Several shows that wound up running for very long periods of time and were very popular required multiple seasons to find their audiences.

IIRC, both M*A*S*H and Cheers were like this -- and, hell, even though both arguably dragged on longer than they should have, both also had some utterly amazing episodes in their middle and final seasons, horrifying and comic and just deeply rich stuff that never would've had the chance to happen if their first seasons were airing today.

I feel a big extra whammy of loss for all the foreshortened Tim shows we've gotten when I think of the amazing moments late in the runs of various shows, moments of greatness in everything from M*A*S*H to Buffy, that depended on those years of shared history between actors, writers, directors and audience, where it wasn't just the shiny new writing and the excitement of what-happens-next, but also the accumulated weight of all the storytelling that came before that gave them such power.

I'm so very fond of what we've gotten already, but I resent missing out on that one horribly painful, illuminating moment we might have gotten late in S3 of The Inside, or that hysterical and heartbreaking retcon scene in S4 of Wonderfalls that made us all gasp and forgive the awful mental hospital storyline and go back to our Tivos to watch that look on Jaye's face again and again because we all knew what it took to bring that look there.

hysterical and heartbreaking retcon scene in S4 of Wonderfalls that made us all gasp and forgive the awful mental hospital storyline and go back to our Tivos to watch that look on Jaye's face again and again because we all knew what it took to bring that look there.

Waaaaaaaaaah. I miss Wonderfalls.

I'm sorry, Tim and Kristen, that you weren't given a chance.

Excuse me while I type irritated, but couldn't they just sell the show to F/X and make a lot more $$ on it?

You know, I was *just* thinking this. I am loving The Riches, but (swear words aside) there is NO WAY it would survive past 1 episode on FOX. Yet it seems to be doing fine on F/X. And Drive seems like the kind of show that would do very well on F/X.

I love the fact Variety blame Drive for 24's sinking ratings. Personally I think it's more to do with 24 going ape shit.

I don't think they understand how their fan base watches TV.

I really really don't think they do. Particularly if they're subtracting DVR watchers. Hellllooooo! Gadget oriented people who will pay money for convenience? Why, no! That's not a demographic worth selling to!

I'm thinking about what kind of people watch what kind of tv, and what's likely to pay off in the long run. Fluff like Dancing with the Stars? There're no DVD sales there, there's nothing to market after the season. Are people endlessly discussing the last however many seasons? It seems like during the competition people might be talking about it, but it's not really worth rewatching. Who wants to see it in syndication?

Us culty-tv, writers bitches, fannish type people will watch over and over hoping to get a new perspective we can hop right online and share. We'll go to the toy store and buy stuff for our desks. We'll excitedly annouce that ANB Cable Channel are rerunning the first series.

So sorry for y'all Tim & Kristen, and for us.

What a phenomenal waste of talent and potential. I'm sorry for Tim and Kristen most of all, but this sucks for the rest of us, too.

Who gets the money, though? Ratings bring in advertiser dollars to the network NOW, but how else does the network get more money afterward? Syndication is one way, right? Do they get a cut of the merchandising? I thought the studio got that, as it's their property.

Pretty much, Polter-Cow. Networks worry about now. That's why Dancing With The Stars is The Awesome for them -- it generates a load of advertising money immediately. Lack of DVD sales? They don't care.

Every one of FOX's shows this year failed bar 5th Grader. They got problems.

Every one of FOX's shows this year failed bar 5th Grader. They got problems.

Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but I wasn't watching any of their shows beforehand. And now I'm back to that.

Are there shows being developed for the web or any sites showing web only serial content yet? I have network shows I like and watch online or via iTunes, but so many things I have liked in the past 3 - 5 years get cancelled that it seems like less expensive production and then distribution via web could be profitable with a smaller audience. right?