Why I hate FOX...and love them too.
November 27th 2010 03:26
The FOX Television Network and I should be dating. They charm me and amaze me with unique series and I am helplessly attracted to them. Then they quit too soon and I am heartbroken and angry. Repeat cycle. Over and over. Like an emotionally abusive relationship that doesn't even apologize or bring me flowers to make up for their shortcomings. I should run and never look back. I wish I could quit you FOX TV, but I can't.
I just finished watching a little-known series called Kitchen Confidential with well-known actors (Bradley Cooper: Alias, The Hangover, Nicholas Brendon: Buffy, John Francis Daley: Freeks and Geeks, Bones, and many more) based on Chef Anthony Bourdain's novel of the same name.
The series was great, but FOX aired only 4 of the 13 episodes that were already shot because of ratings. I understand it's a business, but after a little research, I discovered that it was under promoted, and put on hiatus due to baseball just when it should have hit its stride. (It is just ok until episode 7 and great in episodes 9 and later). The financial logic to spend the money producing it and then not airing it escapes me.
And it's not the first time...
Why I hate FOX TV
1. FOX News: That's all I have to say about that. If you don't know why or don't agree, it's best we don't get into it. This is my rant, not yours.
2. Arrested Development: Entire websites and perhaps industries have been created to protest the cancellation of Arrested Development. And I wholeheartedly agree. An argument could be made that AD had its time in the sun (3 seasons) and if they couldn't pull an audience by then, tough cookie. I can also note that, in a typical FOX move, it's time slot was continuously changed and by Season 3 it was up against Monday Night Football and got the lowest ratings of its run (go figure).
3. Firefly: If there are a group of fans more dedicated and angry than Firefly fans, I would be scared to meet them. Firefly never stood a chance. It was a quirky space-western that needed to some love from the network to be embraced by a wider audience. Instead, FOX aired the episodes out of order, including the PILOT and pre-empted it several times for, you guessed it, sports. Due to high DVD sales and the aforementioned rabid fan base, a movie was made (Serenity) which is much more than most shows in the FOX graveyard ever get.
4. The Family Guy: They took it off of the schedule after two episodes, moved it around, cancelled it, bought it back, cancelled it again, brought it back again 3 years later. Typical FOX tinkering. Only save is that they finally realized its brilliance.
5. Lonestar: Two episodes. Two! Critics loved it. It was cancelled.
These are just a few examples. FOX has pulled this stunt over and over and over again. If I haven’t included some shows, it’s because I haven’t seen them (yet). I guess the new standard for series is to hit it out of the park in two episodes. Maybe FOX should just show pilots and if they pull the ratings, then they can produce more episodes. They can be the Pilot Channel (and sports, of course).
I would like to say that I know it can’t be easy to be FOX. The reason I love them sometimes invariably leads to the reason that I hate them. They put on fun, quirky shows that other networks won’t and sometimes that doesn’t work out.
And sometimes it does…
Why I love FOX TV
1. Glee: It has its ups and downs, but I love it. I can’t believe FOX took a chance on this show, but I’m sure glad they did (bet they are too – cha-ching).
2. Bones: They can show the grossest cadavers covered in worms and goo and I still love it. Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz are brilliant together.
3. House: A show with the most misanthropic, pill popping lead character…ever. It has a charm and wit to it that are certainly unique.
4. The Family Guy: Finally, FOX saved one from the ashes. There’s hope…
5. Hell’s Kitchen: Lord, help me, but I love that foul-mouthed little Gordon Ramsey. If an episode goes by and he doesn’t smash food with his hand and kick somebody out of the kitchen while calling them a wanker or a cow, I’m truly disappointed.
In the end, I know it’s all about the ratings. It’s all about the money. Of course, it’s a business, not charity or PBS. In this day and age, however, you would think they need to factor in other ratings avenues such as DVR numbers and online numbers. Not just the sampling of the U.S. who have those little Neilson boxes. Maybe they could also consider giving all of the shows they greenlight a real chance to make it before pulling the plug.
