Wait, is that show still on?
November 12, 2015 1:31 PM Subscribe
For the first time in more than 60 years, no new network TV series have been cancelled before the November sweeps period. Insiders say the change has a couple of reasons: DVRs and online streaming mean that people have many more chances to find and start to love a show (Quantico's audience nearly doubles when one takes these into account); non-network outlets are increasingly willing to grab "castoffs" (a la Yahoo's acquisition of Community, though that didn't work out as well as they had hoped); and lower ratings across the board means that it's not as easy for networks to throw away the millions they spend developing each new series.
It doesn't mean things are great for freshman shows, though -- many are seeing their initial episode orders cut based on weak performance, as the networks hedge their bets to allow shows to grow but risking less money on them if they don't.
It doesn't mean things are great for freshman shows, though -- many are seeing their initial episode orders cut based on weak performance, as the networks hedge their bets to allow shows to grow but risking less money on them if they don't.
Hopefully Supergirl's ratings drop is being balanced out by streaming numbers to some degree, because losing it after one season would be a crying shame.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:39 PM on November 12, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:39 PM on November 12, 2015 [4 favorites]
Now, that entire system is crumbling.
Ya think?
posted by Melismata at 1:39 PM on November 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
Ya think?
posted by Melismata at 1:39 PM on November 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
Speaking of Community, was anybody able to comfortably watch that show's streaming season? I tried three times and was so frustrated by the incredibly buggy Yahoo Screen interface that I only made it through a single episode. In addition to generally poor picture quality and lots of buffering, ads were being inserted into the program at random. It was just awful. Not surprised they lost their investment on it, but it's certainly not Community's fault.
posted by Mothlight at 1:53 PM on November 12, 2015 [14 favorites]
posted by Mothlight at 1:53 PM on November 12, 2015 [14 favorites]
It worked fine for me via Roku. I heard a lot of other people saying it was buggy as hell via computer, though.
posted by Etrigan at 1:54 PM on November 12, 2015
posted by Etrigan at 1:54 PM on November 12, 2015
Honestly, Community being locked down by Hulu is what killed it for me. When you're trying to be a cord-cutter, it's easy for shows you like to slip past the 5-free-episode limit of Hulu. If you can't catch up with Netflix / Amazon Prime then, well, so long.
(In contrast, losing track of Parks and Rec could be mitigated by watching the old season when it appeared on Netflix, well before the show slipped out of Hulu's catch-up window).
posted by miguelcervantes at 1:56 PM on November 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
(In contrast, losing track of Parks and Rec could be mitigated by watching the old season when it appeared on Netflix, well before the show slipped out of Hulu's catch-up window).
posted by miguelcervantes at 1:56 PM on November 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
I read somewhere (@TVGrimReaper?) that network lawyers have changed the usual contract language for new shows so that short orders of a show cost less than kill fees.
Premium cable series are increasingly doing shorter orders of shows (or cutting budgets enough to cut show orders, which is basically the same thing) to build more properties with fewer episodes per season. Game of Thrones, Penny Dreadful, even character pieces like The Affair and Silicon Valley have fewer episodes per season so if they fail, they can fail quickly and make room for something else. In the meantime, shows that rely on tradition 12-episode seasons like Ray Donovan are having their budgets cut on the production end, but not so viewers can easily tell... but I may have said too much.
posted by infinitewindow at 1:59 PM on November 12, 2015 [4 favorites]
Premium cable series are increasingly doing shorter orders of shows (or cutting budgets enough to cut show orders, which is basically the same thing) to build more properties with fewer episodes per season. Game of Thrones, Penny Dreadful, even character pieces like The Affair and Silicon Valley have fewer episodes per season so if they fail, they can fail quickly and make room for something else. In the meantime, shows that rely on tradition 12-episode seasons like Ray Donovan are having their budgets cut on the production end, but not so viewers can easily tell... but I may have said too much.
posted by infinitewindow at 1:59 PM on November 12, 2015 [4 favorites]
I thought more or less everyone had reached the point where they're sharing around logins to assorted streaming video services such that you end up having access to most of them. I pay for Netflix (which I share with with my brother and parents), but I mooch off my brother's Hulu Plus account and my parents' video on demand, plus I have Amazon Prime. That plus the individual networks' streaming video sites cover basically all of my TV needs without me having to own an actual TV.
I'm glad things aren't being cancelled so quickly, and I'm also glad things are getting shorter orders because I honestly think a shorter season is better for the form. There may be Too Much TV right now, but I'll take it given the uptick in diversity.
posted by yasaman at 2:03 PM on November 12, 2015
I'm glad things aren't being cancelled so quickly, and I'm also glad things are getting shorter orders because I honestly think a shorter season is better for the form. There may be Too Much TV right now, but I'll take it given the uptick in diversity.
posted by yasaman at 2:03 PM on November 12, 2015
Yahoo Screen worked fine for me via Roku. I heard a lot of other people saying it was buggy as hell via computer, though.
