When TV networks look at ratings, do today’s statistics keep in mind things like: Hulu views, network online views, and social media buzz, like Facebook and Twitter? I do not have the answers to things like this, but I do see a lot of failed TV shows on today’s networks. A lot of these failed TV shows, generally, have a large enough fan base, but a lot of times I think these networks ignore.
The CW currently has a lot of successful shows but they are a newer network still learning the ropes. A lot of networks kill shows before they give them a chance to blossom. Currently ABC has some more reboots on the way like Charlie’s Angels. On the CW they have had a lot of success with reboots such as 90210. Why is it that the reboot of 90210 was successful and the reboot of Melrose Place wasn’t? Bad marketing? There is a lot of money being thrown out there and a lot of investments are wasted. You don’t walk into Wall Street and become a millionaire in a day, it takes time, like this economy.
90210 was an easy show because the group of people they were marketing to was teenagers. The show wasn’t polished in the beginning, but it certainly has a large following on Facebook of 2,777,000 because the network gave it a chance to grow. These younger networks have a tendency to take more chances, just as FOX did in the 1990s with shows like Melrose Place, Married With Children, and The Simpsons. If you wanted good entertainment you turned to FOX. Now it seems that The CW has taken the throne in taking chances with shows like America’s Next Top Model, Gossip Girl, and The Vampire Diaries.
The Melrose Place reboot had lots of problems, but nonetheless I watched it, in all its smut glory. I think the big problem with M.P. was that people now are very desensitized from all the shows they are exposed to today. M.P. relied a little too much on shock value and a little less on bringing some educated historians in to recall the old show and build a better storyline. Yes, they brought a lot of the original cast back, to tease and interest old fans, but, they forgot there was a new audience who didn’t really know who Sidney was. The murder mystery, however an awesome concept, didn’t follow through like the writers and producers hoped. I always joke and say that the only reason Melrose Place failed was because they cut that awesome theme song! (Note: 90210 reboot has kept the original theme song.) Nonetheless, The CW put M.P. on the chopping block, which is too bad because that season finale was awesome!
First and foremost as a fan of television and primetime drama I have to say I’m sick of the following themes: Reality TV, Contests, Survivors, Hospitals, Murder Mystery, and did I mention Reality TV? This pretty much keeps most of my friends and family attached to their televisions or computers every week. Sad to say I am guilty of the following: Reality TV, Hospitals, and Contests. However when shows with other themes such as Sci-Fi, Musical, and Smutty Teen Shows exist I am as excited as a boy getting off on parole early for good behavior. That being said I have mostly missed the genre of Sci-Fi.
Enter the visitors: ABC’s goldmine, they just don’t know it yet, V. A year and a half ago I saw the promos for this show I was freaking out and thinking to myself, “I’m gonna watch this show every week!” Since then ABC has allowed me to watch 23 episodes, 13 for season one and 10 for season two. 24 episodes is standard in TV, but for ABC I’m not sure they get it or understand what’s sitting at their dinner table. It’s like this: okay, you aren’t a vegetarian, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any vegetarians out there! Just because you prefer a meat based diet over a veggie one, doesn’t mean there aren’t people out there dying to take a bite! Sci-Fi has become the vegetarian of this new century. Other than the Psy Fi network, there aren’t any networks really milking this genre.
Instead of ABC wasting money on their version of CSI or yet another reality tv show, they could embrace this ignored genre and bring it back into the mainstream of pop culture. There is plenty of money to be made and after V’s second season finale, I’m screaming for more. Without offending any of the Trekkies out there, ABC could really make this show as big as Star Trek. Although this show is a reboot from the 1980s, what I know is this show resembles a different breed of V stories and a much better plot.
V has been ignored by ABC and was cut short of its promised 13 episodes, scaled back to only 10 episodes. Why? Probably because the ratings weren’t as good as they had hoped. Which raises the question are ratings really valid in today’s world? How do you know how many people DVR or TiVo V? How do you know how many people find it somewhere online for free? They would know more if they would release the show on iTunes and Netflix. Here are three facts ABC should know:
• 800,000 fans on Facebook and growing
• Active message boards/discussions
• Sci-Fi Buzz
I just finished watching the V Season 2 Finale on ABC via DVR and I want more. I fear the demise of this show, but hope here on my nerdy little post, that fans will read this and contact ABC and tell them what they think, just like I did.
TO ABC:
“Please keep this show on the air. It has been a long time since a network of your caliber has aired Sci-Fi. I understand that you have a budget to keep, but this show gets me excited every week! Please bring it back next season, give it the full 24 episodes it deserves, to share with its fans! I’d like you to take note that V has 800,000 followers and growing on Facebook. It would be a shame not to take a long look at this show. You can pioneer a new generation in Sci-Fi fans, a marketable genre.”
Contact ABC and demand a full 3rd season of V. http://abc.go.com/site/contact-us
