Why does Fox constantly cancell good shows?

Question

A lot of shows on Fox that are good or have potential are canceled. I don't get it. I know some of the shows have low ratings but sometimes thats due to the show constantly being moved around between time slots. There are alot of shows that deserve to be axed like...vanish or standoff...and don't get me started on those stupid reality shows they use to have. I'm not a fan of the OC but they're canceling that too??!! There were alot of good shows that did not deserve to be axed...like arrested development...firefly...and others. Seriously what is wrong with FOX?

Answer 1

They do what the Nielsen Ratings dictate. That's what's really screwed up. The NR don't take tivo into the equasion, and most fans of these cancelled shows are working stiffs that mainly got tivo so they wouldn't miss these well-liked shows.



What's really creepy, in my opinion, is how many people watch the reality crap shows. It's enough that FOX is satisfied with the NR.

Answer 2

I agree that Fox does cancel alot of good shows i.e Titus, In Living Color, Futurama, etc. That is probably because the shows that you may like, many others don't. Sometimes, because of their extensive sports coverage could get shows cancelled. Like Fox's baseball coverage took Futurama off the air, as well as a result of Fox airing The Simpson Halloween specials in November. I actually found out what someone said regarding the shows that Fox cancelled. I don't know who said it but I believe this person said "If you could start a network with all the shows that Fox cancelled, it would be the greatest network ever." That may be true as Fox is known for having good shows, as well as cancelling good shows. So, that is how I feel about it. If there is a show that somebody likes, that doesn't mean everybody is going to.

Answer 3

I've been wondering the same thing. About a year ago they had a show called Reunion, I loved that show and watched it faithfully. They canceled it and now I will never know who the killer was. They could have at least finished the season. The go off of Nielsen Boxes but I have never in my entire life known someone who had one, and I've been around a lot of people, so they can't be the accurate.

Answer 4

I stopped watching network TV years ago--the shows seemed to be one idea copied by the other networks, written by the same writers writing the same tired jokes, acted by the same actors in program after program, network after network. Sports programming also hurt--the Suits seemed to think we all just HAVE to see that last inning or two minutes (that takes 30 to finish) instead of the program we tuned in to watch only to find a big chunk of it was not aired because of some game. The Suits seem to be out of touch with reality and only concerned with immediate monster hits--they aren't interested in developing a series that got only "good" ratings. Two of my favorite series didn't last: Police Squad! (with Leslie Neilsen) ran just six episodes. This, from the people who made Airplane!, among others, including three Police Squad! movies. Sledge Hammer was one of the funniest programs ever but barely lasted two seasons. Another one, Max Headroom, didn't last, either. Now, everybody seems to want those godawful "reality" shows--or the Suits THINK we do. One did well years ago so all the networks copied and keep copying, trying to find SOME "reality" we might be interested in. The last good sitcom was, in my opinion, Third Rock From The Sun. Yeah, it was the old stranger-in-a-strange-land premise but it was FUNNY. And John Lithgow was awesome! An example of what I think is wrong with networks: Spike TV. Supposedly a network for "guys". The Suits there think all American adult males want James Bond and Jackass and not much else. Jeez! MXC is hilarious but not something I want to watch for hours at a time. The rest of their knuckle-dragging crap is just that, crap. Anyway, the only Fox show I watch is MadTV and they frequently joke about how screwed-up Fox is. Bottom line: the networks are managed by Suits who only care about money (i.e. advertisers); the biggest advertisers want monster hits to spend their advertising money on, not some potential hit or a show only doing "good" ratings. The networks, not just Fox, don't seem to want to develop programs or give them time to find their audience; they cancel them abruptly and shovel in some other "me, too" program with actors and writers from other canceled programs in a never-ending cycle of diminishing quality. Yeah, once in a while they get a "Seinfeld" but how many potential Seinfelds were canceled after just a few shows because the networks weren't willing to give us time to get in to the stories and characters?

