a lot of last-minute tweaking of various plotlines, but I could have been misreading them. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159/94 "2009-10-09T16:07:44Z")
We’ve got a TV writer – **ElenFair** , I think? – who might be able to address that. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159/95 "2009-10-09T16:22:41Z")
> [@Kiros](#): > > American Dad has been the most consistently funny of the Fox Sunday night comedies for about three years now. (As opposed to Family Guy, which has higher highs but much lower lows, and the Simpsons, which has recovered a bit from its nadir but is still solidly in the mediocre range.) I agree completely. Once they figured out how to use Roger (disguises!) and ditched the formulaic Hayley is a liberal(!!!), Stan is a conservative(!!!), and they live IN THE SAME HOUSE(!!!WOW!!!) it became pretty good. Plus, getting Patrick Stewart to say some of the things he says on that show…supremely hilarious. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159/96 "2009-10-09T16:22:57Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Wow, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that happen. Which? **fusoya** being right or the show cancellation? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159/97 "2009-10-09T18:27:42Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Which? **fusoya** being right or the show cancellation? 🙂 Seems pretty remarkable. Anyone else remember a show which got canceled before it even aired once during a season? _Southland_ was the only NBC drama I had plans on watching this year. If not for the 2 hours before Leno on Thursday and occasionally Sunday Night Football NBC might as well not exist at my house. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159/98 "2009-10-09T18:42:13Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Wow, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that happen. They did nearly the same thing to **Boomtown** , except they aired two episodes of the second season before announcing the cancelation. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159/99 "2009-10-09T21:53:32Z")
After sampling the new shows this fall, the ones that’ll be cancelled almost for sure are: Hank (just awful, bad premise, poor cast, this year’s Kath & Kim IMO) The Forgotten (strictly snoozeville) Accidentally On Purpose (not funny, sorry) Cougar Town (one joke premise will not hold up) The Good Wife (couldn’t make it through an episode) Castle (among the walking dead right now) Shows that should be cancelled, but probably will survive: Jay Leno Show (dirt cheap to make) Gary Unmarried (not new this season, should’ve been hacked last season, but has a good time slot) Shows on the fence: The Middle (sort of a Malcolm in the Middle without Malcolm, good cast) Community (Chevy Chase makes this show worth watching, but is it enough?) Modern Family (anything with Al Bundy can’t be bad, but it’s in a tough time slot) Safe shows: NCIS: LA (follows NCIS and should have a captured audience, but show is only so-so) The Cleveland Show (Seth McFarlane’s clout will keep this alive) ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159/100 "2009-10-09T23:55:48Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > The Winter Olympics run from Febryuary 12 - 28. That doesn’t explain not airing a single episode from December through March. My Guess:They were originally going to come back in February; They never run much new stuff in December anyway, and why bring it back in January if you’re just going on hiatus again in Feb? March, well, maybe they have too many shows to bring back all at once? Anyway, found the [link](http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2009/09/v-split-abcs-alien-takeover-partly-deferred-till-spring.html) > [@](#): > > ABC confirmed to the LA Times that “V” will premiere on Tuesday, Nov. 3 as scheduled, but after the first four installments are aired, it will go on hiatus. > > Why? Well, there’s the little thing called the Winter Olympics. ABC keeps touting the revamp of the '80s miniseries as an “event” and plans to relaunch sometime after the gold medals are handed out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-fall-cancellation-prediction-thread/511159.md?page=6)