It looks like the NBC and CBS networks don’t much care what the Nielsens are saying and are going to do what programmers use to do 20 years ago — give a show a more than a three or four episode chance before pulling the plug on it.
NBC has placed an order for at least 3 more scripts for two of its ratings-troubled shows “Bionic Woman” and “Journeyman,” as well as, its ratings winners “Chuck” and the cop show “Life.”
In a move that surprises this writer, CBS has decided to hang in there with its new Jimmy Smits non-SF drama “Cane,” a show that began slow and has continued in the no-passing lane.
I’m not sure if this decision is due totally to the network’s confidence in their shows are if they are hedging their bets against a certain WGA called writer’s strike in November. This could simply be a way to guarantee they have new episodes to show during the strike more than an indication that the shows will get a pick-up for a full season run, according to Variety.
One show however, has been put on ABC’s radar for possibly getting the old yank. ABC executes are closely watching the performance of its highly touted new show “Pushing Daisies.” The ratings have been good, but not as high as expected. ABC will make a decision sometime before the expected writer’s strike on whether to continue with it for a full season.
**NBC has placed an order for at least 3 more scripts for two of its ratings-troubled shows “Bionic Woman†and “Journeyman,†as well as, its ratings winners “Chuckâ€Â**
Chuck is a ratings winner and Journeyman is ratings-troubled? According to:
http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/
they both scored 4.5/7 last Monday. And Chuck debuted it’s 1st episode with higher ratings than Journeyman. So doesn’t that make Chuck at least equally ratings-troubled? Just curious.
wlg
Not really because networks look at not only overall rating numbers but, more importantly, the demographic. They aim for the male 18-49 group. If a program has OK ratings in that demographic it will be taken more seriously by advertisers than, say something like “Journeyman,” that is without doubt a superior program to “Chuck,” but doesn’t get the kind of numbers in that particular demographic people who sell sugary cereal and sporty BMW’s are looking for.
They may also be looking at the retention from the preceeding hour. If Heroes is getting an 8.4/12, then almost half the audience is dropping out when Journyman starts.
Heroes source: http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,272|||season,00.html
Yeah, both good points. Thanks! TV is hard…
So true Kurt. That too is an important consideration, which also speaks to the demographic, as the numbers indicate those dropping out after “Heroes” are those in the 18-49 male group.
Probably the smart thing may have been to leave “Chuck” where it is, followed by “Journeyman” and then close out the evening with “Heroes.”
I’ve watched the first two episodes of “Pushing Daisies”, and so far, I like it. It’s an odd show, but different on TV is refreshing. I find it very Tim Burton-esque.
I disagree with Slices seeming indifference to Chuck. At times it is laugh out loud funny.
I turned off Journeyman after 25 mins. But I am going back to it as people have said the second half really gets going.
Ben (UK). I like “Chuck.” Have yet to miss an episode, but great TV it isn’t. It is just lighthearted fun that is an enjoyable way to sit in front of the tube after a hard day at the hospital on a Monday and let my brain go to parade rest before it gets blown away by Heroes and is forced to think too hard by all the plot twists on Journeyman.
If they cancel “Pushing Daisies”, ABC will know pain like they’ve never known it before.
Well, hopefully this means some people in the tv/ad industry are joining us here in the present.