Why does ABC (USA) cancel anything even half decent

[jimbo45]

Hi there
I'm surprised how the US ABC (popularly knows as the Absolute BloxxY Crud) channel even survives -- They create a semi passable series called ZERO HOUR - cancel it after 3 or 4 episodes and replace it with some mindless drivel like Wife Swap. Fortunately the rest of the series one episodes are available from "The Jolly Roger" so one can at least finish the series.

I think I would be wary of EVER getting interested in a series that appears on ABC (US) TV -- you'll have to end up watching some awful reality show just when you think the series starts getting interesting.

However there are a few decent US series coming from other channels - but I don't think I'll ever trust "The Crud" channel again if I want to watch a whole series.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[HAVOC]

Network television sucks, doesn't matter what channel it is. I only watch the news and The Big Bang Theory on network channels.

 

[mjf]

Maybe it's a global phenomenon. Free to air TV in Australia is pretty average IMO. News and the occasional current affairs type program is all I seem to watch now. But then a lot seem to be into "reality" TV.

 

[Indianatone]

I agree about ABC, they cancelled "V" and left if hanging after 2 seasons. IMHO US network TV (ABC, NBC, CBS & Fox) are only good for commercials and the odd weather report in bad weather winter or spring storms. The programs are crap. The Big Bang Theory is very good and we got them on DVD as US TV shreds programs to death with commercial clips, promo....now what was I watching again? Oh yes British TV on PBS.......the only good US channel is the poor public TV channel that shows British TV and documentaries etc. Interesting stuff. As for cable gave that up, had 200+ channels with nothing on. Bruce Springsteen had 57 Channels and nothin' on.

Bruce Springsteen - 57 Channels (And Nothin' On) - YouTube

 

[carwiz]

Are you talking about the alien invasion "V"? That was a re-run series from the 80s anyway. It should have been canceled.

 

[A Guy]

They had Full House for many seasons

A Guy

 

[Indianatone]

Are you talking about the alien invasion "V"? That was a re-run series from the 80s anyway. It should have been canceled.

Well it was a rerun of 70's NBC "V" but it was Sci Fi on network TV and was fairly good till it "lost the plot" once they were cancelled.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I've also pretty much had it with OTA network TV in general, not just ABC. Not only do they cancel series left and right, they move them around frequently, frequently clashing with other series I'm already watching. Most of the new stuff coming out is pathetic, especially the half hour sitcoms (I only watch one now—Big Bang Theory—and I have to stream it from the internet because of a scheduling conflict), the "talent" contests, and the so called "reality" shows. With only a couple of exceptions, I'm not watching any new series this season because I'm sick and tired of getting hooked on one only to have the network cancel it out from under me, leaving me hanging because it never reached a conclusion. It's almost as though the OTA networks want to fail.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

They had Full House for many seasons

A Guy

It was a good series at first but the plot pretty much never varied from episode to episode and the drama became too pathetic and depressing. After the first year or two, it got old...really old.

 

[Barman58]

There is a simple system to avoid this sort of issue - don't watch anything live.

I place anything I'm interested in, on series record, and watch it when I want to - and I avoid the advertisements too

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

There is a simple system to avoid this sort of issue - don't watch anything live.

I place anything I'm interested in, on series record, and watch it when I want to - and I avoid the advertisements too

You gonna buy me a DVR...and a bigger house to put it in?

All seriousness aside, I do need to get ambitious and put a TV tuner card in my computer and figure out why video from my computer tears on my TV.

 

[Barman58]

I suppose that location is a factor here - all TV has been only available on digital here for several years and so it's normal to have some type of recording technology available.

It's become so natural now that I quite often find myself pressing the skip button on sport and news programming which I do normally watch live.

Of course I can also "Timeshift" (record one program and watch a show from an hour previously), so I do not get the problem of "Spoilers" from others

 

[mjf]

I watch virtually all series of interest to me on hire/library loan DVDs. When you get hooked you flick to the next episode. I'm currently hooked on "Fringe".

 

[Slartybart]

I dropped cable about 20 years ago, now I only have the networks and UHF channels. I suppose the good news is that I'm too far from ABC's tower, so I really only get two of the big 3.

MDW works shift work and often wants to sleep, so I can't watch shows without disturbing her rest.

Lots of stuff on demand or Hulu, but I won't have that option much longer - so what's a fella to do?

