For a show hardly anyone seems to watch there are a bunch of fans of the CBS show Swingtown online who hope Swingtown isn't cancelled. There's the requisite sites and message boards to save the show though I haven't yet seen whether Swingtown fans plan to send condoms to CBS instead of the peanuts its Jericho brethren sent.
There still has been no formal word and it's very possible that CBS would say nothing even if it did cancel it. But is there a chance it would be saved? On the Nielsen ratings numbers alone the chances of that are so close to zero that they might as well be zero. The numbers are so bad, especially after being shipped off to the ghetto that is summer Friday nights that they are not even worth detailing here. But sometimes there are other factors besides the numbers and perhaps this is one of those times.
For one, CBS is apparently very enamored with the show's producer/creator Mike Kelley and CBS Paramount signed him to a seven figure two year deal. BiCoastal, co-produced with Sean Hayes is already slated for the CBS owned Showtime. The show focuses on the challenges of a man trying to balance a normal family life in LA while falling in love with a man in New York.
Kelley's path to riches apparently involved producing a lot of beer commercials, but he has written for One Tree Hill and The O.C. as well as NBC's Providence. He also worked on Jericho which means it's possible for CBS to love the man without loving the show, but the buzz seems to be that execs at CBS really like Swingtown and are disappointed with the numbers.
After inking the two year deal, Kelley said that Swingtown was his priority and that he thinks there is a home for the show and hopes it is on CBS. While normally I'd look at its numbers and say, "Uh...no," I'm not convinced CBS wouldn't give it another shot next summer or mid-season merely because it makes the execs at CBS feel good.
NBC's 30 Rock doesn't pull great numbers although it does OK in terms of percent of viewers who are in the 18-49 demographic and reportedly does well among high income viewers as well. But the insiders at NBC, including NBC chief Jeff Zucker *love* that 30 Rock is an insidery show that pokes fun at the network. Without that love, I doubt 30 Rock would still be on the air (I enjoy 30 Rock very much, by the way).
CBS may have similar feelings towards Swingtown. If Les Moonves likes it, that may be all that's necessary. After all, he paid Katie Couric a bunch of money and just this week said he's very happy with how things are going and is very patient even though the CBS Evening News could be re-titled the CBS Evening Lose, because it's always in last place. There are external factors at play that could save the show despite the poor showing in the Nielsen ratings.
We'll see.
The thing is, CBS and NBC are very different networks. While CBS isn’t at its untouchable #1 spot (in viewers if not demos) it was at for a long time, I don’t think it’s yet at the point where they are willing to accept such low ratings, no matter how much love they have for the show. NBC has said straight out that they aren’t really concerned with ratings too much right now, and are thinking more about the quality of their programming. They may just be saying that to save face, but 30 Rock does get enough recognition that it could be worth it just for that. I’m not sure whether Swingtown has that same potential (I’m not sure it doesn’t, either, I haven’t watched it at all or read any reviews of it), or if CBS is even looking for that.
Did NBC really say it was focusing on QUALITY and not ratings? I did see where one of its execs said it was focusing on margins and not ratings, even though there’s more than a little correlation between margins and ratings at some point. Still I would agree CBS and NBC are very different, as Bill always says, NBC is a beggar and not a chooser and CBS can definitely afford to be more choosy. But if they let the Katie Couric experiment go on this long, anything is possible. It’s obvious that they really like Kelley and weren’t deterred by Swingtown’s low ratings when it came to signing him. But for sure, that’s all very speculative.
I do recall a mention of quality, though I can’t find the article. I did look around a bit and found articles quoting Ben Silverman as saying he was in this business out of love and such and these are programs he’s waited his whole life to air, so I could be confusing it with that.
NBC kept 30 ROCK (I enjoy 30 Rock very much, by the way) because they thought it was the next The Office, office pulled the same numbers in it’s 1st season and now it’s a whole different story.
This has been my point of view all along. It’s great that the CBS execs like Swingtown and I think that helps it’s chances of having a season 2. And I also believe that there’s many more fans than the “numbers” are indicating. I don’t watch a lot of tv but Swingtown is a show I’d rather not do without – I’m hooked.
