3 Television Shows That Bombed in 2013 (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlCcoUFQpkbmsFdyH_cvcJAn24ojqJrhQgKv2Cbyq1-FJxGxeQ6Zc23A8SSKf_2ldoLev-YfeyK3enTF13KS5jJsOd7PiE9QVaODd2HNDe3fXtsFid548yrZcaM1hxyKNFAYA28Yu1Lc/s1600/ironside-tv-series-600x337_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlCcoUFQpkbmsFdyH_cvcJAn24ojqJrhQgKv2Cbyq1-FJxGxeQ6Zc23A8SSKf_2ldoLev-YfeyK3enTF13KS5jJsOd7PiE9QVaODd2HNDe3fXtsFid548yrZcaM1hxyKNFAYA28Yu1Lc/s320/ironside-tv-series-600x337_large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;">Broadcasters don't have it easy anymore. Cable television and <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Netflix</strong> are drawing in audiences en masse while some once-popular TV franchises are struggling to recover from historical lows.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;">Take <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">CSI</em>, which set a series low in February drawing just 8.6 million viewers. <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">AMC Networks</strong>, by contrast, has regularly topped 10 million with <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Walking Dead</em> while the series finale for <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Breaking Bad</em> drew 10.3 million.  Niche programming -- on niche networks -- is<a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/10/07/3-ways-breaking-bad-shows-the-future-of-television.aspx" style="border: 0px; color: #339933; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a serious and growing threat</a> to the Big Four.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;">The result? Broadcast TV shows either win early or die fast, as these three did in 2013:</div><div class="image small" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" src="http://g.foolcdn.com/editorial/images/87644/ironside-tv-series-600x337_large.jpg" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></div><div class="caption" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px 5px 5px;">Blair Underwood starred in NBC's detective reboot. Source: NBCUniversal.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ironside</strong></em><br />Episodes before cancellation: 4<br />Avg. viewers: 5.16 million<br />Distributor: NBCUniversal</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Why it bombed</strong>: Remakes are a tough sell to begin with. (Remember 2008's rehash of<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Knight Rider</em>? How about 2011's <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Charlie's Angels</em> do-over?) NBC didn't do itself any favors in deciding not to cast a disabled actor as wheelchair-bound detective Robert Ironside, choosing instead to go with veteran performer Blair Underwood. The ensuing controversy, which led to at least one outright boycott of the show, may have been the killing blow.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">State of the network:</strong> <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ironside</em>'s poor performance notwithstanding, NBC has hit its stride recently. Look at the spy-cum-crime drama <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Blacklist</em>, which drew some 17 million viewers in its Monday night time slot. The network has already ordered a second season while star James Spader is up for a Golden Globe for his portrayal of professional troublemaker Red Reddington. On the other hand, as an earnings driver, NBC's broadcast TV operation contributes just 13% of <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Comcast</strong>'s (<span class="ticker" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">NASDAQ: <a class="qsAdd qs-source-isssitthv0000001" data-id="203139" href="http://caps.fool.com/Ticker/CMCSA.aspx?source=isssitthv0000001" style="border: 0px; color: #339933; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">CMCSA</a></span> <a class="addToWatchListIcon qsAdd qs-source-iwlsitbut0000010" href="http://my.fool.com/watchlist/add?ticker=CMCSA&source=iwlsitbut0000010" style="background-image: url(http://g.foolcdn.com/common/img/buttons/BtnAdd.gif); background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #339933; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;" title="Add CMCSA to My Watchlist"> </a>) revenue and 2% of operating income. One big win (or loss) won't mean much for the business at its present scale.</div><div class="image small" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" src="http://g.foolcdn.com/editorial/images/87644/lucky-7-widescreen_large.jpeg" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></div><div class="caption" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px 5px 5px;">ABC's show about lottery winners wasn't relatable enough for audiences. Source: ABC.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Lucky 7</strong></em><br />Episodes before cancellation: 2<br />Avg. viewers: 3.53 million<br />Distributor: ABC Television</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Why it bombed:</strong> Yes, we've all dreamed about winning the lottery. But a TV show that asks what if the dream came true? We've seen the concept before and it didn't work then, either. NBC cancelled <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Windfall</em> in 2006 after 13 episodes, going so far as to allow affiliates the option of airing preseason football rather than the season's final installment.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">State of the network:</strong> ABC is getting good performances from a handful of key shows. For example, <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Scandal</em> does well on Thursday nights in spite of declining viewership for lead-in<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Grey's Anatomy</em>. There's also <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.</em>, which has the <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/12/14/marvels-agents-of-shield-doesnt-need-a-new-night.aspx" style="border: 0px; color: #339933; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">highest live+7 day rating</a> of any Tuesday night broadcast TV show. What's that mean financially? Not much, unfortunately. ABC's operating income dipped slightly in the third quarter as revenue improved just 1% year-over-year. </div><div class="image small" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" src="http://g.foolcdn.com/editorial/images/87644/we-are-men-widescreen_large.jpg" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></div><div class="caption" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px 5px 5px;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">We Are Men</em> starred Kal Penn, Chris Smith, Jerry O'Connell, and Tony Shalhoub. Source: CBS.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">We Are Men</strong></em><br />Episodes before cancellation: 2<br />Avg. viewers: 6.01 million<br />Distributor: <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">CBS</strong> (<span class="ticker" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">NYSE: <a class="qsAdd qs-source-isssitthv0000001" data-id="206636" href="http://caps.fool.com/Ticker/CBS.aspx?source=isssitthv0000001" style="border: 0px; color: #339933; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">CBS</a></span> <a class="addToWatchListIcon qsAdd qs-source-iwlsitbut0000010" href="http://my.fool.com/watchlist/add?ticker=CBS&source=iwlsitbut0000010" style="background-image: url(http://g.foolcdn.com/common/img/buttons/BtnAdd.gif); background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #339933; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;" title="Add CBS to My Watchlist"> </a>)</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Why it bombed:</strong> Divorced men trying to pick up women while teaching the ways of the world to a young neighbor who's just been left at the altar? OK, but history shows that you need brilliant writing and top-notch talent (e.g., <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Parks and Recreation</em>) to make absurd concepts work. Critics panned <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">We Are Men</em>'s scripts as "lazy" and "boring," among other things.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">State of the network:</strong> CBS is still home to TV's most-watched show (<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">NCIS</em>) and possesses a powerful catalyst in Showtime, which is gaining influence thanks to <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/07/28/the-worlds-most-popular-serial-killer-says-goodbye.aspx" style="border: 0px; color: #339933; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">edgy new dramas</a> such as<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ray Donovan</em> and Emmy contender <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Homeland</em>. Ad revenue at CBS Television increased 13% year-over-year in the third quarter. Content licensing and distribution increased 11% with new shows added to the network's syndication slate, including <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">NCIS: Los Angeles</em> and <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Good Wife</em>.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;">Now it's your turn to weigh in. What shows were you surprised to see bomb in 2013? What shows do you expect to be cancelled next? Leave a comment below to let us know what you think.</div></div>

3 Television Shows That Bombed in 2013 (BLOG)

Broadcasters don't have it easy anymore. Cable television and  Netflix  are drawing in audiences en masse while some once-popular TV fra...

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