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In case you missed the news, rookie sitcoms Kath & Kim on NBC and Gary Unmarried on CBS have both received full-season orders of 22 and 20 episodes, respectively, from their home networks.
Considering the fact that neither show is posting impressive ratings, the pickups seem to demonstrate a new reality in the current climate of sluggish viewership: nurture the shows with potential to perform better in the future, or at least hang on to those shows you already have in the stable to keep your schedule free of holes.
Less-than-stellar average ratings of about 6 million (Kath & Kim) and 7.4 million (Gary Unmarried) viewers aside, both sitcoms have demonstrated the ability to not only retain all of the viewers from their lead-in — My Name Is Earl in the case of NBC and The New Adventures of Old Christine on CBS — in key demographics, but also build on their predecessors’ audience in certain age brackets.
In addition, CBS has also ordered three more episodes of Monday night’s Britcom adaptation Worst Week, which brings the series to a freshman total of 16 episodes. It has averaged 9.9 million viewers for each episode, in (large) part thanks to its ultra popular lead-in Two and a Half Men. Since Rules of Engagement will likely return in the winter to air in the 9:30pm, post-Men time slot, the shorter season makes perfect programming sense.
1117 days ago
[...] press tour madness last week, the Futon Critic learned that instead of making good on its 22-episode, full-season order for the Australian import back in November, NBC intends to decrease the comedy’s freshman [...]
I actually enjoy Gary Unmarried for the most part, although I was surprised about Kath & Kim‘s extension … until I learned how well the show is retaining the audience from its lead-in. Network execs tend to like that, especially when fewer people seem to be watching TV overall.
Now I know why NBC is showing the virtually unwatchable Kath and Kim in their schedule. Because some ad agency focus group believes it might someday appeal to designer fashion shoppers. What a load of warm stinking crap. Just try watching it and finding something to laugh or even mildly muse about. There is no humor. I sat in a room with about 12 people watching Thursday night. Earl, the Office and 30-Rock at least entertained, but during Kath and Kim there was silence, then boredom and finally a group effort to find another channel on the cablevision guide. The show is simply brain repellent.
I do not like either show and it amazes me that they are keeping them on the air. C’mon these shows are just plain dumb.