However you do it, FOX, please stop breaking my heart, I love you so. Maybe we should try therapy.
I just finished watching a little-known series called Kitchen Confidential with well-known actors (Bradley Cooper: Alias, The Hangover, Nicholas Brendon: Buffy, John Francis Daley: Freeks and Geeks, Bones, and many more) based on Chef Anthony Bourdain's novel of the same name.
The series was great, but FOX aired only 4 of the 13 episodes that were already shot because of ratings. I understand it's a business, but after a little research, I discovered that it was under promoted, and put on hiatus due to baseball just when it should have hit its stride. (It is just ok until episode 7 and great in episodes 9 and later). The financial logic to spend the money producing it and then not airing it escapes me.
And it's not the first time...
Why I hate FOX TV
1. FOX News: That's all I have to say about that. If you don't know why or don't agree, it's best we don't get into it. This is my rant, not yours.
2. Arrested Development: Entire websites and perhaps industries have been created to protest the cancellation of Arrested Development. And I wholeheartedly agree. An argument could be made that AD had its time in the sun (3 seasons) and if they couldn't pull an audience by then, tough cookie. I can also note that, in a typical FOX move, it's time slot was continuously changed and by Season 3 it was up against Monday Night Football and got the lowest ratings of its run (go figure).
3. Firefly: If there are a group of fans more dedicated and angry than Firefly fans, I would be scared to meet them. Firefly never stood a chance. It was a quirky space-western that needed to some love from the network to be embraced by a wider audience. Instead, FOX aired the episodes out of order, including the PILOT and pre-empted it several times for, you guessed it, sports. Due to high DVD sales and the aforementioned rabid fan base, a movie was made (Serenity) which is much more than most shows in the FOX graveyard ever get.
4. The Family Guy: They took it off of the schedule after two episodes, moved it around, cancelled it, bought it back, cancelled it again, brought it back again 3 years later. Typical FOX tinkering. Only save is that they finally realized its brilliance.
5. Lonestar: Two episodes. Two! Critics loved it. It was cancelled.
These are just a few examples. FOX has pulled this stunt over and over and over again. If I haven’t included some shows, it’s because I haven’t seen them (yet). I guess the new standard for series is to hit it out of the park in two episodes. Maybe FOX should just show pilots and if they pull the ratings, then they can produce more episodes. They can be the Pilot Channel (and sports, of course).
I would like to say that I know it can’t be easy to be FOX. The reason I love them sometimes invariably leads to the reason that I hate them. They put on fun, quirky shows that other networks won’t and sometimes that doesn’t work out.
And sometimes it does…
Why I love FOX TV
1. Glee: It has its ups and downs, but I love it. I can’t believe FOX took a chance on this show, but I’m sure glad they did (bet they are too – cha-ching).
2. Bones: They can show the grossest cadavers covered in worms and goo and I still love it. Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz are brilliant together.
3. House: A show with the most misanthropic, pill popping lead character…ever. It has a charm and wit to it that are certainly unique.
4. The Family Guy: Finally, FOX saved one from the ashes. There’s hope…
5. Hell’s Kitchen: Lord, help me, but I love that foul-mouthed little Gordon Ramsey. If an episode goes by and he doesn’t smash food with his hand and kick somebody out of the kitchen while calling them a wanker or a cow, I’m truly disappointed.
In the end, I know it’s all about the ratings. It’s all about the money. Of course, it’s a business, not charity or PBS. In this day and age, however, you would think they need to factor in other ratings avenues such as DVR numbers and online numbers. Not just the sampling of the U.S. who have those little Neilson boxes. Maybe they could also consider giving all of the shows they greenlight a real chance to make it before pulling the plug.
However you do it, FOX, please stop breaking my heart, I love you so. Maybe we should try therapy.
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