That makes sense. I never had a Roku because I have a PS3 with lots of media apps loaded. Anything I can't access on the PS3, I just hook the computer up to the TV for. But Yahoo Screen was a disaster area.
Honestly, Community being locked down by Hulu is what killed it for me. When you're trying to be a cord-cutter, it's easy for shows you like to slip past the 5-free-episode limit of Hulu. If you can't catch up with Netflix / Amazon Prime then, well, so long.
Oh yeah. I had forgotten how annoying that was. That was the last thing that kept my Netflix DVD membership alive. I caught up with Community on disc before I finally let it lapse. The DVDs looked quite a bit better than the "HD" Hulu stream (which had all of the detail compressed out of it before streaming) as I recall, but streaming shows look quite a bit better these days.
posted by Mothlight at 2:05 PM on November 12, 2015
That makes sense. I never had a Roku because I have a PS3 with lots of media apps loaded. Anything I can't access on the PS3, I just hook the computer up to the TV for. But Yahoo Screen was a disaster area.
Honestly, Community being locked down by Hulu is what killed it for me. When you're trying to be a cord-cutter, it's easy for shows you like to slip past the 5-free-episode limit of Hulu. If you can't catch up with Netflix / Amazon Prime then, well, so long.
Oh yeah. I had forgotten how annoying that was. That was the last thing that kept my Netflix DVD membership alive. I caught up with Community on disc before I finally let it lapse. The DVDs looked quite a bit better than the "HD" Hulu stream (which had all of the detail compressed out of it before streaming) as I recall, but streaming shows look quite a bit better these days.
posted by Mothlight at 2:05 PM on November 12, 2015
The Yahoo season of Community is actually pretty good, by the way.
posted by saul wright at 2:12 PM on November 12, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by saul wright at 2:12 PM on November 12, 2015 [8 favorites]
We're in for a few painful years, I fear, of all the media distribution companies relearning how to put their product in front of an audience. They've each separately decided that their service will magically work across the tower of Babel of incompatible standards and international licensing arrangements for all the set-top and portable media device their audience have. And further we'll all pay USD$8 to $20 per month for the privilege.
Of course mostly they're going to fail. And so torrent viewership will continue to be at least as big as paid, particularly outside the US. And we'll all be terribly bad, horrible non-consumers because some short-pants CEO thought they could out do Netflix.
posted by bonehead at 2:17 PM on November 12, 2015 [16 favorites]
Of course mostly they're going to fail. And so torrent viewership will continue to be at least as big as paid, particularly outside the US. And we'll all be terribly bad, horrible non-consumers because some short-pants CEO thought they could out do Netflix.
posted by bonehead at 2:17 PM on November 12, 2015 [16 favorites]
Looking at you, CBS.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:23 PM on November 12, 2015 [11 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:23 PM on November 12, 2015 [11 favorites]
Yahoon Screen was so bad that we ended up torrenting the show. It's hard to monetize something that feels like work to watch.
posted by lownote at 2:23 PM on November 12, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by lownote at 2:23 PM on November 12, 2015 [4 favorites]
The Yahoo season of Community is actually pretty good, by the way.
It's too bad then that it's impossible for me to watch it. In Canada. Legally.
And this isn't snark at all---I'd love to be able to see it on Netflix, for example.
posted by bonehead at 2:23 PM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's too bad then that it's impossible for me to watch it. In Canada. Legally.
And this isn't snark at all---I'd love to be able to see it on Netflix, for example.
posted by bonehead at 2:23 PM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's also a really terrible year so far for new network shows. Most of them have just been awful. Even the ones I've enjoyed (Quantico, Blindspot) seem like rehashes of things I've seen A BILLION TIMES. Which is fine when it's a weekly procedural like Law & Order but if you want me to invest in a season-long, 22-episode plot, you've got to be a LOT more interesting.
I've also found, since networks often like to put their strongest shows up against other networks' shows, on the rare occasions there's more than one thing I want to watch on the same night, they're on at the SAME TIME, and mostly I don't care enough to bother to stream the other one later. Like, sorry, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, you seem fun, but I'm watching Supergirl (and if history is any guide, the CW will ditch "Crazy" promptly as it is neither a teen soap nor a show with supernatural characters). Fresh Off the Boat, which I like, is up against The Grinder, which I also like. I have no interest in ANYTHING on the half-hour before or hour after. There's not even anything worth watching when I'm just grazing; it's all packed into the same timeslot and then the rest of the night is a boring wasteland.
