At the risk of sounding cranky and set in my ways, let me just say TV networks are making my blood boil.
They are all doing spring schedule changes and shows are dropping like flies.
I know this is not what is meant by cancel culture, but it could be.
Change is OK, unless it's just for the sake of change.
Dear big-shot smarty pants network brass, I have a few things to say.
If you give a show the go-ahead, at least give it time to grow an audience.
Case in point: Rebel with Katie Sagal. We got six episodes and then ABC pulled the plug.
It was a legal drama inspired by real-life advocate and fighter Erin Brockovich.
It took me two episodes to figure out who was related to whom and how they all fit together.
I just got into the show and its story line when I found out it was axed.
That was not a fair shot.
Especially in pandemic mode — routines have been thrown out of whack and it takes longer to settle in and add a new show to your weekly watching schedule.
I don’t care how brilliant you TV types think you are — trust me when I say people are creatures of habit.
I can still tell you what sitcoms were on which night on what channel from my childhood. Yes, I know there were only three channels way back then, but my point is we didn’t need the TV Guide to know what was on and when. It was ingrained.
People still like the familiar. If you want ratings success, I suggest you keep shows in the time slots where they started.
The death knell for NCIS: New Orleans came when they moved it from Tuesday night following its obvious lead in of NCIS to death night. Sundays at 10 p.m. Now, women everywhere must mourn the loss of Scott Bakula in tight jeans and a white shirt with his salt and pepper hair. Oh, the show’s writing was solid, too!
If you see the big wigs move a program to either Friday nights or Sunday nights, it's hasta la vista, baby!
I understand that in these weird times, TV had had to pivot, too. It has not been a normal schedule. Networks and streaming services have had to adapt. There has been delayed production, postponed premieres, COVID stoppages and production shutdowns.
That is again why I would still think it would be wise to stay the course.
I don’t think there’s been one show that has aired without weeks in between episodes whether it be for awards shows or sports happenings. It makes it really hard to keep track.
You mess with viewers for too long and they lose interest. That’s just human nature.
Don’t make things hard to find or follow.
Netflix makes it more confusing when an entire season could be five or six shows.
They are also cancelling popular shows — The Last Kingdom and The Duchess — based purely on audience numbers I suppose.
Ozark will at least get to finish its story line with a 14-episode fourth season. Now, that one I know was popular because everyone and their dog was sucked in by Marty and Wendy Byrde, Ruth and Darlene.
There is something about that show. I am not into drug-cartel stuff nor violence, but this one reeled me in like a worm on a hook.
At least, fans will get closure.
More and more we need a lot of entertainment.
Alas, nobody asked me for my opinion on TV schedules.
I just know there’s too much binging and purging and its making me nauseous.
