Fox is a widely known television network because of its sometimes funny sitcoms, and often hilariously biased news broadcasts. It is perhaps most famous as the host channel of both The Simpsons and Family Guy, part of their “Animation Domination” lineup. While once the network that could boast a large number of comedies which appeal to a diverse audience, Fox has sacrificed what remained of their integrity for simple-minded shows in which everyone fits into a certain stereotype.
Fox has a history of canceling any show that seems too “outside-the-box.” Whenever a show comes around that is innovative, unique, controversial, or just plain weird Fox pulls the plug on it. It's understandable that they would cut shows that receive low ratings, but oftentimes these shows are canceled before they even have a chance to gain popularity. Shows that started off slow are quickly sidetracked for something which was immediately popular in a particular demographic.
A perfect example of this is their innovative new comedy Running Wilde which has been compared to cult classic Arrested Development. Both shows revolve around bizarre concepts and characters which are hard to identify with because of their ridiculousness. Running Wilde ran only five episodes this season before being preempted for the new sitcom, Raising Hope. Raising Hope is everything that Arrested Development was not. The show's central, and seemingly only, concept is that a young man is forced to take care of an infant which he fathered on a one night stand. Of course, the man has no idea how to raise a child, and as he blunders about each episode, he learns something about being a good father.
Fox is also the host channel of Glee, a popular show that shows all high school students as members of cliché cliques. The show is complete with a flamboyantly gay boy, ditsy cheerleaders, a shy Asian girl, an outspoken overweight African American girl, a downtrodden handicapped boy, the know-it-all valedictorian girl, and the noble captain of the football team. Some argue that the inclusion of these minority characters allows the show to surpass boundaries set by stereotypes, but it does just the opposite. The minority characters are all pushed aside so the show can focus on the perfect football captain who was willing to sacrifice his popularity to interact with the school's biggest group of losers.
Last year Fox also picked up its third animated series by Seth MacFarlane, The Cleavland Show. While Fox knows that their original spurn of Family Guy in 2000 lost them many viewers, they now seem to be sticking with any idea MacFarlane creates in an attempt to avoid losing another breakthrough series. Family Guy is often very well written despite its often childish humor, and even American Dad has its moments, but The Cleavland Show is centered around the stereotypes of African American communities in the south. The Cleavland Show has already been renewed for a third season in May, a feat not even yet achieved by The Simpsons or Family Guy.
So why does Fox favor these simple-minded, single concept shows over witty, well-written ones? Sadly, shows that revolve around stereotypes which are commonly found in society appeal to larger audiences. When we watch characters perpetuate certain stereotypes we are pleased because with very little thought process, we were able to anticipate the actions of that character.
Fox does air shows that break stereotype molds, such as Fringe and The Good Guys, both depicting far from average law enforcers. Fringe is a drama following a branch of the FBI dedicated to investigations of events which seem paranormal, but are actually the results of complex theoretical science experiments. The Good Guys is a comedy depicting two Texan police officers who stumble across large criminal operations while investigating petty crimes. In one episode, an investigation into a vandalized vending machine turns out to be linked to a large prostitution ring, and the officers save many of the girls from their cruel pimp.
The main characters in both Fringe and The Good Guys are far from the average CSI or Law and Order style law enforcement. Sadly, with Fringe in its third season and The Good Guys still in its first, it is questionable whether either show will return next season, as both receive low numbers of viewers compared to shows like Raising Hope or Glee. Similarly, Running Wilde also reports low viewer numbers, and is almost certainly destined for cancellation. After being preempted several times, this is to be expected; the show was never even given a chance.
Fox's new motto, “So bold, so brash, so Fox,” perfectly describes the image the company is projecting. They're bold enough to keep force feeding us several different takes on a single idea. They're also brash enough to cut any hint of wit or subtlety out of their programming. They're Fox, and they like to think of you not as a person with specific opinions, but as an individual belonging to a large group that shares the same thoughts.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
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