Shows often get old and don’t age gracefully. Look at Smallville. One complaint I read a lot these days is The CW is trying to destroy Smallville by sending it to Fridays. Please. Smallville has had an incredible run by going into its ninth season and only a rare number of shows in the history of television make it this far. It’s in what many consider to be its third final season and after catching up with the rest of the show on DVD I honestly admit that what airs today is a shell of what once was. The CW found there was enough interest to keep it going, but the network has to start thinking about building its future. No matter what people think of their programming choices, The CW can’t live in the past forever. Fridays may be considered to be the night of show death, but for aging and declining shows that still have an audience clinging on, Friday is a night of reprieve. It beats cancellation. Ditto for Law and Order and Ugly Betty, two other veteran shows that will be making their Friday debuts this year.
However, fans love to belabor the point that their favorite show is being mistreated and just don’t know how to let go. Oh, but it isn’t just letting go of the old shows that has TV viewers in a twist. It’s embracing the new ones. Fans are so quick to put down new shows without even seeing the finished product. "It’s stupid," or "What moron thinks this will work?" Okay, these perceptions are based on a concept? A series plot pitch? The wrong actors? No, it took me a while to figure out it was something else.
I Don't Need Another Show
Recently I’ve been trying to get my sister-in-law to check out Supernatural after she told me she was starting to watch Smallville from season one. Her reaction stunned me, but it’s so true. "I don’t need another show right now." Was Supernatural’s genre of interest to her? Sure, she’s a big Buffy fan. Was the positive buzz about the show’s gripping story lines and great acting appealing? Yes, but bottom line, there’s no time.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
"The King of Queens" a classic?!
2 - Alice Jester
Actually El Bicho, I was going to say the same of "Mork and Mindy." Everyone has a different definition of "classic." I just listed it because I was having trouble coming up with recent spinoffs off the top of my head. :)