The Black Donnellys

[dansee]

Wow... what a lot of hype, for such a dazzling display of mediocrity.

Had a couple moments, but I found the whole thing to be soapish and disjointed. And I didn't care about any of the characters.

Don't think this one's getting another shot.

[LoadStar]

I didn't watch, but that's because your reaction pretty much echoed every single review I've heard of the show. Actually, some reviews were a bit more harsh, calling it on being an anachronism.

[phox_mulder]

I TiVo'd it, but it will take a backseat to all the others I also TiVo'd tonight, so I most likely won't get around to watching it for a couple days.
(Heroes, 24, Prison Break, and dare I say CSI:Miami)

I'm not having high hopes since I really liked Brotherhood on Showtime,
and all the promos I saw made it seem like a really pale imitation.


phox

[TAsunder]

I thought it was well done, a good pilot. But it made the critical mistake of leaving me with no desire to see any more because of an unlikeable protagonist. The previews basically sounded like this to me: "Next week, bunch of stuff happens to a main character you hate!" He's not Vic Mackey unlikeable either. Even when I hate vic, I love him. I just hate this guy, no love. Especially because he looks so much like tom everett scott but isn't as charismatic.

[Vito the TiVo]

Hey, if Irish Goodfellas (Donnie Brasco?) can win an Oscar, then Irish Godfather can get some ratings. :p

[cheesesteak]

I TiVo'd it, but that was only because the bazillion TBD commercials during Heroes turned me into a mindless zombie. Might try watching it this weekend.

[Hersheytx]

I love Studio 60 to much to watch it.
Let it die. Next week the ratings take a huge plunge and by April they are renewing Studio 60.
I can dream!

[LooseWiring]

Hey, if Irish Goodfellas (Donnie Brasco?) can win an Oscar, then Irish Godfather can get some ratings. :p
Donnie Brasco was Irish? Perhaps we are thinking of entirely different movies.

[TAsunder]

The people who boycott this show because they are mad about studio 60 are being childish. The studio won't continue producing a show that is losing money and bleeding viewers. That won't change whether or not another show is successful in the slot. If donnellys fails, they'll just find a different show to put in there if they feel S60 can stand on its own.

[uncdrew]

The people who boycott this show because they are mad about studio 60 are being childish.


Neener neener. :p

[Marco]

Hey, if Irish Goodfellas (Donnie Brasco?) can win an Oscar

I thought that was State of Grace. (http://imdb.com/title/tt0100685/)

[MegaHertz67]

The people who boycott this show because they are mad about studio 60 are being childish.Count me among the childish then. I was disinclined to watch anyway, the fact that it is on because S60 is off just made the decision easier.The studio won't continue producing a show that is losing money and bleeding viewers.It is also my understanding that S60 is not losing money so much as not living up to expectations. Heroes has been the surprise breakout star and S60 has been disappointing because it has lost viewers from its lead-in. S60 is actually doing quite well in desirable demos, just not as well as they had hoped overall.

Expectations and reputation are part of S60 disappointment in the ratings. I have always said that expectations drive satisfaction. If you go to Wolfgang Puck's restaurant and expect a great meal because of his reputation, you may be disappointed even if the meal is just very good. Even if it is better than you could have dreamed of getting at another restaurant, it might not live up to its reputation. Conversely, you go to a local hole in the wall joint and have merely a good meal, you could be very satisfied because you had low expectations and the meal exceeded them.

Same works out here. Even though S60 is better than 75% of scripted dramas on broadcast TV, people had elevated expectations of Sorkin's newest show. Whereas CSI: Miami is not as good as S60 (or CSI, or CSI: NY for that matter) but it delivers more than what you expect from a David Caruso starring cop show.That won't change whether or not another show is successful in the slot. It could make it harder for NBC to cancel S60 if the highly promoted horse they rode in on stumbles coming out of the starting gate and doesn't have a good run.If donnellys fails, they'll just find a different show to put in there if they feel S60 can stand on its own.There is the crux of the matter. S60 was supposed to air on Thursdays at 9pm between the Office and ER. Would have been a nice fit. But NBC got scared off by Grey's Anatomy moving to that slot and panic moved it to Mondays at 10pm with an ill fitting lead-in and interesting competition. No one would have blinked if it came in second on Thursdays to CSI because CSI has a steller reputation. But to lose to CSI: Miami, which is considered cotton candy for the eyes, is the unforgiveable sin.

I don't necessarily wish TBD ill, I hope S60 comes back. I hope it is renewed & I hope they find the right home for it on the schedule even if that ends up being right back on Mondays at 10pm.

