Oh, FOX. Sometimes You Make It So Hard to Hate You.
You know, I've never been a huge fan of Family Guy. So many of my friends have told me repeatedly how funny the show is. I've watched whole episodes repeatedly, I've stopped on the re-runs while flipping, I've tried. But I still find it derivative and pretty one-note. Stewie was funny the first couple of times he tried to take over the world, but it got old. And Peter is both a Homer clone and an unlikable misanthrope. It's made me laugh a couple of times, sure, sometimes loudly. But even the most mediocre sitcom is capable of being very funny. (Sharon Lawrence did a guest spot on Caroline in the City which was one of the funniest things I've ever seen.) But Family Guy is just not for me.
Having said all of that, though, I am thrilled that it is coming back to network TV this week. Not because I plan to watch it, because I doubt I will. But because a network has finally gotten the guts to admit it may have made a mistake in canceling a cult series. The only reason FOX is bringing the show back is, of course, profit. Syndicated ratings and DVD sales have been phenomenal for the show. And so bringing the show back makes a lot of sense. Plus, as an animated show, it's not outrageously expensive to produce and the guy writing it does most of the voices, so there aren't too many voice talents to woo back. (Mila Kunis may demand a pretty penny for her three hours a month, but it's not, like, Castalenetta money or anything). So, it's a good decision all around. But it's also a gift to the fans. And TV needs to think about giving a lot more of those.
And I really hope it pays off for FOX. As much as I hate the When Paris Hilton Attacks network, they are capable of true greatness now and again. Arrested Development, The Simpsons, 24 - all great, innovative shows. But I worry if bringing back cancelled shows can really become a trend or if this is a special case. An animated show is one thing, but could they bring back, say, Andy Richter Controls the Universe? Doubtful.
That's a shame. But still I'm looking on this Family Guy thing as a victory for the audience. A network is publicly saying, "We made a mistake," even if they aren't using those words. And anytime a network caters to its viewers and not its advertisers, well that's a good day for all of us.
Now, all they have to do is renew Arrested Development and I might finally stop making fun of them completely.
Oh, who am I kidding. Stars Without Make-Up? Oh, FOX. You will always be the network everyone makes fun of behind its back for dressing a little too slutty and getting a little too drunk at parties. But at least for once you've done something right.
In other TV news, Veronica Mars returns from hiatus tonight and you must watch. I've just recently discovered the series, but it's without questions the best teen series since Buffy. (No, Scott, I'm not saying it's better than Buffy because that would be blasphemous). Witty, dark and honest, the show uses the mystery format to show what it's like to really be a social outcast in high school. Not just an emo dork who dates the most beautiful girl in school and routinely hangs out with her gangly and inexplicably popular friend,. Veronica 's best friend was killed, her boyfriend dumped her, her Dad lost his job and turned the town against himself and his family, her Mom left and she was raped at a party while roofied into unconsciousness. That's social stigma, Cohen. This is a great show with some great performances, especially Kristen Bell as Veronica. Watch this show.
Having said all of that, though, I am thrilled that it is coming back to network TV this week. Not because I plan to watch it, because I doubt I will. But because a network has finally gotten the guts to admit it may have made a mistake in canceling a cult series. The only reason FOX is bringing the show back is, of course, profit. Syndicated ratings and DVD sales have been phenomenal for the show. And so bringing the show back makes a lot of sense. Plus, as an animated show, it's not outrageously expensive to produce and the guy writing it does most of the voices, so there aren't too many voice talents to woo back. (Mila Kunis may demand a pretty penny for her three hours a month, but it's not, like, Castalenetta money or anything). So, it's a good decision all around. But it's also a gift to the fans. And TV needs to think about giving a lot more of those.
And I really hope it pays off for FOX. As much as I hate the When Paris Hilton Attacks network, they are capable of true greatness now and again. Arrested Development, The Simpsons, 24 - all great, innovative shows. But I worry if bringing back cancelled shows can really become a trend or if this is a special case. An animated show is one thing, but could they bring back, say, Andy Richter Controls the Universe? Doubtful.
That's a shame. But still I'm looking on this Family Guy thing as a victory for the audience. A network is publicly saying, "We made a mistake," even if they aren't using those words. And anytime a network caters to its viewers and not its advertisers, well that's a good day for all of us.
Now, all they have to do is renew Arrested Development and I might finally stop making fun of them completely.
Oh, who am I kidding. Stars Without Make-Up? Oh, FOX. You will always be the network everyone makes fun of behind its back for dressing a little too slutty and getting a little too drunk at parties. But at least for once you've done something right.
In other TV news, Veronica Mars returns from hiatus tonight and you must watch. I've just recently discovered the series, but it's without questions the best teen series since Buffy. (No, Scott, I'm not saying it's better than Buffy because that would be blasphemous). Witty, dark and honest, the show uses the mystery format to show what it's like to really be a social outcast in high school. Not just an emo dork who dates the most beautiful girl in school and routinely hangs out with her gangly and inexplicably popular friend,. Veronica 's best friend was killed, her boyfriend dumped her, her Dad lost his job and turned the town against himself and his family, her Mom left and she was raped at a party while roofied into unconsciousness. That's social stigma, Cohen. This is a great show with some great performances, especially Kristen Bell as Veronica. Watch this show.
posted by Mark at 12:52 AM
2 Comments:
Well it's not completely unheard of to resurrect a canceled show because of fan outcry, I mean Sci-Fi brought back "Farscape" (albeit as a 4-hour mini-series) because of fan kvetching.
"Mars" does nothing for me, At first I was intrigued and enjoyed it, but now it just bores me and I have no idea why. I guess it just didn't catch with me for whatever reason.
(PS: my spell check actually recognizes the word "kvetching". Weird)
I think this may be the first time that a series was brought back as a regular series on the same network that cancelled it, but it's certainly not the first time something has come back. Of course Sci-Fi was just stupid to cancekl Farscape in the first place. But then, they're related to NBC so the stupidity must be contagious.
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