Books!

• They're quiet,
• they're never canceled (banned sometimes),
• can be read at one's own schedule,
• can be paused,
• don't have commercials,
• libraries are full of them,
• require no more energy than a lightbulb
• .....

Basically TV sucks your brain out. The Big Bang Theory is funny though.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I dropped cable about 20 years ago, now I only have the networks and UHF channels. I suppose the good news is that I'm too far from ABC's tower, so I really only get two of the big 3.

MDW works shift work and often wants to sleep, so I can't watch shows without disturbing her rest.

Lots of stuff on demand or Hulu, but I won't have that option much longer - so what's a fella to do?


Books!

• They're quiet,
• they're never canceled (banned sometimes),
• can be read at one's own schedule,
• can be paused,
• don't have commercials,
• libraries are full of them,
• require no more energy than a lightbulb
• .....

Basically TV sucks your brain out. The Big Bang Theory is funny though.

I agree about books. I do more reading than watching TV anymore.

 

[z3r010]

I'm currently hooked on "Fringe".

Although I watched them all as they went out, I got the bluray box set for my birthday and am just up to the final few episodes of series 5 and have really enjoyed it (I dont normally watch anything more than once).

 

[smarteyeball]

But then a lot seem to be into "reality" TV.

Scripted shows are expensive to produce, cost a lot to syndicate and generally don't make as much money. Ratings equal $$$ and regardless of how good a show is, if the demographic isn't large enough - CANCEL! I've lost track of how many good or promising shows get the chop before they've had a chance to make it.

Reality TV on the other hand are veritable cash cows. Cheap to make, easy to clone and are absolute licenses to print money for advertisers and networks. Plus the masses love them for some reason so they rate well. Those that do fail to rate are easily replaced by the next silly idea.

But the biggest things that irk me about "reality shows" is that they aren't all that real (manipulative editing), all must have a compulsory competitive/vote off aspect and worst of all - the clones! One network has a 'new' successful idea so automatically other networks have to have their own version. Bah, enough already!

And when a former "big rater" shows start to lose their appeal, what do they all do? Have a 'celebrity' version. And they really do use the term 'celebrity' loosely.

I can understand some people like having some 'light hearted/brainless' shows to switch off too. But there are still plenty of us who wish for something more substantial and cerebral.

 

[mjf]

I'm currently hooked on "Fringe".

Although I watched them all as they went out, I got the bluray box set for my birthday and am just up to the final few episodes of series 5 and have really enjoyed it (I dont normally watch anything more than once).

I've only got to series 3. Don't you warm to Walter in universe 1 (after brain surgery).

 

[Airbot]

Are you talking about the alien invasion "V"? That was a re-run series from the 80s anyway. It should have been canceled.

Says You.

I was just getting into the new series when they canceled it. Pissed me off.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi everyone.

Maybe we should go back to reading books again -- no viewers - no $$$'s -- so maybe they WILL have to change what they push out -- actually as some BBC and other European Public broadcasters show there is a demand for DECENT high quality stuff as well and there's even some passable stuff coming from Commercial organisations like SKY too. (Books are really easy to read in BULK now with e-readers etc in all sorts of places where you can't really enjoy a film).

In the USA a lot of Public Classical music radio stations get support from their listeners too and the PBS channels themselves are watched so even in that most competitive of markets people are there who want quality stuff. We don't always have to pander to the lowest denominator.

There's an interesting show on now - co UK French production Called THE TUNNEL on the SKY ATLANTIC channel -- starts with a Body found mid-way in the Channel tunnel --gets a bit more interesting as the body is composed of two halves - the top half is a French MP (Member of Parliament) while the other are the legs of a Prostitute from Wales so both UK and French cops get involved -- and the interplay between the French up tight young female cop and the older typically cynical British cop is quite interesting.

Where the European systems tend to score is that the series are filmed in advance so a show won't get pulled mid flight.
Also shows are given longer lead times so perhaps a slow burner which would probably be pulled in the USA after two episodes can be given a chance and often these become really popular.

I'd love it though if every time there was yet another "Reality" show -- the TV companies would be BOMBARDED with complaints from irate viewers -- or an even better tactic is to complain to the manufacturers / seller of services advertised during these shows -- no commercials - no shows !!!.

Cheers
jimbo