General Comedy Discussion

[Sketchor]

Sunday was once the highest rated night for Adult Swim, capable of getting over a million viewers 18-34 for premieres of Robot Chicken but it seems Sunday just isn't the best night for premieres anymore.

I think it is time for Adult Swim to adapt the more typical network strategy of spreading premieres over several nights. I've heard the argument that late night talk shows would be too tough to play against but Thursday's live-action premiere slot has proven very successful and arguably more successful than Sunday premieres.

I think they could stand 15 to 30 minutes of freshness on any given weeknight and not rock the boat too much to be off-putting to viewers locked into their routines.

Usually an 11:30 PM airing of Family Guy scores the best each week so what better time slot to run a brand new episode than midnight on a weeknight?

Now before you get concerned about Sunday tradition, encoring those premieres on Sunday along with other originals reruns should keep it looking pretty much the same.

[SaintCervixCancer]

Brand-new episodes of what, exactly?

[UnionSolicitor]

I agree with this, but only because, I feel, I like the weeknight shows more than the Sunday night shows - such as Delocated, CH, NTSF etc, vs Metal, VB, Frankenhole (though I do like that a lot), etc. So I guess my question is, as I'm sure would be one of the many logical ones weighed by the execs in some way or another, what are the weeknight premiers ratings (FG on Mondays(?), AD on Fridays(?), and the Thursday shows when they are premiering) in relation to one another when compared to the Sunday night premiers and all of the shows' (weekdays and ends) repeats?

[itsacoaster]

In short, Thursday night ratings for AS original shows clobber Sunday night ratings, with the exception of Loiter Squad.

See this post: http://boards.adultswim.com/t5/General-Comedy-Discussion/Did-some
one-say-Premiere-ratings/m-p/648126...

They could reschedule Sundays so that the premieres are closer to the front of the block, but the ratings that night are not what they used to be.

[itsacoaster]

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SaintCervixCancer wrote:
Brand-new episodes of what, exactly?

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Any original show. Metalocalypse, Eric Andre, whatever.

[itsacoaster]

I already shared my thoughts in the ratings thread, but yes, if I were in charge, I would move premieres to weekdays.

It's interesting you bring up Sunday tradition. Personally I'm no longer married to Sunday nights. I frequently enjoy Thursday night much more these days.

How many folks here have an attachment to Sunday premieres?

[TheHafk]

I honestly watch Sunday because the lineup has some different shows and it has new bumps, not so much because of tradition.

I'd love to see weeknight premieres. It would bring variety to the weeknight schedule, and give cushy timeslots to premieres for all shows, improving ratings and help build up the block.

But I do like the Sunday tradition. Perhaps repeat new comedy eps on Sunday?

[Dark_Lord_Khrima]

They should at least test the waters by trying to air an animated show at 12:30 on Wednesday. I feel like that wouldn't disrupt the lineup too much since Aquateen/Squids would still each get an episode, and playing something new right after Robot Chicken would still almost guarantee some decent ratings. I guess the only problem is DVR Theater messing stuff up, but they could always just repeat it at 3:30 or 4:30.

The problem with 12:00 premiers is, unless they have two and a half hours of new shows every week, that would lead to some very weird scheduling. Robot Chicken would have to move to 12:30 with Aquateen and Squidbillies getting reduced to one episode a night. And then Aquateen and Squids would each probably air for an hour over Saturday/Sunday to partially make up for that, leaving the 12:00am slot free probably a couple nights a week. If they just used Thursdays for live action premiers, and Wednesdays for animation premiers, then that would probably work a bit better. Then they could just rework Saturdays to have a half hour of Robot Chicken at 10:00, maybe Aquateen/Squids at 9:30, and repeat all of their comedy premiers (including the live action stuff) on Sunday instead. So it'd be like:

Wednesday:

...

12:00 Animated premiers
1:00 Aquateen
1:15 Squidbillies

Saturday:
9:00 King of The Hill
9:30 Squidbillies
9:45 Aquateen
10:00 Robot Chicken
10:30 Family Guy

...

Sunday:
9:00 King of The Hill
10:00 Squidbillies
10:15 Aquateens
10:30 Family Guy
11:30 Live Action Encores
12:00 Animated Encores
1:00 Old WS Originals

At least assuming they have an hour of animated premiers and a half hour of live action ones every week, which I guess isn't exactly how it's working right this second, but whatever. Also if there were less than an hour of premiers for Wednesday they could just do what they do with Thursdays right now and air a couple more recent animated WS Originals that haven't had a lot of time to repeat at a decent hour.

[SaintCervixCancer]

Would that get these shows more viewers?

[itsacoaster]

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TheHafk wrote:

Perhaps repeat new comedy eps on Sunday?

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That would be my ideal situation.

[itsacoaster]

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SaintCervixCancer wrote:
Would that get these shows more viewers?

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That's the thinking, yes.

One reason why it may never happen is that Robot Chicken at midnight does a little better than Thursday premieres.

[Sketchor]

Well if RC does better than premieres they could have them at 12:30 but I'd rather they spread premieres over weekdays at midnight.

Come June Eric Andre, Metal will be in premieres.

12:00 AM Premieres
12:15 AM Robot Chicken
12:30 AM Robot Chicken
12:45 AM Aqua Teen
1:00 AM Aqua Teen / Squids
1:15 AM Squids / Other

They could actually skip encoring the premieres those nights to make the Sunday encores of greater value.

On the other hand more than 2 animated premieres a week is unlikely so just an hour with a unique schedule and premieres probably suffices.

I'd opt for Tuesdays making M,W,F the same schedule or Friday making M-W the same schedule.

Since RC is essential it can creep into 12:30 one night.

June

12:00 Aqua Whatever (first half)
12:15 Metalocalypse (second half)
12:30 Robot Chicken
1:00 Superjail
1:15 China, IL

July

12:00 Aqua Whatever (second half)
12:15 Squidbillies (first half)
12:30 Robot Chicken
1:00 Superjail
1:15 China, IL

[Jeebus201]

I know Adult Swim likes an identical M-F schedule, but this would help a lot.