Oh well. At least the super-low ratings keeps "Reign" being renewed and it is my favorite show ever. And "Scorpion," which consists of pretty much nothing but PEOPLE SHOUTING EXPOSITION AT LENGTH while running from set to set to give the illusion that things other than exposition dumps are happening. Obviously I'm addicted, it's so dumb I can't help it, but it's hard to imagine it sticking around on network more than half a season a few years ago, and it's in its SECOND SEASON.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 2:25 PM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
I've also found, since networks often like to put their strongest shows up against other networks' shows, on the rare occasions there's more than one thing I want to watch on the same night, they're on at the SAME TIME, and mostly I don't care enough to bother to stream the other one later. Like, sorry, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, you seem fun, but I'm watching Supergirl (and if history is any guide, the CW will ditch "Crazy" promptly as it is neither a teen soap nor a show with supernatural characters). Fresh Off the Boat, which I like, is up against The Grinder, which I also like. I have no interest in ANYTHING on the half-hour before or hour after. There's not even anything worth watching when I'm just grazing; it's all packed into the same timeslot and then the rest of the night is a boring wasteland.
Oh well. At least the super-low ratings keeps "Reign" being renewed and it is my favorite show ever. And "Scorpion," which consists of pretty much nothing but PEOPLE SHOUTING EXPOSITION AT LENGTH while running from set to set to give the illusion that things other than exposition dumps are happening. Obviously I'm addicted, it's so dumb I can't help it, but it's hard to imagine it sticking around on network more than half a season a few years ago, and it's in its SECOND SEASON.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 2:25 PM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
Speaking of Community, was anybody able to comfortably watch that show's streaming season?
Haven't finished yet, but found that watching it on a tablet was far superior to watching on a laptop or desktop. Found that setting a desktop browser to pretend to be a mobile browser led to far fewer issues streaming. Guess Yahoo made a choice there.
posted by ZeusHumms at 2:27 PM on November 12, 2015
Haven't finished yet, but found that watching it on a tablet was far superior to watching on a laptop or desktop. Found that setting a desktop browser to pretend to be a mobile browser led to far fewer issues streaming. Guess Yahoo made a choice there.
posted by ZeusHumms at 2:27 PM on November 12, 2015
The Yahoo season of Community is actually pretty good, by the way.
It was good (also watched ad-free via Roku; the only problem I had with the Yahoo Screen app was that it would start auto-playing whatever the most recent video uploaded was and I'd have to hit the Back button to get to the main menu) but with the cast changes it also started to feel like a cover-band version of the show - whenever the gang would get together and you'd realize only 4 of the 7 original study-groupers were there, it was a buzzkill.
No disrespect to Paget Brewster or Keith David, or to Jonathan Banks before them.
posted by psoas at 2:34 PM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
It was good (also watched ad-free via Roku; the only problem I had with the Yahoo Screen app was that it would start auto-playing whatever the most recent video uploaded was and I'd have to hit the Back button to get to the main menu) but with the cast changes it also started to feel like a cover-band version of the show - whenever the gang would get together and you'd realize only 4 of the 7 original study-groupers were there, it was a buzzkill.
No disrespect to Paget Brewster or Keith David, or to Jonathan Banks before them.
posted by psoas at 2:34 PM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
We're in for a few painful years, I fear, of all the media distribution companies relearning how to put their product in front of an audience.
Yup. Of course, it would help if they stopped repeating the same tired sitcom formulas they've been rehashing for 40 years.
The prime time trend on TBS these days is:
Monday: show some Big Bang Theory and a movie or something
Tuesday: show all BBT
Wednesday: show all BBT except for the premiere of one new sitcom sandwiched between the BBTs
Thursday: show BBT only at 10 p.m. because legal reasons and the new sitcom at 10:30
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: see Tuesday and Wednesday
So far, most of the new sitcoms (Clipped, Your Family or Mine, Sullivan & Son; 2 Broke Girls is meh) haven't made it, because they're stupid. They're obviously catering to the older crowd (George Wendt, Richard Dreyfuss[?!]), etc., which is fine for now but won't last much longer.
Feel kind of bad for all the players killing each other to get viewers, but yeah, it'll be like the early days of ... well, almost anything. Remember 8 track tapes? In Boston, there were something like six different bus lines competing with each other until they all merged in the 1960s.
(advertisers pay only for viewers who watch within the first three days)
Wouldn't changing this policy help somehow?
posted by Melismata at 2:40 PM on November 12, 2015
Yup. Of course, it would help if they stopped repeating the same tired sitcom formulas they've been rehashing for 40 years.
