Welcome to another week of TV or Not TV and this week I’m all about the Bubble.
I don’t know if you have come across this term yet in the real world but there are such things in network television that have been termed “Bubble” shows. A Bubble show is a show that has ratings that aren’t stellar but don’t flat out justify cancellation. Until we finally learn what the networks ultimately decide on the fate of the show it is on the surface of the Bubble waiting to see if it continues to float safely or see if the Bubble bursts and it’s all over.
I have to admit that before the advent of the Internet I was always just resigned to the fate of a show since there was little I could do about it (OK, there was one campaign outside of NBC in Burbank to try to stop the cancellation of QUANTAM LEAP, but we don’t discuss that in my household and simply right it off and the frivolity of my youth). The Internet, however, makes information so readily available that people are not only informed rapidly about how their shows are performing they are able to mobilize and put together campaigns that, in the micro-verse of the Internet, sometimes makes network executives take notice. One Bubble show from last season, DOLLHOUSE, could have been easily considered headed to the scrap heap by the ratings but fandom made executives consider giving it a new lease on life through fan community action and re-action to possible cancellation.
Another show that, after its second season, seems tortured by life on the Bubble is one of my personal favorites: CHUCK. Last season the show had some of its best story telling, strongest episodes, and amazing guest stars but didn’t have strong numbers. Fans took to the Internet and came out in droves to show support for the show by doing something an audience hadn’t really done before in supporting an advertiser of the show. The week when fear of cancellation hit the masses a Subway Meatball sandwich was featured prominently in a way that could only be taken as product placement. Fans went out in force and bought five dollar foot longs like they were going out of fashion, dropping suggestion cards stating they were there because of the spot on CHUCK and continued to do so every Monday for the rest of the season. Their actions got CHUCK a third season 13 episode commitment that expanded into a 19 episode order before the season wrapped.
Once again, however, CHUCK is on the bubble and you can tell as such from the simple Tweet from show co-creator JOSS SCHWARTZ:
This isn’t the kind of Tweet you want to read when the show you like is going up against the season premiere of DANCING WITH THE STARS. Yes the shows don’t really share the same demographic but since STARS has one of the more interesting casts in a long time I can’t even guess what might happen. Tonight’s episode of CHUCK is really important after its rating drop last week. It will prove that the fluke was a drop due to Daylight Saving Time, which if you look at the prior Monday was an overall drop of slightly more than 10% of people watching television in the prized 18 to 49 demographic could be a real possibility. Tonight it needs an audience for sure.
I also think we can’t really know what NBC has got going on after their 10 PM Leno debacle. You’d think the fourth ranked network might want to try to at least hold on to a show that actually does have some kind of audience. I’m sure this is the only reason that HEROES might get another season (yup, HEROES is easily on the Bubble as well after yet another horribly written and ratings performing year). Good luck CHUCK, I’m pulling for you.
So here, in my opinion, are the shows that are on the Bubble for the networks. I’m not going into completely doomed shows like THE DEEP END or TRAUMA. If the show is listed here I think right now, in the face of other shows getting early renewals (MODERN FAMILY, COUGAR TOWN, COMMUNITY, BONES and oh so many more) these shows could be back next year or could have their floor pop out from underneath them and plunge them into the obscurity of cancellation.
FOX – HUMAN TARGET, LIE TO ME and due to recent speculation the longest day of the year 24. I have nothing vested in any of these shows so good luck and fair thee well.
CBS – NUMB3RS, NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE, ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE, GARY UNMARRIED and MEDIUM. I’d really like to see MEDIUM get to stick around since it is another of my favorites however I’m not holding out hope even though it too has had a great season of shows on its new network.
ABC – FLASHFORWARD and V. V still has yet to return and FLASHFORWARD didn’t fare very well ratings-wise in its return mid-season premiere. Some people think that CASTLE might be on the bubble but, when you look at what it does for a 10 PM show I think that it does pretty well for ABC. Its ratings are strong and consistent.
NBC – Currently CHUCK, PARENTHOOD and HEROES. The former and the latter at least have some audience; PARENTHOOD is so young it is really hard to tell. Give me the first two and I’ll be happy.
So there’s my take on the shows that might or might not survive. Now let’s look at what we know we can at least watch for the next seven days, shall we?
MONDAY
ABC – 8:00 PM: OK, I’ve NEVER had an interest in DANCING WITH THE STARS but this season I’d almost consider watching it if I weren’t such a die hard fan of….
NBC – 8:00 PM: CHUCK has his “final exam” to be a spy tonight and one of the things he has to do to pass is to slay the ratings. Can a few of you Nielsen homes help out with this?
CBS – 8:00 PM: So TED’s date some how ruins LILY‘s birthday party on HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER. Did he bring BLAH BLAH back out of crazy town for the date?
ABC – 10:00 PM: The first half of the first two-parter CASTLE in the show’s history happens tonight when a serial killer is performing murderous dedications to BECKETT and special guest DANA DELANY heads up the investigation. This one had me at two-parter.
SHO – 10:00 PM: The pain pill addicted mess that is NURSE JACKIE returns to SHOWTIME tonight, followed by the UNITED STATES OF TARA.
TUESDAY
NBC – 8:00 PM: BIGGEST LOSER COUPLES goes straight for the heart strings by sending all the contestants back home for a week. Get your tissue ready and wait until you see the stationary bike competition.
