Well, it looks like I won't be watching much in the way of TV this fall - at least on the major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX). NBC canceled Crossing Jordan, CBS canceled Close to Home. CJ I can halfway understand, since the ratings hadn't been that good for this season. Of course, it didn't help that they gave the show almost *no* promotion and put it up against American Idol (WHY do so many people like that show? I've never understood the draw of it and other 'reality' shows).
But Close to Home was winning its time slot on Fridays. At a time when not a lot of people are actually at home watching TV. And for the season (okay, *series*) finale, they *won the night*! But did they get credit for it from CBS? Nope. Not even a mention in their press release today. There was a report on Saturday that CBS was going to order 13 new eps for next season. The show's fans were hopeful. But tonight, word came down that the show was canceled. To be replaced by some silly vampire dramedy. Sorry, CBS, I won't be watching.
The CW canceled what I considered to be their best show several months ago: Reba. The rest of what that 'netlet' has is teenage dreck, imho.
So, I now have a total of three must see dramas and one half hour comedy on the nets.
NBC: SVU
FOX: House, Til Death (Bones if I'm home when it's on)
ABC: None
CBS: NCIS (and Shark, IF they don't put it up against SVU as they're reportedly going to do)
I'll watch Criminal Intent on USA, but that's not a major net. It's a satellite net. I'll stick to repeats of well liked shows (JAG, MASH, Diagnosis: Murder, movies on Hallmark, et al) on satellite channels such as TVLand, USA, etc.
All of this could have been avoided if the networks weren't so set on attracting the 18-49 demographic. That rating ideal was created back when the Baby Boomers were young, and hasn't changed since. It's now an artificial construct, which has no real bearing on today's viewing habits.
With computers and TiVO and DVRs and IPODs, people today don't watch tv the way they used to. The younger kids aren't watching as much tv anyway. The viewers have been dropping off for the last several years. But the networks just keep plugging away, certain that they'll find something new and exciting to pull them back in.
Well, they have an audience waiting for them to put someone on that will pull *us* in - but they don't care about us. They say we're too set in our ways to try new products. That our money goes on tried and true things, while the younger generation is more gullible and easy to convince to try something new. I'm willing to try something new. Give me a good product at a good price, and I'll try it. At least once. And if it's good enough, I might keep buying it.
Maybe it's time that the networks started to rethink their programming. Factor in the increasing age of the population and put things on that *we* want to watch. I don't need fancy, jerky, blurry camera work. Or 'hip' songs. Just give me a well written, well acted show. Be it a half hour sitcom or an hour long drama. Give me characters who are interesting and that I can come to feel that I know as well as I know the people I see every day.
If I want "reality", I'll watch the news or the History Channel or Discovery or such.
Crossing Jordan will end with a cliff hanger, never to be resolved. That's something else that I hate about shows today. They always have a cliff hanger. Like they need some kind of hook to get you to come back the next fall. If it's a good show to begin with, the fans will be there - cliff hanger or not.
I'm really down about losing Close to Home. I felt that the show was just gelling with the changes in cast. A few more episodes, and they would have been a hit. But CBS wanted too many budget cuts to keep it going - even on what is rapidly becoming another 'dead night' for the nets, like Saturday. They gave up on Saturday a few years ago. Now, they're heading that way with Friday.
Oh, well, I won't be watching anyway.
But Close to Home was winning its time slot on Fridays. At a time when not a lot of people are actually at home watching TV. And for the season (okay, *series*) finale, they *won the night*! But did they get credit for it from CBS? Nope. Not even a mention in their press release today. There was a report on Saturday that CBS was going to order 13 new eps for next season. The show's fans were hopeful. But tonight, word came down that the show was canceled. To be replaced by some silly vampire dramedy. Sorry, CBS, I won't be watching.
The CW canceled what I considered to be their best show several months ago: Reba. The rest of what that 'netlet' has is teenage dreck, imho.
So, I now have a total of three must see dramas and one half hour comedy on the nets.
NBC: SVU
FOX: House, Til Death (Bones if I'm home when it's on)
ABC: None
CBS: NCIS (and Shark, IF they don't put it up against SVU as they're reportedly going to do)
I'll watch Criminal Intent on USA, but that's not a major net. It's a satellite net. I'll stick to repeats of well liked shows (JAG, MASH, Diagnosis: Murder, movies on Hallmark, et al) on satellite channels such as TVLand, USA, etc.
All of this could have been avoided if the networks weren't so set on attracting the 18-49 demographic. That rating ideal was created back when the Baby Boomers were young, and hasn't changed since. It's now an artificial construct, which has no real bearing on today's viewing habits.
With computers and TiVO and DVRs and IPODs, people today don't watch tv the way they used to. The younger kids aren't watching as much tv anyway. The viewers have been dropping off for the last several years. But the networks just keep plugging away, certain that they'll find something new and exciting to pull them back in.
Well, they have an audience waiting for them to put someone on that will pull *us* in - but they don't care about us. They say we're too set in our ways to try new products. That our money goes on tried and true things, while the younger generation is more gullible and easy to convince to try something new. I'm willing to try something new. Give me a good product at a good price, and I'll try it. At least once. And if it's good enough, I might keep buying it.
Maybe it's time that the networks started to rethink their programming. Factor in the increasing age of the population and put things on that *we* want to watch. I don't need fancy, jerky, blurry camera work. Or 'hip' songs. Just give me a well written, well acted show. Be it a half hour sitcom or an hour long drama. Give me characters who are interesting and that I can come to feel that I know as well as I know the people I see every day.
If I want "reality", I'll watch the news or the History Channel or Discovery or such.
Crossing Jordan will end with a cliff hanger, never to be resolved. That's something else that I hate about shows today. They always have a cliff hanger. Like they need some kind of hook to get you to come back the next fall. If it's a good show to begin with, the fans will be there - cliff hanger or not.
I'm really down about losing Close to Home. I felt that the show was just gelling with the changes in cast. A few more episodes, and they would have been a hit. But CBS wanted too many budget cuts to keep it going - even on what is rapidly becoming another 'dead night' for the nets, like Saturday. They gave up on Saturday a few years ago. Now, they're heading that way with Friday.
Oh, well, I won't be watching anyway.
