Shilo: I really didn’t think This Is Us or The Good Place would do as well as they did. The former didn’t seem like the type of show that NBC audiences go for and I didn’t really buy the record volume of trailer views as being something indicative of potential viewership, while the latter didn’t look that compatible with Superstore and had its work cut out for it as a serialized niche comedy on broadcast television. But This Is Us was able to debut in an environment sorely lacking emotional family dramas and utilize storytelling predominantly found in darker dramas to freshen the genre up and The Good Place‘s specificity proved a draw vs. detriment to its chances. It’s comforting to know that a network like NBC, which has become more conservative in terms of content in recent seasons, can still take creative chances and have them be embraced by their audience.
Craig: I assumed This Is Us would be that thing that critics gushed about, that only did so well with the trailer views because NBC paid for them to be shown on Facebook. But clearly, the show touched a nerve and touched some hearts, and people are really caring. It’s especially nice in a world where NBC seems to think the only things that matter for them have to have the word “Chicago” in the title. Hopefully the success of This Is Us will inspire NBC and other networks to take some risks and not always rely on franchises or known properties.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
Shilo: I know that you love Timeless, Craig, but it really hasn’t done as well as it could’ve. I don’t know if it’s more of an 8:00 or 9:00 show or if time travel might not be a subject amenable to a broadcast audience, but it’s been lagging behind most of the rest of NBC’s drama slate, at least in L+SD ratings. I would probably be more optimistic about the show’s fate if upcoming lead-in Celebrity Apprentice had started well, but with the NBC schedule filled to the brim and a major lead-in downgrade on the horizon, it’s hard to feel too optimistic about the show’s chances. Its best bet might be overperforming in the C+3/C+7 metrics and producer Sony going to work to lower the licensing fee.
Craig: Fridays are disappointing to be sure, but while I love Timeless I will have to say that I agree that it is the biggest disappointment. I thought it would have a bigger mass appeal and take off bigger than it has. I still don’t consider it to have done a poor job, but I guess I just expected it all to be bigger, especially since it had arguably the best lead-in on the network with The Voice. My only hope, as you said, is that they can make the financials work to move it somewhere else, because it’s a great show with a cast and writing that I really enjoy.