The prime time trend on TBS these days is:
Monday: show some Big Bang Theory and a movie or something
Tuesday: show all BBT
Wednesday: show all BBT except for the premiere of one new sitcom sandwiched between the BBTs
Thursday: show BBT only at 10 p.m. because legal reasons and the new sitcom at 10:30
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: see Tuesday and Wednesday
So far, most of the new sitcoms (Clipped, Your Family or Mine, Sullivan & Son; 2 Broke Girls is meh) haven't made it, because they're stupid. They're obviously catering to the older crowd (George Wendt, Richard Dreyfuss[?!]), etc., which is fine for now but won't last much longer.
Feel kind of bad for all the players killing each other to get viewers, but yeah, it'll be like the early days of ... well, almost anything. Remember 8 track tapes? In Boston, there were something like six different bus lines competing with each other until they all merged in the 1960s.
(advertisers pay only for viewers who watch within the first three days)
Wouldn't changing this policy help somehow?
posted by Melismata at 2:40 PM on November 12, 2015
I've also found, since networks often like to put their strongest shows up against other networks' shows, on the rare occasions there's more than one thing I want to watch on the same night, they're on at the SAME TIME, and mostly I don't care enough to bother to stream the other one later.
It's this approach that drives me crazy. "Let's take our strongest show, and put it on against their strongest show! Fight! Fight!" Whereas I would be thinking, "let's take our strongest programming and put it on the night where everyone else is weak! Everyone will come to us and we will own that night, and can use it to promote our other stuff!"
But I'm likely stupid in some way.
posted by nubs at 2:52 PM on November 12, 2015 [8 favorites]
It's this approach that drives me crazy. "Let's take our strongest show, and put it on against their strongest show! Fight! Fight!" Whereas I would be thinking, "let's take our strongest programming and put it on the night where everyone else is weak! Everyone will come to us and we will own that night, and can use it to promote our other stuff!"
But I'm likely stupid in some way.
posted by nubs at 2:52 PM on November 12, 2015 [8 favorites]
"Let's take our strongest show, and put it on against their strongest show! Fight! Fight!"
Doesn't the library streaming model destroy this anyway? Orange is the New Black and Daredevil being on when ever I can spare the time to watch is one of the best things about Netflix. The temporal scarcity of "appointment TV" is one of the relics of the broadcast era I'd be happy to forget.
Are the traditional media companies like CBS and what not seriously going to keep a single stream with schedule model even for their internet services? That's beyond bizarre.
posted by bonehead at 3:17 PM on November 12, 2015 [6 favorites]
Doesn't the library streaming model destroy this anyway? Orange is the New Black and Daredevil being on when ever I can spare the time to watch is one of the best things about Netflix. The temporal scarcity of "appointment TV" is one of the relics of the broadcast era I'd be happy to forget.
Are the traditional media companies like CBS and what not seriously going to keep a single stream with schedule model even for their internet services? That's beyond bizarre.
posted by bonehead at 3:17 PM on November 12, 2015 [6 favorites]
The competition's schedule is only one element of TV broadcast programming. They also care about when people are more likely to be watching TV, generally. So popular shows, or shows that networks hope will become popular, tend to appear on nights when there are always a lot of people watching TV, like Sunday and Thursday.
posted by AndrewInDC at 3:17 PM on November 12, 2015
posted by AndrewInDC at 3:17 PM on November 12, 2015
The cable companies also have a ton of network stuff on demand on tv. My dad watches new Castle and Bluebloods eps like 4,000 times a week and when he's not watching new he catches repeats on tnt or tbs or wherever the hell they show Castle 24/7.
Dad's birthday is Saturday. I got him a firestick doohickey so he can use my netflix account. He'll probably watch Castle or Bluebloods if they are available.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 3:49 PM on November 12, 2015 [6 favorites]
Dad's birthday is Saturday. I got him a firestick doohickey so he can use my netflix account. He'll probably watch Castle or Bluebloods if they are available.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 3:49 PM on November 12, 2015 [6 favorites]
It's purely a structural change. There's nothing all that different about the quality of the new shows that would keep the whole crop safe from cancellation. Some of them (like the previously mentioned Quantico) are god-awful, while others are decent or good. My favorite new network series is probably Limitless, although that one is still heavily constrained by its procedural format. If you're looking for the absolute best new shows, they're all on cable or the new streaming services.
posted by Kevin Street at 3:58 PM on November 12, 2015
posted by Kevin Street at 3:58 PM on November 12, 2015
What about Mr. Robinson? Do summer shows not count?
