The past couple of weeks, networks have been taking their axes to shows with the same crazed stumble as the killer in “Too Many Cooks.” The latest victim: “Selfie.”
But for those who watched the ABC sitcom, they know that “Selfie” was actually shaping into a loverly little show. The chemistry between the two leads (John Cho, Karen Gillan) is some of the best banter of the fall season. Plus, despite the “I hate that phrase” title, the show makes some insightful commentary on society’s dependence on technology (one episode involved Eliza stalking a co-worker’s Yelp account in order to get to know her better).
So where do we go from here? Nowadays, a TV show never really dies (case in point: “Arrested Development,” “The Comeback,” the list goes on). What networks should be clamoring to pick up this show?
First, TBS. They’re known for taking shows with shitty titles (“Cougartown”) and giving them a second life. “Selfie” would fit nicely on that network and perhaps maybe elevate it beyond Howie Mandel joke shows and the comedically tone-deaf “Ground Floor.”
Yahoo TV could also pick it up, since it’s already become a safe haven for wayward TV shows like “Community.”
Then, I had a wild idea. What if NBC picked it up? NBC, the network once known for groundbreaking comedies, now known for a Thursday-night lineup that includes an hour of “The Biggest Loser”—in a timeslot once reserved for “Friends” and whatever 8:30 show would subsequently be canceled.
What if the Peacock took a chance? If it needs anything, it needs a hit comedy. “Parks & Rec” is on its way out. The current Thursday night lineup of “Bad Judge” and “A to Z” is already defunct, since both were canceled. It would be interesting to see if a big network could recognize quality and nurture a following by stealing it from another network, kind of like the Hunger Games for TV audiences. I’m surprised more networks don’t do this, since the stigma of being canceled is almost a rallying cry now.
Of course, this won’t happen. If I had to take an actual guess, I would assume TBS would pick up “Selfie.” Not NBC, which relies on “Don’t Miss the Last 5 Minutes” in order to get people to watch “The Blacklist.” In fact, maybe “Don’t Miss the Last 5 Minutes” would be a good title for all of the network’s shows.