[Marco]

The people who boycott this show because they are mad about studio 60 are being childish yada yada

Not sure how you feel about Studio 60 ... you haven't posted about it enough. :mad:

[speedcouch]

Wow... what a lot of hype, for such a dazzling display of mediocrity.

I Tivoed it too, but the husband was making disparging remarks about the overdose of promos for it, so I'm not sure we'll ever watch it.

Plus, it's such an obvious copy of Brotherhood on Showtime, that just bugs me. NO way a network show can compete with the language, violence and sex on satellite. :rolleyes:

Cheryl

[stiffi]

The people who boycott this show because they are mad about studio 60 are being childish.

Uh, that's actually how our free enterprise economy works. If you like something, you support it. If you don't like the competition, you don't support that.

[Gregor]

Gee, I guess I'm the odd man out. I liked it. At least this week.

[Animgif]

I liked it and will watch it again. Also, I hope that they bring back Studio 60 so I can watch it with it and have like 15 hours of TV on Monday nights to watch. :( I miss S60 already.

[TAsunder]

Not sure how you feel about Studio 60 ... you haven't posted about it enough. :mad:

Not sure if that's sarcasm, but I like Studio 60 despite its major flaws and hate kool aid fanboys of Studio 60 who constantly insult the intelligence of others and claim that sorkin is the greatest writer in human history. That about sums up my opinion of S60. I'm just not deluded enough to think that the studio is going to change its decision because of a pocketful of fans. Especially when we're talking about NBC with the exec who infamously stated that they want all non-scripted shows at 8pm & 9pm. If Black Donnellys fails, maybe they'll end up going with some game show or the apprentice 3 starring warren buffet.

I also judge a show on its merits, not on whether it replaced some other show I like or similar nonsense.

[TAsunder]

Uh, that's actually how our free enterprise economy works. If you like something, you support it. If you don't like the competition, you don't support that.

Yeah, except you got the second part wrong. No one dislikes the competition in the case of "refusing to watch", they don't even know if they like it or dislike it. They just choose to ignore it. Better analogy is this... you love tivo. Suddenly tivo goes out of business. Are you going to refuse to buy any other DVR if your Tivo breaks down because you are mad tivo went out of business? It's not a matter of "not liking the competition" here, it's a matter of refusing to even consider it because you are having a temper tantrum over S60. Maybe that's how you shop for products, but not me or most consumers.

[astrohip]

The people who boycott this show because they are mad about studio 60 are being childish. The studio won't continue producing a show that is losing money and bleeding viewers. That won't change whether or not another show is successful in the slot. If donnellys fails, they'll just find a different show to put in there if they feel S60 can stand on its own.
My wife asks me last night if I'm gonna try TBD. I told her no, because I was pissed it took Studio 60's place, and I was boycotting that time slot until S60 returns. She looks me straight in the face and says, "You know you're an idiot, right? What's next, sign an online petition?"

So does anyone know if there are any online petitions to save S60? :D :D :p

[TAsunder]

What's going to happen if one of your favorite shows gets moved there? Assuming you have one that's on NBC? That could be tricky.

[markymark_ctown]

Donnie Brasco was Irish? Perhaps we are thinking of entirely different movies.


i believe he meant "the departed' was an irish version of goodfellas and/or donnie brasco.

[TAsunder]

i believe he meant "the departed' was an irish version of goodfellas and/or donnie brasco.

Which is a strange thing to say since it's not really similar to the departed. I found the black donnellys to be more like the departed. Although more mean streets than the departed, now that I think about it.

[classicX]

It could make it harder for NBC to cancel S60 if the highly promoted horse they rode in on stumbles coming out of the starting gate and doesn't have a good run.

LOGIC ERROR. Does not compute.

Please explain why a failure of one show would make it harder to cancel another.

[TAsunder]

LOGIC ERROR. Does not compute.

Please explain why a failure of one show would make it harder to cancel another.

Maybe they're thinking of the family guy. The only brought it back because 35 shows in the same time slot got cancelled. :D

[stiffi]

Yeah, except you got the second part wrong. No one dislikes the competition in the case of "refusing to watch", they don't even know if they like it or dislike it. They just choose to ignore it. Better analogy is this... you love tivo. Suddenly tivo goes out of business. Are you going to refuse to buy any other DVR if your Tivo breaks down because you are mad tivo went out of business? It's not a matter of "not liking the competition" here, it's a matter of refusing to even consider it because you are having a temper tantrum over S60. Maybe that's how you shop for products, but not me or most consumers.

Not liking something, because it contributes to the detriment of something you do like, is a perfectly valid reason.

