During “Community’s” hiatus, we made an argument that the hiatus could actually be good for the show because, we reasoned, the ratings for every other sitcom on NBC was dropping, so by comparison, “Community’s” ratings would look better. We were both right and wrong. The hiatus was good for the show, but not because “Community’s” flat ratings stood out by comparison to the other flailing NBC sitcoms. It was because “Community’s” ratings actually soared upon its return. After a three-month hiatus, “Community” returned with a huge ratings boost, with 36 percent more viewers and 47 percent more viewers in the key demo.
The hiatus effect isn’t isolated to just “Community,” but it is unusual for the hiatus effect to boost ratings on sitcoms. Typically, serialized dramas with ongoing storylines will see a big boost after a long hiatus, while sitcoms fall off. Take “Mad Men,” for instance. AFter an 18 month hiatus, it added 600,000 viewers, reaching a new series high. “Breaking Bad” has seen substantial gains after very nine-month hiatus, and “Game of Thrones” had a huge boost in its second season. But short-hiatuses, like the one that “Modern Family” had been on, are not as good for sitcoms. That show saw a 22 percent drop this week, for instance.
The reason? Social media buzz, so believes Ad Age and Blufin Labs, which worked out this nifty little chart.
They argue that the hiatus effect is strongest for those shows, like “Pretty Little Liars” and “The Walking Dead,” with intensely buzzworthy storylines, but sitcoms tend to suffer because they don’t have “cliffhanger-y” storylines. “Community,” of course, is that exception, thanks to the fact that it is the most popular show on the Internet. “How I Met Your Mother,” meanwhile, is a hybrid: Sitcom with a serialized plotline, which explains its flat ratings.
The chart does not, however, explain the ratings erosion of “The Killing,” which had a nine-month hiatus and a intensely buzzworthy storyline. The reason? It was all negative buzz.
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Where in god’s name is that banner image from and how do I get 50 of it.
Yeah, is there some reason that it’s not in animated GIF form?
Sonovabitch is holding out on us.
That is from Alison Brie on Kimmel:
[www.youtube.com]
Flex Tidwell is a goddamned American hero.
[cdn.wg.uproxx.com]
You’re welcome. (may take time to load)
Sorry to be the turd in the punch bowl, but isn’t a better argument that it’s doing better because it hasn’t been up against new episodes of the Big Bang Theory?
I guess Community was only unopposed by new BBT the first two weeks back. Has Community held its numbers since then?
Ok, I looked it up, and the news is not good.
The first two weeks back, without new BBT, Community got a 4.89 and 3.89. The following week it dropped to 3.62, then 3.10, and 3.18 last night. The last two episodes it aired before hiatus: 3.61 and 3.89. So now it’s doing worse than before the break. Fuck you, America.
The ratings for the last two episodes aired before the break should be 3.61 and 3.92. Not that it matters.
No more with the watercooler effect? No, not the watercooler, Pretty Little Liars did not get a 982% bump at the watercooler, I can attest to that.
water fountain effect
Sweet Merciful Jesus where is that picture from and where can I get the video of that event. If the entire source is immediately published I will start karate chopping infants. Their blood and bruises will be on your head.
Should I feel out of touch because I have no earthly idea what Pretty Little Liars is?
“Yet less than a week ago, Big Bang Theory was the highest-rated comedy in the country and Community, all but guaranteed cancellation within the next year, posted its lowest-ever ratings.” Second paragraph, here: [gawker.com]
I DON’T KNOW WHO TO BELIEVE!!!!
You can believe this:
(For the record, Community is clearly a better show than Big Bang Theory, though not by as much as Community fans think.)
It’s what I’ve been saying all along.
That I can agree with. (I don’t think “Community” has been too strong recently, but I have no idea how bad “BBT” is.)
These are real conflicting reports though. “Community” is doing great, will be renewed in perpetuity! “Community”‘s ratings have never been worse, cancellation imminent!
They aren’t conflicting, just confusing. Community’s ratings did soar when it came back. It’s just that two weeks later new Big Bang Theory episodes came back and now it’s ratings are worse than ever.
Ah. That’s not good.
I don’t see the ratings as anything but confirmation that the time slot is radioactive. Community is clearly capable of flourishing when not put head to head against BBT.
Community’s cancellation will cost NBC dearly, I can tell you that. I’m not the type to complain to networks or do those fan campaign things. But if Community is in trouble and you tell me to send in, say, a packet of moist towelettes to NBC? I will consider it. Just picture Annie’s face and her saying to you, “Do you really want me to go away?” DO YOU?