2008 Woodie Awards
Blasts from the past make media comeback
Jason Woods
Issue date: 11/6/08 Section: The Inside
Hot on the heels of the "Beverly Hills, 90210" spin-off, aptly titled "90210," the CW TV network announced plans to explore a spin-off of Melrose Place, a popular soap opera from the early '90s. With the announcement came some renewed scrutiny on a new Hollywood trend - updating and repackaging old hits.
"90210" is just one of such show this year - the other being NBC's TV update of "Knight Rider," a modern take on the '80s drama. Last year, NBC attempted to update the '70s hit "Bionic Woman." Both NBC shows were met with disappointing ratings.
Although "Bionic Woman" was canceled after one season, "90210," has been considered a hit for the CW network, averaging upward of 3 million viewers each week this season, according to TV data website Tvbythenumbers.com.
"Today, the stakes are a lot higher, and there is so much competition," said communication studies professor Murray Forman, who teaches classes like Media, Culture and Society and Theories of Media and Culture at Northeastern. "[These shows] already have a leg up on the competition. They have an established audience."
For the CW and NBC, bringing back an established audience may be a necessity. This season, the CW is ranking fifth in viewers and in demographics, averaging little more than two million viewers a week, according to Tvbythenumbers.com.
Prior to the network's formation, the stations that birthed the CW, the WB and UPN, were averaging four million viewers each, according to the site. There had been hope that a merger would combine each network's audiences - not cut a single networks' audience in half.
These misfortunes may have led to the exploration of remakes like "90210." Although the remake is one of the CW's more successful shows, by comparison, six years ago the WB canceled once-popular shows averaging so few viewers, like "Felicity," according to Tvbythenumbers.com. The CW declined to comment to The News.
NBC is facing similar woes. Ten years ago it was one of the strongest networks on TV in terms of ratings, boasting hits "ER," "Law and Order," "Friends" and "Seinfeld." While "Friends" and "Seinfeld" rode off into the sunset on high ratings, "ER" and "Law and Order" have shriveled, going from Top 10 hits to resting outside the weekly Top 40.
"90210" is just one of such show this year - the other being NBC's TV update of "Knight Rider," a modern take on the '80s drama. Last year, NBC attempted to update the '70s hit "Bionic Woman." Both NBC shows were met with disappointing ratings.
Although "Bionic Woman" was canceled after one season, "90210," has been considered a hit for the CW network, averaging upward of 3 million viewers each week this season, according to TV data website Tvbythenumbers.com.
"Today, the stakes are a lot higher, and there is so much competition," said communication studies professor Murray Forman, who teaches classes like Media, Culture and Society and Theories of Media and Culture at Northeastern. "[These shows] already have a leg up on the competition. They have an established audience."
For the CW and NBC, bringing back an established audience may be a necessity. This season, the CW is ranking fifth in viewers and in demographics, averaging little more than two million viewers a week, according to Tvbythenumbers.com.
Prior to the network's formation, the stations that birthed the CW, the WB and UPN, were averaging four million viewers each, according to the site. There had been hope that a merger would combine each network's audiences - not cut a single networks' audience in half.
These misfortunes may have led to the exploration of remakes like "90210." Although the remake is one of the CW's more successful shows, by comparison, six years ago the WB canceled once-popular shows averaging so few viewers, like "Felicity," according to Tvbythenumbers.com. The CW declined to comment to The News.
NBC is facing similar woes. Ten years ago it was one of the strongest networks on TV in terms of ratings, boasting hits "ER," "Law and Order," "Friends" and "Seinfeld." While "Friends" and "Seinfeld" rode off into the sunset on high ratings, "ER" and "Law and Order" have shriveled, going from Top 10 hits to resting outside the weekly Top 40.
Be the first to comment on this story