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Will Cartoon Network become "The Network"?
by Danny Gallagher, posted Aug 18th 2009 9:07PM
It seems that all of television is slowly losing its identity. The History Channel doesn't cover history. TV Land clogs their airwaves with run-of-the-mill reality shows. Comedy Central gives Carlos Mencia his own show. It must be hard to draw in the kind of ratings the average television executive expects (average=viewers who are willing to commit mass suicide if they miss a rerun of Chico and the Man) when you're anchored to one theme or genre. But it's not impossible.
One network that seems very close to giving up entirely is the Cartoon Network. According to the Los Angeles Times, CN's new lineup of live-action, reality-based programming is tanking in the ratings and rumors are swirling that the CN may drop the "C" in its name. Does the head of Radio Shack now work for the Cartoon Network?
It seems the network's animation nation aren't happy with the network's new direction. Animators are finding their work extremely frustrating and leaving the building on their own or have gotten the big ol' pink slip. The network's new direction of reality based kid shows such as Survive This, Brainrush and Destroy-Build-Destroy aren't doing any better.
Granted, the network hasn't always been a ratings giant and its Adult Swim block has been successful but hardly enough to carry an entire network. But who thought more reality shows would be a good idea? I understand that it's a successful trend, but not when every single network has one under their wing with nobody watching them. What worries me is that this trend will just repeat itself until every pay channel on my dial is just an endless string of reality shows grasping at hope of an audience.
Just imagine, with nothing to watch on TV, I might be forced to (gulp) turn it off and go outside. Where is your God now?
[via TVTattle.com]
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