Thursday 21 May 2009
Nine dominated prime-time last night with what is possibly the dullest, cheapest lineup in all of prime time, a travel show, a clip show and a football themed talk show – this is what attracts the viewers on a Thursday night folks.
Seven won the battle of the imports with Private Practice improving a healthy 67,000 week on week and giving Seven some hope that the show (which looked pretty screwed only a few weeks back) has a future.
No doubt they’re all being helped out by Criminal Intent, last night’s Vincent D’Onofrio episode lost 82,000 on the previous week’s Jeff Goldblum instalment, I have a theory, and it’s a crackpot theory, that the Goren episodes are actually turning viewers off because of the actor’s very noticeable weight gain. I don’t know, well see where this goes, but viewers seem to be cooling on this show, just a little!
8 comments:
With respect, I don't think it is anything to do with D'Onofrio's weight. Or his beard. Or his clothes. Or his hair ... I think the fall in viewer numbers might have more to do with the poor quality of script-writing this season (perhaps making for less enthusiastic performances from D'Onofrio than we are used to seeing?), as well as the way in which USA Network have decided to air the Goren/Eames episodes out of chronological order, thereby destroying the existing story arc.
This has alienated old fans and confused new ones.
D'Onofrio - for better or worse - used to BE "Criminal Intent." Now it seems he has been relegated to a supporting role, with most of the media attention and better scripts going to Goldblum.
USA have not exactly fallen over themselves to get audiences for the show. Six months late in premiering it, then very little publicity, finally pretty average writing. D'Onofrio is the ONLY thing worth watching in it (well, we do like Erbe too).
In case you are wondering, both comments so far are from British fans of the show, who have barely started seeing Season 7, and have to jump through all kinds of hoops to catch Season 8. There are a lot of us, along with others in mainland Eurpoe, and we don't even figure in the ratings.
Or even Europe
Imho, USA/NBC has ignored Mr. D'Onofrio and Ms. Erbe when it comes to promoting the show (and backing it for that matter). The atrocious treatment of the show, the stars AND the fans, USA is guilty of the less than stellar ratings.
Advertising and then pulling the show a week before the air date, the stalling and side stepping, the prolonged hiatus is what is to blame. All of that falls squarely on "The Powers That Be" at USA/NBC.
Now, USA/NBC is airing the shows out of sequence. Are they deliberately trying to kill the show????
There is a good solid fan base and a good solid show. What's up USA/NBC??? Why no answers/apologies???
Why is Law and order te only show where people worry over the star's weight. Nobody got excited over Andy in NYPD Blue. e watch because Vincent D'onfrio is a talented actor even with the lousy scripts he's getting.
They had A-list writers, now they have C or D List Writers that need to review the last two seasons to get a grip on the reality of the show.
USA is too busy promoting Jeff and ignoring the other half of the team. Time and talent will tell.
This comes from an American who sees the shows when they air.
However, if it bothers you so much--DON'T WATCH IT and find yourself a show you can compliment instead of criticize.
The true fans are still hanging in there in spite of USA's treatment of the show and stars.
Why is Law and order te only show where people worry over the star's weight. Nobody got excited over Andy in NYPD Blue. e watch because Vincent D'Onfrio is a talented actor even with the lousy scripts he's getting.
They had A-list writers, now they have C or D List Writers that need to review the last two seasons to get a grip on the reality of the show.
USA is too busy promoting Jeff and ignoring the other half of the team. Time and talent will tell.
This comes from an American who sees the shows when they air.
However, if it bothers you so much--DON'T WATCH IT and find yourself a show you can compliment instead of criticize.
The true fans are still hanging in there in spite of USA's treatment of the show and stars.
It certainly doesn't bother me but it does pull me out of the show a little.
One of the great strengths of all the Law & Orders is that even if you weren't watching it, you can be channel hopping, see something and be compelled to stick with the ep to it's conclusion.
D'Onofrio was definitely the centre of this show and one of the cheif reasons Law & Order has had staying power all these years, he has been a viewer magnet.
For good or ill, I think the decision (years ago) to make this series a dual-series (with much more cliched Mike Logan character) diluted the series' appeal and was definitely a factor in the move from NBC to USA Network (although in fairness here in Australia we have not noticed the difference - the show still has a good timeslot on a broadcast net here)
This year, however, we are three eps in (in Australia) and on both Goren eps I have managed to flick over at the end during an interrogation (Medium, a show I make a point to follow, airs after this show here) and Goren looks exhausted and spent, he used to be twitchy and off-putting and full of weird energy, again I've only seen fleeting moments so I can't judge but I will be watching the next few weeks in full to get a better guage of where the show is at now.
Also, I should note, here in Australia, all the media on this show (including from Network Ten) has focussed exclusively on Goldblum's addition to the cast.
To tell the truth...they should have "pulled the plug" on CI 3 years ago when Jamie Sheridan and
Courtney B. Vance left the show! Now it's only a shadow of its former self!!!
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