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If you’re a fan of ABC’s Tuesday-night comedy hour featuring the rookie sitcoms Cavemen and Carpoolers, you might become a tad miffed upon learning that the network placed both series on indefinite hiatus following last week’s November 13 broadcasts. The reason would be the ratings, of course, which have not been good at all.
There’s no official word yet on the ultimate, final fate of each show. Just suffice it to say that the poorly reviewed and watched Cavemen is likely on its last leg.
Carpoolers did a bit better among critics and TV watchers. Reviews and viewership were mediocre enough for the series to receive an order for three additional scripts back on October 23. Isn’t it weird how that sounds almost like ancient history given the current chaos of the writers strike?
As of now, there are no additional installments of either show scheduled for the remainder of 2007. Six episodes of both have aired to date, leaving seven each on the shelf.
You make an excellent point, Al.
If “Carpoolers” were paired with a better quality sitcom–a la “How I Met Your Mother” and “The Big Bang Theory” on CBS, for instance–it would probably be doing much better ratings-wise.
The only problem is, ABC has so few sitcoms to begin with, there’s really no other male-oriented comedy in the network’s stable to fit the bill.
Carpoolers is the only show I watch on ABC. Part of the problem that people have is that it is following Cavemen which is a stupid show. I think Cavemen is turning people away from Carpoolers.
It’s all about the ratings, Nella, as well as the fact that November Sweeps has been underway for nearly the entire month.
Since the Nielsen ratings for this important period determine advertising rates in the near future, networks like to beef their schedules up as much as possible. That means putting underperformers on the sidelines, if necessary.
Because of decisions like putting “Cavemen” and “Carpoolers” on hiatus, ABC is in a strong position to win Sweeps when it ends on November 28.
Also, “Carpoolers” received an infinitely better reception than “Cavemen,” so there’s a good chance the show might come back at some point.
WHY? I like Carpoolers.
1646 days ago
[...] Carpoolers: SEVEN remain, but the series is on indefinite hiatus [...]