Futurama pre-empted three-fold

[on:]

Well, here we go again. FOX is back to its old self, pre-empted Futurama in anyway possible. Next week it's for NFL and then for Jurassic Park. But that's not why I'm pissed. Last night in Futurama's time slot, was a preview of the freakin kids shows that'll be on Saturday. And it was hosted by those god damn Spy Kids. Who the hell who would actually care about that would watch it at 7pm? Conclusion: FOX totally sucks ass.

[Reply #1 on:]

It almost sounds like you expected them to act otherwise. We all now that Futurama is expendable in the eyes of FOX. It's still an incredible stupid way to treat the show, but it doesn't surprise me at all.

[Reply #2 on:]

Why am I not surprised 

[Reply #3 on:]

 
Not suprising, but infuriating just the same!

[Reply #4 on:]

I can't understand the US 'pre-emptive' culture. In the UK schedules are pretty much rock solid and the only time something get bumped is because of a national disaster.

Now if only "The world's <blankiest> <blank>" was classed as a national disaster, we'd all be happy!

[Reply #5 on:]

In the U.S., reliable, high quality shows are often preempted because executives think that they can fool some viewers into watching whatever flash in the pan show they're working on at that time. IMHO, has there ever been a decent show that has preempted another one and gotten sucessful? Anyone? Honestly, I think somebody should do a survey or something.

[Reply #6 on:]

Policies vary by network.  FOX doesn't have to pre-empt Futurama, but they do so (probably because they don't like the show).  You'll notice that if a game runs long on CBS, they NEVER pre-empt "60 Minutes".  They show all of that program, beginning at the end of the game. 

Of course, 60 Minutes has top 20 ratings, while Futurama ranks about 80th. 

[Reply #7 on:]

Must.....kill...FOX!

[Reply #8 on:]

Futurama is caught in a vicous circle.

1: Futurama gets bad ratings.
2: It's because FOX doesn't give it advertising and gives Futurama a bad time slot.
3: Therefore, Futurama gets bad ratings.
4:Therefore, FOX doesn't give it advertising and gives Futurama a bad time slot.

How does Futurama escape?

[Reply #9 on:]

 

Originally posted by wiggles:
I can't understand the US 'pre-emptive' culture. In the UK schedules are pretty much rock solid and the only time something get bumped is because of a national disaster.

Are you kidding?  In the last few months schedules in the UK have been pissed about by the Commonwealth Games, the World Cup, Wimbledon, snooker, Open golf, need I go on?

Getting back on topic, I have to say for the moment I don't see what the big fuss is, as the episodes of Futurama that were pre-empted were reruns.

The question is what will happen when McSeason 5 actually gets underway.  If those episodes are pre-empted, then you have a problem.

[Reply #10 on:]

 

By PCC Fred:
Getting back on topic, I have to say for the moment I don't see what the big fuss is, as the episodes of Futurama that were pre-empted were reruns.

Yeah they're reruns, but it still pisses me off. I mean, the NFL thing pisses us off enough, but here they're pre-empting it for movies and even for some fucking Spy Kids special. I mean what the hell.

And most networks show their saturday morning previews on FRIDAY, the night before the premieres, so the short attention spanned kids will remember to watch. FOX goes completely out of its way to screw Futurama. I'm not surprised or anything, but grrr.

[Reply #11 on:]

Eh, at least you get it shown at all. You'd have something to complain about if you were forced to go through dodgy FTPs just to see new episodes.

[Reply #12 on:]

I kind of agree with Fishy Joe. I can stand the pre-emptions on a normal basis and understand that it happens. But in the case of Futurama it gets difficult to take after awhile. The pre-emptions are just another little thing in a long string of problems over at Fox.
Shortening the season, no advertising, bad time slot, late start, sporadic schedules and pre-emptions all contribute to the ill feelings that I think we all feel over the situation. If they were commited to Futurama (see That 80's Show) it wouldn't take much to find time to give the show proper support. We will never all get what we want in terms of when the show will be on but give it a consistant time slot and keep it regular is all that I am asking for. Even if it was at 7pm every Sunday I could live with but don't pre-empt it and if you are move it to another night of the week and let fans know when it will be on. I don't watch Fox that often but when I do (for Futurama and Simpsons reruns during the week) I cannot recall a time when I have seen a promo spot for it and yet I think I have seen promo's for every other show on their lineup.
OK, so now with the new season upon us they are going back to their roots and programming Sunday night as their comedy night. You have got a powerhouse show on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the form of Amercian Idol (and whatever you may think of the show it still brings in viewers good or bad) that is the perfect oppurtunity to hype this new Sunday line-up. Just mention that it starts at 7pm with Futurama - it is that simple. Typically they say it all starts at 8pm with the Simpsons and totally disregard the early start of 7pm. If they are not going to promote the time slot what is the point of programming so early?
RM

[Reply #13 on:]

 

Originally posted by Bendo:
You have got a powerhouse show on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the form of Amercian Idol (and whatever you may think of the show it still brings in viewers good or bad) that is the perfect oppurtunity to hype this new Sunday line-up. Just mention that it starts at 7pm with Futurama - it is that simple. Typically they say it all starts at 8pm with the Simpsons and totally disregard the early start of 7pm.

