Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
For even the greatest comedies, getting a new series renewed (ie funded for a new series) can be hard work. When Seinfeld struggled in its first few seasons, it was almost cancelled until it moved slots. Even mega hits like Modern Family only tend to be renewed one season in advance due to the huge costs of making a 24-episode series.
So the news in August that Anger Management, Charlie Sheen's sitcom for US channel FX, was being renewed for a mammoth 100 episodes certainly raised eyebrows. Especially after Sheen's previous misdemeanours, which led to his previous hit show Two and a Half Men being temporarily cancelled. And Sheen being fired, to boot.
The new series starts here on Comedy Central on 30 January as a 10-show run, followed by a near non-stop 90-episode series; a run unheard of outside soap operas and quiz shows.
So what gives? According to a report by Salon, FX needs content for its quieter hours and paying for 100 episodes of the so-so comedy is actually cheaper – at a bulk-buy rate – than syndication rights to hits like Modern Family. For the producers – including Sheen, who owns a stake in the show – it's a guaranteed payday for two years. Unless people stop watching. Or Sheen embarks on another "tiger-blood" fuelled breakdown.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments