 |
 |
[10/01/09 - 12:37 AM]
The 10 Things You Need to Know About the New Season: #4 - Genre Doesn't Matter Either
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC) |
|
|
Please note: As a courtesy, please do not reproduce these comments to newsgroups, forums or other online places. Links only please.
Welcome once again to "The 10 Things You Need to Know About the New Season," our annual feature about, well... the 10 things you need to know about the new season. The goal of this venture is to address not only common questions people have about television but to also demystify (or potentially reaffirm) stigmas out there about certain networks, time periods, genres and so forth. So with that in mind let us put on our journalistic caps and give you the cold hard truth about what's potentially ahead for some of your favorite new and returning shows...
4. No major genre fares better than another.
Are audiences giving up on traditional multi-camera sitcoms in favor of single-camera ones? Do dramas fare better than their comedic brethren? Or do reality shows perform the best? The answer to all the above: no. The truth is scripted and unscripted shows more or less succeed and fail at the same rate. Sure there are some problematic genres (animation, improv and newsmagazine) but the most prolific categories (multi-camera comedies, single-camera comedies, dramas, reality competition shows and docusoaps) all stay fairly close to the average 31% survival rate of new shows. Take a look at each genre's success rate in the past 10 years:
| genre | abc | cbs | fox | nbc | upn | wb | cw | total |
comedy
(animated) | 0/1 (0%) | 0/1 (0%) | 1/2 (50%) | 0/3 (0%) | 0/2 (0%) | 1/3 (33%) | | 2/12 (17%) |
comedy
(improv/sketch) | 2/4 (50%) | | 0/6 (0%) | 1/6 (17%) | | 2/5 (40%) | | 5/21 (24%) |
comedy
(multi-camera) | 9/29 (31%) | 10/25 (40%) | 6/18 (33%) | 4/26 (15%) | 7/15 (47%) | 5/14 (36%) | 1/1 (100%) | 42/128 (33%) |
comedy
(single-camera) | 5/15 (33%) | 0/4 (0%) | 6/16 (38%) | 6/13 (46%) | 1/3 (33%) | 0/7 (0%) | 0/1 (0%) | 18/59 (31%) |
| drama | 17/58 (29%) | 24/52 (46%) | 12/46 (26%) | 16/52 (31%) | 3/16 (19%) | 10/24 (42%) | 3/9 (33%) | 85/257 (33%) |
| game show | 2/11 (18%) | 2/5 (40%) | 3/8 (38%) | 4/9 (44%) | | | | 11/33 (33%) |
| newsmagazine | 2/14 (14%) | | 1/2 (50%) | | | | 0/1 (0%) | 3/17 (18%) |
reality
(competition) | 8/22 (36%) | 5/13 (38%) | 6/27 (22%) | 11/37 (30%) | 1/7 (14%) | 3/10 (30%) | 1/5 (20%) | 35/121 (29%) |
reality
(documentary) | 4/18 (22%) | 0/4 (0%) | 5/16 (31%) | 3/6 (50%) | 0/5 (0%) | 3/4 (75%) | 0/3 (0%) | 15/56 (27%) |
| sports | 1/1 (100%) | | | 1/2 (50%) | | | | 2/3 (67%) |
| total | 50/173 (29%) | 41/104 (39%) | 40/141 (28%) | 46/154 (30%) | 12/48 (25%) | 24/67 (36%) | 5/20 (25%) | 218/707 (31%) |
Among the more interesting trends: CBS has kept 40% of its new multi-camera shows around for a second season but none of its single-camera shows; NBC conversely is batting 46% for its single-camera comedies while just 15% for multi-camera ones. By the same token CBS has had success with 38% of its reality competition shows but none at all with its docusoaps whereas FOX and NBC have seen more failures in the former genre. All in all, you definitely can get the sense of each network's brand from the above data.
