DRAMA
24-7
Apr 25th
How To Make Sure The ‘24’ Movie Keeps On Ticking
In just a few short weeks one of the best drama series on TV will be no more. Yep, there’ll be no more Chloe. No more CTU. No more moles and double crosses. And no more ticking clocks. Time will finally have run out on Jack Bauer.
Now to say that I’m a fan of 24 is an understatement. I really, truly believe the show has been one of the best drama series to ever hit our screens. In my all-time list of favorite shows 24 is easily Top 10 and clearly I’m not alone. Even though 24 has slumped a little in viewership this season the ratings are still strong (generally 9 million per episode) and the series has sustained widespread international appeal. Plus creatively the show is still at the top of its game.
FLASH IN THE PAN
Apr 25th
Why Flash Forward Went Backwards…
It was billed as the TV event of the year. ABC spent s small fortune on the pilot and millions more on an extensive ad campaign. It was destined to be the new Lost, a critical and commercial favorite that would run for season upon season. And yet…
And yet Flash Forward is now officially a disaster. From a premiere episode that attracted 12.4 million viewers, last Thursday the show slumped to less than 5 million and a puny 1.4 share. Which means two key things: there’s now absolutely no chance of a second season and, most crucially, viewers didn’t like what they saw. But where exactly did Flash Forward go wrong – and what lessons can be learned for future series… Here’s the Remote Patrolled take…
MISSING IN ACTION
Apr 19th
What Are The TV Shows You’ve Never Even Sampled?
Okay confession time!
NCIS is currently the number one scripted show in America. And I’ve never watched a single moment of it. Not a second.
I’ve watched CSI – but I’ve never caught CSI: Miami or NYC (though I’ve certainly seen those endlessly replayed clips of David Curuso dramatically removing his sunglasses). I’ve never sat through an entire episode of Dancing With The Stars, or watched a Medium, Ghost Whisperer or Greys Anatomy, let alone a Private Practice or Good Wife. And these are just the tip of the iceberg. I’m ashamed!
Sadly, there are tones of critically acclaimed shows out there that I haven’t caught. The Wire passed me by. Ditto The Sopranos. I’ve never seen Dexter, Nurse Jackie or Big Love. And all those cult sci-fi classics like Battlestar Galactica – never seen ‘em.
DAMAGED GOODS
Apr 14th
Is Glenn’s Case Closed?
Uh oh Damages fans, it looks like our favorite legal drama is coming to an end, according to a report in Daily Variety. (See Daily Variety for full article)
To be honest it’s not altogether surprising news. Damages attracts one of the most upscale audiences on TV, receives a lot of DVR playback and has strong international sales. But at the end of the day the ratings for premiere episodes just aren’t strong enough to justify a costly drama (I know the show is shot super cheap but we’re still not talking makeover show budgets). This season Damages is barely clearing a million viewers an episode and a pitiful 0.2 in the 18-49 demo. That’s less than most VH1 reality shows.
I for one will miss the show a lot. You all know my general feelings on legal dramas (see my Career Crisis piece) but Damages was an entirely different beast. Over three seasons we’ve barely seen the inside of a courtroom and we haven’t had to sit through any interminable closing arguments or weepy cross-examinations. Damages was smart enough to avoid all the traditional conventions.
CAREER CRISIS
Apr 5th
Why Can’t Networks Find A New Job Market?
Last week ABC stalwart Grey’s Anatomy received it’s lowest ever rating for an original episode – just 9.75 million viewers. For a show that used to regularly rate in the 20 million range this is some serious erosion. But it’s not alone.
NBC has its hands full this season with a pair of misguided medical flops – Trauma and Mercy. Both are struggling through full seasons but their continued existence is more reflective of NBC’s rating woes than any actual audience appetite. Meanwhile CBS recently launched its own ER drama, Miami Medical – quietly dumped into a Friday night slot.
Over at ABC, legal drama The Deep End came and went in just 6 weeks with its final episode gaining less than 4 million viewers. And as for cop shows – well Southland was relegated to TNT, the Law and Order franchise is relying on stunt casting to stay in the headlines (look Kathy Griffin as a lesbian!), Cold Case speaks for itself, and The Forgotten makes Christian Slater 2 for 2 on the flop front.
