They're in on it!!!

I don't know if I've told any of you this theory I have behind TV shows being cancelled while in their infancy, but while I was sitting back and watching Futurama (thanks!), I remembered it again. Now we all live in a commercial society and money makes the world go round (it certainly helps mine) - so how do the networks make more money? DVDs currently all the fad right now and shows are pumped out on DVD like never before. It used to be only movies, but now you're seeing TV shows and such. They're released almost right after the shows are over - heck, The Apprentice is on sale now. So why all this on DVD? Because there are tons of people out there who'll get suckered into buying their favourite shows. From Futurama to Family Guy, it's all out there on DVD now (even Married with Children, but it's only select episodes.) And the best thing (for them) is that these shows can last several seasons - allowing them to make more money! Coincidentally, Futureshop is putting select season 1 Fox titles on sale. My season 1 of The X-Files was not $50 as currently advertised. Try at least doubled that price! Anyway, once you go out and buy the first season, you've gotta now complete the series - they've got you hooked!

But why cancel shows that just came out? If we ignore the fact that reality shows seem to have everyone hooked (and I've no clue why), then this supports my DVD cash cow theory. Harsh Realm, which was created by Chris Carter (the man is a genius :P), was originally aired on Fox for a few episodes and then abruptly cancelled. Granted there were disputes between I think Carter and the network, but anyway, it's coming out on DVD. Similarly, Wonderfalls, which was also aired on Fox for a few episodes, is coming out on DVD late this year. Repeat with Firefly, Keen Eddie, etc. See the trend? Now tons of fans of these shows will undoubtedly consider getting the DVDs if they're decently priced. Just look at Family Guy - in fact, Family Guy is coming back (movie format first I believe) due to the DVD sales alone. Now it may have been cancelled because the networks got tired of fighting against Seth on everything in the show (for example, with the diamonds commercial where "she has to" - they fought frame by frame how low...) Anyway, I know networks make money off of advertisements and need high viewership, but who watches the reality shows they saturate their channels with? No one I know does - well, a couple watches the Amazing Race, but that's about it. Perhaps none of the ppl I know have TV set meters installed so they're not being represented... So anyway, I think after looking at sales of Family Guy shooting through the roof after it was released, these networks got an idea and said "lets cancel shows for now and force ppl to buy our DVDs at an outrageous price!" And indeed I have...