What TV shows would you axe, and why?
November 5th 2006 04:58
There are a lot of shows on TV right now that have gone a bit stale in their premise, especially following the new trend of serialised television like Lost, Prison Break and The Nine. What TV shows do you think have gone past their expiration date? And what shows do you think will run out of juice within the next season or so?
One that springs immediately to mind is Nip Tuck. Watching the most recent episode, I found myself flicking through it so I didn’t have to see the whole thing. They seem to be grasping at some pretty crappy ideas in their attempts to stay fresh and daring (Julia having an affair with her dwarf nanny to name one- and I’m struggling to remember if dwarf is the politically correct term for little person, but anyway). Another show people seem to think has lost its edge is Desperate Housewives. I haven’t seen the latest season and I don’t know much about it, but I’ve heard the ratings have gone down a lot. Lost is also regularly criticised for its complex storylines and never-ending mysteries, though anyone familiar with JJ Abrams other work (i.e. Alias and the Rambaldi storyline that wouldn’t die) should know he isn’t that big on giving his audience the answers they want.
On the other hand, there are shows like Prison Break that seem to only get better with time. There are also some programs that just seem to go on forever like The Simpsons and Law and Order, despite their declining quality.
So which shows do you think should bow out gracefully before they get any worse? And what do you think makes certain television shows more likely to last than others?
*image from tv.com
One that springs immediately to mind is Nip Tuck. Watching the most recent episode, I found myself flicking through it so I didn’t have to see the whole thing. They seem to be grasping at some pretty crappy ideas in their attempts to stay fresh and daring (Julia having an affair with her dwarf nanny to name one- and I’m struggling to remember if dwarf is the politically correct term for little person, but anyway). Another show people seem to think has lost its edge is Desperate Housewives. I haven’t seen the latest season and I don’t know much about it, but I’ve heard the ratings have gone down a lot. Lost is also regularly criticised for its complex storylines and never-ending mysteries, though anyone familiar with JJ Abrams other work (i.e. Alias and the Rambaldi storyline that wouldn’t die) should know he isn’t that big on giving his audience the answers they want.
On the other hand, there are shows like Prison Break that seem to only get better with time. There are also some programs that just seem to go on forever like The Simpsons and Law and Order, despite their declining quality.
So which shows do you think should bow out gracefully before they get any worse? And what do you think makes certain television shows more likely to last than others?
*image from tv.com
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Comment by Anonymous
I think tv is going towards the less-structured-predictable-trend these days. That's why some small part of me wonder how long are shows like CSI and House going to last.
what do you think makes certain television shows more likely to last than others?
I don't know. I think sometimes it is the hard-core fans.
For example, Buffy should have put up her stakes
ages ago but they continued- bringing Spike into the mix.
Comment by Emily
I totally agree. I'm completely over reality TV. Actually I think I was over it when it started, ack.
It's kind of annoying that they're all following that trend now. Because they're not unique in their attempting-to-be-uniqueness. Or it kind of feels that way to me.
Oh, good point. The fans play a definite role.
Comment by Anonymous
To answer your question, I think "Gilmore Girls" should finally give up the ghost.
Comment by Emily
Oh good one. I agree. I haven't seen the last few seasons in whole, but what I did see really turned me off the show
Comment by Illie-T-Redd
The Devil & I
Majikal Mysterium
Personally, I've been a big fan of ER but I think it's time for the show to come to a close(not necessarily "axed"). I've watched clips and snippets of their old episodes and they were exceptionally brilliant. In comparison, the storylines these days are hardly intriguing, there's no more of the heart pumping (no pun intended) action and basically there's nothing to keep the audience hooked from one week to another.
You know it's time to bow out when you have to keep bringing in new actors/characters to replace departing ones (i.e NYPD Blue, another favourite show of mine that I was glad to see come to a close).
Comment by Emily
Ah, ER is a good one. That must have been going for 9 or 10 seasons now, hasn't it? I've never watched it, but I definitely agree on your thoughts that continually bringing in new characters gets a bit old. I think when you have to bring in other actors to replace the main star it might be time to bow out too.
