AMC TV shows

[Sly]

I was just wondering when Mad Men starts again. Not until March. They did the same thing with Breaking Bad. Huge time periods in between seasons.

Why do they do this? Suspense? Money?

[Phoenix]

walking Dead starts soon though

[PR_Dave]

Mad Men is going to kill all the other AMC shows because the actors command so much $$

You'll see the quality of all the other shows like Walking Dead Season 2 go down the tubes.

[Sly]

Current season of Breaking Bad has been ass. This weeks episode has been the only one that I have actually enjoyed. Last weeks episode was fairly enjoyable.

They need to kill off Skylar and Marie in one full swoop.

[Rochard]

The concept of seasons and long breaks between them needs to go. Each season there are new shows I get excited about - the Playboy Club being one - and more or less I take old shows out of my routine and replace them with new ones. During the season break I forget about shows - I liked the Walking Dead, but for some reason now I'm not nearly as interested in it after not seeing it for months.

I think what I'm saying is that over the "season break" I've learned that I can live without watching a show.

I'm excited about the Playboy Club, and also that Pan Am show. Not my favorite era but I think I can get into it. Sons Of Anarchy really surprised me - I'm usually not into motorcycle gangs and harley riders, but it's been great so far.

[candyflip]

Originally Posted by Rochard

I'm excited about the Playboy Club, and also that Pan Am show. Not my favorite era but I think I can get into it. Sons Of Anarchy really surprised me - I'm usually not into motorcycle gangs and harley riders, but it's been great so far.

Both of these shows have about a 90% chance of being cancelled. I will go out there and say that Playboy Club will be cancelled by midseason, NBC doesn't have the best track record with new shows the past few years.

[John-ACWM]

Mad Men is indeed swallowing big money but it's one of the best shows, very enjoyable.

[scuba steve]

amc has the best line up of shows in my opinion.

i know mad money was delayed cause of money, and walking dead took off faster than they expected so i think they spent some time getting it ready. not sure about breaking bad

[kane]

Part of the problem is that most of these shows only have 12-13 episodes seasons while most network shows have 22 episode seasons. If you have a 22 episode season and you start in mid sept you can play new stuff through Thanksgiving then take all or most of December off then you take a few weeks off here and there and you can spread it out until May. This way you only have around 4 months off between seasons. With a 13 episode season it is done so fast it is almost impossible to avoid the long down time. Even if you only showed a new episode every 2 weeks you would have 6 months between seasons.

[bronco67]

I read that AMC is fucking up everything, and becoming difficult to work with. Look at Frank Darabont leaving Walking Dead.

Then you have Matt Weiner getting into a contract dispute because AMC didn't want to pay up.

here's some info about problems with Breaking Bad:

There's trouble brewing between AMC and Sony television over the fifth (and likely final) season of Breaking Bad. The two sides have been negotiating over the next season and AMC reportedly wants cost cuts that would include chopping the fifth season down from the usual 13 episodes to six or eight installments. Creator Vince Gilligan and his team reportedly rejected that idea. That's led to Sony sending out feelers to at least three other cable channels to gauge interest in picking up the series. Both AMC and Sony indicate that they want to work out a deal. If they can't and Breaking Bad moves to another channel, that could mean that Gilligan and his crew would have to commit to more than just one more season. Understandably, it would be highly unlikely for another outlet to want to take over the show for only »

- TVSeriesFinale.com

[bronco67]

Originally Posted by kane

Part of the problem is that most of these shows only have 12-13 episodes seasons while most network shows have 22 episode seasons. If you have a 22 episode season and you start in mid sept you can play new stuff through Thanksgiving then take all or most of December off then you take a few weeks off here and there and you can spread it out until May. This way you only have around 4 months off between seasons. With a 13 episode season it is done so fast it is almost impossible to avoid the long down time. Even if you only showed a new episode every 2 weeks you would have 6 months between seasons.

They want 22 eps, at the price of 13.

Of course, the creators are better with 13. They can put more money into an episode and get their artistic vision the way they like it. They also don't have to dilute the story down to stupid bullshit plotlines that are just filler.

LOST was very guilty of that. That story could have been so tight if it was made up of 12 episode seasons.

[kane]

Originally Posted by bronco67

They want 22 eps, at the price of 13.

Of course, the creators are better with 13. They can put more money into an episode and get their artistic vision the way they like it. They also don't have to dilute the story down to stupid bullshit plotlines that are just filler.

LOST was very guilty of that. That story could have been so tight if it was made up of 12 episode seasons.

Yeah I have read a bunch of stuff recently about them wanting to cut costs and causing issues. I can understand them wanting to keep costs in check, but it comes off like they are having some serious financial issues at AMC. It isn't like these are obscure shows that nobody is watching, these are shows that get good ratings and must be making them some nice cash, but they seem hellbent on messing it up.

[scuba steve]

Originally Posted by kane

Yeah I have read a bunch of stuff recently about them wanting to cut costs and causing issues. I can understand them wanting to keep costs in check, but it comes off like they are having some serious financial issues at AMC. It isn't like these are obscure shows that nobody is watching, these are shows that get good ratings and must be making them some nice cash, but they seem hellbent on messing it up.

i read its hard to justify network ad rates on cable tv, regardless of the ratings of the show or critics. not sure why, but when you have a show with network costs, they can't charge network rates on the ads

[kane]

Originally Posted by scuba steve

i read its hard to justify network ad rates on cable tv, regardless of the ratings of the show or critics. not sure why, but when you have a show with network costs, they can't charge network rates on the ads

Interesting. I wonder why that is. I wonder if they feel like the cable viewer is of lower quality than the network TV viewer, but you would think in most cases they are the same person since most people have cable and watch both.

