# Is this the most woeful season of new TV ever? Will anything survive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 1, 2011, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457 "2011-11-01T04:08:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [November 1, 2011, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457/1 "2011-11-01T04:08:21Z")
And a third question… has there ever been a season where no new shows were renewed? And if that unlikely event has never happened, what season can boast the fewest pickups? Because here we are, two months into the new TV season and some of the new stuff is absolutely appalling. The Playboy Club, H8R, Free Agents, How to Be a Gentleman, and Charlie’s Angels have already been killed. Allen Gregory is apparently absolute shit (what a shock after the commercials, huh?) and is likely next. Even some of the stuff that got full season pickups (Whitney, Ringer, Up All Night, Suburgatory, Terra Nova) aren’t getting very good ratings or reviews and might not make it back for season 2. About the only bona fide hits are 2 Broke Girls, Revenge, and Unforgettable. Am I just being overly harsh? Or can somebody find me a season that was worse? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457/2 "2011-11-01T04:19:00Z")
Let’s see, last year’s fall major network premieres, cancelled shows in red: September 15 Outlaw NBC [260] September 20 Chase NBC [263] September 20 Lone Star Fox [264] September 20 Hawaii Five-0 CBS [265] September 20 Mike and Molly CBS [265] September 20 The Event NBC [266] September 21 Raising Hope Fox [264] September 21 Running Wilde Fox [264] September 21 Detroit 1-8-7 ABC [267] September 22 Better with You ABC [267] September 22 The Whole Truth ABC [267] September 22 The Defenders CBS [265] September 22 Undercovers NBC [268] September 23 My Generation ABC [267] September 23 $#\*! My Dad Says CBS [265] September 24 Outsourced NBC [266] September 24 Blue Bloods CBS [265] September 28 No Ordinary Family ABC [267] September 29 Law & Order: Los Angeles NBC [63] (I may be wrong on some of those ABC shows, I rarely watch that channel.) I’d say it’s about par for the course. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457/3 "2011-11-01T04:34:13Z")
I wouldn’t say Allen Gregory is absolute shit, I watched the pilot. I didn’t love it, but there’s some potential there, even if said potential is just that it’s a Fox animation show that isn’t Seth MacFarlane. I agree with The Onions [A.V. Club](http://www.avclub.com/articles/allen-gregory,64122/) review, specifically in Todd VanDerWerff’s comment: _“Allen Gregory is trying a bunch of interesting things, but succeeding at very few of them. If it can get a handle on all of its many tones, it could be a very good show.”_ There’s a spark of potential. I’ll give this show another episode or two to sell me. FWIW, I hated, HATED Parks & Rec after the first two shows of the first season, dropped it, saw a mid-season 2 show, realized it was great, and became a convert. Comedies take at least a few episodes to gel. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457/4 "2011-11-01T05:31:14Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Let’s see, last year’s fall major network premieres, cancelled shows in red: > > September 15 Outlaw NBC [260] > September 20 Chase NBC [263] > September 20 Lone Star Fox [264] > September 20 Hawaii Five-0 CBS [265] > September 20 Mike and Molly CBS [265] > September 20 The Event NBC [266] > September 21 Raising Hope Fox [264] > September 21 Running Wilde Fox [264] > September 21 Detroit 1-8-7 ABC [267] > September 22 Better with You ABC [267] > September 22 The Whole Truth ABC [267] > September 22 The Defenders CBS [265] > September 22 Undercovers NBC [268] > September 23 My Generation ABC [267] > September 23 $#\*! My Dad Says CBS [265] > September 24 Outsourced NBC [266] > September 24 Blue Bloods CBS [265] > September 28 No Ordinary Family ABC [267] > September 29 Law & Order: Los Angeles NBC [63] > > (I may be wrong on some of those ABC shows, I rarely watch that channel.) > > I’d say it’s about par for the course. You missed _Nikita_ (September 9) which was renewed. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457/5 "2011-11-01T05:52:33Z")
I’m finding more to like this year than I have in recent years. New shows I’m liking so far: _Once Upon A Time Revenge Prime Suspect American Horror Story_ I’m kind of on the fence about _Ringer_ and _Grimm_. And I’ll be checking out _Hell on Wheels_ when it premieres. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457/6 "2011-11-01T05:57:35Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > I’m finding more to like this year than I have in recent years. New shows I’m liking so far: > > _Once Upon A Time > Revenge > Prime Suspect > American Horror Story_ > > I’m kind of on the fence about _Ringer_ and _Grimm_. > > And I’ll be checking out _Hell on Wheels_ when it premieres. I’ll trade Hart of Dixie for Prime Suspect (I haven’t check PS out yet), and add Grimm and The Secret Circle to my “like” pile, and toss out Ringer all together. I like more new shows than usual this year, all told. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457/7 "2011-11-01T06:26:01Z")
