Why Can’t They All Be “Friends”?
Why can’t they all be “Friends”? That’s what the major networks have been asking themselves since the show went off the air in 2004. NBC was King on Thursday nights with “Friends”, “Seinfeld” and “ER” .
“Friends” ran on NBC for 10 years with an average of 20 million viewers per episode. It consistently ranked in Nielsen’s list of top 10 shows. It was one of the few series to “go out on top.”
Now, audiences are so fragmented with the addition of new cable channels with original programming, DVR’s and websites like Hulu . While we have many more viewing choices, there is fierce competition to top the ratings charts. This has led to many shows being cancelled after 1 season or even worse, 3 episodes! Some shows are yanked and replaced so quickly it feels like a bad assembly line of entertainment.
That is why I wanted to pay homage to some of my favorites, and ask the networks what was behind their reasoning of switching days/time periods and canceling before an audience had time to grow?
Samantha Who starring, Christina Applegate. It first aired in the fall of 2007 on Monday nights on ABC. The show averaged 11 million viewers. It was moved to Thursday nights and ratings dropped to 4 million.
Pushing Daisies aired for 2 seasons on ABC. It had a decent start with an average of 10 million viewers. The show leveled out at nearly 8 million viewers before it was cancelled. The last 3 episodes aired on Saturday at 10 p.m.
Welcome to the Captain starring Chris Klein, Jeffrey Tambor and Raquel Welch ran on CBS for only 3 episodes! I caught it once and thought it was quirky. I was willing to give it another shot and POOF! it was gone.
And the last show I will mention has been a sore spot since it came and went back in 2003. It was the time before DVR’s and after everyone threw out their VCR for a DVD player (that didn’t record!).
Miss Match aired on NBC on Friday nights for 1 season. It starred Alicia Silverstone and was produced by Darren Star (“Melrose Place” and “Sex and the City” fame). It was supposed to appeal to a younger skewed female audience.
I’m sorry, but what percentage of young, single women are sitting at home watching TV on a Friday night? The show was doomed from episode one.
I’d like to throw some facts out there for the network bigwigs to consider while they are deciding whether they should cut a show after 1 season:
“Seinfeld” was on air for 4 seasons before it broke into Nielsen’s list of Top 30 Shows with an estimated 12.75 million viewers. Seasons 5-9 averaged over 20 million viewers.
And I’m sure we’ve all heard of a little show on Fox called American Idol. It ranked number 30 with 9.9 million viewers during its debut season. Every year after, it has ranked #1 with an avg. of 25 million viewers.
- Julie Coln
June 11th, 2009 at 10:57 am
great point, and let us not forget Married, with Children…that show took a few years to develop an audience. thank goodness FOX had the sense to keep the show on the air as it is what finally put that station on the map! That show has become one of the most successful shows in the history of tv syndication!
June 11th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
I still have a sore spot from Fox canceling the show “Undeclared.” It was a great show starring Seth Rogan and Jay Baruchel. They gave it 17 episodes, moved it to a Friday night and then canceled it after 2 seasons.
June 11th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Great Blog!
June 15th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Excellent points, Julie! And you forgot to mention your other favorite show, Scrubs, it came and went and came and went, and then switched networks, but it had a pretty loyal following of quirky kids like yourself!
June 17th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
I liked pushing daisies, watched twice, and never could “remember” to watch it. Now I have destination viewing habits, where I set aside a know time for excellent programming, primarily sports, but HBO series have drawn me in. With that said, the write-ups on the line-ups for programming this fall, looks amazing and I can’t wait to check out some of the shows. Great programming can still deliver, it just hasn’t been resonating with viewers and their watching tendencies. I think this Fall may see some of that answered. You don’t want to show up to work, school or social settings without having seen “the show” the night before. Here’s looking forward to new programming.
June 22nd, 2009 at 7:58 pm
So,BA ,I am having fun following your business…..as a nurse with a creative yen… I’ve appreciated looking at your web site, following your articles and in answer ,with my opinion, to the TV conundrum….I went looking at the channels that get my viewing time and habits…..I must say here, I am not your average TV viewer. Firstly, the TV is often off..gasp.. but when on, as I reviewed your posting of Broadcast stations and their offerings …I had to turn the TV on to go see what it is I do watch?! because none of ..most of what was listed… is anything I turn on…the question being, what am I planning to watch this summer….. my staples are: Bill Moyers Journal, Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood followed by Face the Nation, Antiques Roadshow, House, Cash Cab, Oprah 9pm, NatGeo HD/ Sci HD/ History HD and Brighthouse Free Movies channel 321, I will watch this summer: RX Obama, Americas Got Talent (I never watched Idol, or Dancing or any Reality TV, another gasp) I will forever be disappointed that Brighthouse took IFC off the listing price range for me, I watched a lot of IFC, when it was offered at the Standard digital package…and for a TV viewer who watches very narrow choices I won’t pay more than $76.00 a month for my HD TV habit….so thanks for letting me voice my viewing habits ..keep up the good work! happy regards,k