tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post8806820422192766581..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Shows on the bubbleBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20162044091222597282020-05-23T20:09:26.181-07:002020-05-23T20:09:26.181-07:00If they stopped making new shows, I don't thin...If they stopped making new shows, I don't think I would miss anything. I could watch reruns, and see something new every day.MikeNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47468303812211115972020-05-23T17:45:30.702-07:002020-05-23T17:45:30.702-07:00Lately I have been totally addicted to Alfred Hitc...Lately I have been totally addicted to Alfred Hitchcock Presents,early Gunsmoke and Perry Mason.All slightly before my initial TV watching time.<br /><br />I still like the Dick Wolf shows.<br /><br />I watched the first season of Manifest but lost interest.<br /><br />Have enjoyed Better Call Saul,Killing Eve,Bosch,Homeland and Outlander.Looking forward to the next season of The Handmaid's Tale.<br /><br />And will watch Normal People.<br /><br />Oh,I liked Star Trek Picard.<br /><br />But ... I gotta watch more Alfred Hitchcock Presents!Malaspinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00206739059192230548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64123788972395352652020-05-22T09:02:36.534-07:002020-05-22T09:02:36.534-07:00@gottacook. Regarding the CBS All Access flop:
Fi...@gottacook. Regarding the CBS All Access flop:<br /><br />First keep in mind that we're talking about these numbers in an industry where, as of last year, Netflix had over 151 million subscribers worldwide and Amazon Prime has over 100 million. Also Disney+ had around 10 Million subscribers on its FIRST day.<br /><br />With that said CBS All Access measured its subscribers in the hundred THOUSANDS in its first year growing megerly to 4 million subscribers in early 2019, less than half of what Disney+ pulled in on its first day (and Disney+ is only one of three streaming services owned by Disney). <br /><br />Also, Midnight's Edge on YouTube made an extensive case arguing that CBS All Access has been a huge flop. I've seen one or two of his videos which touch on this, but only vaguely remember his arguments.<br /><br />Sean Seannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11672103064362715402020-05-22T06:06:05.704-07:002020-05-22T06:06:05.704-07:00I'll just say it, since this was brought up ea...I'll just say it, since this was brought up earlier in the comments- My wife and I enjoy the Sheen version of Two and a Half Men, even re-runs that are now 15 years old or more. I don't feel the need to apologize for it. We of course know all about Sheen the person, but Sheen the actor was likeable and funny and the writing very often was inspired, especially for the supporting cast. If they ever saw their way clear to a reboot sans Kutcher but with Sheen, we'd watch. Time is running short for that, but c'est la vie.Don K.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-54284888081716778052020-05-21T11:38:22.694-07:002020-05-21T11:38:22.694-07:00I hear "Love on a Rooftop" is pretty goo...I hear "Love on a Rooftop" is pretty good, but I think it was canceled.Greg Ehrbarhttp://www.gregovision.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39872468593165194812020-05-21T07:00:03.458-07:002020-05-21T07:00:03.458-07:00The broadcast networks are history. The infrastru...The broadcast networks are history. The infrastructure for promoting the programs (newspaper ads, local TV columnists, TV Guide, the weekly TV supplement that came with the Sunday paper) has vanished. That's why we've never heard of these new shows. And the idea of watching a program at a certain hour on a certain day of the week... <br /><br />All these kids growing up watching cartoons or Disney shows on cell phones/tablets or telling Alexa to play Baby Shark-the future will be about trying to satisfy them.Jeff Boicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14600946876122022978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2565027800767475052020-05-20T22:20:16.448-07:002020-05-20T22:20:16.448-07:00I loved Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist and woul...I loved Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist and would recommend it. But I fear that'll be an easy cancellation. Heck, I think a lot of shows are just not going to happen when nobody can reasonably come back in person for the next six months to a year at least at the trainwreck rate things are going. jenmoonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02647726303564119010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13295381985861699592020-05-20T20:30:47.875-07:002020-05-20T20:30:47.875-07:00Sean: Where is the information that shows that CBS...Sean: Where is the information that shows that CBS All Access is a "huge flop"? I'm not rooting for it to succeed or fail, and have never seen it (although I know its content), but I'm interested nonetheless. gottacooknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81695265609644613702020-05-20T20:24:00.794-07:002020-05-20T20:24:00.794-07:00Years ago, the Networks pulled out all the stops i...Years ago, the Networks pulled out all the stops in promoting the new season. Now it's like "Hey, we're putting this piece of shit on the air in the hopes that you'll watch it. We'll move it around 6 times to different days and time slots. If enough people follow it around and watch it, we may keep it another season.....as long as it attracts the right demo. Otherwise, it'll be gone before you can fart "God Bless America" without soiling yourself."YEKIMIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01921751875397071034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39516328033738535452020-05-20T19:08:58.696-07:002020-05-20T19:08:58.696-07:00A little off the subject, but as a comparison to a...A little off the subject, but as a comparison to all these little known and irrelevant shows...