Just want to say I appreciate the ‘other external factors at play’ comment in the article, because that’s all that’s seemed to have been happening to ‘Swingtown’ since it started airing. Honestly, the drama of getting ‘Swingtown’ to air on a weekly basis has almost been worthy of a script in and of itself, and all parties such as the network execs, fans, advertisers, haters, Moonlight fans, etc., have been playing leading roles. I just wish CBS would renew it for another 13 episode run, as a mid-season replacement or summer show next year, so that we as fans can get back to talking about the show instead of the drama behind the show. CBS has a battle on its hands, no doubt, particularly with advertisers and its own affiliates. I feel CBS really would like to see Swingtown continue and are pushing that point right now with advertisers in particular who have been throwing their muscle around a bit too much lately in an attempt to influence programming, IMHO. What would be SO SWEET is if CBS stuck Procter and Gamble, Norelco, and Ace Hardware with a 10 percent premium on all their advertising for the coming year as a nice ‘thank you’ for pulling their ads from ‘Swingtown’. Kind of a nice, ‘thanks for nothing.”
Xerxes, more likely CBS will be giving them free space as make goods for not providing them with the content/audience they were hoping for.
Swingtown is a great show and all of us fans are working hard to keep it on the air come see what we are doing @ the Save Swingtown website: http://saveswingtown.web.officelive.com
As a fan, it’s not my job to do the homework of the execs or the ad agencies. If they had done proper due diligence, they would have set realistic expectations based upon the feedback they received. If they didn’t do that, then what the heck are they being paid to do? In terms of the ‘content’, I have no idea what you are talking about or what your expectation was “full frontal nudity on network TV?, or one long orgy of swingers after another?” I thought the content was not just fine or adequate. I thought it was exceptional and long overdue.
xerxes,
I know you’re a fan of Swingtown, but it would be beyond stupid for CBS to try to screw over the advertisers. Don’t forget, it’s the advertisers, not the viewers, that finance the networks. They aren’t going to piss them off for not wanting to advertise during ONE of their shows.
That wasn’t meant to be an insult to Swingtown. I don’t know the reasons the advertisers pulled out, but whether it was content or audience numbers, this is CBS not living up to its promises. Why would anything I said be taken as me telling you that you need to do research for the network and/or advertisers? I’m just correcting your assumption on how the industry works. When advertisers are not happy, they get freebies, not higher prices.
I just don’t see CBS laying out the money for an hour long drama with a big, expensive cast and high production costs for another low-rated summer run. They were hoping for a hit they could bring back for 13-16 episodes in January or a full season next year. I think if CBS axes The Mentalist, Eleventh Hour, or The Ex List soon in the season, there’s a chance for January. Otherwise, we’ll have to wait for Fall 2009 or the show will need a new home (I vote for new home on cable, where they won’t have to dance around the adult themes).
Swingtown is a great show that attracted a small audience due to the fact that only the first show was advertised and it was on during the summer. People spend a lot of time outdoors during the summer, take vacations, etc. I do believe that Swingtown had higher ratings than Big Brother, and BB was on 3 nights per week.
There are plenty of advertisers that should be approached to replace the ones who are caving to the religious factions. If religions all got their way, we’d all be under the control of scientologists or members of the Westboro Baptist Church! That isn’t my life and I resent the fact that the networks and advertisers listen to that cultural choice at all.
Advertisements for wine, hotels, airlines, cars, etc. would be quite appropriate for the fanbase watching Swingtown. Swingtown actually had viewers WATCHING television for a change. In other words, without Swingtown, I wouldn’t see their advertisements anyway. I’m bored with the reality shows and crime/legal dramas that have plagued our televisions for over a decade.
Swingtown was a completely new concept that gave viewers a glimpse into the past and piqued their curiousity about a lifestyle most are unfamiliar with. It opened the door to the taboo and offered an escape from the senseless murder and political corruption that exists in most shows.
CBS and their advertisers would be foolish to pass up the opportunities that this show offered.
Holly, surely you don’t believe I was serious! Allow me two fantasies — one that somehow CBS sticks it to all the advertisers that backed out of Swingtown, and two, that some day I get one dance with Molly Parker on a disco dance floor to “Get Down Tonight” by KC and the Sunshine Band.
Kenneth, that’s my internal best-case-scenario as well. Personally, I’d be totally satisfied as a fan if it gets a legitimate shot as a mid-season replacement and democracy ruled. As far as its shot at success so far, especially as a summer show moved to Friday night, it smells an awful lot like hanging chads in Florida.
