FX hopes ratings for boxing series Lights Out improves and the network’s president has interesting reasons why not many viewers watched the show.
At TCA press tour, John Landgraf cited huge ratings for cable network rivals such as Comedy Central’s Tosh.0, BET’s The Game and MTV’s Teen Mom 2.
“Maybe we should have made a series about a zombie or a sexy vampire who was trying to regain the heavyweight title,” he said.
My thoughts on this and a tiny bit of Hobbit news after the jump…
Landgraf’s honesty and introspection is always refreshing. He’s managed to deliver successful comedies to the network with Always Sunny and Archer. Plus, with Sons of Anarchy and Justified, he’s launched a couple dramas that — Sons in particular — have really delivered.
But I don’t buy for a second that heavy competition is why relatively few viewers watched Lights Out.
It’s tough to think of three shows with less in common with Lights Out than Teen Mom, Tosh.0 and The Game. And the fact all three delivered huge numbers suggests the opposite of what he’s saying — that more than two cable shows can draw big audiences at the same time. Who is to say that three is the maximum number of simultaneous cable hits and if, say, one of those did not air, those Teen Mom would have watched a grim boxing show instead.
The reason nobody tuned into Lights Out is because, as much as critics love the show (and many at press tour indeed love it), the series didn’t look very fun. Like it or not, people watch TV for fun. And that’s true for serious acclaimed dramas and trashy reality. The Sopranos was a blast. FX’s The Shield was a thrill ride. And, yes, the zombies in The Walking Dead are fun too.
On other topics, Landgraf said he’s looking to renew comedy The League if a deal can be made with the producers (can’t imagine that would be too tough). He’s excited about adapting comic book Powers, but also noted its tough to adapt into a TV show. And said Louie is going to be paired with upcoming Elijah Wood comedy Wilfred for a Thursday night comedy block this summer.
Oh, and here’s that Hobbit bit: Wood said his role as Frodo in the two-part film will be “very, very small.” Hm.
And, of course, some of us didn’t watch LIGHTS OUT because of TERRIERS.
I don’t see how that teaches FX a lesson, unless the lesson is to quit trying risky dramas.
Perhaps the lesson is not to be so quick to pull the trigger on a show and replace it. FX president John Landgraf said that TERRIERS’s “subtle charm” did not fit FX’s “edgy” profile. As I’ve said elsewhere, if that’s what they’re going for, I don’t feel any particular compunction to tune in. And looks like I’m not the only one around here referencing TERRIERS in my decision.
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I agree with FX about Terriers. It just did not fit. It was the the second show in FX history that I stopped watching after 3 episodes.
I guess I may be one of the few people who watched both Teen Mom and Lights Out. I do have to admit that Teen Mom took priority, but I was pretty impressed with Lights Out as well. Certainly better than Justified, Terriers, or the best forgotten third season of Sons.
I just hope they haven’t drug their feet too long to get Powers out there. I’m afraid by the time it gets on the air too many other crappy TV shows with a super-hero theme will have soured people too much to even give it a chance.
actually blame the lack of advertisement.. didn’t know the show aired or that it even exist until EW started writing it. i watch FX.
Previews were all over Versus.
I actually agree with what he’s saying. Lights Out may turn out to be an incredible show, but probably will never be a ratings boom. Think about The Wire. That show was marvelous in every level, but it didn’t come off as a fun show. It’s a show that you have to sit down and think, which is why it’s always better to watch on DVD.
I hope FX doesn’t cancel it though.
Well I admit I watched The Game and Teen Mom. And James is right, people watch TV for fun.
I don’t watch it because last time I got really invested in of FX’s show it got cancelled and I don’t feel like getting into one again.
But cable shows always get at least a full season, and most FX shows get more than one season. Terriers unfortunately just had abnormally bad ratings.
I loved Over There. Canceled. I LOVED Terriers. Canceled. I have Lights Out on my dvr, but should I invest my time? I’m still hurt from the loss of Terriers!
You got an entire season of a show no one watched, get over it.
I agree. If it was any other network they would not have aired the amazing end of the season of Terriers. I respect FX for doing that, can you see many other networks letting the show play out?
I watched Lights Out and really enjoyed it.
There’s no small parts, only small actors… then again, this is a Hobbit we’re talking about.
Hibberd, you clueless noob.
OF COURSE the competition is the reason.
They are losing the 20s-30s male crowd to Tosh.0.
They are losing the females and teens to Teen Mom.
And they are losing the blacks to that BET show.
This numbnuts intern thinks he can second guess the FACTS, but has jack squat to offer.
Pathetic.
Very mature response.
What he’s saying is that someone likely to watch Teen Mom isn’t likely to watch Lights Out if TM weren’t on. Just because a certain demographic goes after one show doesn’t mean they’d go after his show if the original one weren’t on. I watched Tosh.0 and DVR’d Teen Mom. But if either one weren’t on, I still wouldn’t have watched Lights Out. His excuse is a cheap excuse for a larger problem that he likely created.
well I watch both Teen Mom and Lights Out and Tosh.0 and I don’t think I am the only one. I watched TM live and DVR’d Lights. So I am not sure if I just the exception to the stereotype or if there is something to his statement.
I’d rather watch Terriers. Plus, Rocky has been done to death–it really holds no appeal for me to watch.
I love Rocky and refuse to watch any knock offs. I just can’t do it. It would feel like I was cheating on my favorite movies of all time.
Watch the show, it’s no “Rocky.”
When is season 2 of Terriers starting?
It isn’t–FX cancelled it.
Yeah, I know, I was just allowing myself to pretend for a moment…:(
I think if thy moved it to a different night it will work, I taped it on my dvr and i thought it was a good show
I didn’t even realize the show had begun.
Well I thought FX had cancelled Damages so I wasn’t going to invest in another series. (Though I learned that John Goodman has been cast so it hasn’t been cancelled.) But mainly, I didn’t watch because it just didn’t look that good. And I forgot.
But – FX won’t be airing the new season of Damages, it will only be on DirecTV.