|
|
|
All I'm Sayin'
January 30, 2012
Anticipa-yay-tion
...is September may be the traditional month for a show to debut but it isn't the only month for that autumnal rite. True, the networks like to roll out the red carpet during the fall. In this business the beginning of a TV season is akin to opening day in baseball or kickoff weekend in football where every team is unbeaten and hope springs eternal for an undefeated year. There certainly is no shortage of pomp and circumstance. Just four months ago our 2 networks alone brought us 9 new dramas, sitcoms, and reality programs (6 for ABC and 3 for Fox) with another 1 on ABC and 2 on Fox that premiered in October for a total of 12 programs that had Fall debuts. At that time both ABC and Fox had high aspirations for those shows and, although they would never admit it, probably would have been ecstatic if as few as 3 of them were picked up for a second full season (which, by the way hadn't happened in several years...ABC had only 2 in 2010-2011 - Body of Proof and Happy Endings...and Fox had but 1 - Raising Hope, although Bob's Burgers and Mobbed both made it back in limited run). But that isn't to say that each network loaded all of their ammunition into their programming pistols. In fact, I will go out on a limb and say that, other than The X Factor, both Fox and ABC held back some of their very best - at least on the creative side - programming for after the turn of the calendar. I predict that, in the coming years, you will look back on January - March of 2012 as one of the most successful launch quarters in television history. Already, on Fox, we have seen The Ringer, Alcatraz, Napoleon Dynamite, and the highly anticipated Keifer Sutherland vehicle Touch - which was the 2nd strongest debut of any show this season (just behind ABC's ode to fairy tales Once Upon A Time - itself, a surprise hit), all debut to some impressive numbers. At this writing, all but Napoleon Dynamite seem to have been holding up nicely and have an above average chance at seeing the 2012-2013 season.
On the surface ABC seems to have employed a similar strategy by "banking" their best fare in favor of bringing them out when there is less competition and more efforts in need of the hype machine. Instead of a half a dozen programs competing for the promotional dollars, they are rolling out only 1 at a time. The fright-fest The River in early February, the Texas based soap-ish GCB in late February, the Ashley Judd led Missing in mid March, and the new Shonda Rimes drama Scandal in late March and all, on paper, look to be better than anything that ABC gave us this past fall. And if any of them have the success of the aforementioned Once Upon A Time, Revenge, or Last Man Standing then this is going to be a year unlike anything ABC has had in quite some time. For what it's worth, I'm quite agog for The River, GCB, and Missing and will be disappointed if all 3 don't make it...which, taking into consideration what I discussed previously and given that Revenge, OUAT, and LMS have already accounted for a higher success rate than is the norm, I don't like my chances for all 3 of these to stick with viewers. All I can ask is that you give each of them a try and decide for yourself.
What do all of these successful programs have in common? All in the Family, The Jeffersons, The Six Million Dollar Man, Dawson's Creek, Barney Miller, The A-Team, Laverne & Shirley, Grey's Anatomy, and Seinfeld. They were all mid-season shows that debuted after the first of January.
Look for these Mobideals of the Week for February - 2/6 The Karat Patch - save $400 on 1/2 karat diamond earrings just in time for Valentine's Day; 2/13 Thelma Faye's Cafe - free fries and a drink with a sandwich purchase; 2/20 West Mane - 2 free tans.
Welcome to Hey It's Half Off - Ageless Aesthetics Medispa of Ashland where you can save 50% on medical skin care and procedures just in time for Valentine's Day; Tic Toc Tire in Huntington where you can save 50% on a wonderful safety and maintenance checklist; and Kawayan Resto Bar featuring the finest fusion of Asian/American cooking in the Kanawha Valley.
Big Bang Theory quote:
Sheldon, "My research will go on uninterrupted and social relationships will continue to baffle and repulse me."
For daily TV talk, follow me on Twitter @paulneace.
...is All I'm Sayin'
Have you got something to say?
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Also Visit:
|
|