There's no rule that says you absolutely have to give every product an objective chance. Again, free enterprise.

[TAsunder]

Not liking something, because it contributes to the detriment of something you do like, is a perfectly valid reason.

There's no rule that says you absolutely have to give every product an objective chance. Again, free enterprise.

Again, it's not contributing to the detriment of S60. That is the problem with the notion. You are free to do whatever you want, sure, but don't try to rationalize it or claim that is how people normally act in a "free enterprise". The whole notion of capitalism is based on the idea that people will prefer the better product at a cheaper price regardless of who is selling it. Sure there are the people who refuse to consider a competing product, but those are the minority.

[MegaHertz67]

LOGIC ERROR. Does not compute.

Please explain why a failure of one show would make it harder to cancel another.If TBD picks up on its lead-in and holds it or builds on it, it makes the decision to cancel S60 and easy one. But, if TBD bites it, they have a product in S60 that has an audience and episodes in the can to fall back on. Once back on the air, S60 has an opportunity to reclaim some of its lost lead-in and thrive.

[cherry ghost]

Overnights in the 18-49 Demo
A decent drive-by for 'Black Donnellys'
New NBC drama pulls a 3.5 in 18-49s, up 35 percent
By Toni Fitzgerald MediaLifeMagazine.com staff writer Feb 27, 2007

NBC saw mixed results for the premiere of “The Black Donnellys” last night. On the one hand, the show bettered last week’s rating for former timeslot occupant “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” by 35 percent. On the other, “Donnellys” showed an alarming dip in its second half and was nowhere near the rating “Studio 60” drew in its premiere last September.

“Donnellys” averaged a 3.5 adults 18-49 rating last night at 10 p.m., according to Nielsen overnights, up 35 percent over last week’s series-low 2.6 for “Studio 60.”

But that debut rating was partially inflated by runover from “Donnellys’” lead-in, “Heroes,” which ran to 10:03 p.m. last night. In its second half hour, the Irish mob drama dipped from a 4.1 to a 2.8, a decline of 32 percent.

Also, “Donnellys” was nowhere near the 5.0 that “Studio 60” averaged in its September debut, despite having a stronger lead-in. (“Heroes” debuted a week later.)

The big question now is how “Donnellys” will perform in its second week. It never bodes well for a show to see a big decline in its second half hour, no matter how strong its lead-in. But if “Donnellys” can continue to outrate “Studio 60,” NBC may be satisfied with that, at least for a bit.

The network did manage to win the night, something that “Studio 60’s” low numbers had been preventing the past few weeks.



http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman/publish/article_10450.asp

[TAsunder]

I don't recall what happened at the halfway mark but it did seem to turn violent towards the latter half.

[stiffi]

I don't recall what happened at the halfway mark but it did seem to turn violent towards the latter half.

I think people just changed the channel once the Heroes coma wore off.

I know I had TBD on (and I'm a Nielson household) for a while, just out of laziness. Then I had to get up to clean some dishes in the kitchen, and when I came back, I changed the channel.

I'm sure a lot of people operate in the same way.

[Vito the TiVo]

I think people just changed the channel once the Heroes coma wore off.

I know I had TBD on (and I'm a Nielson household) for a while, just out of laziness. Then I had to get up to clean some dishes in the kitchen, and when I came back, I changed the channel.

I'm sure a lot of people operate in the same way.

You just set yourself up for every crazy fan on here that doesn't want their show cancelled to start PMing and begging you to at least leave your TV on.

[goblue97]

You just set yourself up for every crazy fan on here that doesn't want their show cancelled to start PMing and begging you to at least leave your TV on.
is that how it works now?

[skanter]

I watched "Donnelys" -- don't care if it replaced "Studio 60" which I liked a lot.

Thought Donnelys was mediocre. Stylistically too remeniscent of too many movies and other TV shows, too busy, too many characters. It just didn't work.

Production and acting was pretty good, though, its mostly the writing. I'll give it one more week...

[classicX]

I may just record this show to catch the end of Heroes, since my cable DVR refuses to allow me to pad more than one minute (although it supposedly allows up to five minutes).

*sigh*

[TAsunder]

I'll give it one more week too, but for entirely different reasons. I'm willing to admit that they COULD make the main character likeable but it certainly did not seem that way to me from this episode. He needs to see a therapist or do battle with idi amin or something.

[jsmeeker]

watched the first 10 minutes or so of this, but just wasn't into following the setup and background. It was a long day and I needed to wake up earlier than usual in the morning so I jsut flipped it off.