Answer 5

Eh, Fox doesn't know its got something good on their hands til after they kill it. Then when the dvd's are released and almost immediately make the studio millions, they then form a death grip on the rights for the shows. Charging an arm and a leg to anyone wanting to use the likeness of the stories, characters, or equipment.

Answer 6

PROFIT - Nothing like it back in the day thats why I think it failed. Adrian Pasdar (Who is now getting kudos for the amazing series Heroes) was brilliant as a diabolical psychopath who embedded himself in the corporate world just to take it down. Specifically the company whose name was on the refridgerator box that his dad put him in , naked, every night with only an eyehole aimed at the tv. (Even more psycho he slept in it as an adult while planning his evil) It took 10 years before it finally got to DVD!!



KINDRED: THE EMBRACED - It followed Profit back in the day. Another one before it's time. It was a mixture of Buffy, Angel, and Underworld. A mortal cop in search of all these goingons that finds his way to the nightwalker world where its clan against clan while dodging mortals. Unfortunately when they pulled Profit they replaced it with Party of Five (one of the few times a show has came back after cancellation) so they put Kindred on hiatus cuz they didn't match and in the process Mark Frankel died in a motorcycle accident. [Using my memory best I can this was awhile ago]



FIREFLY - Great ensemble. Hard time slot and I think matched up with a great but mismatched follow, John Doe. I think in a time Buffy and Angel were leaving networks were straying from SciFi-ish to reality shows dramadies. Stupid huh cuz even after a few years they come out and do a movie that did okay considering it was based on a tv show!



JOHN DOE - I thought it was something new and fresh at the time. Conspiracy theories had multiple storyline potential. I loved his innocence brought on from his memory loss (Reminded me of The Pretender). At least Dominic Purcell is doing well on Prison Break.



FREAKYLINKS - Another one before its time. Look, the WB is doing Supernatural. Maybe they think by putting on two eyecandies will do it, but come on how adorable is Ethan Embry and his crew. Just chalk it up to FOX Friday Fuckups.



FREAKS AND GEEKS - What can I say major mismarketing I think on Fox's behalf. They tried to stick it on FoxFam first then , too late, transfer to NBC after changing days and channels. Just like ABCs My So Called Life, it didn't have a fair chance.



TRU CALLING - Fun and fresh sorta Dead Zoneish. But once again it got a Fox lack of attention when it switches slots and then ends up putting it up against Survivor and the last year of Friends? Come on!



KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL - Loved it! Loooved it! I think it'd done well if they timed it a little better. If they could see how well the movie Waiting did in the theater, as well as DVD I think the show would fair better, although it did have a sucky slot too.

Answer 7

Money and sponsors are the name of the game. If the ratings aren't good, the talent doesn't matter. In general I think the public has poor taste. Example: Jennifer Hudson was dropped from American Idol by the public. Now she is receiving nothing but accolades for her talent in the movie "Dream Girls." I haven't watched AI since Clay Aiken didn't win. And don't get me started on juries. OJ anyone???

Answer 8

To me, Profit & John Doe were great show that they took off. They put these great show on against the power house shows on other network and not body watches because they are to busy watching the other show.

Answer 9

Because there are only 24 hours in a day and too many new shows that are hard to let go.

Plus there's the money factor.

Answer 10

i agree with you if they would leave the damn show on the same night and give it a chance it wouldn't be low .but you turn on the TV thinkin it comes on Fridays and since its not there you think they have cancelled it .ABC does it too i was all over the nine ,gone now

Answer 11

I know what you are talking about! It sucks... it is because of ratings but we could all just hope that another station picks the shows up!

That is what happen to Reba.

Answer 12

Nielson ratings simply do not reflect our viewing habits, as long as they rely on "poll" style of ratings we will lose good shows and hear way to much about crappy ones

Answer 13

Because they have nothing better to do than spend money and think only about the ratings.

Answer 14

I agree with you 100%. They "claim" its because of low ratings

Answer 15

like Firefly...the best thing on tv EVER :,(

Answer 16

ratings + money!!