posted by Clustercuss at 4:05 PM on November 12, 2015
posted by Clustercuss at 4:05 PM on November 12, 2015
Some of them (like the previously mentioned Quantico) are god-awful
You can say that again. The flashback format is maddening.
posted by unliteral at 4:09 PM on November 12, 2015
You can say that again. The flashback format is maddening.
posted by unliteral at 4:09 PM on November 12, 2015
Tonight marks the start of our weeklong stint as a Nielsen family, as it so happens. To be honest, this has been a lifelong dream. Ironically, I don't watch much TV anymore. I'm on a tablet, so it's difficult to find and link the post, but Quonsar once chided me, many years ago, for leaving the TV on all the time for background noise. I was a stay at home with an very young child at the time. Now that I'm working and have a teenager, I greatly appreciate silence. So not to be all "Is this something I'd need a TV for" but I finally got this thing that I wanted, and I don't know what TV shows are new this season, because Metafilter.
posted by Ruki at 4:30 PM on November 12, 2015
posted by Ruki at 4:30 PM on November 12, 2015
I had no problem watching Community on Roku, but I was still baffled by how they were monetizing it, since I never saw a single commercial.
Then I started watching Other Space, which was pretty great, but oddly I couldn't get through a single episode without buffering issues.
posted by anazgnos at 4:31 PM on November 12, 2015
Then I started watching Other Space, which was pretty great, but oddly I couldn't get through a single episode without buffering issues.
posted by anazgnos at 4:31 PM on November 12, 2015
Ruki, this question might be helpful if you're looking for a series to watch but the answers are tailored to the asker's preferences.
posted by memento maury at 4:41 PM on November 12, 2015
posted by memento maury at 4:41 PM on November 12, 2015
Limitless is surprisingly enjoyable; the lead manages to be just pathetic enough that his smugness stays below needs-slapping levels. It's kind of what would happen if you crossed a Detective Guy with Special Powers shows (Sherlock, that guy who can read your emotions, Monk) with some of the better supernatural/superhero shows out there.
I keep accidentally watching Madame Secretary, and it's also pretty good.
All the CSIs and cop dramas can die in a fire. Just leave Brooklyn 911 it's the only cop show we need.
posted by emjaybee at 5:05 PM on November 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
I keep accidentally watching Madame Secretary, and it's also pretty good.
All the CSIs and cop dramas can die in a fire. Just leave Brooklyn 911 it's the only cop show we need.
posted by emjaybee at 5:05 PM on November 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
Fargo? Fargo? Or is that not network.
posted by triage_lazarus at 6:00 PM on November 12, 2015
posted by triage_lazarus at 6:00 PM on November 12, 2015
Damn, I was just blogging about the new Star Trek and how CBS' efforts to pump up their own streaming service is just lame. So to quote and paraphrase myself:
"The Old Guard of Content keeps stepping on the rake while they’re chasing kids off the lawn. These futile efforts to supplant existing subscription services won’t work. We’re locked in to a couple of the big ones now and trying to get anyone sane to spend just shy of a hundred bucks a year for another one is not going to work. People are too lazy and too cheap to add another leech to their credit card.
I do agree that content providers should be compensated fairly for their work. If CBS resurrects Star Trek for TV and it’s good, they should make money off of it. But to try to use that shiny new content to make an end run around a streaming/content provider that got there first is only going to annoy that valuable demographic you’re trying to attract. This is the Kobayashi Maru for TV executives and none of them are James T. Kirk. And if you don’t get that reference you probably work for a TV network."
The broadcast networks are as clueless as record companies, publishing houses, and movie studios. They are also as frightened. They were not ready for the digital world and they do not like change. So now they're too frightened to make a move, to cancel a series. They have no idea anymore what will catch fire or what won't. They just churn out predictable shit and pray to their corrupt gods that something will stick to the wall.
posted by Ber at 6:04 PM on November 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
"The Old Guard of Content keeps stepping on the rake while they’re chasing kids off the lawn. These futile efforts to supplant existing subscription services won’t work. We’re locked in to a couple of the big ones now and trying to get anyone sane to spend just shy of a hundred bucks a year for another one is not going to work. People are too lazy and too cheap to add another leech to their credit card.
I do agree that content providers should be compensated fairly for their work. If CBS resurrects Star Trek for TV and it’s good, they should make money off of it. But to try to use that shiny new content to make an end run around a streaming/content provider that got there first is only going to annoy that valuable demographic you’re trying to attract. This is the Kobayashi Maru for TV executives and none of them are James T. Kirk. And if you don’t get that reference you probably work for a TV network."
