Tuesday, May 12, 2015

The Summer of Me: Perry is safe, but schedule is underused


Well, MeTV’s summer information is in, and I must say, for drama fans who were hoping for something new on the schedule, this is probably the dullest Summer of Me they’ve had. They’re getting rid of a couple of their dramas to make way for some more comedies. The only real changes on the schedule are that Star Trek is leaving the weekday schedule to make way for a double dose of Emergency!, CHiPs is being booted in order for Gilligan’s Island and Hogan’s Heroes to move up on the schedule, and the evening comedy block is changing every weeknight. Most of the shows in the evening block are changing; most are comedies being switched out for other comedies, with the exception of The Twilight Zone, which they’re taking away again. 

Those are literally the only schedule changes I can see. Thankfully, nothing affects either showing of Perry. And interestingly, the Mystery Movie is staying. I wonder if they’ll possibly add some other detectives to the line-up, though.

I also wonder why they keep messing with The Twilight Zone. Not only is it a consistently popular series in general, but it’s made it to the final rounds of their Me Madness twice in a row now. Obviously people want it. So why on Earth not let them have it?

It would seem that MeTV doesn’t want to listen to their fanbase. It took them a year to get Star Trek on more than once a week, even though it won last year’s Me Madness. Now they’re already sending it packing to once a week again. Not to mention, they can’t even add one drama but instead have to let one of their existing shows get a two-hour block? And The Twilight Zone has bounced on and off their schedule so much in the last couple of years it’s dizzying.

The only other explanation I can think of for at least part of what they’re doing is that their Me Madness is not an accurate representation of the entire fanbase, which is what I’ve felt for a long time. If so, why even do it? Just as a gimmick, I suppose. I had thought maybe they were using it to figure out what the fans liked best. While they keep some of that in mind, it doesn’t seem like they keep all of it in mind.

I’m glad both Perry showings are staying right where they are. But I’m really disappointed that they’re not adding anything other than more comedies. Usually they try to have a mixture of genres represented. I look forward to their seasonal changes each time, hoping for returning favorites or new favorites. Usually there’s something I’m excited about. But I can’t find myself too chuffed about Laverne and Shirley, Happy Days, and even more of The Brady Bunch than they already show. Also, they’re doing their evening comedy block as a two-hour thing. That’s four episodes of one single show every weeknight. I thought at least they’d do two episodes of one and two of another.

Overall, this seems like a very uncreative and wasteful way to run a summer schedule.

This isn’t the 300th blog post I expected to write, either. But we can certainly celebrate Perry’s continuing presence on MeTV. That’s an exciting and pleasing thing.

8 comments:

  1. Since when does any network listen lol? *shrug* They do whatever makes them money these days. Aside from the XF revival. Got a date for it now! January 24th at 10pm and January 25th at 8pm, and on Mondays at 8pm from then on. For once, Fox did something smart.

    Glad Perry will still be shown over the summer :).

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    1. Pretty much, although it seems that airing the most popular shows would be the way to get them the most money.

      Interesting. That's cool that the dates are set. But wait a minute ... doesn't Gotham air Mondays at 8 (well, 7 for Central and Mountain times)? It's been renewed for a second season and will be keeping its current timeslot.

      Yes, at least MeTV is doing that right. Man, I'm still disappointed about this summer schedule. I can't understand why they're not doing multiple genres, like usual, and instead focusing only on comedies. I hope that isn't a sign of things to come.

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  2. Yep.

    I think that Gotham is on hiatus during that time. XF seems to be filling in for it.

    Definitely. It's frustrating in that regard, but maybe they're doing that since a lot of people are on vacation and maybe they won't be watching as much tv? I hope that it isn't either.

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    1. That's a long hiatus.

      Possibly, I guess. But they always had more interesting summer schedules before. Not to mention, they usually added a little something in spring and this year they didn't do that, either. I wonder if I should be worried.... Maybe they're not getting enough money to warrant bringing in more shows....

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  3. Yep it is.

    Maybe. Kind of sucks if that's the case.

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    1. Yeah, it would be worrisome for the future of MeTV if so.

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  4. Why mess with twilight zone? It is popular with fans and never gets old because of the great acting and quality of the show. Bring it back!!

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    1. Yeah, seriously. I certainly wonder what MeTV is thinking!

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