Why oh why do networks do stupid things?Anyone who's seen The Knights of Prosperity (and judging by the ratings, there's not many of us) knows that it's of the quirky single-camera style that would have fit perfectly on NBC's Thursday lineup. It's a comedy that is often very funny, but from time to time -- last night's episode being an example -- will throw in a complete clunker. But I'm already starting to care about the characters in the "gang," and some of the situations they get themselves in have been very funny. It's a show that has potential, and needs some time to find its creative stride.
So, what does ABC do with the show? It puts it at 8:30 on Wednesdays, sandwiched between two aging and by-the-numbers sitcoms, George Lopez and According to Jim.
I can almost understand the network's logic behind moving Knights into this spot; both shows are proven ratings draws (although we all know that According to Jim's continued success is one of the world's greatest mysteries, right up there with the extinction of the dodo), and maybe fans of Lopez and Jim will stay tuned for Knights. Problem is, the people who like Knights and not the other two shows -- like me -- find it hard to tune to the show when it's at the bottom of the hour.
All the shows on against Knights are hour-long shows. Am I supposed to turn off Friday Night Lights, for instance, halfway through to watch Knights? Of course not. So, I'd imagine most people who want to watch the show end up recording it, forgetting it, or skipping it, none of which is helping its ratings.
That's what makes the NBC Thursday comedy block all the more remarkable; four comedies (Earl, The Office, Scrubs, 30 Rock), all single-camera, that flow well into one another. They all seem to complement each other and draw similar fans. No other network really has a block like this. ABC's other single-camera comedies (Big Day, In Case of Emergency) have been unfunny disasters, leaving Knights alone without a compatible lead-in or lead-out. But this current solution isn't working, either; I just can't see Lopez and Jim fans liking Knights or vice-versa.
Right now, the show's prospects aren't looking good, and it's a shame; creators Rob Burnett and Jon Beckerman have already proven that the robbery of Mick Jagger isn't the key to the show, and that they could potentially write adventures for the Knights that get bigger and sillier as the years go on. Unfortunately, I don't think they'll ever get the chance.
Think this show is going to make it into May? Will it even finish its run? Let me know in the comments.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-08-2007 @ 7:56PM
Dave said...
I thought last night's episode was funny. It wasn't the best episode of the run, but I still laughed out loud a number if times (I mean "Cats in the Cradle" sung in a foriegn language - c'mon you gotta laugh at that)
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2-08-2007 @ 8:16PM
David said...
ABC already canceled the show before it even aired because they cut the episode order from 13 to like 6.
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2-08-2007 @ 8:20PM
Herr Keller said...
Personally, i would would place Knights in front of Boston Legal. Then, for next fall i'd work on finding a similar style half hour comedy to make an hour block of fresh comedies before Alan and Denny Crane take the helm. I already tape BL (yes, i said tape) and watch it after Knights on Wednesdays. The two flow really well beside one another.
There's very little harm trying out different nights for comedies that aren't going to bring in any less or more of an audience than the other (whatever pish is currently before BL, and the developing Knights). But this is from a viewer's standpoint and not an exec's. I don't have to worry about break-even points and whatever else but it seems like a viable option.
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2-08-2007 @ 9:32PM
Nick said...
Really like this show. Characters are extremely likeable, and the plot or narrative is extremely unique and intriguing in my opinion. It's not your typical comedy (doesn't take place in an office or hospital) and I'd really love to see it continue and move on to other people. Just checking abc.com now, it's one of the Top 3 videos viewed on the site, so it's certianly doing well online. I remember reading they moved it to dodge the Death Star, but I agree this "comedy" block doesn't approach the coheisveness of NBC's.
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2-08-2007 @ 9:54PM
ac said...
ABC wouldn't just outright cancel it. They will cancel it, screw with the fans about putting the rest of the series online, make up a wierd excuse to not do it, take the other episodes off, and then 2 months later put the enite series online. How do I know? I was a Day Break fan.
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2-08-2007 @ 10:51PM
doug said...
