Why is FOX shelving ‘New Amsterdam’?
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- August
- 20
Around the same time earlier this month that I was trumpeting the coming fall debut of “New Amsterdam,” the new TV series co-produced by the dynamic LoHud duo of Lasse Hallstrom and Leslie Holleran (of Bedford and Larchmont, respectively), other more well informed publications like Variety were announcing that, in fact, FOX was going to shelve the series until mid-season.
It was a bizarre schedule shakeup, especially given that the “New Amsterdam” trailer was phenomenal. And my colleagues at the The Journal News who have seen the pilot say that the show—about an NYC homicide detective cursed with immortality—is one of the best new series they’ve seen.
So, what gives? A few conspiracy theories are after the break:
1. The show is being saved so that it can debut after the next season of “American Idol.” FOX has notoriously terrible fall ratings, but if “New Amsterdam” can piggyback AI when it returns mid-season, it might just be able to get a “House”-like kick start.
2. FOX has no idea how to launch a scifi—or even a vaguely quirky—television show. At least, that’s the theory espoused on the SliceofSciFi blog, which says, “That clueless network still, after all these years, after their terrible mis-step with ‘Firefly,’ ‘Drive’ and so many other great and promising shows, just doesn’t get it …” A bit harsh, yes. But after watching brilliant but quickly cancelled shows like “Wonderfalls” on DVD, I do see their point.
3. Gordon Ramsey is a more reliable brand name than some dude named Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. The former, aka the sadistic chef behind “Hell’s Kitchen,” has a new show called “Kitchen Nightmares” scheduled to air on Wednesdays. Until the latter, the star of “New Amsterdam,” can position himself as a cruel bastard, he’ll have a tough time breaking into Cowell-Ramsey-Bauer territory.
4. The show needed retooling. Perhaps someone at the net decided that the whole “Highlander” meets “NYPD Blue” thing wasn’t working. Maybe with a little clever editing, those unaired episodes of “Drive” can be merged so we get more of a “Gone in 60 Seconds” meets “Lord of the Rings” vibe?
5. Karaoke screwed up the whole plan. As Variety explained, “Don’t Forget the Lyrics” has become a “mild summer hit” and is being kept on the schedule through the fall. Something in the lineup had to give to make room.
Personally speaking, though, I can’t stand Wayne Brady, and I’ll be watching “The Singing Bee.” Or tweezering my toe hairs and waiting for January.
(“New Amsterdam� photo: FOX)
This entry was posted
on Monday, August 20th, 2007 at 8:03 pm by Ted Mann.
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look at it this way. one of the reasons why Fox was so notorious for cutting shows is because they had no budget for covering expenses while a show built up an audience big enough to pay for itself. If AI, Ramsey and this singing show, all of which are cheap to producer, can make them some money for a raining day, or a slow start, that is good for all their shows, including New Amsterdam.
and besides which, with Pushing Daises, Moonlight etc all starting in the fall, Fox could just be wanting to not have the show in that mix to be yet another quirky fantasy show. let those fail and be gone and in January here could something new for those types of fans. it’s actually a smart plan.
Well, FOX has finally scheduled the show for March with the first two showings following American Idol on the 4th and 6th… seems like they’re finally ready to try and make a success of it.