I wonder if they're keeping it around for now because they fear looking like assholes if they cancel the show starring the guy with Parkinson's disease.
It doesn't matter how shit it is if the ratings are good. Creative failure can still translate into ratings bonanza... Look at Under the Dome.
Is that from it's debut? Because when it debuted it was on right after 'Parks and Rec" but after that it had to contend with being on after "Welcome to the Family" which we all know is now cancelled.
That was day one. I'm not used to looking for Neilson Ratings, and some side by side graphs would have been fantastic, but if they exist I have no idea where they are. Another article google found me that said that the MIchael J Fox Show was "Most Improved" which probably means that their numbers went from shitty to okay... But is "Okay" really good enough? Is Michael working for scale until the show can stand on it's own two feet? What about Anne, her name isn't on the mast head but she's probably still in shock from Saved being whacked after 7 episodes even if she is a c-list movie actress slumming it?
The consensus that I have observed in this thread (which is probably inaccurate.). There was a great line in the Neighbours last week... Debbie weaver goes to a black female hair salon with Jackie Joiner Cursey, where they give Debbie cornrows with beads. Really tight ones. Afterwards she's looking in the mirror, not quite sure what to make of her new Stevie Wonder like apperance, stroking her hair, when she gasps "Oh my god... [mock horror]I look like Predator[/mock horror]... HA (snort!)... (epiphany) ...[glee]Alien vs. Predator[/glee]. (smirk.)." All the new shows suck.
Alot of the new shows are going back to the well and pulling out the old crazy comedy motto. What happened to a decently written drama? Criminal Minds is nine seasons in, proving that it works. But then SVU is at fifteen or more, so there goes that theory.
They might be giving the MJF show a longer chance because they know it can be potentially completely retooled around Fox into something better. Procedurals like CSI and SVU get high ratings because older couples like the formula and they feel those shows are culturally relevant because they parrot their own feelings about the decline of modern society, while fulfilling their justice fantasies about said decline.
Actually, it's because it got a full season right out of the gate, sight unseen. If it were to get any retooling, it would have to be the second season and NBC would have to have a lot of faith in it for it to happen.
Promising a full season, even if the full season has been shot, doesn't mean that they can't cancel and shelf the unaired episodes if the ratings suck uncontrollably.
Are you saying that Criminal Minds is a decently written drama?! Moms got a full season order, so the next show to be canceled has to be Dads.
(Assuming the contract does not explicitly state the specific precise days the episodes have to be aired). In principle they can air the remaining episodes in a "burning off" marathon, during a slow period (such as the summer). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_off