The TV thread

Inky_Wretch · May 15, 2013

CBS seems to be banking on famous faces this fall.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-207_162-57584564/cbs-unveils-2013-2014-schedule-with-a-new-slate-of-comedy-drama/

Mizzougrad96 · May 15, 2013

Pete said:

Mizzougrad96 said:

Versatile said:

Mizzougrad96 said:

NBC would have to be complete idiots to axe Community or Parks and Rec since both are pretty close to the windfall that comes with syndication.
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Does that still matter anymore? I can think of several shows in recent years that hit syndication before reaching 100 episodes.
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Several?

I know of a few, who were right in the 80-90 show range that went into syndication anyway... Rules of Engagement did, I think My Name is Earl did...

The thing is, when a show gets past the syndication number, it becomes incredibly profitable for the network, especially if the show doesn't have a super expensive cast. It's the reason why a few pretty bad/mediocre shows like According to Jim and Yes, Dear lasted as long as they did on the network.

I think Community and Parks and Rec will do really well in syndication, especially since there are a lot of people who didn't watch during the first couple seasons and both have cult-like followings...
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Just to clarify a bit, the networks don't own the shows they air and therefore don't make anything when those shows are syndicated (i.e. the "back end" profits). It's the TV studios that make and own the shows. Networks pay a per-episode licensing fee to the studios to air the shows, essentially leasing them. The networks generally make their money by selling ads on the shows for more than they pay to license them. That's it.

It can sometimes work out as you surmise, though, because each of the networks -- or more specifically their parent companies -- have their own TV studio. Those studios' first job is to ideally create content that can run on their sister network. However those network-affiliated studios can also sell their shows to a different network, generally after giving the in-house network a right of first refusal. CBS TV Studios is the only one of the four (also ABC TV Studios, Universal (NBC) Television, and 20th Century Fox TV) which won't sell its shows anywhere but its home network.

There are also two main studios which are owned by other conglomerates -- Warner Brothers and Sony. They are not affiliated with a major network, though Time Warner (Warner Brothers) owns half of the CW. That makes six major studios in all. There are also a number of production companies that partner with the studios, generally associated with prominent writers or stars.

"Community" and "Parks & Rec" are indeed made/owned by Universal Television, the TV studio of NBC/Universal, so there could well be corporate reasons encouraging them to stay on the air because another corporate sibling would be getting the syndication money. But I'd say that this arrangement, i.e. a network airing a show made/owned by the studio that is its direct affiliate, happens roughly 60% of the time. It is definitely not universal. (Not to be confused with Universal.)

Just for a few quick examples, "Modern Family" is made by Sony. So ABC/Disney doesn't get any of that syndication money. The new cop comedy "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" that Fox just picked up, which stars Andy Samberg and is written by Michael Schur and Dan Goor from "Parks & Rec," is actually from Universal Television. So if it's a big hit, the syndication $$ will go to an NBC-affiliated company, not to Fox/NewsCorp.

Re: syndication, you can sell "second runs," third runs, fourth runs, etc., for differing amounts of money. And you don't need to wait until you have 100 episodes. Modern Family actually made its first syndication deal in Nov. 2010, early in its second season. That deal is to show second-run episodes on USA starting this fall, which will be after the show has completed four seasons. That would be about 85-90 shows. Glee also made its first syndication deal when it was just starting its second season, to air on Oxygen. I'm not sure when that will start if it hasn't already.

Modern Family will probably air on USA for a few seasons, then start coming to a local broadcast station near you, and/or another cable channel. All for varying amounts of cash. None of which will go to ABC.
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That's a good explanation... Obviously, these days there are different levels of syndication... Modern Family is going to make a fortune in syndication, because that and Big Bang Theory are the most popular comedies to come out in the last 5-6 years and both have very loyal fan bases.

USA seems to be trying to do with NCIS what TBS/TNT used to do with Law and Order. It's always on, sometimes several times a day... Not that I'm complaining... I love the show...

My So-Called Life and Freaks and Geeks only lasted one season each, but you can still watch those shows... I don't know if that is technically called syndication or if IFC or whoever just bought the rights to the show...

dreunc1542 · May 16, 2013

imjustagirl said:

I'm going through the first three seasons on Netflix, just to catch back up. I keep forgetting how much I loved Buster.
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I hope you've seen this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QBcPE8m__Ws#!.

imjustagirl · May 16, 2013

dreunc1542 said:

imjustagirl said:

I'm going through the first three seasons on Netflix, just to catch back up. I keep forgetting how much I loved Buster.
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I hope you've seen this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QBcPE8m__Ws#!.
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That is still the creepiest scene in a really creepy movie.

DanOregon · May 17, 2013

So Modern Family reruns will be on moving to USA...
http://www.deadline.com/2013/05/modern-family-gets-cable-style-makeover-for-launch-on-usa-network-video/

Versatile · May 19, 2013

Bob Odenkirk is the most wonderful ubiquitous actor. I completely forgot he was the marriage counselor in Arrested Development.

Steak Snabler · May 19, 2013

Versatile said:

Bob Odenkirk is the most wonderful ubiquitous actor. I completely forgot he was the marriage counselor in Arrested Development.
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He was also on Seinfeld as Elaine's doctor boyfriend who couldn't pass his medical boards until they quit having sex.

Versatile · May 19, 2013

Yes, I knew that one. He plays a doctor in NewsRadio, the weird porno guy in Curb Your Enthusiasm, Marshall's boss in How I Met Your Mother, Larry's agent in The Larry Sanders Show and Philadelphia Michael Scott in The Office. And of course he plays Saul Goodman, probably his most memorable role, in Breaking Bad.

Why hasn't he had his own show yet, Mr. Show aside?

dreunc1542 · May 19, 2013

They're considering having his Saul Goodman character spin off into its own show.

Wenders · May 19, 2013

For fans of Don't Trust the B, the last 8 episodes are now on Hulu.

I have so much TV to watch from the last few weeks. It's a good thing that I'm graduated and presently unemployed.

Mizzougrad96 · May 20, 2013

I just noticed that CBS didn't pick up the pilot for NCIS: Red. According to Deadline, they may re-cast and try again next year.

I thought they had a decent start with John Corbett and Kim Raver... The rest of the cast seemed kind of shitty...

It says a lot when a spinoff from the most popular show in the country doesn't get picked up...

Buck · May 20, 2013

Versatile said:

Yes, I knew that one. He plays a doctor in NewsRadio, the weird porno guy in Curb Your Enthusiasm, Marshall's boss in How I Met Your Mother, Larry's agent in The Larry Sanders Show and Philadelphia Michael Scott in The Office. And of course he plays Saul Goodman, probably his most memorable role, in Breaking Bad.

Why hasn't he had his own show yet, Mr. Show aside?
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He was also on 'The Ben Stiller Show.'

And 'Mr. Show' is still genius.

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The TV thread

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