BuzzSugar

Bad Idea of the Week: Canceling the Canceled Shows

BuzzSugar — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 06:30:00 -0700

Here's the story of this TV season in a nutshell: Networks put on new shows. Networks cancel new shows. Networks promise to bring back the canceled shows so dedicated fans can get some bit of closure. Well, now we can add a new step to the process: Networks cancel the canceled shows again, further frustrating fans who had waited months for the supposed resolution and now are unlikely to get it at all.

ABC got into the act this week, canceling "The Knights of Prosperity" and "The Nine" for a second time after just two episodes each. They must have taken a lesson from Fox, which moved the date of the final two episodes of "Drive" several times before finally deciding against putting the episodes on TV at all.

In all these cases, the presumed reason behind pulling the show yet again is low ratings. But how could the networks have expected anything else? We viewers take risks when we make time for new shows, and when they get pulled mid-season, that chips away at our trust and makes us less likely to return. With me so far? Then read more

Only the most dedicated fans of the canceled shows are likely to even know that the remaining episodes have been slipped back on the air, as they arrive with no fanfare and little, if any, promotion. And quite a few fans, having been burned by the network the first time around, are unlikely to make time in their schedules for the burn-off episodes; even I, a big "Knights of Prosperity" fan the first time around, only remembered at the last minute to TiVo one of last week's two new episodes, and I haven't even watched it yet.

That still doesn't justify the networks' yanking of shows a second time around. It's pretty obvious that if the shows had been getting good ratings to start with, they wouldn't have been canceled in the first place. Naturally, episodes of an irrelevant show that air long after the show was last broadcast will do worse. Any network executive who believes otherwise is, frankly, delirious.

But having the shows pulled a second time is just an insult to the dedicated fans who did make an effort to find the show again- and that makes viewers even less likely to commit to new network shows the next time around. I'd like to see shows get to finish their full runs on the air a la "Studio 60." But if the networks aren't fully committed to letting them burn every one of the unaired episodes on TV, I'd rather see the series go online or to a DVD. When they pop back on TV only briefly, we just feel the rug being pulled out from under us again.

The "Knights" Will Rob Again Tonight

BuzzSugar — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 07:30:00 -0700

I always got a kick out of "The Knights of Prosperity," ABC's canceled comedy about a band of inept robbers trying to break into Mick Jagger's apartment. It was great fodder for the Buzz Reel back in the day, and I thought the show's offbeat humor managed to stay on the right side of stupid.

The show got pulled in February and missed the cut for a second season, but at least we can get one last little taste of the crew when the show returns tonight with two of its previously unaired episodes. The episodes, which have the Knights turning their attention to robbing Ray Romano, will air at 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, with an "According to Jim" repeat in between. At least one more episode is scheduled for next Wednesday, while the fate of the fourth unaired episode is not known.

To celebrate the Knights' brief return to TV, I've got video of one of my favorite moments from the show, which you can watch if you read more

Buzz News Roundup, 7/11

BuzzSugar — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:31:40 -0700

Kevin Spacey is all set to reprise his role as Lex Luthor in the next Superman movie - though the film won't go into production until director Bryan Singer completes his movie based on the life of Harvey Milk, says Variety.
According to Hollywood Reporter, Guy Pearce and Don Cheadle will star together in an espionage thriller called Traitor.
"The Knights of Prosperity" will return to TV for its final four episodes in August, writes the Futon Critic.
Bruce Springsteen is planning to release another album with the E Street band, Fox News reports.
Claire Danes is set to play Eliza Doolittle in a stage production of Pygmalion, the play that inspired the musical My Fair Lady, Variety reports.
Peter Berg will adapt his cousin Buzz Bissinger's Barbaro story into a movie, Zap2it reports; a similar arrangement between Bissinger and Berg spawned the Friday Night Lights movie.
Breakout hip-hop star T.I. is dominating the music charts, according to Billboard.
The AP reports on a new James Bond novel titled Devil May Care, written by Sebastian Faulks and due to come out in 2008.
TV Guide tells us that Tuesday's premiere of "The Singing Bee" was the most-watched network program in six weeks, ever since the "House" season finale.

Source

"The Knights of Prosperity": Off the Air, but Still Funny

BuzzSugar — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 11:21:42 -0700

"The Knights of Prosperity" is gone from ABC's schedule, but the comedy may not be dead yet. It hasn't been officially canceled, and according to Variety, some of ABC's higher-ups are fans, which might give it a shot at a second season. Plus, some fans are rallying around the show too. It was one of my favorite comedies this year, so I hope it gets more time to find an audience.