The broadcast networks are as clueless as record companies, publishing houses, and movie studios. They are also as frightened. They were not ready for the digital world and they do not like change. So now they're too frightened to make a move, to cancel a series. They have no idea anymore what will catch fire or what won't. They just churn out predictable shit and pray to their corrupt gods that something will stick to the wall.
posted by Ber at 6:04 PM on November 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
The flashback format is maddening.
Good, I'm not alone. I actually really enjoy the show, but I'm often completely confused about what's happening when. I guess all the training scenes are pre-terrorist attack, and everything else is after, but I just don't know. And if you're not paying attention, there's no way to tell, no visual cue like different lighting or something, to let you know.
But I am glad they're letting shows stay on longer now. I'm probably the only person disappointed they let "About a Boy" die.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 6:12 PM on November 12, 2015
Good, I'm not alone. I actually really enjoy the show, but I'm often completely confused about what's happening when. I guess all the training scenes are pre-terrorist attack, and everything else is after, but I just don't know. And if you're not paying attention, there's no way to tell, no visual cue like different lighting or something, to let you know.
But I am glad they're letting shows stay on longer now. I'm probably the only person disappointed they let "About a Boy" die.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 6:12 PM on November 12, 2015
Not to be too caustic... but "millions developing a new series", you'd think you could toss a few thousand towards original writing and plot development...
posted by Seeba at 8:02 PM on November 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Seeba at 8:02 PM on November 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
I agree with emjaybee that Limitless is surprisingly enjoyable. Not in a Hannibal sort of OH MY GOD HOW COULD THIS BE SO GOOD but more in a casually entertaining way to spend 45 minutes. I like that they play with the format and break the 4th wall and so on. And the continuity with the film was surprising to me mostly because I didn't realize Bradley Cooper was involved.
Blindspot has improved from the pilot to kind of watchable from kind of unwatchable. Quantico is in the "ugh I don't know why I'm still watching this and yet I am still watching" category. I think it's because I like the cast. Supergirl I like... unironically. Which is a big step for me.
posted by Justinian at 8:19 PM on November 12, 2015
Blindspot has improved from the pilot to kind of watchable from kind of unwatchable. Quantico is in the "ugh I don't know why I'm still watching this and yet I am still watching" category. I think it's because I like the cast. Supergirl I like... unironically. Which is a big step for me.
posted by Justinian at 8:19 PM on November 12, 2015
Limitless seems to be the best of the new crop of dramas, and of the shows I've taken to watching, it was the one I had the least faith in at the start. It's not the greatest thing on TV, but it's light and fluffy and entertaining when I don't want anything too deep or dreary.
I gave up on Blindspot last episode (actually it's probably two episodes ago by now). That was the freshman show I had the highest hopes for, but even though I like both of the leads, I just can't cope with the writing and plotting and the fortunately timed coincidences that always lead the team to decipher a tattoo just in time to stop the crime of the week.
I only begrudgingly started watching Quantico and while it's stupid, I keep coming back. I'm not quite sure why. I don't mind the flashback format--if you want bad, annoying flashbacks try season two of Sean Bean's Legends (at least in the first episode, which is the only one I've watched so far)--but I'm just so tired of every person having Deep, Dark, IMPORTANT secrets. My heavens, enough is enough already.
I've also given up on the Romeo Section which is a show that, on paper, sounds like it should be up my alley, but I just can't get invested in characters if I'm not given enough background about them or reason to care about them. And if I heard the lead spy handler answer, "we all do that" one more time (usually in response to his asset saying he was getting too emotionally involved with his targets) I'd just scream.
I think I'm about to pull the trigger on Supergirl. I'll give it one more episode, but it just feels like it's trying way too hard, and is starting to get a bit preachy. I also feel that it's targeting a much younger audience than even the Flash does.
I think the comedies and dramadies are faring better this year. I fell into watching Casual pretty much by accident, and I'm glad did. The writing is strong, the acting is good, the characters are complex enough to be interesting. The show is doing a good job of balancing out the longer story arcs with the episodic plot points. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend has plenty of highs and lows, and while I can't say it's good, at least it's an interesting experiment. Grandfathered is doing a pretty good job of scratching that traditional sitcom itch.
Overall, while I'm mostly disappointed with the quality of the new shows, I like the approach of just letting a series run its course (even an abbreviated one) without getting yanked after one or two bad episodes. Sometimes these things can take a while to come together.
posted by sardonyx at 9:15 PM on November 12, 2015
I gave up on Blindspot last episode (actually it's probably two episodes ago by now). That was the freshman show I had the highest hopes for, but even though I like both of the leads, I just can't cope with the writing and plotting and the fortunately timed coincidences that always lead the team to decipher a tattoo just in time to stop the crime of the week.
