anchored by the successful Beauty and the Geek. Beauty and the Geek might have been a somewhat successful 8-episode midseason show, but I have the feeling airing it in the fall is going to kill it - most shows are already starting to suffer from overkill by having two cycles a season, and BatG is probably no exception. The show tended to premiere big, fall a lot in the middle, and do okay (in comparison to the premiere) in the finale. I don't what The CW is planning to do with it next season - presumably, they'll extend it from one cycle to two cycles (fall and winter/spring). That's only 16 episodes, so I'd bet they're going to extend each cycle from 8 episodes to 13 episodes. Those are some pretty big scheduling changes and could be disastrous for BatG, if the whole "too much of a good thing..." shtick holds.
Last season, BatG averaged 3.79 million viewers for new episodes, which was significantly below Smallville or Gilmore Girls' new episode average. BUT it did do very well in the demos, particularly the target demo (Adults 18-34). I think Reaper and BatG will be very compatible, given the humor elements and the primarily male audiences, but it's still dangerous to give a new genre show a lead-in with so few total viewers. I can completely see Reaper premiering big with a good 80-90% of BatG's audience, then falling off severely in the following weeks.
OR both shows could surprise us next season. But given The CW's complete failure to launch two dramas now (Runaway and now Hidden Palms - did you see how HP completely bombed, despite having promotion out the ass?), I wouldn't bet on it. The CW has to be freaking out - they have 3 dramas and 2 1/2 hour reality things to promote. I really don't see them being able to give Tuesday nights the push they need to not completely fail. (Also worth noting: BatG had a huge promotional boost before its premiere last season, mostly because it was a midseason show, and nothing else needed major promotion at the time - it won't have that luxury in the fall.)
So what do you guys think about Reaper and it's potential? No potential for me watching, that's for sure. Comedies aren't my thing, self-professed campy isn't my thing, the previews/clips I saw did nothing for me, and I don't like the lead actor (Bret Harrison - and found him annoying long before his "we know we're just a stupid horror" comment - proof being a post I made (http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/index.php?act=ST&f=714&t=3119077&hl=uber&view=findpost&p=7314845) at TWoP a while back). And I don't like Kevin Smith; though, you're right, he's only involved with the pilot, and the little he contributed to the series will be gone by episode 2.
Am I worrying for nothing? I honestly don't think that, even if this series succeeds, it means bad news for Supernatural. Genre/sci-fi shows were always a big hit for The WB, mostly because they have loyal audiences (Smallville is more mainstream, obviously, but you get the picture), so The WB usually kept around 3 at a time. And Smallville is on its way out - it only has 1-2 seasons left, tops. If Reaper lasts, I see no reason why Supernatural can't last as well. They aren't in competition with each other - whether they last or get cancelled really depends on how they hold up in their timeslots, how profitable the shows are, and so on.
So? I'm not worrying, and you shouldn't either. Don't worry all summer about it, there's really no way of knowing how Reaper will do until after it airs 2-3 episodes. If it's any consolation, buzz before upfronts had it that Reaper didn't go over so well with test audiences, and all signs pointed towards Kevin Smith's influence being the only thing the series had going for it - with Smith gone after the Pilot, audiences might leave, too.
Anyway, sorry for hijacking your LJ and ranting for far too long. I love your news posts (and your fic!); friended you for them if you don't mind ;)
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branchandroot
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Date: 2007-06-01 03:26 pm (UTC)Beauty and the Geek might have been a somewhat successful 8-episode midseason show, but I have the feeling airing it in the fall is going to kill it - most shows are already starting to suffer from overkill by having two cycles a season, and BatG is probably no exception. The show tended to premiere big, fall a lot in the middle, and do okay (in comparison to the premiere) in the finale. I don't what The CW is planning to do with it next season - presumably, they'll extend it from one cycle to two cycles (fall and winter/spring). That's only 16 episodes, so I'd bet they're going to extend each cycle from 8 episodes to 13 episodes. Those are some pretty big scheduling changes and could be disastrous for BatG, if the whole "too much of a good thing..." shtick holds.
Last season, BatG averaged 3.79 million viewers for new episodes, which was significantly below Smallville or Gilmore Girls' new episode average. BUT it did do very well in the demos, particularly the target demo (Adults 18-34). I think Reaper and BatG will be very compatible, given the humor elements and the primarily male audiences, but it's still dangerous to give a new genre show a lead-in with so few total viewers. I can completely see Reaper premiering big with a good 80-90% of BatG's audience, then falling off severely in the following weeks.
OR both shows could surprise us next season. But given The CW's complete failure to launch two dramas now (Runaway and now Hidden Palms - did you see how HP completely bombed, despite having promotion out the ass?), I wouldn't bet on it. The CW has to be freaking out - they have 3 dramas and 2 1/2 hour reality things to promote. I really don't see them being able to give Tuesday nights the push they need to not completely fail. (Also worth noting: BatG had a huge promotional boost before its premiere last season, mostly because it was a midseason show, and nothing else needed major promotion at the time - it won't have that luxury in the fall.)
So what do you guys think about Reaper and it's potential?
No potential for me watching, that's for sure. Comedies aren't my thing, self-professed campy isn't my thing, the previews/clips I saw did nothing for me, and I don't like the lead actor (Bret Harrison - and found him annoying long before his "we know we're just a stupid horror" comment - proof being a post I made (http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/index.php?act=ST&f=714&t=3119077&hl=uber&view=findpost&p=7314845) at TWoP a while back). And I don't like Kevin Smith; though, you're right, he's only involved with the pilot, and the little he contributed to the series will be gone by episode 2.
Am I worrying for nothing?
I honestly don't think that, even if this series succeeds, it means bad news for Supernatural. Genre/sci-fi shows were always a big hit for The WB, mostly because they have loyal audiences (Smallville is more mainstream, obviously, but you get the picture), so The WB usually kept around 3 at a time. And Smallville is on its way out - it only has 1-2 seasons left, tops. If Reaper lasts, I see no reason why Supernatural can't last as well. They aren't in competition with each other - whether they last or get cancelled really depends on how they hold up in their timeslots, how profitable the shows are, and so on.
So? I'm not worrying, and you shouldn't either. Don't worry all summer about it, there's really no way of knowing how Reaper will do until after it airs 2-3 episodes. If it's any consolation, buzz before upfronts had it that Reaper didn't go over so well with test audiences, and all signs pointed towards Kevin Smith's influence being the only thing the series had going for it - with Smith gone after the Pilot, audiences might leave, too.
Anyway, sorry for hijacking your LJ and ranting for far too long. I love your news posts (and your fic!); friended you for them if you don't mind ;)