Monday, May 16, 2011

Scorched Earth, TV Style





The network Fall TV schedules are being announced over the next few weeks at the "up fronts", and the television landscape is a-changing. Many shows that were new this season have been cancelled. So many shows have been cut down, it looks like a crime scene. Take a look (new shows this season in bold):

Better With You (ABC)
Breaking In (Fox)
Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
The Cape (NBC)
Chaos (CBS)
Chase (NBC)
The Chicago Code  (Fox)
The Defenders (CBS)
Detroit 1-8-7 (ABC)
The Event (NBC)
Friday Night Lights (NBC)
The Good Guys (Fox)
Human Target (Fox)
Law & Order: Los Angeles (NBC)
Lie to Me (Fox)
Life Unexpected (CW)
Live to Dance (CBS)
Mad Love (CBS)
Medium (CBS)
Mr. Sunshine (ABC)
No Ordinary Family (ABC)
Off the Map (ABC)
Outsourced (NBC)
Perfect Couples (NBC)
Running Wilde (Fox)
$#*! My Dad Says (CBS)
Smallville (CW)
Traffic Light (Fox)
V (ABC)

Yup most of the shows were new this year. And they will be replaced by other shows next year, that may be even worse. Some of the older shows, like the horrible Smallville or the pretty damn good Friday Night Lights, were allowed to actually come to a conclusion before the sets were struck and the lights turned off for good. But there were some other shows that showed promise or were just fun that I am sad to see go: The Good Guys, Human Target, The Chicago Code and even Mr. Sunshine. I think that those shows, even as mid-season replacements or even if moved to different time slots could have found an audience if given more of a chance. By me, they will be missed. It's too bad that everything nowadays is "now now now" not " let's try and help it." Unless your name is Chuck.

Of the returning shows, (you can view the entire list of returning, on the bubble and the dearly departed here) I have to say I was happy to see that Supernatural is coming back. That was a show that I expected nothing from when it debuted, and was more than pleasantly surprised. This was a show that actually got better each year and has been a joy to watch.  Of course all of Fox's animated lineup is returning, though I feel that The Simpsons need to be put down. I feel like they have been slipping a bit each year, and better to go out on top that to overstay your welcome.  sadly, also returning is a ton of reality TV... damn you Real World!!! Damn you to hell!!!
Posted by at

2 comments:

Unknown said...

First the past three seasons of smallville have been really good and dark, with the occasional funny episode.
I agree mr sunshine was another better off ted, to smart for most to get the jokes.people don't want to think when they watch tv. Also the first season of human target was great then I think they shot there big toe by adding the rich love interest.
They, meaning studios, need to give a show a chance. You already wasted millions of dollars on a few - episodes why not stick it out, you might get a hit

May 19, 2011 at 2:50 PM
Rex velvet said...

when it first came on i gave Smallville a shot. the first episode didn't do it for me. i tried again farther down the line, and that episode didn't do it for me either. i just felt that the show wasn't a good one, but as always tv like art is subjective. i can understand and appreciate how others enjoyed it, and were sad to see it go. i just was not one of those people

May 22, 2011 at 3:22 PM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)