Released by John Scott Lewinski/TV Squad
It's not really possible that every summer premiere on the great American broadcast TV schedule crashed and burned, is it?
But, out of all the original programs that premiered on the major networks after the completion of the fall 2008 season, not a single one got traction.
According to analysis reports, you can take your pick from any of the following shows: Defying Gravity, The Superstars, The Listener, Mental, The Philanthropist, Hitched or Ditched, Merlin and Great American Road Trip. All of them bombed -- each hovering just above a one market share.
In fact, you don't need numbers to prove that the fall crop crapped out. Ask your friend what his/her favorite summer replacement show was. You'll be waiting awhile.
The good news for scripted TV fans is that, while the one-hour dramas failed this summer, new reality shows didn't fair much better. When a scripted show tanks, a network loses money. A network that loses money will be tempted to spend less money in the future -- perhaps producing more cheaper reality shows.
But that safe haven is drying up, too. The only real option for networks desperate for hits looks like producing better scripted entertainment.
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