The fall season, among sweaters and orange leaves, is definitely a season when TV industries try out a variety of new concepts to see what works and what doesn’t. As you may know from seasons past, there are usually more shows that don’t work out than those that do.
So, what isn’t really working out this season? While you may find your self already a bit attached to a show, ScreenRant.com predicts that around 65 percent of network programming gets cancelled in its first season. Already, many fall premiere shows have been cut off after two or three episodes — and it makes sense. Even if all TV was good, TV shows are vying for precious time slots attempting to cater to key demographics.
When it comes to “The Michael J. Fox Show,” this in an issue. The show is an NBC sitcom about a news anchor named Mike Henry (Michael J. Fox) returning to work years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The show started off in a losing battle with “The Crazy Ones,” which airs around the same time on Thursday's on CBS, and also had one of the biggest premiere audiences of the fall season. Lacking a large premiere, "The Michael J. Fox Show" has instead received mixed reviews: Either fans of Fox were happy to see him back on TV, or the first couple of episodes were described as messy at best.
ABC comedy “Trophy Wife” is a light hearted and mildly funny show about a reformed party girl, played by Malin Akerman. Her character, Kate Harrison, marries a two-time divorcee with three kids. The show depicts her struggle to go from wild child to step-mom and wife. While the show is a feel-good watch and always ends on a good note, it has trouble standing out among all the comedies that premiered this fall. But, there may be hope for the show as ABC recently ordered extra scripts with the intention of testing it out a bit longer.
The light heartedness that is aiding “Trophy Wife” however, seems to be absent in FOX’s “Dads,” which is about two men whose lives are shaken up when each of their fathers decide to move in. The show tries too hard in almost every aspect of comedy, most notably witnessed during a very uncomfortable three-minute prostate exam in the latest episode. While FOX is hanging on tight to this show and has ordered six new scripts, don’t be fooled by its grip on "Dads." This show won't last long.
While the other shows listed have all aired anywhere from three to six episodes, “Reign” just premiered its first episode Oct. 17 on The CW. The story follows Mary Queen of Scots as she arrives in France to be married to the king’s son, Prince Francis. Although the show’s first episode premiered with decent ratings, there are some inconsistencies bound to bring it down. For example, there is not one French accent to be heard, but almost half the characters are supposedly French. In addition, all of the young women tend to sport outfits that look more like prom dresses — albeit beautiful prom dresses — rather than what should be medieval garb. Despite these setbacks, this show does have a chance of being a hit, perhaps, with a more Twilight-esque, preteen audience. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Reach the reporter at mefinley@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @mollyEfinley
