Comments on: As Castle & The Middle's Prospects Improve, FlashForward's Diminish

By: makulit

makulit — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:30:22 +0000

Yay! I’m ecstatic with the good news for Castle and The Middle. I remain hopeful.

I have to admit FlashForward seems to be hitting a wall. The last episodes have become dragging, and uninteresting. Also, Joseph Feinnes’ constipated acting is not helping. Would it even see April 29, 2010? That would be really funny if it didn’t. Although, I did have the same feeling with Lost, but that survived 6 seasons. Maybe ABC would give it another chance.

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 09:04:35 +0000

I think B&S will get a fifth year regardless so it will be eventually safe for syndication. Private Practice despite being short should likely make it to syndication as long as it airs after Greys. As for The Middle and Cougar Town, I think both comedies can return along with Modern Family. Scrubs and Ted will likely be dead after this season. With Castle, the series test is how it performs airing after The Bachelor so I say Castle is 50/50, and as for FlashForward, the series still at 15 episodes so well have tpop wait until March atleast until we can make a good guess. Eastwick is finishing up in January and The Forgotten will be gone by March.

By: Raynaga

Raynaga — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 21:23:00 +0000

I find it amusing that the fellow named Pish, who posted in every single Castle related article about how it was going to crash and burn the moment DWTS wasn’t its lead-in, has vanished now that this has evidently shown itself to be incorrect.

Where are you, oh herald of Castlery doom?

By: Heather

Heather — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:27:14 +0000

I love The Middle! It’s so funny and refreshing. If you havent given it a chance you really should.

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:21:59 +0000

Idiots. Castle IS Bryce on FF. Lose Castle, keep FF, you still get Castle! (yes, that’s a joke, you morons)

By: Hilary

Hilary — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:23:15 +0000

It sucks UB isnt getting better. The show itself is better than half the crap ABC has.

By: Tommy

Tommy — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:36:38 +0000

vsaint, B&S is on the lower end of episode counts for syndication, but will have 75 episodes by your episode counts, which is enough to start syndication. Shows seem to enter syndication earlier every year (Heroes is already in syndication on G4.) A deal with Lifetime or another cable network would give ABC motivation to renew it should the show become a bubble show (Which it’s not at the moment.)

By: forg

forg — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:35:53 +0000

vsaint: I think you had a typo since B&S season 1 had 23 episodes not 13

By: Tommy

Tommy — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:26:21 +0000

Andy, I did some googling and Lifetime began running Grey’s in January of 2007, so that means that syndication started in the middle of it’s 3rd season. Weekend broadcast syndication started this year after the 5th season.

http://televisionista.blogspot.com/2006/11/greys-anatomy-reruns-to-air-on-cable.html

By: vsaint

vsaint — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:24:40 +0000

B&S might be alittle short for syndication.
1st – 13 eps
2nd – 16 eps (strike)
3rd – 24 eps
4th – 22 eps ?

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:54:46 +0000

Tommy,
didn’t Grey’s go to syndication after it’s 5th season actually? I believe it was after 5 seasons, not 4.

By: Tommy

Tommy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:09:32 +0000

tim, I haven’t heard of any network that has picked up Brothers & Sisters yet for syndication. It’s in it’s 4th season, so I would think that we’ll start seeing it in syndication after the end of this season. Desperate Housewives and Grey’s both started airing in syndication after their 4th seasons completed. I might be wrong about whether it was the end of the 3rd or 4th season for both DH and GA though, but I’m pretty sure it was the 4th.

By: GMJH

GMJH — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:35:44 +0000

“After two straight weeks of falling ratings after its blockbuster premiere, ABC’s “V” stabilized on Tuesday night, joining the “Dancing with the Stars” finale to give the network a win in the 18-49 demographic.”

http://www.hitfix.com/articles/2009-11-25-tv-ratings-v-stops-downward-trend-as-abc-cbs-split-tuesday

By: Pix

Pix — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:58:06 +0000

Love the smileys
Great news for Castle, and the show really keeps on getting better and better.

By: Brad

Brad — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:48:20 +0000

Betty is toast.

Thankfully, that’s good news for Castle which can easily becomes ABC’s Bones if they play their cards right.

