To cancel, or not to cancel: that is the question
Over the past 20 years, countless television programs have been cancelled for the wrong reason — or for reasons which have nothing to do with ratings or the bottom line.
There was a time when the major networks would knock off a few programs a year because of low viewership numbers, or because the major stars which were on these shows, such as M*A*S*H*, decided the previous season would be the last one because they got tired of the daily grind of a 32-week shooting schedule.
In 2008's million channel universe, those rules don't apply anymore.
Programs which you love can be dropped off the cliff at a moment's notice, while others can be left on the shelf until such time then can be thrown onto television during the July-August "nobody's watching" ratings period to die a slow death.
Case in point this season was CBS's crime drama Shark.
It was regularly in the Nielsen's top-20 ratings from the start of the year, and its lead actor — James Woods — seemed to be drawing his normal, but limited, following of older viewers and big screen movie fans who remembered him from his Oscar-nominated years.
So, when the renewal list came out last week — which show do you think wasn't there?
Shark, of course!
CBS is a strange network when it comes to its semi-popular shows, and always has been.
Most times, the higher-ups at The Eye decide on a week-by-week basis which of these semi-hits they will support, and which ones they will kill off without cause.
Granted, Shark wasn't the best series out there, but it wasn't the worst.
They could have kept it on for another season, but I guess between 12 and 15 million viewers an episode doesn't sound as good as a replacement which could be cheaper to make and would have the possibility of hitting those numbers if a break-out star emerged.
Back in the day, CBS would often order runs of six or 13 episodes to make sure the show had a chance to catch on and the advertisers would have something to buy in on.
Not in 2008, though.
Most new shows, especially mid-season, are lucky to get a guarantee of at least six airings.
CBS kept a lot of shows on the bubble leading up to renewal/cancellation week, including How I Met Your Mother — which is, arguably, the best comedy on television.
A lot of people in my family who watch the show spent most of the late winter, and early spring, asking me — in polite conversation — if How I Met Your Mother would be coming back.
Like I would know what CBS was planning!
I guess no one knows, because — deep down — they don't know what to do with shows which don't keep the CSI viewers tuned in.
That's CBS's biggest problem, in my view.
They should know by now what works and what doesn't, because many people consider the network the best one out there in relation to quality programming and news.
The success of 60 Minutes since its golden era of the 1970s is shining example of sticking with a plan and making it work.
When 60 Minutes started, everyone thought it had no chance of working in middle America, because viewers rarely had a show of that quality thrown at them before.
All I know is the golden rule applies — you dance with the one who brought you to the dance.
In CBS's case though, they don't even want to go inside the dance hall until they decide they like the music everyone else likes.
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