[Z-Todd]

I don't watch Heroes or Studio 60, but I liked Donnellys. Didn't love it, but I liked it.

That being said, I don't think the show will last more than 6 or 7 episodes. Too dark for network TV and the rating wasn't exactly stellar (and the show had heavy promo).

[Hersheytx]

The people who boycott this show because they are mad about studio 60 are being childish. The studio won't continue producing a show that is losing money and bleeding viewers. That won't change whether or not another show is successful in the slot. If donnellys fails, they'll just find a different show to put in there if they feel S60 can stand on its own.

How do you explain them bring back Boston Legal after it was cancelled?
Nothing to fill the slot. The show doing so-so.....but they needed it because the shows that took its place tanked. I think its a better possibility then you think.

[Hersheytx]

Maybe they're thinking of the family guy. The only brought it back because 35 shows in the same time slot got cancelled. :D

They brought it back because they sold over 10 million DVDs and made a boat load of money.
They decided to ride the gravy train and make more.

[Hersheytx]

I think people just changed the channel once the Heroes coma wore off.

I know I had TBD on (and I'm a Nielson household) for a while, just out of laziness. Then I had to get up to clean some dishes in the kitchen, and when I came back, I changed the channel.

I'm sure a lot of people operate in the same way.

I guess my vote weighs more on the boycott. I am a neislon household also. I made sure no DVR recorded that show.
I win! This monday it crashes......

[TAsunder]

Not sure what you are talking about with boston legal, as I don't remember it ever struggling or being in danger of cancellation. Grey's was a smash hit and they decided to push legal to 27 episodes in season 2. Are you suggesting grey's struggled??

But you appear to almost have understood the point of my post about family guy. Not quite, but close.

[midas]

I recorded the first episode. Watched about 45 minutes before I deleted the SP.

[Martha]

I recorded the first episode. Watched about 45 minutes before I deleted the SP.

You lasted 15 minutes longer than I did. :p I haven't deleted the SP yet - figure I'll give it another try next week and see if it improves.

[desulliv]

I watched the first 15 minutes and decided I didn't like their story-telling technique and I wasn't all that interested in the characters. Really bad The Usual Suspects imitation. I went back to it the next day and the story moved a little better in the second half. It looks as if a lot of people bailed before the second half. I'll give it another week.

[grecorj]

I watched it.

I thought the first half of the show was below average.

However, the 2nd half of the show was very good.

I'll give it another shot.

[dcheesi]

I didn't like the "last act", because it seemed to move things too far, too fast. It felt as if a whole season of character progression went by in twenty minutes.

And at the end things are set up for a situation that I just don't buy. Didn't the Irish boss have any lieutenants to pick up after him? How would a kid Tommy's age wind up running anything, even just a neighborhood, when he was barely even connected before?

[vikingguy]

I also did not make it through the first episode. I decided to record it at the last minute because the end of this week is slow and needed something to watch. I could not finish it I am not sure why I did not like I just did.

[Mr. Soze]

I watched "Donnelys" -- don't care if it replaced "Studio 60" which I liked a lot.

Thought Donnelys was mediocre. Stylistically too remeniscent of too many movies and other TV shows, too busy, too many characters. It just didn't work.

Production and acting was pretty good, though, its mostly the writing. I'll give it one more week...Apart from that first bit re S60, that sums it up for me. The plotline was so predictable as to be laughable.

SP Deathwatch.

[BlackBetty]

I like it!

[pdhenry]

Smith lasted 3 episodes; this one should run for more than that...

[Supfreak26]

I don't get it. You guys are usually pretty good when it comes to picking out good shows and most of you hated this. Was it the excessive promotion that turned you off?

I watched it and absolutely loved it! Finally, we get something new that isn't a celebrity reality show, a retread medical show, or another CSI and you guys just blast it without giving it an honest shot.

I thought the storytelling was fun, the acting was good, and the mood was dark. All very movie-like which is nice to see on TV. And the ending of the pilot was awesome. Can't wait to see the next ep!

And those of you that are boycotting it because of S60 really need to grow up. You can't blame the show for taking over the slot. That's a network decision. I like S60 but the pilot episode of this show was better than anything S60 has done in weeks. Anyone who doesn't see that needs to take their fanboy glasses off and face reality.

[tony17]

I don't get it. You guys are usually pretty good when it comes to picking out good shows and most of you hated this. Was it the excessive promotion that turned you off?

I watched it and absolutely loved it! Finally, we get something new that isn't a celebrity reality show, a retread medical show, or another CSI and you guys just blast it without giving it an honest shot.