By: Guy

Guy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:47:28 +0000

I love Flash Forward and guess what? Australia is getting the next episode before you guys in the US do. That is so awesome its not funny. We get our next instalment on Monday, which is Sunday your time.

As for Castle its awesome news. The more Castle we get the better. Its one of my favourite shows on tv atm.

By: tim

tim — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:26:22 +0000

Tommy thx for the response,glad someone did.
Hey do u know if B&s has actually gone into syndication?

By: Lucky

Lucky — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:47:16 +0000

Shame about FF, It was nice to have something decent to watch for a change other than the usual mindless crap that comes out of the US! I stopped taking TV seriously when you guys gave us Grey’s Anatomy, Talk about mindless drival! FF is killing it in the ratings in the UK! Sorry America but you have crap taste in TV!

By: Riff Rafferty

Riff Rafferty — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:25:31 +0000

I think mike stole a page from my diary. Okay, so I don’t have a diary. But if I did, that would be on a page from it.

Indeed, “The Middle” is ABC’s Wednesday crown jewel — and it does the virtually impossible. It makes Patricia Heaton likable for 21 minutes each week! Mark my words, it’s going to be a word-of-mouth hit. Or “American idol” will crush it and it will never be heard from again.

By: Ruthie

Ruthie — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:09:46 +0000

Yay for “Castle”! That’s my favorite show on television right now. It’s funny and engaging, and I just adore Nathan Fillion. I could watch him read the phone book and be entertained.

Gah, why do I always choose to like the bubble shows? I went through this nail-biting with “Chuck” last year (and probably will again this year, dagnabit).

By: g

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:50:13 +0000

I think word of mouth is getting around about CASTLE, this is a very entertaining show. If the dimwits cancel this show, one of the other networks will grab this in a heart beat. The chemistry is great with all characters, and Nathan Fillon character drives this show, and his co star the same. People forget this was a mid season replacement last year, and now a full season, the ratings will only improve. I think they will relize the gem they have and get it a chance, but there is not much on mondays except for some cbs comedy show, csi miami in the same time slot, this show is in a great spot.I thought the show wasn’t on this week but for some reason again tennessee abc has been screwing with all the programming,like V on at 1AM on every tuesday night for football looking at the titans, but my DVR caught it.

By: Carol

Carol — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:32:06 +0000

I love Castle. It’s my favorite show right now and I watch it live.

By: Fennerbender

Fennerbender — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:08:00 +0000

Castle has gotta stay if only to make ABCFanatic2009 suffer lactose intolerance. Its very tongue and cheek and I like that.

By: Verus

Verus — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:39:21 +0000

I hope Flash Forward will stay around but shows based around time travel or time predictions are usually goners in the end.

By: lukas84

lukas84 — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:46:46 +0000

betty hold on!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: ABCFanatic2009

ABCFanatic2009 — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:58:10 +0000

I think ABC could cancel a lot of shows this like the forgotten, FlashForward, Ugly Betty and Castle.

They gotta cancel Castle that show is cheesy!

By: Tommy

Tommy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:26:41 +0000

tim, Brothers & Sisters should be fine. It has syndication to help it over the hump should it need it. But it’s ratings still show that it should be renewed for another season, it could still drop a little and be ok at this point.

By: aznfratboy

aznfratboy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:20:12 +0000

bite your tongue mike! Cougar Town is terrific!

Hank, Eastwick, Forgotten all won’t make it for 2010-2011 season, FlashForward and Betty are borderline, depending on how Betty goes after the comedy block and whether FlashForward will move into the Tuesday 10pm timeslot.

By: tim

tim — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:16:03 +0000

it hurts me to see brothers and sisters so close to being in red
what are the chances it can get season 5 and 6?

By: mike

mike — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:37:59 +0000

I am cheering for the The Middle as it is my favourite new commedy! The youngest son and the daughter are just great!

Team it up with Modern Family and lose Cougar town and I would be happy. I watch 2 episode of Cougar town and ,in spite of the gorgeous Courtney Cox, that was all I could stand.

Modern family is ok but it does not make either my wife or myself laugh as much as the middle. (lowers voice) THE MIDDLE! And the funny thing is I really don’t particularity like Patricia Heaton in her other shows.

By: mgbhighlander

mgbhighlander — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:38:54 +0000

Castle not only has a crime to solve, it has humor and the most likeable guy on television as its star. It’s become quite addicting, and I hope the ratings continue to improve. I’d hate to lose such a good show just as it’s finding an audience.