Julia, then what a stupid concept the industry operates under. “Hey, you did something to make us look foolish. Here’s something for free as a thank you.” Maybe I should pee on a Corvette and get a free car!
I love Swingtown! Started a blog for the renewal chase!
Take part in the a poll to get your opinion where Swingtown should end up!
http://www.saveswingtown.com
Swingtown is truly a wonderful, quality show. I’ve been doing everything within my power to spread the word and see this show continue. It’s the ONLY show to ever come on network television that has provoked such a strong response from me.
NO way is “Swingtown” better than “Moonlight.” “Moonlight was a hudred times better than this drivil and a lot more sexy a cast that you can’t imagine. Alex and Jason and Sophia were brilliant as Mick and Josef and Beth. Every guy on the show was sexy as hell even Logan is a teddy bear. Sophia and Shaynnon are very beautiful ladies whom even the girls want to look up too. I dare you to check out “Moonlight” and not think so too. The subject matter of “Swingtown” would be better suited for CBS’s sister station Showtime than any of the broadcast networks.
AylaRose
I watched one episode of Moonlight and it didn’t hold my interest at all. Blech!
Swingtown had me hooked before the first episode finished! I am not easy to please, and this show grabbed my attention on a variety of levels! There was humor, wit, historical data, sexiness, and controversial topics.
I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT AND WANT TO WATCH MORE!!!!!
This isn’t about Moonlight, Ayla. This post is about Swingtown, which, btw, had nothing to do with Moonlight’s demise (Moonlight’s questionable quality had more to do with that).
Swingtown was a delight to watch this summer, and I hope CBS’ execs will give this show another season. So well written and acted, and of course stands out in the sea of tv procedurals and other whodunits.
You’re surprised that “Swingtown” has fans? What is it? Only Nielsen members are allowed to have a say in what WE watch? Who are Nielsen families? Why don’t we ever see anybody on any message board proclaiming they are one of them? Are they in witness protection? Do they even care what is on TV? If it’s about sponsors, shouldn’t they gauge who is actually buying their products and have surveys on that instead? I know I don’t watch TV for ads. The only thing I enjoy seeing advertised are food related commercials (Olive Garden, TGI Fridays, Red Lobster), who cares about batteries, coats, cars, and dishwashing soap? I buy products I am satisfied with and if they suck then no amount of ads are going to make me want that item again. If sponsors are all about selling their products, shouldn’t they be without bias? I won’t go to a store or buy something that can be influenced by the religious reich or their cult-like zealots telling all of American what they should and should not support? When did America turn into 1942 Hitler led Germany? I don’t think God would support those type.
What gives with the “Moonlight” fans? No. “Swingtown” has had NOTHING to do with “Moonlight.” The only similarity is that they were shows picked up by CBS that were out of their wheelhouse/wheelchair. Maybe those fans should complain about The Ex List when that airs. Friday at 9PM. Does that sound familiar? Who knows? Maybe Nina Tassler truly does like “Swingtown.” Maybe if she were married to a crew member of it, it might have a better chance of survival and we wouldn’t have to talk about this. How many people really think “Big Brother” would be running this long and now for three days a week if CBS CEO Les Moonves wife Julie Chen were not the host of the show?
How could CBS think that “Swingtown” had a true fighting chance with the way they promoted the show as they didn’t know what to do with it in the first place. CBS never knows how to promote anything. Hardly anybody from any show on CBS is seen on a late night show. ABC, NBC, and cable stations do it. Not CBS. They had to have figured it would be a tough sell being stuck with a line-up of all crime shows. That’s all people are used to. That’s all CBS viewers are used to. They keep catering to an older demographic each and every time. Then they turn around and say, “Where are the younger people?” They had them and chose to ignore fans of programs unlike their usual crime and blood shows. All of the other networks have different types of shows. I remember a loooooong time ago when CBS used to be diversified. Now? No.
I truly hope “Swingtown” makes it to Showtime instead. Then CBS can keep their upcoming line up for next Summer. “I Know My Cat’s A Star,” “Mall Cops,” and “CSI: Boise,” “CSI: Newark,” and “CSI: Kalamazoo.”