I thought the storytelling was fun, the acting was good, and the mood was dark. All very movie-like which is nice to see on TV. And the ending of the pilot was awesome. Can't wait to see the next ep!

And those of you that are boycotting it because of S60 really need to grow up. You can't blame the show for taking over the slot. That's a network decision. I like S60 but the pilot episode of this show was better than anything S60 has done in weeks. Anyone who doesn't see that needs to take their fanboy glasses off and face reality.

Well said, I loved it too. Didn't get a chance to watch this weeks yet..

[JYoung]

I don't get it. You guys are usually pretty good when it comes to picking out good shows and most of you hated this. Was it the excessive promotion that turned you off?

I watched it and absolutely loved it! Finally, we get something new that isn't a celebrity reality show, a retread medical show, or another CSI and you guys just blast it without giving it an honest shot.

I thought the storytelling was fun, the acting was good, and the mood was dark. All very movie-like which is nice to see on TV. And the ending of the pilot was awesome. Can't wait to see the next ep!

And those of you that are boycotting it because of S60 really need to grow up. You can't blame the show for taking over the slot. That's a network decision. I like S60 but the pilot episode of this show was better than anything S60 has done in weeks. Anyone who doesn't see that needs to take their fanboy glasses off and face reality.


I'm no Studio 60 fan and I really didn't pay attention to the promotion for this show.
And yet, I didn't care for the pilot either.
I have last night's episode TiVoed but I haven't watched it yet.

[SullyND]

I don't get it. You guys are usually pretty good when it comes to picking out good shows and most of you hated this. Was it the excessive promotion that turned you off?

I watched it and absolutely loved it! Finally, we get something new that isn't a celebrity reality show, a retread medical show, or another CSI and you guys just blast it without giving it an honest shot.

Well said! I've enjoyed it so far.

[scoblitz]

I liked it enough to want to watch another

My wife hated it though

SB

[dimented]

I liked it enough to want to watch another

My wife hated it though

SB

My wife was the opposite. I popped it on and she didn't want to watch it, she wanted to watch something else we had Tivo'd. She had no desire to see this show. But she didn't tell me any of that. After it was over she told me all of that and then said "I am glad I watched it with you, I liked it"

[stellie93]

I thought the storytelling was fun, the acting was good, and the mood was dark. All very movie-like which is nice to see on TV.
:up:

I didn't count, but it seems like at least half of the posters haven't seen this week's episode, or either one. I liked Studio 60 better too, but this show isn't bad so far. I liked the second ep better than the pilot. Just give it a fair shot.

[Martha]

:up:

I didn't count, but it seems like at least half of the posters haven't seen this week's episode, or either one. I liked Studio 60 better too, but this show isn't bad so far. I liked the second ep better than the pilot. Just give it a fair shot.

I agree with you. I only watched about half the first episode. I watched all of this one - I found it a bit hard to follow, but it was better than the first one. I'm keeping the SP for now.

[cwerdna]

My strange coworker (who has no cable, satellite or anything and seems to get almost everything via BT) and LIKES to watch stuff on a computer instead of a TV kept telling me how great it was. I watched most of the pilot on a day I was real sleepy and the rest today...

I dunno, I don't hate it, but I hardly could follow who was who other than there were Italians vs. Irish. It certainly wasn't a good use of my 45 mins - 1 hour of my (very limited) time though as I felt that it had virtually no entertainment value. I'd have rather watched the news, a Star Trek rerun or something else that I consider good. Even some the worst eps of BSG TNS to me were a better use of my time...

As for people's remarks about Studio 60... I don't think I've even heard of the show. :confused: But then again, I watch very little primetime network TV.

I'm just going to delete the 2nd ep on my TiVo w/o watching it.

[aindik]

Tried to watch the pilot. Deleted it, the next episode, and the SP after about 35 minutes.

(On an almost completely unrelated note,) Bring Back Studio 60!

[fmowry]

Funny, I really like this and found Studio 60 unwatchable, but only made it through the first two of them.

Frank

[montag]

It still hasn't done much for me. Not enough to love it, not enough to cancel the season pass. I don't care about any of the characters as they all seem to be too much like, well, actors. For such a gritty show, they are too clean cut/Hollywood. I guess if they were more real life-like, I'd enjoy it more. Like in the Soprano's, it's just a bunch of regular guys, real guys not a bunch of pretty boys like in the BD.

[pdhenry]

Tried to watch the pilot. Deleted it, the next episode, and the SP after about 35 minutes. I felt the same way after 35 minutes. It gets better (although it may be too late to convince you of that).

[goblue97]

I'm liking this show but then again I also liked the movie Mobsters.