BBC's handling of Family Guy and American Dad- thoughts?

[HellCat]

Since the shows are currently on a brief hiatus, I thought it might be interesting to see how folks think they're handling airing them.

First of all, I have to say this feels partially like a "neener-neener!" to channel 4. BBC had The Simpsons and lost it to Channel 4, so in turn Channel 4 loses Family Guy to BBC. Whilst Channel 4 never showed FG or Futurama any respect, I think they're doing alot better with The Simpsons. Classic episodes once a day at 6pm (even if right now they've suddenly jumped to the stinker seasons) and a 'new' episode every Friday at 9pm. In contrast, I don't think the BBC have learnt anything from their poor handling of The Simpsons. Family Guy and American Dad are snuck away at 10/11pm on a Saturday night with zero promotion. Then there's the fact that on that night, the most likely target audience (students) are likely to be out with friends. Whilst there's been worse handlings, I think the BBC need to sit down and think their plan over. Family Guy especially has a huge cult following and could work out well for them if they treat it well.

[HellCat]

Well, this is awkward- BBC 2 are airing both shows at about ten to midnight every night this week. New episodes too. Personally, that doesn't sound too enthusiastic, sticking new episodes in a barely advertised graveyard slot...

[eJm]

I always thought that the Saturday slot was a test to see how it would do. Better time would be needed I persume.

I personally think that Family Guy should be put to compete with The Simpsons on Channel 4. Just to make things interesting. Then either put AD before or after it just so people can tune in after or before their respective show or something.

[IanC]

Personally, that doesn't sound too enthusiastic, sticking new episodes in a barely advertised graveyard slot...

Actually, they where fairly well advertised during the evening.

But i didnt see any advertising elsewhere - on any other BBC channels.

Plus they are been shown after the 2nd run of Extras.

[HellCat]

Actually, they where fairly well advertised during the evening.

But i didnt see any advertising elsewhere - on any other BBC channels.

Plus they are been shown after the 2nd run of Extras.
That's what I mean, they're only really being advertised with the "Coming later tonight.."style, which only folks watching would catcg. Not a dedicated campaign. Blowing throughing 5 never been seen episodes in a week doesn't sound too hopeful, even if we take it as a Christmas treat. Not sure how accurate it is but I've heard the BBC almost even didn't go ahead with the Saturday airings.
I do see what you mean about Extras perhaps being a good lead in to get more viewers though.

[Stu]

Given the contantly poor, ever changing time spot, I'm waiting for the DVDs. Last time I checked, American Dad will be released in March.

I watch Family Guy on Thursday evenings on FX anyway, and will be recieving the DVDs for Christmas. I am dissapointed with it's treatment though, since the BBC ususally airs nothing but crap most of the time. :sad:

[HellCat]

Given the contantly poor, ever changing time spot, I'm waiting for the DVDs. Last time I checked, American Dad will be released in March.

I watch Family Guy on Thursday evenings on FX anyway, and will be recieving the DVDs for Christmas. I am dissapointed with it's treatment though, since the BBC ususally airs nothing but crap most of the time. :sad:
If it's the 'Family Sized Box Set', it's slightly disapointing. Fox UK got the show out on DVD before the US, so because the US discs got actual extras it means the extras in the UK boxsets are two seperate bonus discs. It's awkward having the handful of commentary episodes on different discs with the original and commentary audio when it'd be nicer to have the commentary on the correct season discs. The deleted scenes are fun to see but the behind the scenes stuff is kind of dull and treads alot of the same ground. The important thing is the episodes themselves which are presented just fine.

As for the BBC- I'm still wondering who they expected these shows to be a hit with. The whole initial Bush "On your BBC 2. heh heh heh!" campaign seems misguided. I think had they started Family Guy off with season 4 and made a big push stating they were airing never before seen in the UK episodes it would have been more successful. Season 3 is the longest (it's 3 discs in DVD form), so expecting the fans to sit through a season worth of old material waiting for the new stuff isn't a good idea. As for American Dad, the fact that it's on before Family Guy under the new schedule kinda implies that's doing the worst of the two.

