True TV Wasteland

[Ometiklan]

Darkhorizons has a short peice this morning summarizing those fall shows (both new and old) that are either winning or losing in the ratings race.

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/15331/new-fall-tv-what-s-in-out-so-far-

Out of the new winners, I have checked out and enjoyed FlashForward.

But looking over their slate of "existing shows that are doing well" - " "House" and "Grey's Anatomy" "... " "90210," "American Dad," "The Big Bang Theory," "Bones," "Criminal Minds," all three "CSI" shows, "Desperate Housewives," "Family Guy," "Ghost Whisperer," "Gossip Girl," "How I Met Your Mother," "Law & Order: SVU," "Lie to Me," "Medium," "The Mentalist," "Numbers," "The Office," "One Tree Hill," "Private Practice," "The Simpsons," "Supernatural" and "Two And A Half Men" " - the only show I watch is House (and I used to watch The Simpsons and Family Guy).

Just looking over this list makes me wonder, how can all these shows that are fairly successful also be completely uninteresting? Generic comedies, generic procedurals, generic teen shows. There are bright spots outside of network TV (Dexter, Mad Men) but they are few.

I just wanted to see if anyone else felt the same as me. I know we each have our favorite genres or personal interests, but do you guys also look at the current slate of shows and consider them vastly uninteresting?

 

[Theodore Jay Miller]

The only new series I'm watching is "Flash Forward", but I do have a number of old shows that I still watch.

Of those doing well: "Big Bang Theory", "Bones", "House", "Criminal Minds", "The Simpsons".

Of those doing badly: "Heroes", "Law and Order"

 

[bigdaddy]

These things are always wrong, TVbythenumbers is the worst.

Bones is of course getting another season, and Castle's ratings are fine. 90210's numbers aren't that much better than Melrose Place's numbers.

 

[Colin Xavier]

These things are always wrong, TVbythenumbers is the worst.

Bones is of course getting another season, and Castle's ratings are fine. 90210's numbers aren't that much better than Melrose Place's numbers.

Castle is doing fine but ABC might feel another show can do better with DWTS as the lead in. The last episode only managed a 2.2 18-49 rating.

90210 is performing much better than Melrose Place in the Women 18-34 demo that CW loves.

 

[Mistral]

I agree-a vast wasteland with isolated oasis. Very isolated.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I just wanted to see if anyone else felt the same as me. I know we each have our favorite genres or personal interests, but do you guys also look at the current slate of shows and consider them vastly uninteresting?

The problem is that smart people who like good shows use DVRs or they watch shows online (in many cases, err, unofficially). These methods of viewing shows are difficult for networks to monetize and therefore are not self-perpetuating.

It's therefore difficult to find anything worth watching but every so often something interesting comes along. A sci fi premise like Caprica or V. A well crafted drama like Dexter or Breaking Bad. Most of the good stuff is on cable because they aren't so beholden to the tyranny of advertisers.

 

[Amaris]

Darkhorizons has a short peice this morning summarizing those fall shows (both new and old) that are either winning or losing in the ratings race.

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/15331/new-fall-tv-what-s-in-out-so-far-

Out of the new winners, I have checked out and enjoyed FlashForward.

But looking over their slate of "existing shows that are doing well" - " "House" and "Grey's Anatomy" "... " "90210," "American Dad," "The Big Bang Theory," "Bones," "Criminal Minds," all three "CSI" shows, "Desperate Housewives," "Family Guy," "Ghost Whisperer," "Gossip Girl," "How I Met Your Mother," "Law & Order: SVU," "Lie to Me," "Medium," "The Mentalist," "Numbers," "The Office," "One Tree Hill," "Private Practice," "The Simpsons," "Supernatural" and "Two And A Half Men" " - the only show I watch is House (and I used to watch The Simpsons and Family Guy).

Just looking over this list makes me wonder, how can all these shows that are fairly successful also be completely uninteresting? Generic comedies, generic procedurals, generic teen shows. There are bright spots outside of network TV (Dexter, Mad Men) but they are few.

I just wanted to see if anyone else felt the same as me. I know we each have our favorite genres or personal interests, but do you guys also look at the current slate of shows and consider them vastly uninteresting?

I agree. I've had the same feeling about how so many shows are about as generic, flavorless, and milque-toast as it can get, yet they do great ratings.

J.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

I'm bummed that Law & Order isn't doing well. However, I'm hoping it will be preserved due to the meltdown of the rest of NBC's programming. Plus, whenever it gets too expensive, they can just replace some more cast members. I suspect this cancer plotline might be leading to the departure of Lt. Van Buren. Much as I love Jack McCoy, he's not so essential to my enjoyment of the show anymore now that I have Michael Cutter. I like Cyrus Lupo but I wouldn't be heartbroken if he left. I think the show might actually be better off if Detective Bernard left. (BTW, have we ever learned Bernard's first name?)

It sucks that Dollhouse isn't doing better. It sucks even worse that its lead-ins, Brothers & 'Till Death, are struggling as well. But then, Fringe also seems to be struggling despite having a strong lead-in with Bones.

It's probably for the best if Smallville ends soon.

 

[bigdaddy]

I think L&O is doing pretty damn well considering it's on Fridays, no ads shown, and on a 4th rate network.