I only begrudgingly started watching Quantico and while it's stupid, I keep coming back. I'm not quite sure why. I don't mind the flashback format--if you want bad, annoying flashbacks try season two of Sean Bean's Legends (at least in the first episode, which is the only one I've watched so far)--but I'm just so tired of every person having Deep, Dark, IMPORTANT secrets. My heavens, enough is enough already.
I've also given up on the Romeo Section which is a show that, on paper, sounds like it should be up my alley, but I just can't get invested in characters if I'm not given enough background about them or reason to care about them. And if I heard the lead spy handler answer, "we all do that" one more time (usually in response to his asset saying he was getting too emotionally involved with his targets) I'd just scream.
I think I'm about to pull the trigger on Supergirl. I'll give it one more episode, but it just feels like it's trying way too hard, and is starting to get a bit preachy. I also feel that it's targeting a much younger audience than even the Flash does.
I think the comedies and dramadies are faring better this year. I fell into watching Casual pretty much by accident, and I'm glad did. The writing is strong, the acting is good, the characters are complex enough to be interesting. The show is doing a good job of balancing out the longer story arcs with the episodic plot points. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend has plenty of highs and lows, and while I can't say it's good, at least it's an interesting experiment. Grandfathered is doing a pretty good job of scratching that traditional sitcom itch.
Overall, while I'm mostly disappointed with the quality of the new shows, I like the approach of just letting a series run its course (even an abbreviated one) without getting yanked after one or two bad episodes. Sometimes these things can take a while to come together.
posted by sardonyx at 9:15 PM on November 12, 2015
Most of them have just been awful.
A classic, perfect understatement.
Fargo? Fargo? Or is that not network.
Fargo season 2 is a masterpiece. It would be impossible for a network to produce 30 seconds of the quality of writing, directing, and cinematography of Fargo and many other independent/cable shows.
I won't say it's gotten worse having seen an episode of Wonder Woman recently that made absolutely no sense and was terribly predictable (so it's more of the same) but I'd say even a show like M*A*S*H would be instantly rejected by network execs these days. I couldn't believe that oil in North Dakota show Last Week Tonight informed me of.
posted by juiceCake at 9:17 PM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
A classic, perfect understatement.
Fargo? Fargo? Or is that not network.
Fargo season 2 is a masterpiece. It would be impossible for a network to produce 30 seconds of the quality of writing, directing, and cinematography of Fargo and many other independent/cable shows.
I won't say it's gotten worse having seen an episode of Wonder Woman recently that made absolutely no sense and was terribly predictable (so it's more of the same) but I'd say even a show like M*A*S*H would be instantly rejected by network execs these days. I couldn't believe that oil in North Dakota show Last Week Tonight informed me of.
posted by juiceCake at 9:17 PM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
Having been subjected to bits and pieces of that oil show (other people were watching it), I can confirm it seems pretty terrible.
posted by sardonyx at 9:22 PM on November 12, 2015
posted by sardonyx at 9:22 PM on November 12, 2015
Network shows have actually gotten considerably better over the years. Or at least the best shows have gotten better. The bad shows are still terribly bad.
that always lead the team to decipher a tattoo just in time to stop the crime of the week
I thought they handled this, if not cleverly, at least acceptably. They don't generally decipher a tattoo just in time to stop the crime of the week, they tend to set into motion the events they have to stop when they start investigating a deciphered tattoo. The drone episode and the virus thingie episode are examples of this; they didn't show up "just in time", they actually made the perps jump the gun and start their plans in motion.
posted by Justinian at 10:44 PM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
that always lead the team to decipher a tattoo just in time to stop the crime of the week
I thought they handled this, if not cleverly, at least acceptably. They don't generally decipher a tattoo just in time to stop the crime of the week, they tend to set into motion the events they have to stop when they start investigating a deciphered tattoo. The drone episode and the virus thingie episode are examples of this; they didn't show up "just in time", they actually made the perps jump the gun and start their plans in motion.
posted by Justinian at 10:44 PM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
> The broadcast networks are as clueless as record companies, publishing houses, and movie studios.
They're the same companies. Their conservatism is due to their behemothity -- they got as big as they are by dictating the status quo, and they are going to cling to it for as long as they can. But their also being the biggest record companies, biggest book companies, and biggest movie companies is an indication why the entire media industry seems to respond to changes in technology and public expectations with uniform sluggishness.
posted by ardgedee at 6:25 AM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
They're the same companies. Their conservatism is due to their behemothity -- they got as big as they are by dictating the status quo, and they are going to cling to it for as long as they can. But their also being the biggest record companies, biggest book companies, and biggest movie companies is an indication why the entire media industry seems to respond to changes in technology and public expectations with uniform sluggishness.
posted by ardgedee at 6:25 AM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
Netflix has the No. 1-rated new show by critics this fall
100% critics and 93% public on RT. not bad opening numbers.