 

Originally posted by animationmagazine:
Fox Looks To The Hills
Variety reports that Twentieth Century Fox TV will give its animated series King of the Hill a much-deserved marketing push. [...] Fox is hoping its fall 8-10 p.m. comedy block, consisting of The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Malcolm in the Middle and the new The Grubbs, will compete well against other Sunday performers like The Sopranos.

[Reply #14 on:]

The bigger slap in the face is that they didn't move Futurama to 7:30 to avoid the pre-emption by the kiddie preview.  Instead we get two king of the hills, one at 7:30 and another at 8:30.  What a great idea, more KOTH, that's what I want.

[Reply #15 on:]

Kill tham all, live in a cave.

Oh, PCCFred, things in the UK are not normally preempted for sport, rather than there is a scheduled break for sporting events. The only time things get put off for sport is if the event over-runs.

[Reply #16 on:]

And over-running sport is such a RARE occurrance...

And as it happens, shows DO get pre-empted in the UK, although it's usually on a regional basis.  I remember an episode of Voyager being shown in the rest of the UK getting cancelled (not postponed, CANCELLED) in Wales, becuase there was a rugby match bewteen two French teams...

[Reply #17 on:]

 

Originally posted by *Bendo*:
*cannot recall a time when I have seen a promo spot for it and yet I think I have seen promo's for every other show on their lineup*

For a local spot for the affiliate here in Indy(I don't know the station number, I'm originally from Ohio), the Fox affiliate did a quick little commerical featuring clips from all Fox shows. Surprise, surprise! There
was an actual Futurama clip in it! It lasted about less than a second, but I was so overjoyed, I must have frightened the people I was with when I saw it.

(BTW, the clip was of Fry screaming after burning his finger in "I Second That Emotion". It was that short, but, still, it was more ad time for Futurama than I've seen before here.)

[Reply #18 on:]

"every little thing she does..."

[Reply #19 on:]

Hey at least it isnt the NEW episodes that are being pre-empted  (at least not yet)

[Reply #20 on:]

But it forms a disturbing trend. Pre-empting an award-winning comedy-show, to show what's on for kids next Saturday. And pre-empting it for a movie everybody in the Western hemisphere has seen twice over already.

[Reply #21 on:]

Even these pre-emptions I can stand. This is normal behavior for all television stations in the US. There is usually a few weeks of shows, the cast gets a couple of weeks off and the network will either show reruns or do special event type programming like movies or other filler type shows.
Pre-empting it for their Fox-Box was terrible I think. Even though the demographic for Fox's Sunday night line-up is fairly young I would not consider it 'family' style entertainment. The Fox-Box was aimed more at family style viewers that would be similar to ABC's World of Disney programming. I agree that this is something that would have been better suited for Friday night instead of almost a full week before these shows would even be on.
RM

[Reply #22 on:]

 

Originally posted by wiggles:
I can't understand the US 'pre-emptive' culture. In the UK schedules are pretty much rock solid and the only time something get bumped is because of a national disaster.

Yeah, same thing here in Sweden. Just about the only thing to delay or remove the programme is if some sport like icehockey or soccer game goes to overtime just before it...

[Reply #23 on:]

I'm with Torq. Usually if a sporting event is on then the schedule accounts for it. It is very rare that they just stop showing a program, and especially on such a regular basis.

And anyway, don't complain Fred. Schedules are moved around to fit in F1 races too. The Canadian GP saw Coronation Street moved back 20 minutes this year, and that is one of ITV's biggest ratings winners.

For a show to get pre-empted on such a regular basis is ridiculous. They should account for such regular overruns in their schedules, but still it gives them a half-hour slot to put some program they don't like in. It's called the near-death slot.

[Reply #24 on:]

... sometimes I want to WAAAAAAAAAAAA run away ....

F orces
O utrageous
X tinction

 

[Reply #25 on:]

 

Originally posted by Archie2K:
And anyway, don't complain Fred. Schedules are moved around to fit in F1 races too. The Canadian GP saw Coronation Street moved back 20 minutes this year, and that is one of ITV's biggest ratings winners.

Ooh, 20 minutes, I'm sure the brain-dead rabble who watch Corrie suffered unbearably during those 20 minutes...

Besides, live coverage of the 2000 US race was dropped in FAVOUR of Corrie...