Right now, TV is going back to its future.
That’s almost 30 years back. That span connects “Murder, She Wrote” to “Elsbeth,” “Matlock” to … well, “Matlock.”
At the core is a key change: Broadcast networks were once ignoring older viewers; now they need them. Let’s go back to 1995, when:
— “Matlock” was canceled – again. NBC had dumped it after seven seasons; ABC took three more, then dropped it.
— “Murder She Wrote” was still thriving. In its 11th season, it was No. 8 in the Nielsen ratings; it reached the top-10 in seven other seasons, peaking at No. 4. But CBS moved it to an impossible timeslot, then cancelled it a year later.
Clearly, advertisers wanted younger viewers. Older people already know what products they like; for younger ones, ads can mold lifetime habits.
So the folksy crimesolvers – Matlock, Columbo, Father Dowling, Dr. Mark Sloan (“Diagnosis: Murder”), Jessica Fletcher (“Murder, She Wrote”) and others — were ousted. That era was gone forever.
Except now it’s not. Advertisers still prefer young viewers, but with a few exceptions, they can’t find them watching broadcast TV.
So the networks have sometimes revived their interest in older people, who still watch broadcast TV. Older stars can be fashionable again:
Angela Lansbury was 58 when “Murder, She Wrote” started; Andy Griffith was 60 when the original “Matlock” began. Now we have Carrie Preston, 57, in “Elsbeth,” and Kathy Bates (shown here), 75, in the new “Matlock.”
If their shows were lame, the revival would die quickly. But “Elsbeth” has been a delight, with clever mysteries, quirky characters and a tad of humor. The same is true in the first two episodes of the new “Matlock.”
And they’re being given good timeslots. “Elsbeth” has been rerunning at 9 p.m. Thursdays, after CBS’ best comedies. “Big Brother” will take over that spot on July 18, but in the fall, Thursdays are promising – the “Young Sheldon” spin-off at 8 p,.m., “Ghosts” at 8:30, then “Matlock” and “Elsbeth.”
Older viewers – suddenly welcome again – could approve.
A surprise: Older crimesolvers are welcome again
Right now, TV is going back to its future.
That’s almost 30 years back. That span connects “Murder, She Wrote” to “Elsbeth,” “Matlock” to … well, “Matlock.”
At the core is a key change: Broadcast networks were once ignoring older viewers; now they need them. Let’s go back to 1995, when:
— “Matlock” was canceled – again. NBC had dumped it after seven seasons; ABC took three more, then dropped it.
— “Murder She Wrote” was still thriving. In its 11th season, it was No. 8 in the Nielsen ratings; it reached the top-10 in seven other seasons, peaking at No. 4. But CBS moved it to an impossible timeslot, then cancelled it a year later. Read more…