Why are reruns always shown out of order?

[Master Moron]

You know, I got to thinking about this on that Simpsons thread in the Toonzone general forum and this really annoys me. I can't stand it when shows run out of order in reruns. I mean, I really wanted to see the earlier South Park episodes that I haven't seen so I was really psyched when Comedy Central started playing reruns a few years ago. However, then I found out that they weren't showing them in order so there would be no way to watch the episodes I haven't seen.

I just don't understand why a network would think it more profitable to air shows out of order than in order. I mean, look at Futurama and Family Guy on Cartoon Network. They aired all the episodes in order and they were a huge hit. If some synicator just aired random episodes I doubt it would be as much of a success. I mean, it just doesn't make sense to air random episodes instead of airing them in order. I mean, there have been times where I'd catch a Simpsons episode one day and then two weeks later I'd catch the EXACT SAME Simpsons episode. Obviously, I shut off the TV. Doesn't this practice of airing episodes out of order LOSE ratings?

[PowerZord]

I think they just enjoy airing them out of order. but i don't think they will lose ratings

[Tobias]

On one hand, playing episodes out of order is fun just for the sake of randomness. Play the same episodes in the same order over and over again and people will get because they know which episode is coming next. Play them out of order, and no one knows which episode to expect.

On the other hand, however, playing episodes out of order causes major plot points to be lost in the shuffle. If they show the Simpsons episode where Maude Flanders dies, then show one after that with her alive, then the next one refers to her as dead, that would get confusing to new viewers.

[Simpler Simon]

For Simpsons, there's never been any underlying continuity. There are a few changes (Homer being made safety inspector, Grandpa fixing up the home, death of Maude) but they're few and far in between. I notice that repeats of the simpsons in my area are shown in batches. One timeslot might show the early seasons, while another shows the later ones. There's never a drastic jump from season 3 to season 10, for example.


And some shows are just out of order because the production was out of order. With MASH Radar's departure was filmed after the episodes where he'd already left, so my first time through I thought I'd missed those episodes, but they were shown later.

[Master Moron]

On one hand, playing episodes out of order is fun just for the sake of randomness. Play the same episodes in the same order over and over again and people will get because they know which episode is coming next. Play them out of order, and no one knows which episode to expect.


Who watches reruns enough to actually memorize the order of the episodes? I mean, that's kind of sad...

[ArtificialIdiot]

I quite agree! I don't think they will lose profits, however it is really annoying and confusing when shows are shown out of order. On some, it can pass, as they have no continuity anyway. But when shows that do have it our shown out of order... it just annoys me. I mean, could it really hurt to show them in order?

[The Penguin]

Who watches reruns enough to actually memorize the order of the episodes? I mean, that's kind of sad...If you enjoy a show enough and watch it all the time it would be easily catchable. Personally when I start a new that is rerunning on cable or syndication I usually find an episode guide to keep track of what I've seen. I never have gotten to see the "3rd Rock From The Sun" holiday episodes.