I don't know which show this year has disappointed me more - Knights or Studio 60. When I heard about both shows, I couldn't wait to see them. But both shows just aren't very good. This is, in fact, is really bad. It is so much dumber than I thought it would be. I can really see why ABC practically buried it this year.
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2-08-2007 @ 11:12PM
Benjy said...
Simply put: I love this show!!! It has me in stitches every week... consistently. It's fresh and original and the comedy is top notch. The ensemble is hilarious and click so well together. I'd at least like to see them pull off the Jagger heist, and I'd love to see many seasons of this show if they're half as funny as what I've seen so far. Definitely the best show that people are not watching.
If ABC dumps "Knights", I'd love to see it go to another network or cable (Comedy Central, FX, Showtime, or HBO).
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2-08-2007 @ 11:31PM
Scott K said...
Knights is pretty good sometimes. I actually find In Case of Emergency entertaining too.
If ABC wanted to create a quality comedy block, they would have never canceled Sons & Daughters.
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2-08-2007 @ 11:51PM
MIke said...
Scott K- You are absolutely correct about Sons and Daughters. Knights is a great show...that will be canceled. If ABC wanted a comedy block, bring back "Help me, Help you" that was like "Curb" for network.
doug- bashing Studio 60 is the chic thing to do now. I never watched "Sports Night", "West Wing", or any other Sorkin shows, but I love Studio 60. Now I will visit the old series, if they might be half as good as Studio 60
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2-09-2007 @ 12:20AM
David said...
If you want comedy watch Sports Night. It's only 30 minutes long so there isn't as much filler. Plus at that time there wasn't that much preaching. STudio 60 is easily the worst show he created.
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2-09-2007 @ 7:58AM
Nuke said...
And let us not forget this show provided us with one of the best lines in recent years, if not ever:
"YES! These are some tasty-ass peanuts!"
Brilliant.
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2-09-2007 @ 8:14AM
Bill said...
I thought this episode was pretty decent. But this is the kind of show that never had a chance, ratings-wise. Think about Arrested Development. The criticism was that there was nobody likable, even though Michael and George Michael were perfectly good guys. In this one, all the characters are thieves, and, in this episode, we learn that one of them has illegitimate children by like a half dozen women that he's never met.
Personally, I enjoy shows like this, but it seems like middle america wants sitcoms with Richie Cunningham types.
http://popculturejunk.blogspot.com
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2-09-2007 @ 9:26AM
doug said...
Trust me - I want to love Studio 60, I still watch it each week - I am not trashing it because it is chic. You are in for a treat; Sorkin-era West Wing is miles better than Studio 60, and I simply loved Sports Night. It might have been ahead of its time, or perhaps on the wrong network.
Sons and Daughters - I really, really liked that show, and Knights just cannot hold a candle to it. I am guessing that it will suffer the same fate, but S&D deserved better. This is just so forgettable.
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2-09-2007 @ 10:17AM
Vito said...
This show was doomed from the moment it dropped its original and brilliant title, "Let's Rob Mick Jagger". I'd watch that show. Everyone would watch that show.
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2-09-2007 @ 7:21PM
mrsharkattack said...
long live The Knights!
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2-12-2007 @ 11:29AM
Hannah said...
David - the show has not been cancelled yet. And all 13 filmed episodes will be shown. ABC did not give them the go-ahead to film the remaining 9 episodes to give them a full 22-episode season. Still a chance they could go to Season 2 in the fall. It all depends whether or not more people will decide to tune in rather than watching the dreadful show killer American Idol.
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3-07-2007 @ 1:22PM
Stefanie said...
I can't believe that this show isn't loved by everyone on the planet. Literally EVERY OTHER thing they say is hysterical... EVERY actor has me crying in laughter. Seriously, what ISN'T funny about this show? I've never laughed so much. The Nielsen families obviously don't know what real comedy is if the ratings aren't high...
Oh and, if that dumb show American Idol is stealing all the viewers, ew. That show is the most horrible display of talent, let alone possibly the biggest waste of tv time ever. I'll give it to you, the first season was good. But it should've ended after that. Really.
WATCH KNIGHTS, EVERYONE!
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