<br /><br />My YouTube account recommended a video which I'd never seen before. It's the last appearance of Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton together. It was on Donny and Marie, of all places. This is just pure pleasure, to see them reunited one last time.<br /><br />https://youtu.be/31D3BU1LbjEAndrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00466932184113943306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-467715961528817592020-05-20T19:04:11.398-07:002020-05-20T19:04:11.398-07:00I'm just here to post an In Memoriam for the T...I'm just here to post an In Memoriam for the TV Guide Fall Preview Issue, which I pored over every year. All the new shows were in there, each in its own little one-page feature. The copy was pretty snappy, too. If they thought an upcoming show sounded stupid, they'd tell you. They'd also mourn the anticipated sad fate of something they liked. One that comes to mind was The Waltons, which the writer really liked, even though he knew it didn't stand a chance against Flip Wilson's hit variety show. (Go ahead, kids. Google.)thirteennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88336256638860844002020-05-20T16:31:31.787-07:002020-05-20T16:31:31.787-07:00I'm still mad they cancelled The Kids are All ...I'm still mad they cancelled The Kids are All Right. I thought it was a unique show and it was very funny.Andidantehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17157122791465645369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61780535233477434542020-05-20T15:46:17.613-07:002020-05-20T15:46:17.613-07:00"Indebted" essentially was the NBC equiv..."Indebted" essentially was the NBC equivalent of "Broke," which CBS isn't bringing back. No great loss to the viewer.<br /><br />As for "B Positive," I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and hope it's closer in quality to recent Chuck Lorre stablemates "Mom" (whose best episodes are genuinely moving) or "Bob [Hearts] Abishola" than the often-vulgar "Two And A Half Men."VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-35820576707119882882020-05-20T15:03:41.557-07:002020-05-20T15:03:41.557-07:00There was one network (NBC) show I sampled, watche...There was one network (NBC) show I sampled, watched, and fell in love with: Perfect Harmony. Guessing it's a goner, and except for some tweets from John Records Landecker (radio folks know who he is, to others, he's Brad Whitford's father in law), I haven't heard hide nor hare of it since December or so. It's on Hulu and it's very entertaining.bensonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13029954713029564942020-05-20T14:56:06.044-07:002020-05-20T14:56:06.044-07:00It's not the networks' fault if you choose...It's not the networks' fault if you choose not to pay attention to what they're offering. Indeed, I envy you having a family, and having better things to do. <br /><br />I don't watch much on the nets, but read enough in the online trades and newspapers to know what's on the air and what's in store. The self-perpetuating system of people watching network shows and thereby learning about other network shows fell apart years ago. If 10 million people are watching a show, that leaves almost 320 million who aren't. Whoever figures out how to get that crowd's attention will be the boss of us all.Jon88https://www.blogger.com/profile/16908049871851563389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91934633946645996962020-05-20T14:55:54.301-07:002020-05-20T14:55:54.301-07:00Re: the continued existence of network TV. I'm...Re: the continued existence of network TV. I'm 40. My friends are mostly 40 or younger, but a few in their 50s and 60s. None of us, not a one, watch network TV anymore. Nobody I know under 30 watches TV, period. Only streaming services. My 65 year old dad has cable and sticks to Turner Classic Movies and other channels that run "old stuff."<br /><br />All my friends have old sitcoms they love, some of which (Seinfeld) were on TV before they were born. And they watch those on the streaming services. They aren't watching new TV. Heck they listen to more live radio than they watch live TV.<br /><br />My circa-2007 TV doesn't even pick up OTA signals so I couldn't watch networks if I wanted to. Which I don't! All streaming all the time!<br /><br />I don't think the networks can survive with anything close to the kinds of numbers (or money) they once had. Their best bet is to produce stuff for their streaming services and run the shows on "old" TV at the same time. Just use the network as a write off.Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05394862556353144282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61998097889777680002020-05-20T14:54:29.949-07:002020-05-20T14:54:29.949-07:00Zoey is great. It is the only show on this list I ...Zoey is great. It is the only show on this list I watchedsanfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06580867647162091670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79574566323056472982020-05-20T14:48:56.585-07:002020-05-20T14:48:56.585-07:00Ken, I would disagree with your statement about wr...Ken, I would disagree with your statement about writing staffs. I don't think the problem is staff hired by agenda; I think it's staff that's never wanted to do anything but write for TV. Look at your life experiences. Look at the life and performance histories of many of the greats. Contrast that with a 26-year-old who watched 6 hrs. of TV per day growing up, then majored in TV writing in college. Is it any wonder scripts lack substance and humor? You draw deeply from a shallow well.Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18764339722383525192020-05-20T14:40:53.051-07:002020-05-20T14:40:53.051-07:00I don't know about other people, but after hav...I don't know about other people, but after having watched shows on streaming video (Netflix, Britbox, Acorn) for a while, commercial breaks just drive me nuts. So I'm off network tv for good.Earl Boeberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07300222007927549893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5778464826171629292020-05-20T14:30:20.631-07:002020-05-20T14:30:20.631-07:00As I've mentioned previously, I don't have...As I've mentioned previously, I don't have cable or satellite. I can't stream. All I have is an antenna on the roof for broadcast TV. Yet, despite that I rarely watch the new shows; primarily syndicated reruns. <br />I did watch "Lincoln Rhyme," but quit after a couple of episodes. My first reaction was, "Give me a break!" There's always a certain amount of suspension of disbelief with every show, but L.R. required more than I could give.<br /><br />Another thing I hate about network shows especially dramas is the "soap operaization" (I know. Not a word.) of the form. I like shows with stand-alone episodes. Even a short arc is O.K. But I really dislike the serialization of most shows. I'm sure that format is deliberate. An attempt to trick the viewer into watching each week, so that they don't miss out on a key plot point that will cause them to lose track of what's going on. But I find that more frustrating than enticing. <br /><br />And yes, the sitcoms listed above just aren't funny. 'Nuff said. <br /><br />As I've also stated before, I won't pay for TV programs. So, I may have to give up television all together. <br />{Crying, dehorned rhinoceros emoji} <br /><br />M.B. <br /><br />Mike Bloodworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04755626259169126800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57090474571630356372020-05-20T13:09:22.847-07:002020-05-20T13:09:22.847-07:00"Indebted" and "Broke" have al..."Indebted" and "Broke" have almost exactly the same premise (a wealthy, eccentric couple loses their money and have to move in with middle-class relatives). What's really strange is that these shows air on different networks during the same time slot. <br /><br />I think network shows in general are now for people like me. I gave up cable/satellite years ago, and now use an antenna and Tivo to watch whatever channels I can get over the air (in addition to Netflix and Amazon). It was partly a financial decision, and partly so I don't have to deal with the terrible telecom monopolies (other than the one that supplies my internet access). So I sample all the network shows when they're new, but don't see cable shows until they get around to streaming.Tednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20584689318055259552020-05-20T13:05:19.388-07:002020-05-20T13:05:19.388-07:00Hey Ken -
I thought of you while watching "th...Hey Ken -<br />I thought of you while watching "the Voice" last night when John Legend changed up the lyrics to the Cheers theme - well done and a song that reminded me that I know YOUR name! :-)JeffRnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67411792610387146612020-05-20T12:57:31.777-07:002020-05-20T12:57:31.777-07:00Coincidentally, CBS just released a promo for the ...Coincidentally, CBS just released a promo for the new Chuck Lorre sitcom this fall, B Positive. It was exactly as I expected. The same old non-descript, soulless, interchangeable product from the Lorre assembly line. At this point, the scripts might as well be written by a computer algorithm. <br /><br />I'm not just saying this because it's Ken's blog, but the reason people still watch Cheers and Frasier reruns is because the shows had real depth and soul and were inhabited by real people, not one dimensional wisecracking machines. Fans remember particular episodes because the storytelling was so good. Can Two and a Half Men fans genuinely distinguish one episode from another? I doubt anyone will be watching reruns of that 20 years from now. Troy McClurenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78131177587313578382020-05-20T12:53:39.509-07:002020-05-20T12:53:39.509-07:00I just can’t get worked up about networks dying wh...I just can’t get worked up about networks dying when other media sources have filled the void. Nowadays I mainly watch cable and streaming.Rob Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16720950376172960539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5332979561701090882020-05-20T12:39:18.394-07:002020-05-20T12:39:18.394-07:00Even HBO has done very stupid cancellations. They ...Even HBO has done very stupid cancellations. They barely kept The Wire on and only gave it a short final season to wrap it up. They also bailed on ROME, which was spectacular, and only gave it a short final season.blinkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04284135060900752329noreply@blogger.com