Before all the glittering prospects of fall television overwhelm the masses, take a moment to remember the shows that have fallen. Many of these fallen favorites have not physically disappeared. They have just eluded our minds for some time. Perhaps it all started when that new preview for that awesome action series came on or maybe when a first look was revealed of the series about that one couple with the baby.
Whatever it was, something about our favorite shows almost always seem to lose their touch. Of course, classics like That 70’s Show or Friends can never be neglected. But not all of the day’s trends seem to posses the same quality because each show goes through a rough patch and sometimes jumps the shark.
Take Glee for example. The dramatic, controversial, funny, romantic, musically-themed show was the “it” show for the longest time and to many it still is. The episode with the most views was “The Sue Sylvester Shuffle,” which followed the Super Bowl. Since last February, the number of viewers took a dive.
Over the summer Glee: The 3D Concert Movie was released and had for the most part positive reception but as soon as the third season aired, viewers were seen to be scarce. After all the promoting and advertising, the impression may have been that Glee was over. All the merchandising avenues had been pursued and all the actors would move on after hitting the big screen.
American Idol is still watched by millions each season but for what reason? The fourth, fifth and sixth seasons were a part of the show’s golden age. The show had the famous trio of Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson during that period and the combination was probably what made the show so popular in the first place.
Some viewers gave up on Idol when Paula announced that she was leaving the show and Simon stated he was departing as well to make “The X-Factor”. Whatever the appeal of American Idol ever was, it left with Simon Cowell.
The absence of major people in a show is not always the reason for a drop in popularity. Shows like The Office and Two and a Half Men gained popularity because of a character leaving.
There are the shows that are just forgotten about too. Shows that seem like they have dropped off the face of the earth until their characters are seen onstage accepting an award for the series. The characters that grabbed your attention for what seemed an eternity in junior high and the plots that kept you coming back for more until the one episode that did not quite fit the bill.
Whatever reality show, drama or comedy series that comes across the television, take a closer look before devoting too much time on a wasted effort. Question the authenticity, be critical and ask yourself, “Am I really going to like this in a year?” After all, the more time spent watching plastic shows is less time spent watching something that might actually be enjoyed.