Nine episodes of "Knights" aired, some clips from the unaired episodes have turned up on YouTube. I chuckled at the one where Squatch sabotages a movie shoot with Ed Burns. But my hands-down favorite involves intern Louis Plunk making a movie trailer in an attempt to get a job at a production company. The fake movie, Higher Powers, stars Eugene Gurkin (Donal Logue) as an alcoholic superhero named Midnight Justice who has resorted to using his laser eyes to cook drugs in an alley when his friends stage an intervention. Come for the Mystery Men-style superheroes, stay for the spot-on movie trailer references. To watch the video, read more

Why "Andy Barker" Should Do Better Than "The Knights of Prosperity"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 10:08:57 -0700

Watching the first few episodes of "Andy Barker, P.I." the other day, I was struck by its similarities to one of this year's other new comedies: the now-departed "Knights of Prosperity."

I was a big fan of "Knights" before its cancellation, and "Andy Barker" shares its screwball tone, layered with lots of pop-culture references and jokes that arise when normal folks are thrust into glamorous, intriguing circumstances. Interestingly, both shows also came from late-night writers: David Letterman's Worldwide Pants crew handled "Knights," while Conan O'Brien co-created "Andy Barker."

At first, those similarities made me fear that "Andy Barker" would end up following the low-audience, quick-cancellation path of "Knights." But upon further reflection, I think "Andy Barker" has a much better chance at survival. To find out why, read more

For several reasons, I think "Andy Barker" really should do better than "Knights." Consider:

"Knights" was a true serial where every episode built on the last, but each "Andy Barker" plot stands alone. A new viewer could pop in at any time and catch up - which is good, because each of the "Andy Barker" episodes I saw was better than the last.

"Andy Barker" has a better-known cast. While Donal Logue has his fans, Andy Richter built up a cult following from his time on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and "Andy Richter Controls the Universe." The cast also includes Tony Hale, better known as Buster Bluth of the "Arrested Development" clan, another actor people are eager to see again.
"Andy Barker" is on NBC, which has made a point of developing and nurturing quirky little comedies. While "Knights" was unlike anything else on ABC and felt weird next to "According to Jim" and "George Lopez," "Andy Barker" makes perfect sense in NBC's Thursday lineup.
Also, NBC has proven willing to stick with comedies that don't get great ratings but deliver quality shows ("The Office" in its first season, for example). And NBC doesn't seem trigger-happy when a show doesn't hit right away: The early episodes of "30 Rock" were a mess, but it's developed into one of the funniest shows on TV.

So my hopes are high for "Andy Barker." Stay tuned for my full preview later today, and don't forget you can watch all the episodes online if you don't feel like waiting for Thursdays.

Source

RIP "Knights of Prosperity"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 13:32:51 -0800

I was beginning to worry that I was the only person watching "The Knights of Prosperity," ABC's surprisingly funny Donal Logue sitcom about a group of friends who rob Mick Jagger's apartment. Sadly, it seems I was indeed in the minority: Today, ABC announced that it's pulling the show off the schedule starting with this Wednesday's episode. But want to know the saddest part? According to Zap2It:

The episode titled "Operation: Rent Money" will be replaced by a repeat of "According to Jim," while repeats of "George Lopez" will take the "Prosperity" slot the following two weeks.

Oh yeah, that's just what the world needs: more "According to Jim" and "George Lopez." Ironically, just last week, I declared the off-kilter "Knights" more "Arrested Development" than "George Lopez."

If you never got a chance to watch the show, you missed some pretty hilarious TV. As a tribute, I've rounded up some of my favorite "Knight of Prosperity" moments, so read more

Reliving My Favorite "Knights of Prosperity" Moments

The show's premise, explained in song, by character Rockefeller Butts.
Screech as high-profile guest star.
Entering Jagger's apartment: "Ain't no grails up in this bitch."
Very awkward father-son bonding.

TV Tonight: "The Knights of Prosperity"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 15:01:27 -0800

Looking for alternatives to "American Idol"? You actually have some options tonight. The 8 p.m. hour is packed with goodies, including the first new episode of "Jericho" since November and a new "Friday Night Lights" intriguingly titled "I Think We Should Have Sex" (all you Matt and Julie fans, take note).

But I'm maybe most excited about "The Knights of Prosperity." I've been impressed with this show about a band of down-on-their-luck folks who decide to rob Mick Jagger; it's had a few down episodes, but the gags that work are priceless (did you catch Gary's "Cat's in the Cradle" montage in the Buzz Reel a couple of weeks back?). The show's pacing and dialogue are pretty unique as network sitcoms go, more "Arrested Development" than "George Lopez."

Tonight, the Knights finally get into Jagger's apartment, only to find themselves stuck in the singer's panic room. Before that, though, the Knights take some time to enjoy Mick's toys, as you can see if you read more

TV Preview: "The Knights of Prosperity"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 15:39:34 -0800

Lots of clips are surfacing for the new ABC comedy "The Knights of Prosperity," which premieres Jan. 3 at 9 p.m. It follows a band of down-on-their-luck folks who decide their ticket to the good life will be robbing Mick Jagger's apartment. There are scenes online here, here, here, and here, and the show's official site has an interview with stars Donal Logue and Sofia Vergara. But if you only watch one thing, make it the video below, in which the premise is explained in song by character Rockefeller Butts (played by Kevin Michael Richardson). I hope the whole show is this funny!