When Should We Start Worrying About Community's Ratings?
Far be it for me to understand how network executives value their content -- a television show doesn't have to be a ratings hit to be a "hit;" see: DVR, iTunes, online viewership, etc. -- but isn't it time we all started worrying about Community? Last night, the NBC sitcom finished third in its time slot (well behind both The Big Bang Theory and Bones), and was only watched by around 300,000 more people than My Generation. Considering that show is already being rumored as the next fall ratings casualty, this isn't exactly good news for the denizens of Greendale Community College.
Proponents for the series will likely point to the fact that Community performed much better than My Generation in the coveted 18-49 demographic -- true enough, its 1.9 mark was significantly higher than the DOA 1.1 that My Generation garnered. However, Community was down 14 percent from its premiere ratings (no Betty White to promote) and wound up dead last among NBC's other Thursday night comedies.
Shed a tear: Not only did Community have fewer viewers than 30 Rock, The Office and Outsourced, it also fared far worse demographically; even the much-derided Outsourced was able to grab a 2.8 rating in the 18-49 demo (which itself lost an alarming 22 percent of its premiere audience). If it weren't for the disaster that is The Apprentice (1.4 rating in the demo, just over 3.6 million total viewers), Community would stand out as the pox on NBC's Thursday night lineup.
Considering this is NBC -- and considering Community has cheerleaders all over the Internet -- don't expect swift, Lone Star-like retribution here; the network showed patience with the series last year, and will likely do the same now. But with six episodes of the similarly critically beloved/audience-ignored Parks and Recreation already in the can, it does seem at least a little possible that Community could be yanked off the schedule at some point. Scary. It might not happen -- and, more important, it hopefully won't happen -- but if it does, don't say you weren't warned.
· Freshmen slump: 'My Gen,' '$#*!,' 'Outsourced' drop [THR/The Live Feed]
· TV Ratings Thursday: My Generation Crashes; 30 Rock Steady; Most Shows Fall [TV By the Numbers]
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Comments
Sorry, Interwebs, but this show just isn't that good. Because of the passionate support it often gets online I try to tune in, but am usually treated to preachy speeches from Jeff about either pain or friendship, way too many precious "awww" moments, and the misfits of study group staring at Jeff like lost puppies because he's apparently the coolest guy they know. Yes, there are some funny moments, but the show reads like a dirty version of a Christian pamphlet about relationships. I like Joel as much as anybody but I'm not sure the material suits him.
@Movie Tyke,
Nobody would fault you if you just said the show goes over your head.
And I can't recall any "'awww' moments" that weren't played ironically on this show. But then again, I clearly don't read as many Christian pamphlets about relationships as you do.
Sorry, I agree with Mike the Movie Tyke. Community just ain't that good. Why NBC is willing to let this lame show go on and on is baffling. Fox cancelled Lone Star and ABC has cancelled My Generation, NBC needs to let this one go...
I agree that Community isn't that good... it's GREAT!
Unfortunately we live in a time where people need to be spoon-fed lame jokes with a laugh track so the audience knows when to laugh like with Big Bang Theory.
The rating for Community wasn't that great but it hit the NBC average for non-sports programming in that time slot, so hopefully the Neilsen homes will smarten up and start watching a show that's actually funny like Community is instead of Big Boring Theory.
Community is by far the most quality show on TV right now - it's simultaneously hilarious and heart-warming, with intelligent humor, and complex character development, as opposed to the isolated one-liners or nutty situations of 30 Rock or Family Guy. I really hope NBC remembers that it took shows like Seinfeld and Cheers almost three seasons to find their rhythm. Personally, I hadn't even heard of Community until August of this year, when my husband found the first twenty episodes of Season 1 on someone's computer while he was in Afghanistan. He fell in love with the show and got me to watch it. All the Marines AND even the Afghans troops their training are in love with the show, and I can't wait til they get home and I can show them the last few (awesome) episodes of Season 1. I think DVD sales show that there's a strong following for this show, and that it's only going to grow! Please keep the faith NBC!!!!
If they cancel Community that would be a travesty. It's in the toughest time slot of the night despite being NBC's youngest comedy other than Outsourced (which gets to follow The Office). Honestly, they should have 30 Rock at 8 and Community at 8:30. 30 Rock has an established fan base and has already been around for four years, so there's no need to be overly protective of the franchise. It's likely not going to go up or down in the ratings by terribly wide swings. Community is still fairly new and could attract new audience members if it's put in a spot where people are inclined to tune in. I'd say put it after the office, but I think the style of humor of Community might be a better partner with 30 Rock. The Office and Parks & Rec are a little more made for each other. Though I suspect Community/Office skew more male than 30 Rock/Parks & Rec, so maybe Community at 9:30 would work better.
Community is the best comedy on tv in some time. It reminds me of Seinfeld when it started out, in the sense that it's got something about it that is flat out funny every time you watch it. NBC should give it some time, and hopefully in a few years, people will wonder what they thought was so funny about "The Big Bang Theory".
If I could afford to somehow buy an ad to ask Americans to watch this how I totally would. It is hilarious! Troy and Abed are just instantly classic, and there are so many laughs per episode-I love TBBT but truthfully, mostly for Sheldon. In Community, I love them all-they all rock, they all have proper characters and aren't just line feeders for Jeff. Rounded characters that make me laugh all on their own.
The Paintball Wars was the best episode of TV I have seen in a loooong time, and Contemporary American Poultry was like they had crawled inside my head and put on TV all the stuff that makes me laugh! I know its greedy, seen as I'm in the UK, and its started airing on VIVA at 10pm every Tuesday, but I will need more. PLEASE watch it!! TBBT can survive, its mahoosive, give the Greendale freaks a shot people!!
I find it hard to believe that Outsourced has higher ratings than Community. Give Community a chance world! They have wit and hilarity in each episode, something Outsourced lacks. If people like The Office and 30 Rock, I can't seem them not liking Community. They have top-notch actors and writers. Really.
As long as that condescending man that was on the E network is on the show, I will never watch it.
Community is the greatest show on television. I recently bought the season 1 DVD and I find something new to laugh about in every episode. This is the only show I can watch over and over again and laugh every time. Danny Glover is a comic genius and he can crack me up with just an expression. Chevy Chase plays his character wonderfully. His character, Pierce Hawthorne, reminds me so much of my Dad that I laugh during every scene he is in. Please people this show is awesome and deserves to be watched at least once before you judge it.
Community is the best thing on television right now. It's hilarious and very intelligently written, but it's also a show that loves its characters and cares about their development.
I can't tell you how many of my friends initially disliked it, only to become its biggest fans after watching a few more episodes! All I can say is, it only found its voice on the 5th episode, and everything since then has been incredible.
It's head and shoulders above everything else and it would be an absolute tragedy is it gets cancelled!
If NBC cancels Community they will never hear the end of it, I mean we still have people complaining about Arrested Development and that was like 100 years ago. Community does so poorly because they gave it the crappiest time slot in their Thursday night done right thing. It has no lead in, has Perfect Couples as a lead out and is the first, coming on at like 7. I love Community to pieces and but I think it has so much praise from critics and fans alike that NBC would be complete idiots to cancel it. Again they would never ever hear the end of it.