I watch a fair amount of TV, and I don’t think I ever heard of a few of those shows (Undeclared, Firefly, Titus). How those represent “successful” shows is beyond me.
I haven’t understood, for years now, why FOX even bothers pretending it has shows on in the 6:00 and 6:30 (Central) time slots during football season. The game is going to run long. The game is always going to run long. So instead of cutting into a show in progress, why not just let the gibbering monkeys at the sports desk gibber for another few minutes until the top of the hour? Then, when crapball finally ends (what does the season run now? August through May?) start up the 6:00 and 6:30 shows with ALL NEW EPISODES that will run into the summer rerun period.
On the other hand, I watch very little TV, especially FOX, but am familiar with all of them.
Of course, I read Cafe Society a lot and FOX bashing is a preferred pastime here.
*Undeclared *was really good.
Artistically successful. They were good (well, I never cared for Titus much, and can’t speak for Undeclared), but Fox didn’t give them the hyping they deserved, moved them around too much, but them in shit time slots (and sometimes, as with Firefly, all of the above), and then canned them when HORRORS! nobody tuned in.
They weren’t successful. That’s why they were cancelled.
Some were quite good (Titus, for instance), but quality is not the major consideration for any network. It’s about 4th, after ratings, ratings, and ratings.
Fox also gave Andy Richter more of a chance than most series; it should have been cancelled at the end of the first season due to low ratings, but they carried it over. When the ratings tanked, it got cancelled.
It’s the same issue with Arrested Development – it had a good reputation, and ultimately, Fox wasn’t going to do any better with a new show. The Emmy win gives them a reason to promote and nurture it.
Opinions vary. I watched the pilot and hated it. Didn’t watch it again for more than a year, I even missed the 1st season reruns. Liked it.
When syndication started I finally saw the first season. Not liking them.
AFAIK Fox is still going to show the new Family Guy episodes first; they’ll play on Cartoon Network after the season is through. Fox still has the rights, though.
I think Malcolm gets funnier with every new season, I thought the first season was pretty dull but as the plots get more outlandish and wacky it gets more funny. The kids are looking pretty old, but I always thought they could get around that by putting Malcolm in college. But if it comes down between Malcolm and Arrested Development, I’ll take the latter. It’s a shame it’s going to be canceled though.
I still like this show. The characters are getting older, but they’re also evolving which is what I like about it.
That and it’s just plain funny.
The sad part is I don’t get to watch the reruns because of my work schedule.
Didn’t MitM win some Emmys also? I know it was nominated.
Brian
Yeah, its never won the Big Prize (Outstanding Comedy Series) like Arrested, but it has won some writing and directing prizes. Jane Kaczmarek has been nominated every year since the show started. Bryan Cranston has been nominated at least once.
One of the many benefits of living on the West Coast is seeing whatever Fox airs at 7:30.
But if Fox hates Malcolm, they must despise King of the Hill. You’d think they’d care a bit more about that show since they have reruns on FX.
“Successful” is being measured in terms of fan response, more often than not. Firefly kept getting the switcheroo treatment, and only lasted half a season (actual cause of death was “Death By Network”). Yet the DVD sales are quite good, and Universal opted to pick up the show and make it a two-hour movie.
If you haven’t seen Firefly, then beg, borrow, or steal (here’s a novel idea: buy) the DVD’s and check it out. It’s by Joss Whedon.
Oh, FWIW, I hate colored fonts in posts.
I make an exception for Firefly.
My choice of words bothered me when I re-read my post later in the day. I meant FOX tends to take good shows and kill them / not even give them a chance.
**ExTank **& **Menocchio **got my point out clearlt, thanks.
Mayhaps this deserves another thread, but I REALLY don’t get Aressted Development. I gave it a fair chance, when it started. I just have never even smiled, let alone laugh. (Or, maybe “Let-Alone Laugh” is just what i do :rolleyes:
I consider myself fairly hip, but this show blows on my laugh-o-meter. Can anyone tell me why the think it’s funny. Outstanding show? Harumph!
Arrested Development is extremely funny, but you have to pay attention. The jokes are often in small details that are not highlighted. They also run some great variations on them that are subtle, but very funny.
For instance, one of the characters who wants to be an actor (with no discernable acting talent) has a running gag of joining the Blue Man Group. So this season, we’ve seen:
He auditions for them, but doesn’t hear from them. (funny because the BMG are mimes).
He goes around the house wearing blue makeup. It can be spotted all over the place, if you look carefully.
He describes putting on the makeup on by saying, “I just blue myself.” Think about it.
Then there was the boat, named “The Seaward.” Which led to this exchange:
Michael: “What should we do about the Seaward?”
Michael’s mother: “I’m standing right here.”
Not particularly funny, you say? Maybe not, until you realize the mother thought Gob said “C-word” and was talking about her.
(There’s a lot of sexual innuendo throughout the show.)
Lots of the humor is of that nature – understated so it could be missed, but funnier than any other show on TV. It’s hard for even a fan to get everything that’s going on (I saw the red doghouse, for instance, but not the Christmas tree), and if you aren’t going to give it your full attention (and think about what’s being said), the casual viewer isn’t going to get it at all.
It will not last long (I was surprised it was renewed), but it’s by far the funniest comedy on TV if you pay attention.
Not only that, but the funny lines are often delivered in a very matter-of-fact, even deadpan style, in sharp contrast to the ham-fisted over-acting that characterises so many TV comedies.
Even better is the fact that the show doesn’t insult the audience’s intelligence by adding a laugh track.