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"Vanished": Will it vanish?

October 27, 2006

As the season progresses, networks are finding new and inventive ways of determining the fate of particular shows.

We heard some rumblings and rumors about the goings-on at Fox, where producers on the struggling “Vanished” have allegedly been told to wrap it up by the end of the original 13 episodes. That is – all of the plot points opened up in the pilot episode must be answered by episode 13.

The "kidnapping of the Senator’s wife" drama was on the shelf for the World Series. It will return to the dicey territory of Friday nights. In short, Fox is not purchasing a full order of the show until they see how it plays in the mid-season.

Even more distressing is the decision to kill off the main character (played by Gale Harold) and move on to the end of the story without him. The creators have asked that the fans stand up for it, which is usually a sign of desperation. If you were thinking of writing an email to Fox, now might be the time.

“Twenty Good Years” Actually Three Mediocre Weeks

October 26, 2006

After taking a dive on the DeathWatch (from Number 13 to number 7 in one week), the NBC sitcom featuring Jeffrey Tambor and John Lithgow has slipped into a coma. Some reports have said that the show has been cancelled, but NBC is stating that it may return as a mid-season replacement, fulfilling it’s initial order.

The sitcom earned great ratings in a demographic that matched Tambor and Lithgow (men over 60), but failed to capture an audience in the coveted 18-49 demographic. The rating for this past Wednesday night was a depressing 2.0.

We went on record about our disdain for the show’s use of the laugh-track, but all the same -- we’re huge Tambor and Lithgow fans and had hopes for the show. DeathWatchers who voted for it to bite the dust this week are entered for a chance to win a video iPod.

Roundup Report: Character or Plot.

October 25, 2006

It appears as though a blend of plot and character have won our informal poll of those of you as addicted to brilliant television as we are. This was a topic that garnered a smaller number, but greater depth of responses. We’re totally in love with that.

This topic also seemed to open up the debate on whether or not the business of entertainment television is really about either plot or character. There are, of course, a thousand different elements that make up successful television, but as Charles suggest, we may be approaching an age when “ratings” trump any other element:

“So long as programmers (or rather accountants calling themselves programmers) demand 'hit show' ratings from the first episode, character development will be secondary (*very* secondary.) "Lost", for instance, has so much 'boom' that we're still getting to know basic character stuff three years in. TV used to be about art, now its about accounting. (Jeez, I sound 80!”)

It was this quote from Mark that really seemed to sum the whole thing up for us:

“It's the balance between the two that makes things interesting. Yeah, the main plot arcs on Lost would still be cool if the characters were shallow and one-dimensional and they never had the flashbacks, but you wouldn't know what makes them tick or why their motivations are so important to them. Character-driven episodes are every bit as important as plot-driven episodes, and it's the shows that combine them in just the right amount that really emerge as the best. If you can have both a major arching plot, an episodic dilemma to solve, and a subplot of character motivation/backstory, and can do this consistently, you will have a great show.”

We couldn’t agree more.

Update: “Big Mover Tuesday”

October 24, 2006

We were all shocked this afternoon when a flurry of movement took place on the DeathWatch.

The first item to report is that The Class (CBS) has replaced “Men In Trees” (ABC) as the number one soon-to-be-cancelled show. Ratings for “The Class” have been low (a 2.9 on a Monday night), but slightly better since the show moved from 8:00 to 8:30.

“Men in Trees” (ABC) has been defended by our readers, but reached its series low in ratings last Friday, coming in at (ouch) 1.6.

Meanwhile, former DeathWatch “most critical” shows like “Ugly Betty” (ABC) have climbed roughly ten places each since last Tuesday. Ratings have remained good for Betty (she scored a 4.6 last week).

It's now the time in the TV season when networks place “full orders,” a term used to denote that the network has bought the rest of that show’s season. DeathWatchers have been paying attention. Now the real playing begins.

Shows with full-season orders such as “The Game” (CW) and “Brothers and Sisters” (ABC) have been rocketing towards the safest positions, while “Heroes” (NBC) holds its ground at number 20. A full season order will drop any show it into "really darn safe" territory.

It would take a massive scandal to get these shows off the air now. But hey, you never know.

Remote Roundup: “Brothers and Sisters”

October 23, 2006

You have to hand it to ABC – somebody in casting got a serious promotion.

“Brothers and Sisters” is one of the most talked about shows around here, and everyone seems to have a strong opinion about it. Some of us TiVo it every week, and some have stopped watching altogether. We’ve heard justifications about watching based entirely on the casting. We’ve also heard some honest defense of the show as the first gem in the long-suffering dearth of good family dramas.

As far as ratings go, last night’s show scored a 8.3, but still scored second behind CBS’ crime dramas: “CSI” and “Without a Trace” (both showed during that hour due to late-ending NFL games). “Brothers and Sisters” sits at Number 9 on the Deathwatch with odds of cancellation at 44:1.

Round up your thoughts here on “Brothers and Sisters” and we’ll talk tomorrow.