TOMORROW: Are cable channels really more patient than the broadcast networks?
|
|
|
 [october 2009]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[10/29/26 - 12:21 PM]
ABC Thursday Returns Strong with "9-1-1" and "9-1-1: Nashville" Rising Over Previous Season Averages
The Season 10 debut of "9-1-1" (8 p.m.) earned 8.14 million Total Viewers after seven days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms, based on Nielsen's competitive multiplatform measurement.
|
[10/29/26 - 11:01 AM]
Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Orange County" Supersized Two-Part Reunion Begins Thursday, Nov. 5 at 8 P.M. ET/PT
Host Andy Cohen is joined by Vicki Gunvalson, Shannon Storms Beador, Heather Dubrow, Tamra Judge, Gina Kirschenheiter, Emily Simpson, Jennifer Pedranti and Carmella Garcia for the landmark 20th season as they look back on the biggest highs, lowest lows and most unforgettable moments
|
[10/29/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: AMC Global Media Debuts Trailer for New Series, "Cue the Laughs," Premiering Saturday, November 7 on IFC, AMC+ and All Reality
Hosted by comedian and actor Adam Ray, the comical clip show for grown-ups proves that the most outrageous moments in life are the ones nobody scripted, and nobody saw coming.
|
[10/29/26 - 10:05 AM]
MGM+ Reveals First Look at "Bosch: Start of Watch" Starring Cameron Monaghan and Omari Hardwick
The prequel debuts Sunday, January 10, 2027 with a two-episode premiere, followed by a weekly release through the finale on Sunday, February 21, 2027 on MGM+.
|
[10/29/26 - 10:02 AM]
BritBox Reveals Second Look at "The Other Bennet Sister" Special
Produced by Bad Wolf for BritBox North America and the BBC, production recently wrapped in Wales.
|
[10/29/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: Starz Drops Pulse-Pounding Full Trailer and Key Art for Critically Acclaimed Drama "P-Valley," Premiering Friday, December 4
The third and final season will debut with a double-episode premiere on Friday, December 4, with new episodes available to stream weekly on Fridays.
|
[10/29/26 - 10:01 AM]
Investigation Discovery Explores the Allegations Against the Tate Brothers in an Explosive New Four-Part Documentary Event "Andrew Tate: Toxic Empire"
With a two-hour premiere, the four-part docuseries will roll out over three weeks beginning Wednesday, November 25 on ID at 9pm ET/PT.
|
[10/29/26 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "When a Witness Recants" Debuts November 17
The film premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim.
|
[10/29/26 - 09:31 AM]
Manny Halley's "True to the Game: Quadir's Redemption," The Fourth Installment in the Fan-Favorite Franchise, Premieres Tuesday, December 15 Exclusively on Paramount+
The trilogy follows Gena and Quadir as they try to build a life together while his ties to the drug world pull them through betrayal, loss and revenge.
|
[10/29/26 - 09:30 AM]
Alfred Molina and Selton Mello Join Viola Davis in New Thriller "Ascent" for Paramount+
"Ascent" is a character-driven thriller set in the dangerous world of global corporate crisis and damage control.
|
[10/29/26 - 09:00 AM]
Star-Studded Specials Take Center Stage This November and December on CBS!
Cozy up on the couch this holiday season with an array of CBS specials.
|
[10/29/26 - 08:03 AM]
ESPN Films' "Portrait of an Artist: Stephen Curry" to Stream on the ESPN App and Disney+ November 10 and to Air on ABC Sunday, November 22
Directed by Gotham Chopra, co-founder of Religion of Sports, the film offers an intimate look at four-time NBA champion and two-time MVP Stephen Curry through the lens of his historic 4,000th career three-pointer.
|
[10/29/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: Leo Reich Survives London One F*ck Up at a Time in Paramount+ Official Trailer for "It Gets Worse"
The six-episode comedy series from A24, created and executive produced by star Leo Reich, will premiere Friday, November 6 on Paramount+.
|
[10/29/26 - 08:00 AM]
BET Announces Elmiene Will Receive the New Soul Honor and Perform at the "Soul Train Awards" Airing Friday, Nov. 27 at 8:00 PM, ET/PT on BET and CBS
The New Soul Honor celebrates a rising artist whose distinctive voice and artistry are helping shape the future of R&B.
|
[10/29/26 - 07:31 AM]
Philomena Cunk Returns to Netflix to Take on the Movies - "Cunk on Cinema" Premieres November 15 on Netflix
Diane Morgan returns as Philomena Cunk in a new series from Charlie Brooker.
|
|
|
|