[ManPuppy]

Originally Posted by scuba steve

i read its hard to justify network ad rates on cable tv, regardless of the ratings of the show or critics. not sure why, but when you have a show with network costs, they can't charge network rates on the ads

Because, hard as it is to believe, much of the nation does not have cable/satellite. Those who do, do not necessarily have universal access to all channels. Once they do, there are far more choices to make, and the masses tend to stick with what they watch traditionally (broadcast networks), unless they're lured to a compelling niche - and much of cable is aimed at niche markets. The big broadcast networks are more able to keep a firm hold on their markets through local branding. So, dull, bland, lowest-common-denomitaor broadcast programs get renewed every year, while clever cable shows that speak to a narrow audience struggle with their budgets.

[kane]

Originally Posted by ManPuppy

Because, hard as it is to believe, much of the nation does not have cable/satellite. Those who do, do not necessarily have universal access to all channels. Once they do, there are far more choices to make, and the masses tend to stick with what they watch traditionally (broadcast networks), unless they're lured to a compelling niche - and much of cable is aimed at niche markets. The big broadcast networks are more able to keep a firm hold on their markets through local branding. So, dull, bland, lowest-common-denomitaor broadcast programs get renewed every year, while clever cable shows that speak to a narrow audience struggle with their budgets.

Which poses another interesting question. Does this mean the mindless droves that watch stupid shit that gets renewed year in and year out are easier to sell to than those who are more into thought provoking style of shows?

You would think a network would be able to match its audience to advertisers that would suit them, but maybe not.

[bronco67]

Originally Posted by kane

Which poses another interesting question. Does this mean the mindless droves that watch stupid shit that gets renewed year in and year out are easier to sell to than those who are more into thought provoking style of shows?

You would think a network would be able to match its audience to advertisers that would suit them, but maybe not.

You can bet that if something is smart, and hard to "get", it won't be around long on TV.

FX is one of the only network that nurtures shows that would alienate most viewers. Always Sunny in Philly, Louie, Sons of Anarchy, The Shield, Damages, Justified -- just about everything on that network. They're not trying to be NBC, and as long there are guys with that mindset, there'll always be something for the people that don't watch Big Bang Theory or Grey's Anatomy.

[kane]

Originally Posted by bronco67

You can bet that if something is smart, and hard to "get", it won't be around long on TV.

FX is one of the only network that nurtures shows that would alienate most viewers. Always Sunny in Philly, Louie, Sons of Anarchy, The Shield, Damages, Justified -- just about everything on that network. They're not trying to be NBC, and as long there are guys with that mindset, there'll always be something for the people that don't watch Big Bang Theory or Grey's Anatomy.

That is for sure. If a show is smart and interesting it will often attract a passionate (albeit normally small) following but that following normally doesn't turn into money.

[AmeliaG]

I would think that, for the right advertisers, a passionate and engaged audience would be extra-desirable. But that is a hard sell to media buyers and AMC hasn't been able to convince advertisers to pay higher rates and they don't have subscription revenue like HBO. So they end up in some ways suffering for having done such exceptionally good original programming out of the gate.

[bronco67]

Originally Posted by AmeliaG

I would think that, for the right advertisers, a passionate and engaged audience would be extra-desirable. But that is a hard sell to media buyers and AMC hasn't been able to convince advertisers to pay higher rates and they don't have subscription revenue like HBO. So they end up in some ways suffering for having done such exceptionally good original programming out of the gate.

The thing is, an FX doesn't need the same revenue as NBC to operate. They can be a boutique network, make the money they need to operate -- and supply fringe shows to freaks that like that type of stuff. Of course, everyone wants to make more money, but that comes at another cost.

[Sly]

I think I'm somewhat smart. Not a genius, but somewhat smart. I like "smart" shows as well as "dumb" shows.

I can't for the life of me think of what I would buy that a "dumb" person would have no interest in. Macs? :-)

[newB]

Just saw an ad for upcoming Hell On Wheels series that looks like it'll be pretty good too.

[ElleSorbet]

Gotta enjoy Breaking Bad while it's around. I believe I read that there's only 2 more seasons before the show's over

[marlboroack]

Everyone on the show died in a plane accident. That's why.

[AmeliaG]

Originally Posted by bronco67

The thing is, an FX doesn't need the same revenue as NBC to operate. They can be a boutique network, make the money they need to operate -- and supply fringe shows to freaks that like that type of stuff. Of course, everyone wants to make more money, but that comes at another cost.

I totally agree. I think the problem for AMC is that their advertising base and some syndication dough could have supported shows with the success level of Archer, Wilfred, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The wild success of Mad Men took it to another level of cost and raised expectations of what all future AMC shows would have to provide viewers.

[uno]

USA usually does shows pretty well. Few months on, few months off.

[brassmonkey]

look at the quality of the shows. it cost alot to do that stuff. making it movie quality.

[kristin]

These types of shows on AMC and FX don't have a normal primetime schedule where there are three shows in one night. FX for example (and I know some shows have moved or are on longer on) but on Tuesdays they would do Nip/Tuck for 13, then use that same time slot for Rescue Me for 13, the Damages for 13 and so on.

Personally I like it.

[moeloubani]

mad men sucks shit compared to breaking bad and walking dead.