By: vsaint

vsaint — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:09:13 +0000

Sam, Don’t make stuff up.
LOST’s lowest episode ever was 3.9, it average around mid 4′s last year.
Who said there going to save ABC, it’s in it’s final season.

The final season is being advertised as if the airplane never crashed on the island. So it’ll be easy for anyone who saw the season 1 or 2 to tune in.
I can’t say if people will tune in for entire season, unlikely.
Being final season, people will be curious and catch a glimse.

LOST is guaranteed to be ABC’s 3rd rated show behind Greys and Housewives. It might even give Housewives a run for 2nd place.
Every shows ratings have fallen, LOST has been consistent right around #10 rated show every year for last 5 seasons.

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:24:07 +0000

Why is everyone acting like “Lost” is going to come along and save ABC from going into a slump? Um, where have you been for the last 2 seasons? The ratings aren’t exactly magnificent. Actually, they are on par with what “Modern Family”/”Courgar Town” get. I doubt that just because it’s the last season ratings will improve. It’s just too complex of a show for viewers to who have not seen every season to return to it without understanding the plot.

By: forg

forg — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:25:20 +0000

I hope ABC releases their midseason schedule already (or maybe they are still figuring how to schedule it as we speak)

I hope they will put something already on the spot of Hank to keep the comedy line up intact.

By: Tommy

Tommy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:20:28 +0000

rob, Scrubs & BoT will probably air Tues. at 8 until DWTS comes back. Those 2 comedies went against Idol last year, and I don’t think ABC has very high expectations for them anywhere they put them.

By: Vetinari

Vetinari — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:19:26 +0000

“I enjoy FlashForward but it proves that the writers of LOST are one of a kind. No show can equal its brilliance.”

It also shows the producers of Lost understand the importance of putting beautiful people in torn clothing in a tropical climate.

By: rob

rob — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:17:10 +0000

Tommy, The Bachelor is 2 hours every week. I dont even see the point of Find My Family. What else can ABC air Tuesday at 8 Jan-Feb? They wont air a new show in that death slot. They might as well air a reality show.

By: Tommy

Tommy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:13:21 +0000

Rob, isn’t the Bachelor only an hour long? I think Find My Family will be on Mondays at 9. Shark Tank will probably be held till summer.

By: usedtolovecoco

usedtolovecoco — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:58:07 +0000

Castle has the advantage over FF because it’s a procedural. FF’s being serialized is working doubly against it; the people that watch it are tuning out and new people aren’t tuning in.

I don’t have any hard data to back this up, but I’d bet that serialized shows in general, when they start to tank, go down harder and have less of a chance of rebounding than procedurals.

By: Tar

Tar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:53:52 +0000

FH14 V is not a miniseries it is intended as a 4 season series

By: rob

rob — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:51:45 +0000

ABC has to give Flash Forward a chance. They did order an additonal 12 episodes for a total of 25. ABC has no choice but I think it will pick up. May go back to high 2s, maybe break 3.0 but if it does get renewed, it will be moved. ABC will most likely put a new hyped up show in that slot next year.

Heres what I think is to come midseason:
Monday
8-10 The Bachelor (Jan 4-March 1), DWTS (March-May)
10-11 Castle (Jan 4-March 29), The Deep End (April 5-May 10)

Tuesday
8-9 Shark Tank (Jan-March), DWTS results show (March-May)
9-10 Scrubs, Better Off Ted (Dec-Jan), Lost (Feb-May)
10-11 The Forgotten (Jan-March), V (March-May)

Monday works out perfect since Castle has 12 episodes left to air and The Deep End only has 6 episodes which Ive heard plus The Bachelor finale is usually 3 hours. It will end the second week of May like Castle did last season. Then The Bachelorette will start the following Monday.

Not so sure about how Wednesday will play out. I guess it depends how well Scrubs/Better Off Ted do. Plus theres Romantically Challenged. Maybe that can air 9:30 Mondays. I guess Happy Town will air Wednesday at 10. Thats the only timeslot left.

