Absolutely right! ABC cancelled two shows that I would put in my all-time Top 5 when they were at the height of their creativeness...China Beach and Once and Again. After the Once and Again cancellation, I basically didn't turn on ABC for about two years.

You could add Sports Night to that list (well maybe not your favorite, but at it's height) which was totally an HBO quality show(if not better).

I do think it's fair to give fox some credit for airing shows that are a little quirky and not the norm. No channel outside of them airs animation in primetime and few would even touch anything that is even close to being considered a scifi/fantasy show (maybe Lost will start to change that).

A lot of people like to think that quality will triumph no matter what (myself included) but we're all delusional. They are a company out to make money. Bottom line. That being said when they pull plugs on shows way to quick they're shooting themselves in the foot. Wonderfalls could have went on to become a hit. Maybe Firefly would have as well? But eratic scheduling doesn't help build an audience. Like a lot of people cite Firefly being ran out of order hurting the show and I agree a 100 percent. I watched the first 2 eps on tv and it just felt wrong. Watching the show in order on DVD however made me appreciate it so much more. Pilot's are pilots for a reason, they introduce people to knew worlds and characters.

There will be no pleasing people about when a show gets it's slot. There is always something on another channel that is going to be doing better ratings wise than a new show. I just wish they would give shows more of a chance. Stick to their guns and let a show have more than a minute to gain some viewers.

In the end I just hate the fact that more people aren't willing to try shows like Firefly, Wonderfalls, Sports Night, or even Angel (even though this had a nice run). Just seems that nielson families want safe programs. I won't even touch on how out of whack I think the entire nielson system is when it comes to actual numbers.

Freeks and Geeks was on NBC, and we all know that deserved a better fate. All these networks need to hoperate like HBO. Give a full slate commitment and then make a
decision

"Anyone who can't make money off of Sports Night should get out of the money making business." - Calvin Tregor, Sports Night

The 'regular' networks don't have that kind of budget. I read an interview with David Chase a few years ago, and he told this story about how he told an HBO exec how he (Chase) thought the networks should devote 10% to new show R&D. The HBO exec told him the networks don't have 10%, that it would cost more than their profits. Running a TV network is like gambling with your grocery money - you're desperate to win, but too poor to risk losing.