FOX – 8:00 PM: The only reason why I’m even mentioning AMERICAN IDOL is not to make a snarky comment about the mediocre contestants this season has to offer. I mention it because as long as the show is two hours it’s screwing up my ability to DVR LOST tonight so I’m going to have to watch on the web to find out….
ABC – 9:00 PM: The back-story of ageless and natural eye-linered RICHARD ALPERT is revealed on tonight’s episode of LOST. Don’t taunt me with mail, Tweets or anything else. I’ll be watching it on Wednesday. Hmph.
CNBC – 10:00 PM: The creepy documentary HOW MUCH IS YOUR BODY WORTH? takes a look at the profitability of body parts on the black market.
ABC – 10:00 PM: Remember how last week ABC used the post-LOST spot to beg its viewers to watch FLASHFORWARD? They’re doing it again this week with V: THE ARRIVAL in the hopes of getting them to tune in for the return next week.
WEDNESDAY
CBS – 8:00 PM: Were you mad that SURVIVOR: HEROES VS. VILLIANS was bumped because of the NCAA FINALS? Well this week you get your island fix a day sooner and with a double elimination! This could prove interesting since we’re going to see a showdown between RUSSELL and BOSTON ROB.
ABC – 9:00 PM: GLORIA and CAM bond during a night out on MODERN FAMILY? Oh this I’ve got to see.
THE CW – 9:00 PM: At first when I read that there was a new show called FLY GIRLS I thought maybe they were doing a dance off casting competition for IN LIVING COLOR 2010. To my surprise instead it’s a staged reality show with Virgin America flight attendants who live together in Los Angeles when they aren’t fending off invitations from mile-high wannabes. Not to my surprise the show just stalls mid-air.
FOX – 9:00 PM: Last week I didn’t even waste my time watching the AMERICAN IDOL results show. Amazingly enough I still found out who got the boot. Go fig.
ABC – 9:30 PM: CHERYL CROW starts her small guest-starring sting as a wine rep that’s after GRAYSON on COUGAR TOWN. I hope this fairs better for her than ALANIS MORISSETTE‘S guest stint on WEEDS.
THURSDAY
FOX – 8:00 PM: A December episode of BONES followed by a February episode of FRINGE just goes to show that FOX has no interest in going head-to-head with the NCAA.
ABC – 8:00 PM: Struggling freshman FLASHFORWARD has nothing at all to lose in going head-to-head with the NCAA. I’ll admit last week’s premiere had a very painful first hour to watch but the second hour was all kinds of goodness that reminded me why I actually liked the show.
NBC – 9:30 PM: 30 ROCK has LIZ‘s ex FLOYD dropping back in from Cleveland with big news (which could simply be that he’s escaped Cleveland).
FRIDAY
NBC – 8:00 PM: MATHEW BRODERICK enlists historians to try to unlock a 150 year old mystery on WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? while an entire generation tries to unlock the mystery of who MATHEW BRODERICK is. I feel old.
ABC – 8:00 PM: If you missed the “sneak peak” of JAMIE OLIVER’S FOOD REVOLUTION last Sunday you can watch it before the next episode airs right after at 9. I love his message but I need to sit down more to see how he’s getting it out there.
THE CW – 9:00 PM: Instead of SMALLVILLE we get repeats from Wednesday of FLY GIRLS and HIGH SOCIETY. ZOD is able to fly; we need the show back STAT!
SCYFY – 9:00 PM: I can’t believe the first season of CAPRICA is already coming to a close. This is almost as unfair as no SMALLVILLE until April.
SATURDAY
DISC – 11:00 AM: I love marathons and today you can curl up with oh so many hours of DEADLIEST CATCH.
ABC – 8:00 PM: If you didn’t see the first airing of V than you can catch the first two episodes back-to-back tonight. Only four aired way back in 2009 so you can get caught up real easy like.
NICK – 8:00 PM: Children get their annual slime fest with the KID’S CHOICE AWARDS 2010, hosted by KEVIN JAMES. When did PAUL BLART get so popular with the kids? I’m out of touch.
A&E – 8:00 PM: If you missed the 2008 re-imagining of THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN you can catch both parts tonight. A bit of advice though, the STRAIN comes from being strong enough to sit through it. I’m just sayin’.
SPIKE – 10:00 PM: I’ve never seen the ROB ZOMBIE directed remake of HALLOWEEN. If I watch it for free can’t complain about the price of admission, right?
SUNDAY
SYFY – 10:00 AM: Remember when NBC tried to air import MERLIN during the summer? Well you can watch 13 hours of it today if you didn’t last year.
DISC – 1:00 PM: I just wish I could get away with sitting and watching five hours of MYTHBUSTERS and three hours of LIFE. I might as well since I always blow off this column’s deadline anyway.
A&E – 5:00 PM: If you missed the premiere last week of KIRSTIE ALLEY’S BIG LIFE you can watch both episodes now, sit down for a marathon of GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS and then catch the new episodes at 10…. or you could watch your lawn grow until the sun sets and go to bed. Either way you’ll probably accomplish about the same.
ABC – 8:00 PM: The entire Alphabet network is in repeats tonight. Is there something big on and I missed it?
NGC – 9:00 PM: The new series BREAKOUT looks at some of the more high-profile jail breaks in recent history, both from the perspective of escapees and the law men that track them down. I hope I never have to view this as a “how to” and “what not to do” reference later in life.
– Will Wilkins is experiencing technical difficulties. Please stand by.