[Mr Cat Dog]

Ratings have never been high for both series', even on its premiere week. The show Bodies aired before that and got mega-ratings, so the BBC must be assuming that the public's opinion of both shows is low.

This is just like what happened to Arrested Devlopment on BBC2. The first series started on Wednesday nights at 10, and developed semi-good ratings. Then when the second series came on, they put it on at 11:15 on a Sunday! Even with constant good reviews by TV guides, the audiences never came and watched it (sorta like in America), and it remains to be seen whether the BBC will pick up Series 3.

The thing is that everyone I know loves at least Family Guy (some people are a bit iffy about AD, even myself to a certain extent), but they have no BARB sets installed in the TV, so their opinions mean diddly squit to the Beeb.

As I said before, I'm not keen on AD, so I haven't been watching any of the new shows, as I've got S3 on DVD... but it would be a shame for them both to leave. Maybe if another network bought the rights... I never thought they looked right on the BBC - maybe Channel 4 or E4 (or possibly even More4) could vouch for the rights, and give it the treatment like they gave Friends and Frasier.

[HellCat]

Ratings have never been high for both series', even on its premiere week. The show Bodies aired before that and got mega-ratings, so the BBC must be assuming that the public's opinion of both shows is low.

This is just like what happened to Arrested Devlopment on BBC2. The first series started on Wednesday nights at 10, and developed semi-good ratings. Then when the second series came on, they put it on at 11:15 on a Sunday! Even with constant good reviews by TV guides, the audiences never came and watched it (sorta like in America), and it remains to be seen whether the BBC will pick up Series 3.

The thing is that everyone I know loves at least Family Guy (some people are a bit iffy about AD, even myself to a certain extent), but they have no BARB sets installed in the TV, so their opinions mean diddly squit to the Beeb.

As I said before, I'm not keen on AD, so I haven't been watching any of the new shows, as I've got S3 on DVD... but it would be a shame for them both to leave. Maybe if another network bought the rights... I never thought they looked right on the BBC - maybe Channel 4 or E4 (or possibly even More4) could vouch for the rights, and give it the treatment like they gave Friends and Frasier.
Channel 4 had Family Guy before though and didn't show it any respect. The UK networks seem to snap up the cult US stuff then have no clue what to do with it. Channel 4 at least have done alot better with The Simpsons than BBC did (how many times did they air the ep with Marge's fear of flying?). For animated shows like this, the biggest audience is about age 16+. There's a guy in the same house as me at uni and I can often hear him and his mates watching Family Guy (a few weeks back they were somehow watching 'Petarded' from season 4). You hear folks discussing it in class or whilst looking at DVDs. This kind of audience pretty much does use the "Psst, pass it on!" mentality but that only goes so far. The networks need to do some research, use it to better plan their schedule then start pushing these shows.

[Mr Cat Dog]

Channel 4 had Family Guy before though and didn't show it any respect.C4 also had the first 3 seasons of CYU, and shoved it in a death slot. But when it came to More4, it became a network smash. They can place it right if they want to (although most of the time, they don't).

[HellCat]

The one truth I think we can all agree on- this is why the DVD market is so popular.

[HellCat]

Seems both FG and AD are riding it out late on Sunday night.

[GagaMan]

Every time I try to watch them, they get delayed by about two ours because of Snooker or Football.
They started out showing these cartoons well, but they've stopped caring a bit recently, sticking it on at dead-end times I'd rather not wait up for.

[MonkeyFunk]

Something I noticed about last night's FG - adter Lois' dad says "well, I'd better be hitting the dusty trail", there's an abrupt fadeout. Did BBC cut something?

[Conan-san]

To be blunt?

As well as to be expected :yawn:

Another case of some big time british company geting it FANTASTICLY wrong.

[mojokingbee1]

Something I noticed about last night's FG - adter Lois' dad says "well, I'd better be hitting the dusty trail", there's an abrupt fadeout. Did BBC cut something?

No, That was the end of the 2nd act.

[MonkeyFunk]

No, That was the end of the 2nd act.

I see. I was just expecting him to shuffle away and set off some kind of alarm.