Original Desmond

It seems a huge part of if a show gets cancelled or not is dependent on when it airs. If there is a timeslot which is so dominated by shows on other networks, is it worth the other networks even trying ?

Pistol Pete

Show the Puppy Bowl!

Jadzia

I wish they would air repeats of their shows that are in competitive timeslots. I love how the CW is doing that with 90210, Gossip Girl and Smallville. Wish more of the major networks would do that, even if it is just on Friday and Saturday nights.

leacha

Worst case they can stick infomercials in.

milo bloom

There's always counter-programming. Like showing a police-procedural with a quirky, lighthearted lead against a police procedural with a pessmistic gruff lead.

One thing that pisses me off that *wasn't* done was showing repeats of Battlestar Galactica on NBC in timeslots like this. If it was already a dead slot, why not show something different, and maybe, just maybe, pick up a fraction of a Nielson point that may have given this series the 6-7 full seasons it rightfully deserved?

spainlinx0

Porn.

Eric D.

Agreed. That's what I would suggest.

SexualPudding

Amen. It makes it so much easier to un-clusterfuck my DVR conflicts.

JTH182

Primetime Porn would even crush American Idol. I guarantee it.

Jimmy James

I think you can forget about airing repeats now that virtually everything is available online. I can live with that.

I think the strongest play is repurposing of some sort. A network hard up for a fix could pick up something from cable (like BG, Burn Notice, The Riches) or from England and run it. If it catches on, find a way to either buy the show and run it on network or make a show like it.

I'd also like to see some very low budget scripted programming come into play. There has to be a way to pull it off.

celmendo

Or how about taking a chance on a edgy, original idea that wouldn't normally be approved because it's too risky or risque? Something small with a shoestring budget that just has great writing. You know there are hungry writers just itching to do something really out there to make a name for themselves.

Palaver

Higher resolution viral videos of the week.

Red Dog

Let's be realistic. Since we are talking about a business that presumably wishes to turn a profit, find a program that's costs them next to nothing to put on the air. It's probably why NBC goes with various L&O reruns so much - it doesn't cost them anything more than they already pay.

cdollaz

Have a seat...in the Chair.

Michael Corvin

Just schedule Scrubs for such a timeslot.

WallyOPD

Maybe for the first two minutes of the hour.

GoldenJCJ

Which is where the oversaturation of "Reality" shows came from. Film a group of assholes who want to be famous, edit the show "creatively", and throw it on TV. Voila! profit TV show.



Here's a silly idea, rather than rolling over, how about coming up with a quality show that can actually compete, and maybe even win, a particular timeslot? It's just crazy enough to work!

madcougar

Three words: hard core pornography.

Drexl

Yeah, but the breaks would lessen it. They'd cut to commercial right before the pop shot.

Then again, would any advertisers be on board?

Gizmo

Sunday - TheCW - Coming in a few weeks.

Yes, I am serious.

Larry C.

Well watch ABC they do that with every time slot except for Lost. ABC is awful.

fujishig

I always wondered about this. It's definitely useful for getting around DVR conflicts, but I wonder how it affects ratings for the first night that it's on. Wouldn't that just split the ratings?

milo bloom

That's why I mentioned something like Battlestar Galactica, something that they already have via the parent company, and has already been produced. With the added benefit of increasing the viewership and making it more attractive to advertisers, thus earning it a longer life.

Sounds good in theory, but we know from past experience TV just doesn't work that way. Like one of my favorite sayings, "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again... then give up, there's no sense making a damn fool of yourself." Need I bring up Firefly?

To be fair though, with the TV viewing public increasingly turning to online for their viewing, this may all become a moot point. We dumped our cable box this spring because it felt like we were just paying so much for so little. I've always said I'd get it back if they offered a la carte pricing, but now I'm thinking I'd rather just have TV be "on demand" for most shows. Have the news, sports and weather channels be active, but for everything else? Sell it by download, free with ads, fair price without, all without ever leaving your couch.

Red Dog

The issue with that is its serial format.

milo bloom

If the timeslot is consistently won by the other guy, then it's a perfect fit.

Either way, if I were doing it, I'd be sure it add a quick bumper saying it's also on Sci-Fi channel or whatever.