I really like Prime Suspect. It’s based on a British show from years ago but different. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457/8 "2011-11-01T13:28:17Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Even some of the stuff that got full season pickups (Whitney, Ringer, Up All Night, Suburgatory, Terra Nova) aren’t getting very good ratings or reviews and might not make it back for season 2. > > About the only bona fide hits are 2 Broke Girls, Revenge, and Unforgettable. > > Am I just being overly harsh? Person Of Interest is doing fairly well. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457/9 "2011-11-01T13:53:42Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I’ll trade Hart of Dixie for Prime Suspect (I haven’t check PS out yet), and add Grimm and The Secret Circle to my “like” pile, and toss out Ringer all together. I like more new shows than usual this year, all told. My Like Pile: Ringer Grimm My on the fence pile: Secret Circle Once Upon A Time American Horror Story Terra Nova I will say that American Horror Story seems to be picking up steam and might get into my like pile if things keep up… Terra Nova started on my like pile (I liked the concept, but some of the execution was off) and has slowly dropped to my fence pile on it’s way to the turd heap. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457/10 "2011-11-01T14:39:39Z")
After last night’s episode, Terra Nova (which I so much wanted to like) has moved to my turd heap pile. I gave that show more leeway than just about any other, but it failed at everything. ---
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457/11 "2011-11-01T14:41:05Z")
I don’t think I watched anything new last year, but there are quite a few shows this year that I enjoy or have potential: Suburgatory American Horror Story The New Girl Up All Night (I like Maya Rudolph, but I don’t think the show is quite there yet) 2 Broke Girls (sort of) Once Upon a Time (maybe) ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457/12 "2011-11-01T14:59:14Z")
Suburgatory is quite nice. 2 broke girls is bound to be a cult classic. Sure, there’s no big blockbuster like BSG or LOST in the pile, only Terra Nova tries, and I couldn’t be bothered to watch the second episode. That aside, it’s an okay season. ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457/13 "2011-11-01T15:04:36Z")
liked Grimm and will continue to watch at least for now, watch Ringer because of SMG, Revenge is great fun, and i’m still watching Person of Interest. Haven’t seen any of those other shows mentioned upthread, but then i generally don’t like comedies, or the concept is too out there for my taste, like Once Upon a Time and Terra Nova. there’s plenty of stuff on BBCA to compensate. ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457/14 "2011-11-01T15:21:35Z")
So far, on my keep list: The Lying Game Hart of Dixie 2 Broke Girls Ringer Revenge Secret Circle Pan Am Too early to tell on Once Upon a Time or Grimm, but I’m thinking yes on the former and no on the latter. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457/15 "2011-11-01T18:20:01Z")
> [@amaguri](#): > > I don’t think I watched anything new last year, but there are quite a few shows this year that I enjoy or have potential: The major let downs I had were The Event and Falling Skies, both had elements that I enjoy, that I will make an effort to overlook such things like bad acting or poor special effects. Falling Skies in particular, it was post apocalyptic, had aliens ruling the world, and had gun fights. Hm… Come to think of it, V also let me down… That one had the additional factor that I liked the original 1980’s miniseries… V was canceled, right? ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457/16 "2011-11-01T18:26:22Z")
**The Killing** was renewed for another season, which caused zero controversy anywhere on the Internet, including the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457/17 "2011-11-01T18:39:02Z")
I was watching _Prime Suspect_ and finding it reasonably entertaining, not fantastic. But I missed the most recent episode because my DVR, for whatever reason, recorded a different show. And I honestly felt a little relieved to have a little bit less on my TV plate. I probably need to do a better job of cutting shows loose. ---
**Author:** ![PacifistPorcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PacifistPorcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PacifistPorcupine)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457/18 "2011-11-01T19:09:53Z")
I tried several of the new shows this season, I’m still watching some of them. Still watching: Grimm Once Upon a Time Ringer Person of Interest Dropped already American Horror Story Unforgettable The New Girl 2 Broke Girls Whitney ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457/19 "2011-11-03T01:55:36Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > **The Killing** was renewed for another season, which caused zero controversy anywhere on the Internet, including the SDMB. Strongly disagree The show started interesting, then went completely off the tracks after about episode 4. Multi-episode plots that went nowhere (secret Muslim “kidnapping” group, I’m looking at you), dozens of gaping plot holes, some really bad writing and fuck, does it _always_ need to be raining? By the last episode, and I had been following the show, critical review and forum posts all season (mostly on The A.V. Club), critics and viewers alike were furious and disgusted. Enough so that the head of AMC [addressed the backlash](http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/06/24/the-killing-finale-response/) directly. I’ll just say - this show probably made me angrier (at how sloppy, cheap and poor it was) than most others. I was angry when it got renewed, especially since the much better show Rubicon (which started a bit slow and rough, admitted, but got pretty good by the end) got the axe. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457/20 "2011-11-03T02:51:28Z")
I think you’ve been whooshed. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-woeful-season-of-new-tv-ever-will-anything-survive/601457.md?page=2)