It has to sting that Mr. Ansari as one of the brightest stars of TV right now is refusing to work with the "big networks".
posted by bonehead at 7:15 AM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
100% critics and 93% public on RT. not bad opening numbers.
It has to sting that Mr. Ansari as one of the brightest stars of TV right now is refusing to work with the "big networks".
posted by bonehead at 7:15 AM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
Ok, so I haven't had actual tv for over a decade now, and watch tv through a variety of ways. For new releases, FollowShows is a surprisingly nifty website that lets you set up and schedule track your own roster of shows, with a lot of UK shows included.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 7:19 AM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 7:19 AM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
Literally the only thing I watch on network TV is sports and Bob's Burgers. Everything else is just really not that good. I used to watch more, but then cable went and upped the quality bar and now my tolerance for crap is very low. All those dumb network comedies, reality shows, Law & Order/CSI spinoffs can die a firey death.
posted by LizBoBiz at 7:47 AM on November 13, 2015
posted by LizBoBiz at 7:47 AM on November 13, 2015
Let's not go overboard with the network hate. Sure, lots is mediocre. Most even. But there are occasionally exceptional shows on the networks and somewhat more often quite good ones.
Hannibal, for example, just finished airing a few months ago and it was possibly the best show on any network, cable or broadcast.
posted by Justinian at 8:19 AM on November 13, 2015
Hannibal, for example, just finished airing a few months ago and it was possibly the best show on any network, cable or broadcast.
posted by Justinian at 8:19 AM on November 13, 2015
It has been a pretty stunning realization that Netflix is now by far my favorite "tv network". I have enjoyed House of Cards, Orange Is the New Black, Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt, Narcos, Bloodline, Master of None, Daredevil, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, BoJack Horseman, and Grace and Frankie. w/ Bob and David is available as of today and Jessica Jones arrives next Friday. It's a really remarkable line-up.
posted by joelhunt at 8:34 AM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by joelhunt at 8:34 AM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
Jessica Jones arrives next Friday
I don't think my wife is taking my "see you all on Sunday" warning seriously, either. I have really come around on that from my initial issue with Ritter in the lead.
posted by phearlez at 9:28 AM on November 13, 2015
I don't think my wife is taking my "see you all on Sunday" warning seriously, either. I have really come around on that from my initial issue with Ritter in the lead.
posted by phearlez at 9:28 AM on November 13, 2015
Networks used to take bigger risks, but that was before cable evolved into the place with the most daring shows. Now networks tend to be more conservative because they know the more... bohemian members of the potential audience are watching something else. It's safest to double down and produce content for the audience that remains.
posted by Kevin Street at 1:27 PM on November 13, 2015
posted by Kevin Street at 1:27 PM on November 13, 2015
Hannibal, for example, just finished airing a few months ago and it was possibly the best show on any network, cable or broadcast.
Sadly cancelled by NBC (though it did last amazingly long on that network). Hopes of a continuation on a streaming platform are looking slim, since Amazon has the rights to the existing seasons so Netflix won't touch it, and Amazon was reportedly only interested in an immediate start to production of a new season which apparently wasn't logistically possible by the cast and crew. :(
I love The Player. I know the order was cut, and that's pretty much the death knell, but I really enjoy that show.
I mostly like Blindspot and The Player, which are basically variations on the same show with different hooks.See also the Blacklist and 1st season Person of Interest (which was only okay at first, but became something much better and different in subsequent seasons). Blindspot and The Player are notable for each starring one of the main characters--at least from the last few seasons--of the trashier but more interesting Strike Back that aired on cable in the US.
posted by Pryde at 2:35 PM on November 13, 2015
Sadly cancelled by NBC (though it did last amazingly long on that network). Hopes of a continuation on a streaming platform are looking slim, since Amazon has the rights to the existing seasons so Netflix won't touch it, and Amazon was reportedly only interested in an immediate start to production of a new season which apparently wasn't logistically possible by the cast and crew. :(
I love The Player. I know the order was cut, and that's pretty much the death knell, but I really enjoy that show.
I mostly like Blindspot and The Player, which are basically variations on the same show with different hooks.See also the Blacklist and 1st season Person of Interest (which was only okay at first, but became something much better and different in subsequent seasons). Blindspot and The Player are notable for each starring one of the main characters--at least from the last few seasons--of the trashier but more interesting Strike Back that aired on cable in the US.
posted by Pryde at 2:35 PM on November 13, 2015
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