Does ABC plan on ever ...
Question: Does ABC plan on ever finishing the run of a new sitcom? Last year, they gave
Emily's Reasons Why Not a one-night trial, along with the returning
Jake in Progress. They also pulled
Crumbs after five episodes, after it averaged 7.5 million viewers on Tuesdays. That's much better than any of ABC's comedies have averaged this season, besides
Dancing with the Stars-fueled
Help Me Help You, which was pulled with four episodes left to air. Then, the network pulled
Big Day with only one episode left to air,
The Knights of Prosperity with four episodes left,
In Case of Emergency with two episodes left and
Notes from the Underbelly, which will only air seven of its 13 episodes. Do you think this shows an overall lack of confidence in new sitcoms?
Answer: Whew. You're certainly paying a lot more attention to that wasteland than I am. In most cases (though not for
Knights of Prosperity, which deserved better), for ABC to take these shows off the air early is kind of like a mercy killing. The fact that few of these shows make it all the way to the end of their designed run is insulting for fans, I'm sure, but it's a clear sign that the network is experiencing a serious comedy drought. Look at ABC's announcement last week of its early pickups. Of 14 series that are definite to return next season, none are half-hour comedies. Not even stalwarts like
According to Jim and
George Lopez are safe at this point.