By: Tommy

Tommy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:02:25 +0000

I completely agree aznfratboy, I doubt that ABC will put FF on Tuesdays, With Lost claiming the 9pm slot, and DWTS most likely getting the 8pm slot. Depending on V’s ratings tonight (I’m thinking it will get mid 3′s in the demo) V will most likely get the post Lost slot at 10pm. Which really only leaves 2 slots as possible places to put FF, either leave it on Thursdays at 8, or move it to Wednesday at 10. I do agree that The Deep End meshes with Grey’s and PP. I doubt they’d do it, but if they delay the midseason return of PP by a week so they could use the post Grey’s slot to premiere The Deep End.

Also I don’t know how well Bot would do on Wednesdays at 8, it didn’t perform very well against Idol last year. ABC might have to settle for lower ratings at 8 on Wednesdays due to Idol. I think The Middle will get hit hard by Idol, I just hope ABC takes that into consideration when they decide whether to cancel it or renew it.

By: aznfratboy

aznfratboy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:46:30 +0000

Hopefully ABC can build a solid Wednesday night comedy block, they already have the 9pm hour covered, getting beaten by Criminal Minds which has been in the timeslot for like 3? 4 years is no big deal, they really need to make the 8pm hour count though, after all, it will be up against American Idol, The Middle seems to be doing good now without Hank, perhaps Ted could be at the 8pm slot, drop Scrubs after May, it has run it’s course really.

Personally, I think that FlashForward is better suited for a 9pm or 10pm timeslot, it’s probably better off on a Tuesday after Dancing/V.
Throw The Deep End at 8pm Tuesday, I see it as a Grey’s Anatomy knock-off except in a law firm instead of a hospital.

By: Ryan47

Ryan47 — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:32:44 +0000

@lindsey – Fair enough…IF FlashForward does indeed follow Castle’s trend from last year and improve after its midseason drop. People tend to forget that about last year…that damn Surviving Suburbia became Castle’s lead-in midseason and nearly killed it before ABC realized their blunder. After that, Castle became a solid performer again and started improving each week…kind of like it is now.

So, if FF starts gaining ground again at some point, THEN it might earn a chance, sure. If it keeps dropping (with the exception of the season finale bump, of course), then I don’t see why it would necessarily deserve another shot.

By: Tommy

Tommy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:29:40 +0000

I think john was referring to last Thursdays episode of FF and last night’s episode of Castle.

By: MichyGeary

MichyGeary — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:11:36 +0000

How can Castle beat FF? Isn’t there no new FlashForward this week?

By: johnthemon

johnthemon — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:28:12 +0000

Castle actually beat Flash Forward this week, so the trend is definitely in Castle’s favor.

I think if ABC moves the middle to 8:00, or gives it a non-hank non-repeat lead-in, it will really improve.

By: Theoacme

Theoacme — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:24:26 +0000

Flash Forward will get ample opportunity to stay on the sked for 10/11 – since it’s an ABC Studios show, as Justin Wilson would say, “I gar-on-tee it!”…

…but Castle also is an ABC Studios show, and likely has a lower cost of production than Flash Forward, and has managed the neat trick of increasing in the index over the past several weeks – shows that do that, and not from below a 2.0 demo, always have a chance, even on CBS…

…if Flash Forward can stop the bleeding quick, it will likely go back to green shortly. If not, then get ready for Dr. McCoy’s intonation, “It’s worse than that, Jim,…”

By: Buddy

Buddy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:20:25 +0000

I think Castle will be back. It’s such a steady performer and in the 10 o’clock slot, no less. I don’t think ABC will give up on FlashForward. Despite dwindling ratings, the show has succeeded in carving out a pop culture presence (much like Lost did). I’m slightly sold on what some people think: it will come down to V or FlashForward in May but why not V AND FlashForward Tuesdays at 9:00 and 10:00 pm respectively next season. If FlashForward can hold the same figures, it’ll be a leading 10 pm performer for the net instead of a so-so lead-off on Thursdays. And The Middle I think really depends on the comedy development slate. If they need an extra player, it’ll come back but if they’ve got a lot of options they will trim the fat. The Middle seems to be catching on though. I hear more and more about it from friends and press. I think it’s got a shot at a future.

By: entertainmenttodayandbeyond

entertainmenttodayandbeyond — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:14:07 +0000

I enjoy FlashForward but it proves that the writers of LOST are one of a kind. No show can equal its brilliance.