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ABC is giving V a split launch for some reason

by Jason Hughes, posted Sep 26th 2009 8:33AM
VI'm a little worried about ABC's thinking behind this latest move. As announced, the remake of the classic '80s mini-series V will launch on November 4th. But now, after four consecutive episodes, it's going on an extended hiatus. The reason, per ABC, is the expected ratings dominance of the Winter Olympics.

And though they're announcing the hiatus, they've not yet said when we can expect the show to come back. I hope this doesn't mean there are more problems on the set, like the one that shut down production for two weeks this summer. Regardless of the reason, we've seen countless times that long hiatuses on a new show can kill it.

However, if you think of the original V, it was a couple of mini-series followed by a regular series (best forgotten). So maybe these first four episodes will be written and set up like an epic mini-series with a bang-up ending that will sustain us through the break. I hope it's like that, otherwise they should just push back the entire series to 2010.

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L3!

Television is becoming so "On-Demand these days with DVRs and web TV like Hulu and Netflix...viewers being consistent shouldn't be an issue, just DVR it or watch it whenever you want. Plus, I watch most of ABC's series off of their website like most.

What I want to know is why did they cut the last ten minutes of the series for Dancing with the Stars. All that build up for nothing. I know something happened but we didn't get to see it...at least not here in my area of Central NY.

November 03 2009 at 9:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brian

@Gimpgeek1: Your analysis is faulty. Since you're that old, you must have realized how many OTHER aspects have changed over the years. What you're complaining about is a RESULT OF *those* changes, not the other way around. Viewers have changed not because broadcasters have changed them -- and the opposite is the truth. Broadcasters provide us the CRAP we demand, if that is what we demand.

Perhaps also you forgot all those wonderful series we used to have that essentially were just place-holders for ONE-OFF "series"... stories that lasted one or two or three episodes total.

October 29 2009 at 1:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JR

Why ABC? Why? Not everyone is glued to their tvs watching Olympic coverage. Especially since NBC does not do a great job in the first place. Bob Costas is not an Olympic athlete.
I like to have options on TV.

September 28 2009 at 2:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Attorney Smith

This could be that perhaps only be planned in the submission of the series in the autumn are just nine episodes long. Period. That fit into the space between the moment when viewers start their constant attention to television again, at the beginning of the fall through right before viewers become inconsistent in his audience, around Thanksgiving. But then get people complaining about how seasons are short. In essence, viewers not only as a remarkable group of spectators, but also individually, have diametrically opposed needs to try to impose on broadcasters. Therefore, it is not surprising that viewers are not happy.

September 27 2009 at 4:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ðan

I am a full on OLYMPIC watcher so I like this

September 27 2009 at 1:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tv junkie

while i think Fall season launch works better than mid-season launch, this whole "pod" format scheduling is a bit worrisome. if they really do intend the first four eps to be like a miniseries, then i guess it's okay...otherwise, i hope ABC knows what they're doing. maybe they want to pair it with Lost, or that other ABC serialized drama Happy Town?

September 26 2009 at 9:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Terry Schultze

I was going to give it a try, but with this schedule I probably won't.

September 26 2009 at 5:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tvod2009

the rumor mill is saying that the series is in the shop for a major overhaul and rewrite. that could account for the hiatus.

September 26 2009 at 3:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
IanP

When will the networks realize that they should start adopting the models the cable programmers have developed over the last few years? Obviously, its been proven that shorter episode runs, that let us view a complete story arc without interruption are more preferable to viewers than the traditional model. I think this show will get decent ratings and good buzz for a genre show, but this plan will kill it. I've pretty much given up on getting involved with network programs because of idiotic decisions like this. One more post-cancellation DVD set to look forward to owning.

September 26 2009 at 12:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to IanP's comment
CParis

TV viewership reached its highest levels for summer this year. That was driven by the cablenets offering new, interesting programming and NOT endless reruns of L&O/CSI or reality show dreck.

September 26 2009 at 12:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jimmy_MO

This makes me worry about the series. CBS tried this with Jericho and it never came back in terms of viewers. As pointed out already ABC tried this with Lost and viewership never returned to previous levels. If ABC is that worried about the series then they should just delay it until midseason and do it right the first time. I hope this isn't ABC getting all stupid about the fact that V is an in-your-face sci-fi series. Given the premise of the original classic, if campy, mini-series there's a lot of potential do something dramatic and exciting like Ron Moore did with Battlestar Galatica (if you forget the final hour of the series finale).

September 26 2009 at 11:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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