Gilgamesh1082

Bah! That is nonsense. The reason the viewership went down is that they had god awful writing for all of season 2 and half of season 3. Viewership actually rose from season 3 to season 4 after declining miserably the previous 2 seasons. People came back to it once the writing got fixed. Before that, it was a jumbled mess every week. This kind of proves that people will watch good serialized television of any kind as long as the writing is good AND the show receives a marketing push. Without both of those working in concert, a show will never get off the ground. So yeah, we can always blame Fox, because Fox refuses to actually advertise for their new TV shows. Case in point currently is Dollhouse. It starts up next week and we're just now starting to see ads for it. Although from the ads, unless you already know what it is, you're not going to tune in because their marketing hasn't told you what the show is about. I wouldn't so far if I didn't know what it was about.

WallyOPD

It's not my job to keep a show on the air. I watch TV for entertainment, and I don't enjoy my favorite shows being yanked off the air in 13 episodes or less. Why would I subject myself to that? I'll watch shows on networks that don't show the same propensity for hair-trigger cancellations, and tune into the other networks when I know a show is a bona fide hit and will stay on the air awhile.

arminius

I agree with the poster above about House. Fox should just show House 24x7 and be done with new shows. Then maybe they will be shopped around to a network that will give them a chance.

riley_dude

They have given Sarah Connor a long time to build. It's not doing any good but...

Groucho

Halfway through the first episode, it'll be replaced with one of those "1 Dude, 12 Skanks" dating shows.

Count Dooku

Yes, and that's because The Terminator franchise is a FOX property.
They can accept Sarah Conner's lower ratings because the show is promotion for FOX-owned Terminator films and merchandising.

DJariya

Wrong, Terminator is not a FOX property. It's owned by Warner Brothers. They decided to keep it on the air even with the shitty ratings because it's popular with the advertisers.

Count Dooku

It doesn't excuse my mistake, but I was thinking of Predator.

I apologize, and I won't delete the bad post so my shame can be seen by all.

Ayre

Subject yourself to what? 13 episodes of a good show. Even though Journeyman was canceled, I am thankful I had the opportunity to watch the show. There are a good dozen canceled shows that never made a full season that I am glad I watched. Why would anyone deny themselves good drama programming in the era of such crappy instant gratification reality TV?

davidh777

Maybe you were thinking that Fox via MGM owns the rights to the first Terminator movie

Draven

Actually, it IS your job to keep a show on the air. TV is business, not art, so if you (and other people) don't watch...they don't make money...and then they can't afford to keep the show on the air.

It's very simple. I'm surprised that so many people expect the networks to keep up their end of the bargain but are unwilling to do their part.

islandclaws

I dig the promos... too bad I'm not interested in either one of the shows.

Ayre

Only if you are in a Nielsen home

Baron Of Hell

You really disappointing me.

Navinabob

Maybe not exactly true. Some DVRs are being tracked now too. Then there is the whole bit about you watching the show and seeing a product being advertised, then going out and buying that product. Would that count?

DJariya

Like I was saying. When people watch new shows like Dollhouse and go to message boards like this and talk about it, word of mouth spreads. Then probably someone in a Nielsen household will start watching.

I know some TV viewers don't give a shit about the business end. But, still if your a Whedon supporter and want his show to succeed, watch it, talk about it and support it. FOX already paid Whedon to produce the show, it's up to the viewer now to keep it on the air.

Count Dooku

I had it in my mind how FOX came up with Alien vs Predator because they owned the properties, and wanted to milk cash from the franchises.
And then I mixed up Predator and Terminator due to the Arnold factor.