Cut and Run TV

Since the last blog, several new shows we featured have been axed by the networks, which is a shame. A recent article by Daniel Fienberg, Have Viewers Become Serial-Phobic, nails it: networks are not allowing new shows enough time to find their audience, and as a result viewers are shying away from commiting. Two personal favorites--Vanished and Kidnapped--are, at least, being made available for viewing online to give those invested the satisfaction of seeing the storyline play out to the end. Imagine having 24 or Prisonbreak yanked after only a few episodes!

To their credit, ABC seems to be giving its new series a chance to get legs. So far, it is hanging in there with The Nine and has just launched an intriguing new serial, Daybreak.

At a time when viewers are overloaded with programming choices via expanding cable lineups, satellite networks, and Internet media, the networks are becoming increasingly twitchy with numbers that don't approach or exceed 20 million. Which is an unfortunate trend when you consider that the first season ratings for 24 didn't even crack double-digits. Even Grey's Anatomy got off to a sluggish start before vaulting to the top of the ratings chart.

As writers and creators of a project targeted for the thriller serial market, we know we can only put it out there and hope for a fighting chance.