For the last few weeks, freshman shows have been under extreme pressure to either perform or perish. Thus far, poor ratings have sent such high-profile shows like "The Playboy Club" and "Charlie's Angels" to the showers.
But what about those aging shows that have overstayed their welcome? As much as producers and stars hate to admit it, even a beloved, long-running show has an expiration date. Jerry Seinfeld recognized this fact when he refused a reported $5 million per episode salary for one more season of the iconic "Seinfeld" sitcom.
Seinfeld wanted to go out on top, but some shows linger on past their expiration date. So which current shows need to fold up their tents and move on?
"Two and a Half Men" has been around so long that series star Angus T. Jones no longer qualifies as a 'half-man'. After Charlie Sheen's untimely exit earlier this year, the show was retooled to include Ashton Kutcher as childlike Internet billionaire Walden Schmidt.
Kutcher sounded like the answer to producer Chuck Lorre's prayers, but the Walden character is adding no value to the show. A typical plot involves Kutcher's character getting cozy with a busty female or 20 while Alan Harper, Jon Cryer's character, picks up the leftovers.
"The Simpsons" have been broadcast in prime time since late 1989, but their animated star has since been eclipsed by "Family Guy," "South Park" and the offbeat "Robot Chicken." It's ironic that the early episodes in its run, especially those segments produced for the Halloween-themed "Treehouse of Horror" episodes, hold up better than the ones in the newer seasons.
"The Bachelor" and all its spin-offs have overstayed their welcome. The formula of a hunky guy hanging out in exotic places with a bevy of beauties has long since lost its appeal. The show has only generated a few honest-to-goodness love connections but it continues to supply the tabloids with plenty of headline material.
There's also the chance that a promising new show may start string but fail to make it past the freshman year.
The original "Battlestar Gallactica" arrived with great fanfare in 1978, but the show faded in the spring of 1979. The "Gallactica 1980" reboot a year later failed to catch on with viewers. "Now and Again," an innovative show about a man whose brain is transplanted into a superior body, had the buzz during the 1999-2000 season, but the series failed in its bid for renewal, even with John Goodman as a recurring character.
In much the same way, the 2011-2012 season features some shows which, despite their loyal followings, may not make it to the second season.
Fox's "Terra Nova," for instance, has some teeth and not just the ones in the mouths of all the prehistoric creatures. In an effort to save humanity, people from the future are being sent to the past into an effort to give mankind a second chance. Unfortunately, people with hidden agendas also have made the leap through time.
"Terra Nova" can survive if the quality level remains high. Otherwise, this intriguing sci-fi show could burn out much too soon.
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