The decline in most television shows this year

Why are we seeing so many shows that have returned for a season this year begin to decline in quality. I am aware of the writers strike that occurred in 2009 I believe but we are still seeing a steady decline in so many shows. The most obvious being Family Guy (the latest season to just begin is terrible), Curb your enthusiasm, Its always sunny in philadelphia, The simpsons (going down hill for a long time now, but now at an all time low) and I think even Chuck has began to decline. Some shows are relatively fresh and it seems like they have dumbed down the characters the minute the show picked up an increased following, why? Im guessing to appeal to the masses

Any opinions?

I don't know. I don't watch television at all. There are some old movies and programs online I watch. That's about it. Everything has been done already for me.

reply to post by q_ball


I quit watching Family Guy a good while back. I just lost interest.

I still watch The Simpsons and still find it pretty entertaining.

Going through my weekly TV schedule:

House hasn't been so good this season.
The Event is okay, but not as good as expected.
Law and Order: SVU has actually been pretty good, so far.
South Park has been funny but not hilarious.
Fringe has been okay.
Don't watch anything on Friday now that this season of Haven is over.
Nothing on Saturday.
Simpsons and Boardwalk Empire (which is absolutely awesome) on Sunday.

So, all in all, it's been a pretty average season so far. Some good, some not so good. 'Bout the best you can really expect, I guess.


-TheAssoc.

Let's face it, shows run their course. Shows like Family Guy and Simpsons have really run past their prime. I still enjoy them, but it's not "must see tv".

Another issue is that Networks are not giving shows much time to find an audience....it's do or die lately...with them canceling anything not pulling in over 4 million viewers or more, at the drop of a hat.

reply to post by Gazrok


maybe thats why they are dumbing things down just to get the ratings higher? Would make sense. I think the writers strike can now be ruled out also but with the GFC now hitting harder i think writers would be wanting work and not willing to strike or continue to writer lower quality type of shows/eps.

Originally posted by Romantic_Rebel
I don't know. I don't watch television at all. There are some old movies and programs online I watch. That's about it. Everything has been done already for me.

So why respond? Just to let us know that you're better than those of us who do watch tv?
Everything has been done ... but you are vastly superior and don't watch tv, so how do you know that Everything has been done?
...
They use words on network tv that this site would ban. When ever some female star states the she's going to, "pee her pants", I tune to another program and never watch that series again, same with, "brown pants moment", that took mythbusters off my list.

I don't think it's fair to say "everything has been done before"...I mean, when I saw Shatner singing "I'm Too Sexy" at Karaoke on &%$# My Dad Says....THAT hasn't been seen before....hehe...

There are many reasons that TV shows decline:

1. The age of the series is probably the biggest reason. When shows like the Simpsons first appeared, they were fresh. Now after 22 years, it is something predictable. Family Guy was also quite different its first three seasons, but it has not gotten back the original zest I liked about them in its current form.

2. In the USA, television shows produce at least 22 episodes a season, and that can diminish the quality of the shows. Seasons of 13 to 16 episodes should be considered, as those shows do not have to recycle the same plots.

3. It has all been done before. Let's face it, every plot out there has been done a hundred times for each of the thousands of shows on and those that have been on before. I think many writers get into a rut, and just fall back on the most reliable plots out there.

4. More shows now than ever before. With four networks and a netlet, plus cable channels now making shows, there is a bigger variety out there for people. Unfortunately, there are so many really good writers to work on the scripts.

So here is how to fix it:

Limit sitcoms to five seasons at 20 episodes each. That way they will have 100 to syndicate.

Limit dramas to 13 to 16 episodes each season. They can last longer, but after 100 episodes should think about calling it a day.

I officially retract my statement about House not being so good this season. This week's episode was actually pretty entertaining. Hopefully, it'll stay that way.


-TheAssoc.

I still watch "Family Guy", they still have some hits every now and then, but it's nowhere near as funny as it used to be. I usually laugh more during "The Cleveland Show".

I think "Fringe" is as good as it's ever been.

"South Park" has been fairly consistent. I often forget about "The Simpsons" but I would watch it if I remembered.

I feel that "Chuck" is getting better and better. This monday's episode was my favorite! It was so funny!

Two shows that always have me laughing are FX's "Archer" and Adult Swim's "Venture Brothers". I forget about "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" although I do enjoy it.

But I was one of the people who would say Season 1 of Lost was absolutely brilliant and was never the same again when they got rid of all of their best writers and brought in Carlton Cuse to crap on it. A lot of people disagree with me on that.

So I suppose I disagree with you, mostly everything I enjoy is still really entertaining me. The biggest TV disappointments for me were the post-season one episodes for "Lost" and "Heroes".

reply to post by MrAndy


I'll agree with you that season 1 of Lost is certainly the best. Same with Heroes. Unlike Lost though, which was a more steady decline (but still must see tv), Heroes went downhill very quickly (and I quickly lost interest in it).

I know we're mainly discussing fictional shows here, but the new season of Pawn Stars has started and, so far, it's as good as ever. Check it out if you need something to watch.


-TheAssoc.

reply to post by Gazrok


Heroes definitely went sour harder and faster. I stuck with Lost all the way through but gave up on Heroes in it's final season.

reply to post by MrAndy


Yep, me too. That whole carnival thing was just WAY too left field...a real jumping the shark moment....

reply to post by Gazrok


I did like the Adam Monroe character (the one that Hiro met in ancient japan that could heal himself and live forever) and a few times it looked like it might be going in an interesting direction but every storyline just failed miserably. It was really all over the place and it didn't look as though they planned things out well. They teased turning Sylar into a good guy a few times, show us his soft side, and then immediately cement him as a bad person again. They started turning Mohinder into a villain also, then made him good again, and then he disappeared from the show. The writing was just a complete mess, and it's sad because season 1 was so promising, and established really interesting characters.

Both shows should have really stuck with the writers that made each Season 1's a success.

reply to post by MrAndy


Yep, Sylar made a great villain, then they mucked around with it too much. HRG was also at his best when he was the intimidating agent guy vs. the family guy. I think these types of shows hit their prime way faster than something like a sitcom, etc. These serial dramas should probably be limited to two to three seasons, depending on how well they maintain their momentum and audience.

I'm kind of happy to see sitcoms making a return to tv. Seems like they were pretty scarce for a few years. Big Bang Theory, @#$& My Dad Says, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, etc. are all great examples.

Some of the lesser networks and Cable networks are fielding some good ones too. We actually got HBO just for True Blood and SHO just for Dexter. I can't miss Warehouse 13 on SciFi. So there are bright spots.

I've stopped watching because there really isn't anything interesting or new on lately. Just seems like spin offs from old serieses. Originality has died. All I watch these days is the history channel,discovery and bbc.

reply to post by Gazrok


I agree with you about sitcoms! For too long it was just reality show after reality show taking over prime time. I haven't really formed an interest in any of the sitcoms, though I enjoy reruns of "Two and a Half Men" and "Everybody Loves Raymond" on occasion. I know that shows like "Two and a Half Men" and "Big Bang Theory" are immensely popular. The "family values" sitcoms like Family Matters, Home Improvement, Full House and the like are pretty dead though. There is no room for them on network television these days.