Thanks for commenting!
Comment by Illie-T-Redd
The Devil & I
Majikal Mysterium
In this day in age, I don't think many new TV shows will last that long anymore. As soon as the ratings start declining, the execs will not hesitate to axe it.
Comment by Emily
True. Which I guess is why so many good shows are getting axed before they really hit their stride.
Comment by katiegsr
I've personally never been a big fan of Desperate Housewives or The Simpsons which are two shows I would gladly see cancelled.
My wondering right at the moment is why they cancel great shows and keep the stupid ones?
Comment by Emily
I really enjoyed Desperate Houswives the first year because it was new and different, but they ran out of ideas really quickly. And I LOVED the Simpsons before they started to get too crude and not funny. I think it's definitely past its prime now.
I know, it's so stupid. There are a lot of shows I don't understand why people keep watching them, and then there are some that have a lot of potential that they just can straight away. Like Firefly.
Comment by Brooke
Nice entry =D
Comment by Illie-T-Redd
The Devil & I
Majikal Mysterium
I think you answered the question yourself, katie. They keep churning out the rubbish because people keep watching them. As long as there are customers, the business will never die. And as long as the business is thriving, they'll keep coming up with more. Round and round they go.
The good shows are the ones that are original, unique, different... sometimes too unique for the regular masses. How many times have you seen a really clever TV ad and have someone go "Huh? I don't get it".
If a show is too clever for the audience and they can't follow it, they'll stop watching after 20 minutes. They'd much rather go back to the CSI's or the Big Brother's where everything is plain and simple and painted for them in crayon and they can follow it with half their brain shut down.
And unfortunately, if a show doesn't bring in the ratings/advertising revenue, it will be cancelled... no matter how good it is to you or me.
Comment by Emily
Thanks!
Comment by lookatmoiye
That I really don't mind, but as you said, Em: if I have to endure another celebrity moaning about how hard their life is, I'll... I'll... get really angry. As in really.
And shows I'd axe? My Name Is Earl (one of the most seriously STUPID programs ever) and (wait for it) The Wedge. EVEN WORSE than MNIE, and containing some of THE WORST humour even known to man, let alone Australia. Why does it still go on?
Comment by Emily
Ha.
Oh really? I quite enjoy My Name is Earl, actually. But HA, I completely agree on the Wedge. Trying to copy Kath and Kim and failing MISERABLY. I'm seriously surprised they haven't given that one the axe yet.
Comment by Elisa
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Aaron
I woudl axe reality TV all together! Especially American Idol. Reality TV (for the most part, I would say Extreme Home Makeover is the exception) has little or no redeeming value to it.
I would also axe Grey's Anatomy, but that's just because I hate the show
Aaron.
Comment by Lizard68591
The Blog Formerly Known As Saturday Morning Movie Club
I wouldn't give it the axe just yet [hey I'm a sucker for Seth Cohen] but I will say that this viewer thinks they are on thin ice.
Comment by Emily
(thanks for commenting, btw
Comment by Emily
Comment by Emily
Ha, I think we all agree on the Reality TV front then. Horrible stuff.
Lol. Considering how well it seems to be doing over there, I don't see that happening for a while, heh.
Comment by Emily
Comment by wintergreen126
lost has become SO convoluted that causal fans or newcomers really can't watch or have a hard time trying to understand everything. it's truly for the hard-core fans, insofar that it has kind of alienated the uninitiated.
it sounds like a great show, but as someone who's never seen more than 5 min, i don't think i'll ever watch again. there's too much i've missed, and i don't have the time or patience required to familiarize myself with everything.
Comment by Illie-T-Redd
The Devil & I
Majikal Mysterium
But ultimately, just like Alias, the ratings will start going down as it starts losing the casual viewers (if it hasn't already).
Comment by Nina
Rove needs to be axed. As much as I would like the variety/interview show format to flourish, he is doing it no favours. He's well on his way to becoming like his idol Bert Newton - unfunny and washed up.
I wrote a rant yesterday about Network Ten's promotion of the OC this year. I don't know what the show will actually be like, but the stupid ads have put me off watching. Seriously.