When Good Ratings Happen to Bad Sitcoms
Darn it. Now I'm going to say something that some critic somewhere always says. I hate me when I do that. But I just took a look at last week's Nielsen Top 20 list, and the only two comedies on it are "Two and a Half Men" (at No. 10) and "Rules of Engagement" (at No. 19). Yuckola! The former show is beyond played out, and the latter is just bad.
I'm afraid I'm just another one of those rich people, as Media Life magazine explains, who watch sitcoms such as "Scrubs" and "The Office," except, well, I'm not rich. I look forward to those shows, along with "How I Met Your Mother," as much as I look forward to almost anything these days. I wish they were more popular, to spread the joy and to keep the prospect of cancellation at bay. "Arrested Development" still stings.
The good news about rich-people shows: According to Media Life, a sitcom such as "30 Rock" would not be a sure bet for renewal since its Nielsen numbers are in the 80s -- except that its viewers have a median income of $65,000. As you might guess, advertisers are definitely attracted to shows that draw viewers who have money to spend.
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