What did NBC do right and what did NBC do wrong for its 2012 cancellations? If you agree (or disagree), sound off in the comments!
What NBC Did Right
NBC did the right thing renewing Community, 30 Rock, Parks & Rec, and Whitney. Whitney might’ve started out as slutty girl humor about a commitment-phobic hipster but it turned into Mad About You meets Friends while addressing issues surrounding gender (the contradictory expectation that women lose weight in natural places but gain it in unnatural ones), race (the racial compliment that really isn’t), and male sexuality (yes, men also question their sexual identity). It might not get a season two renewal, but it definitely deserved another shot.
NBC did the right thing bringing Community, 30 Rock and Parks & Rec for 13 episodes each (although Parks & Rec might have 22) . I’ve continuously raged about networks forcing shows into 22 episodes that didn’t need it. 13 is a happy medium. In fact, The Cape might’ve survived if they released 4 eps a year. Additionally, I’m glad they’re giving us the opportunity at closure for 30 Rock and Community. I’ve always wanted Community to have four seasons to book-end the experience (will it get a fifth? probably not, but four years of Community College is what the characters signed on for). Whenever I get attached to shows, NBC typically axes them unceremoniously. So, I’m glad that 30 Rock and Community will return net season. Will they return the season after that? who knows. But I’ll enjoy the ride.
NBC did the right thing killing Are You There, Chelsea? and Harry’s Law. Despite Laura Prepon‘s presence, Chelsea reduced the Handler’s snarky humor to one-dimensional slutty girl humor. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, it was not.
Ditto for Harry’s Law. When the show premiered, it gave us a realistic alternative to the over-glorified sleek corporate trial lawyers by featuring bottom feeder, storefront attorneys. Despite Tommy Jefferson’s corny ads and Harry’s guilty clients who paid by pennies, I saw honesty, reality and humility. Most of all, I saw originality. Most shows featuring a minority cast set in an imporverished neighborhood, Harry’s Law didn’t stray from the negative effects of assault and didn’t stereotype the African-American characters as one-dimensional thugs. Most shows about an uptown lawyer settling in an inner city environment reduce the locals to sappy Hallmark cards while elevating the lead to a savior. Harry’s Law didn’t do that. I LOVED Harry’s Law first season for its unique premise, its smart minority cast and its ability to avoid the sexy high level mold. So, when the second season appeared, inexplicably torpedoing EVERYTHING ORIGINAL about the show, including the minority cast members, I wiped my hands.
Although they received the axe, NBC did the right thing giving The Firm and Awake, time to find an audience.
For what NBC did wrong, read on.
What NBC Did Wrong
NBC did the wrong thing cancelling Best Friends Forever and Bent. They over-publicized Whitney and Chelsea to the point of burning money. So, when two well-written, well-produced and well-acted shows (from day one) appeared in the Spring season, NBC barely publicized them with one commercial, let alone four. Because I never knew what night or time Best Friends Forever appeared, I took to watching it on Hulu. And, it was funny. Very funny. Damn funny. So, funny I became addicted and didn’t suspect NBC would consider cancelling it. Best Friends Forever surrounds two former roommates: one moved out to marry her dream man, eschewing former friends, while the other remained in their old apartment with her boyfriend and her brother’s bar around the corner. Three years later, the friend who sacrificed her life for her husband, returns broken after receiving his divorce petition. Then, the humor began. Like Harry’s Law’s first season, Best Friends Forever incuded an honest, kickass funny script that didn’t scrimp on showing (or mocking) life’s ugly emotions. Finally, a show about women, not focused on their wardrobe, hair or makeup. And, NBC cancelled it. Nice.
NBC did the wrong thing shifting Community to Friday nights. After the mid-season hiatus, that is the absolute middle finger death knell. Seriously, do they WANT to give Dan Harmon ANOTHER spaz attack? Additionally, potentially not renewing Dan Harmon’s contract, after renewing his show which just received syndication, is the dumbest thing ever. Harmon’s mad, crazy, Alice In Wonderland vision is what made us cult-like believers in the first place. Getting rid of our Jim Jones now will take away our savior and the show’s heart. And, don’t get me started about their shifting Up All Night to Thursday, instead.
Honestly, NBC’s Wednesday comedy hour could’ve worked, but only if they used strong comedies like Best Friends Forever, Bent, the newly re-tooled Whitney and Up All Night and publicized the block together. Heck, they could’ve made Wednesday night into Estrogen night.
NBC is faltering. NBC is now the CBS of the ’90s. But, rather than trying to recapture its ’90s success, it should continue to identify its unique voice. It has a lot of good shows, but the dramas didn’t work because they lacked heart. Awake and The Firm were about the concept but not the characters.
Kudos to NBC for giving Awake, The Firm, Chelsea, Whitney and Up All Night a chance to find an audience. But jeers for not even doing a low-cost internet marketing campaign for Best Friends Forever and Bent. According to its NBC site, BFF will return in June. I hope that’s true.
Any bets for NBC’s 2012-2013 successes?
Clacked by An Nicholson 
on May 16, 2012 @ 13:37 EST5EDT
