Question: I was wondering if you had any idea why Fox chose to cancel Back To You instead of 'Til Death. If I remember correctly, Back To You pulls in higher ratings and has a bigger backing from critics than 'Til Death does. Was it mostly a cost related issue? I would assume Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton don't come cheap.
Answer: You would assume correctly. I can't explain why 'Til Death got a reprieve, but everything I heard and read regarding Back to You's cancellation had to do with money. There was a costly bidding war last year over that show and those talents — not just the stars, but the veteran sitcom writers who created it — and I think it's fair to say that the show ultimately fell short, both creatively and in the ratings. Many have wondered what would have happened had CBS, which seems a much more suitable home for this kind of comedy, had landed it. A moot point now ...
read more
Having sitcom stalwarts Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton in starring roles wasn't enough for Fox to bring Back to You back to you, the viewer, for a second season. "This was not an easy decision," said Fox Entertainment chief Kevin Reilly. "But with that kind of top-profile talent and...proximity to [American Idol] in the second half of the season, the expectations were higher."Reilly emphasized Fox is working to develop a live-action comedy franchise, but Back To You didn't seem to fit that bill. "The show did not seem to be strking a chord, and in terms of creative direction...it was a pretty mixed bag," he said. The show did go down with a fight. It got off to a strong start when it debuted last fall, attracting more than nine million viewers. Two episodes that followed Idol in April each brought in more than 12 million sets of eyeballs. While that's respectable — it won its timeslot on those two occasions, in terms of viewers and the highly coveted adult 18-49 group —...
read more
Wednesday's weecap:8 pm/ETThe first hour of Deal or No Deal edged out TPIR to come out on top, with 7.76 million total viewers. Fox's 'Til Death wrapped its season with 5.79 mil (slipping 250K), while Back to You bid TV adieu with 6.87 mil. Top Model crowned its new champ in front of 4.92 mil.9 pmIdol added 1.85 mil to enjoy its best Wednesday numbers in six weeks, delivering 24.25 mil. Criminal Minds placed second with a typical 12.7 mil. Farmer Wants a Wife (1.9 mil) dipped another 210 thou.10 pmCSI: NY (11.6 mil) dropped a mil, L&O (8.6 mil) was down a hair, and Boston Legal (7.67 mil) gained 270K.Related:• Cheers & Jeers sizes up Top Model's big winner• Fox Fall: Back to You Won't Be Back • POLL: Who Should Win American Idol?
read more
With the upfronts officially arriving next week, Fox is among the first to unfurl some of its plans. Per the Reporter, the network has renewed 'Til Death for a third cycle yet is not bringing back Back to You. Though the Grammer-Heaton sitcom drew good notices and decent numbers, it's reckoned that production costs ran too high (due to its marquee stars). Also, Fox is giving a series pickup to The Inn, which is described as "Upstairs/Downstairs at a hip New York hotel." The pilot was directed by Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), and the cast includes Niecy Nash (Reno 911), Jerry O'Connell (Crossing Jordan), Molly Stanton and Jesse Tyler Ferguson. — MWMRelated:• Exclusive: Fox's New Amsterdam Is Not Immortal• CW Axes Aliens in America• CW "Outsources" Sunday Night; Two Dramas, Two Comedies Coming
read more
Question: Thank you for answering the "why the new Gracie" question about Back to You. But what happened to Montana the weather girl? She had the best banter with Kelly and some of the most classic lines. Any clue?
Answer: Clearly, Back to You is going through more than the usual share of first-season course corrections. (I've had more than a few amusing letters saying, "So they thought the daughter and the weather girl were the problems?") Ayda Field was dropped from the ensemble, and there's an upcoming episode where the ever-insecure reporter Gary will try for the newly vacated weather position. But here's where things get really confusing. Because Fox is airing the episodes out of order (don't ask why), you will see Montana at least one more time, even though she has already been absent from some of the post-strike episodes that have aired. No official reason why she's out, but I think you'd have to assume the producers didn't see where they could take the character in the lon ...
read more
