News broke this week that CBS has cancelled a few shows, including Rob. Sad news indeed. The show lasted only 7 episodes despite decent ratings and thus becomes yet another sitcom cancelled too early. In the world of network TV, sitcoms need to either break into the top 10 to be kept around it seems, but this is nothing new. Rob averaged about 10 million viewers per week despite poor reviews and generally negative criticism.
Going back to NBC’s ‘Must See TV’ heyday there has been a pattern of shows lasting a single season and being thrown away if they do not become the next Friends, Frasier, or such. Remember Stark Raving Mad? Just how good does a sitcom have to be in order to get a chance? Let’s look at two of the newest, biggest sitcoms. Perhaps we can figure out why a show like Rob is now gone, shall we?
Don’t Trust the B—- in Apt 23 starring Krysten Ritter is a likable, funny comedy that seems to be a good bet to last a few seasons. The premise was certain to get attention from female audiences…it seems that demo prefers titles with swear words in them. But the pilot gave us more than just Krysten’s character Chloe appearing nude in an early scene; it turns out that though while her Chloe is certainly a b—-, she also has a decent streak when it comes to those she cares about. Thus is the the promise of the sitcom itself…it is more than just a masturbating peeping tom for a neighbor and some mean roomie…it is more than just risqué. The characters are likeable in spite of their flaws. Don’t Trust…got only 6.9 million viewers for it’s season 1 finale, 2 million less than Rob, and has been renewed by ABC.
2 Broke Girls starring Kat Dennings however seem to appeal to the mean girl demo. The endless sex jokes and downright selfishness of the characters is so off-putting and frankly inappropriate for a prime-time network show…at least it used to be. The main characters are self absorbed to the point that when they do something unselfish it just does not make sense…plus the sets suck. Moby thinks 2 Broke Girls is O.K. at best, but better than Rob? The ratings seem to indicate so…maybe Moby is just a prude, eh? 2 Broke Girls’ season 1 finale got 8.99 million viewers, the same as Rob’s series finale, and has been renewed for a second season by CBS.
Hector (Eugenio Derbez), Rob (Rob Schneider) and Fernando (Cheech Marin)
Rob was a family based sitcom that lacked the naughty factor; it did not rely on jokes or characters based on sexuality and meanness, just their immigration status. Rob was a fish out of water stuck in a family who’s culture was new to him, and though there were character conflicts and most had their own agendas, we could relate to them as ordinary people…more than just a couple of A–holes living as roommates. Also, the characters were likable and played by excellent comic actors.
Take Hector (Eugenio Derbez), Rob’s new ‘Best Friend’ for example. A lot of good episodes could have relied on Hector misguiding Rob into the culture of his new family, with all the misunderstandings and growing together that would result. Good sitcoms need that foil for the others to play against, like David Spade’s character in Rules of Engagement, and with Hector and Cheech Marin as the father Moby feels that the show had a lot of promise in that regard.
The bright spot in all this is that now Rob Schneider is likely to return to films….and hopefully take back his rightful spot as second banana at Happy Madison. Maybe we will finally see ‘The Carrot’ or ‘Harve the Barbarian’…just keep Nick Swardson away from the set and either could work. Seriously, far away dude.
For the record: Moby is a fan of both Krysten Ritter and Kat Dennings form their film work. It was nice to see that Krysten was getting a leading role in a sitcom, and while Moby was afraid the show would be unlikable, Moby found the show to be rather likable and well written.
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (2008) was a standout for Kat, and thus Moby had high hopes for 2 Broke Girls…oh well.
