Futurama needs a "rub"

I think it was during the 3rd season of the Simpson that Fox made a bold move and put it against Cosby on Thursday. This pushed the Simpsons into the primetime spotlight and the rest his history. I think Futurama should take the Simpsons Sun. 8pm timeslot. The Simpsons could then be moved to a night where there's more competition.

GabaGimpy wrote:

What Fox needs to do is move "The X-Files" to another night. (Say, replace "Boot Camp" or "Police Videos" with it.) Then, move all four Sunday shows back an hour. That way, Futurama would have the 8PM (and very nice) slot; and Sunday night really would be all comedy. Unfortunately, Fox thinks that police videos are the epitome of entertainment and this is one tradition that it seems will never end...

== Mike Reed

On Thu, 26 Apr 2001 18:27:17 -0600, Mike Reed wrote:

For me, they could replace Boot Camp, Police Videos and most of the rest of the reality shows with reruns of Manimal and it would be a step up. There's a great reality show right near my house. It's called "Reality". I just go to a mall or other public place and open my eyes. It's just like I'm actually there except I am there.

As for the X-Files, it's due for an honored spot in "The stars are leaving, let's wrap this up before they start to call it Radar O'Rielly and friends center for overextended network programming." I think there's a great spot in the "Jerry Sienfeld knew the perfect time to take a bow hall."

Americas Most Violent Police Videos run because it's cheap. Real cheap. Plus it makes the police look like heros so Fox scores big "community service points" which the FCC likes.

The video is created by the various police depts to document arrests. All they need to do is edit them together and throw on narration. If the police weren't handing the tapes over, they could be forced under the freedom of information act.

They seem to have an understanding that the Police help the network and the network only airs tapes that the police look ok in. They never use racial epitaphs, rarely curse, never beat a suspect, don't kick in the wrong door and rough up innocent people etc.

Likewise, Zapp Brannigan's show Rescue 411.

--Larry

On Thu, 26 Apr 2001 18:27:17 -0600, Mike Reed wrote:

And their promos wouldn't sound as weird.

[High, "wacky" voice] Stay tuned for all-new episodes of "Futurama", "King of the Hill", "The Simpsons", "Malcolm in the Middle" and [low, serious voice] an all-new episode of "The X-Files".

But Futurama did have the 8:30 Sunday timeslot, right after The Simpsons, thus getting The Simpsons boost. And Futurama flopped in that timeslot. That's why they moved Futurama to 7:00 and put Malcolm in the Middle after The Simpsons instead. It doesn't really matter what timeslot Futurama is in, it is still going to do poorly, because it is the kind of show that attracts a very loyal, but very small cult following. And Fox knows this. So why would they screw around with a show that does get good ratings, The Simpsons, for the sake of a show that they know does poorly even in a good time slot like Futurama. If Futurama could pull in good ratings they would have left it at 8:30.

Can somebody point me to the actual Nielsen or Arbitron numbers? I was under the impression that Futurama did quite well in its original, after Simpsons time slot (even beat Simpsons with the debut episode), but was put through various hiatuses and moves to bad time slots because of stupid network politics.

Personally, I'd like to see Futurama and King of the Hill swap time slots. Futurama would still dove tail into Simpsons better than Hank Hill does.

DGH

doug holverson wrote:

Yea as I recall it did well at 8:30pm. But I think 8:30 is better then 7:30 The difference of one hour would have let them run "A Tale of Two Santas" without any "Too Violent for the timeslot" Crap. FOX has standards, who'd have thought?

"Mike Zaite" wrote in message news:[email]...

let them

Crap. FOX has

I'm still not convinced by that excuse. I've got a feeling it has more to do with some tight-ass thinking that a majority of us would be appalled at a violent Santa being a staple of the 31st century. I can see where they might have let it get by once, thinking it was a one-time deal but objected when a second appearance made it clear this was the *normal* conception of Santa Claus in the future. About the only thing worse might be putting Jesus on public access...Fox sure has sunk a long way since Married With Children. One might even think they were mainstream now.

LooseChanj wrote:

You don't have to be. FOX isn't interested in your opinion. They won't show the episode. You have to live with it if you want to buy there line or not. But that's their official line.

"Mike Zaite" wrote in message news:[email]...

show the

But

I'd be offended by this, except I know it's true. But I don't give a shit, "too violent for time slot" is a crock. Eh, whatever.

Are there any #'s to back this up? What were Futurama's ratings compared to Malcomb's?

In alt.tv.futurama, on the "Re: Futurama needs a "rub"" thread, petben wrote:

I don't have the specific numbers, but I do recall "Malcolm" pulling better ratings than "Futurama." Not much better, mind you, but from the network's point of view every little bit counts.