They are horrible, but the show is cheaper.
Friday ratings
- Thread starter Dorian Thompson
- Start date
They are horrible, but the show is cheaper.
Figures it would be a show I don't watch. Dexter has also gained ratings, but everything else I watch is down, down, down.
Sorry about that, Temis. I hope Dollhouse lasts.
Supernatural and Dexter rule.
The question that's always intrigued me is "What changed circa 1997?" Even in 1996, Sliders was pulling in 11 million viewers in the 8 Eastern Friday night slot (and that was the low among the major networks for that particular night). By recent standards, that viewership would have beat out every major network. Of course, I'm also using the year 1997 because that was the end of the long running T.G.I.F. over on ABC.
I think part of the reason for the Friday decline is the usual reason - viewership spread out over options that weren't as available in 1997 (cable; DVR; etc.). I don't think that's all of it, though; it's a bit of a mystery, because I find it hard to believe the high school graduating class of '96 was carrying Friday night television all by themselves.
On a side note, I find it humorous that cable subscribers in my area couldn't watch NBC on Friday night even if they wanted to. Our cable company only provides one channel for each network, and my NBC affiliate pre-empted NBC's Friday prime time so that they could show a high school football game instead.
The numbers for the Dollhouse season 2 premier are smaller than the season 1 finale. The show has actually lost viewers despite the fan-generated buzz.
I always thought that DH only had a chance at 8pm fridays cause at 9pm on a network thats not had a stable hit on that night since X Files, I thought the lead in was crucial and T:SCC and now Brothers are miserable lead ins.
Oh well the damage has been done.
The only "buzz" this show has gotten came from Epitaph One, which most people didn't even see. Aside from that, everything I've seen has been decidedly "meh" about the whole thing.
Well, it seems like people who have watched the series on DVD admit that the show improves dramatically after the first five or six episodes. But the question is, how many people watched the DVDs? Clearly not enough to watch it on a Friday night. I am curious to see what the DVR and online viewing numbers are for the show.
At this point, there isn't much to be done. Fox could try to move the show to another time slot but we all know they won't. They could provide a better lead-in but I don't think it'll work. The show should have been handled, scheduled and marketed better.
I feel bad for Joss. He's finally given the freedom to make the show he envisioned, but the network's tampering has already doomed it.
Agreed, but much is being made of all the stunt casting Joss has lined up for season 2. Alexis Denisof and Summer Glau from his past shows, Jamie Bamber and Mike Hogan (teaming up with Tamoh Penikett) from Galactica. Stunt casting can be fun but--and I believe this is Joss' failing--it looks too much like he's grasping at straws to improve his ratings.
Last edited:
Isn't that a bit of an oxymoron?
I don't know why Whedon goes back to Fox time after time.
Yes, and historically it's a graveyard for shows. Even in the 1960s it was common knowledge that shows moved to Friday were on their last legs. I can't think of a single show that has moved to Fridays, done well, and then moved back to a better day. It just doesn't happen.
Which episode was Epitaph One? I'm not sure I saw it. I definitely missed the first episode of the show.
It was the season finale Fox never showed so you have to download it or buy the DVD.
It actually wasn't the finale--it was an episode filmed separately that was never guaranteed an air date. Fox Studios ordered 14 episodes and made 14, but Fox network only ordered 13. I think the studio was hoping the net would air the 14th episode, but was never in the original order. Not sure how that happened since 13 is a standard order, unless they always planned the 14th for DVD (which they may have).
Bummer to see Dollhouse do so poorly. This season probably will be it.
Bummer to see Dollhouse do so poorly.
This season probably will be it.
Joss must be a masochist to keep going back to fox. At least he has a sense of humor about it.
Similar threads
