MovieChat Forums > Vinyl (2016) Discussion > So...

So...

posted 9 years ago by Goughrew
14 replies | jump to latest

...the show didn't get the ratings it expected right off the bat...big deal.

In the early '90s, Seinfeld got awful ratings, but the network stuck with it and the rest is history.

HBO says Vinyl was renewed for a second season, but then they hire some new programming head who decides Vinyl isn't worth the effort? That's such BS.

Just think if NBC hired this same moron in the early '90s, then Seifeld would've been just another failed show.

I'm not comparing the quality of Seinfeld
to Vinyl, but I am saying that some shows take time to build up viewership. Unfortunately, this new dork they hired wants to make a big move to let people know who is in charge.

I'll never watch a new HBO show now...what's the point? If they're definitely gonna bring a show back for a second season, then I'll go back an watch--until then, no way.

[–] Robottikiekko 9 years ago

Well, the production costs of Seinfeld in the early 90s were a bit less than what the production of Vinyl had. With the 100m$ budget per season, you simply can't wait for too long to get the audience required to justify that enormous sum of money used. It's business after all.

[–] Outstandingness 9 years ago

This.

No one should be obligated to flush millions and millions of dollars down the toilet if it's not working

[–] Goughrew 9 years ago

We all know about the costs of Vinyl...it's been written about a lot. And...of course it's a business...of course they have to make money, but the show was renewed. That's what pisses me off the most. This new guy came in and canceled it after it was renewed.

You also have to remember that they put Vinyl up against The Walking Dead. TWD already has a big following...nobody is gonna switch over to a new show right away. Personally, I think TWD is $h!t, which is why I watched Vinyl, but I know I'm in the minority.

I guess the main thing that bugs me is how it was renewed before the new hire.

I haven't done the research, but does every single show make money in its first year? I honestly don't know, but I have a feeling every hit show ever made didn't make money right away.

[–] death-to-neds 9 years ago

I know. It's a real dick move to do that after it was renewed. I worked it out that a second season of Vinyl could be a lot cheaper than season 1. They spent $100 million on season 1, $30 million of it on the pilot. That means the other 9 episodes cost $7.77 million each, which is insane. Mad Men only cost about $4 million per episode, vinyl's a flashier show but still. It shouldn't need to cost more than $6.5 million if they cut some corners. That would bring the season total to $65 million. If they wanna cut costs further still they could cut the episode order from 10 to 8. That would bring the costs down to $52 million. There's probably other factors that I've not taken into account but it doesn't sound to unrealistic right?

[–] Kompressor_Fan 9 years ago

Good points....another thing to add: much of the production expense was to build the sets to film on (the offices, the homes etc.) Well....once all of that is built, there is no need to build it a second time, right? So...that right there is an expense that you can deduct from the second season.

[–] Goughrew 9 years ago

Wow...excellent breakdown man. I hear some people say it could get picked up somewhere else...like Nerflix, but I don't see it happening.

It just sucks cuz I swear I've never really cared this much about a canceled show before. It's not like this show is Togetherness (awful) or even The Leftovers (I kind of liked that show, but wasn't bothered by the cancellation).

I looked forward to so much every week. I thought it was cool that they didn't play the most obvious songs from that time. I thought it was cool to judge how well an actor pulled off a Bowie, Cooper or Elvis...and I liked trying to figure out which real people the fictional characters were based on. Oh...and I loved looking at Olivia Wylde.

There were so many subtle jokes. Richie gave some of the most hilarious facial expressions I've ever seen.

There's so much more that made this show great. Unfortunately, not enough people feel the same way as I do. And the most important person, Casey Bloys, probably never even watched the show--just the numbers.

[–] death-to-neds 9 years ago

Thanks man. I know. I'm so bummed about it. Bobby Cannavale should march into Casey Bloys office and do a big Richie esque rant, akin to the one he gave to Zac, Skip and Scott in episode 2. If they did sell it to another network, I'd like it to be Showtime. Their new rock show Roadies is obviously going to be cancelled anyways. Vinyl's viewership wasn't great but it had the opportunity to grow. Going up against The Walking Dead wasn't a great idea.

[–] GuyOnTheLeft 9 years ago

That's a key point, to cancel after renewing. Networks should wait to announce a renewal until they are sure, and then when they do they should be good to their word. It doesn't do anyone any good to be premature and then change your mind.

--------
My top 250: http://www.flickchart.com/Charts.aspx?user=SlackerInc&perpage=250

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] slidell333 9 years ago

I agree. You gotta give it two seasons...IMHO you already invested so much money you might as well go all out and swing for the fences and if you fail at least you tried. Heck, they could have even ordered 6 episodes. I understand the business part of it but it's a business based on entertainment, and the OP is exactly correct that many shows did not start out well.

Also, I've yet to hear anyone say anything about this but it was going up against Shameless on HBO which I'm sure gets pretty good ratings (I know they've dipped but they ordered another season). That's quite a big show to go up against, even if it has been getting slammed by the public and critics before this last season (which was better than the previous two IMHO).

And to add to the OP's point, I said it here..I'm getting a little leery of getting invested in any new shows on HBO as there's just so much uncertainty about it coming back nowadays.

[–] kingg-2 9 years ago

Remember, HBO isn't selling ads. They're selling subscriptions and, to a certain extent, still selling DVD packs of their shows. If only a few hundred thousand customers are watching a show that cost millions per episode, they'll cut it fairly soon. Vinyl could have gotten a second season, but it wasn't moving the subscription numbers at all.

Shows like Game of Thrones bring in new subscribers and help to retain existing subscribers. Vinyl didn't do either of those. HBO will keep around a show that has good reviews but low numbers, but Vinyl's reviews were mediocre.

The series was ok. I enjoyed watching it, but it's not a show I'll miss.

[–] RhiJo 9 years ago

I just finished watching the first series, kind of binge watched but took three weeks! How this isn't being allowed a second season is incredible. I want to know what happens to everyone, watched The Affair recently and truly couldn't give a fig what happened to Noah or Alison, slightly concerned with their partners, but with Vinyl, what is happening with Devon, the dynamic between Jaimie and the Nasty Bits, the disco/hiphop thing and surely the best performance ever by Ray Romano

[–] kingg-2 9 years ago

I made it through 2 episodes of The Affair and bailed. That show did nothing for me.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]