Syndication is why old TV shows feel different. The real money was in getting your show on reruns.

That’s why the 100 episode mark was such a big deal: It meant you could do two episodes a week for a whole year, minus the holidays.

So they wrote the shows to maximize their potential for syndication. Which is why they’re still so binge-able.

Netflix: Releases a new show

~ 3 Days Later ~

"The new show has had less than the projected 860 billion views? Fuck. Cancel it. Cancel it now!!"

The first season + of 90's Trek series definitely fall under the former. But it's worth the journey.

It's mind boggling to me that in today's world, TNG would likely never have gotten a season 2 pickup.

Okay, I'm going to make everybody feel old, but 20 years ago was 2005.

I didn't watch a lot of TV at the time, but two of the shows on in 2005 that I did watch regularly were 24 and ER. My memory was that both of those shows started strong in their first seasons, but neither of them premiered in 2005.

...It looks like shows that I recognize which premiered in 2005 were Prison Break, Rome, Criminal Minds, The Office, The Closer...

The Office is famous for suffering through the first season. I think I watched some episodes of the first season of The Closer and Prison Break, and both were pretty good.

20 years ago we didn't even think about "45 episodes of T.V. until years after is release. We just watched whatever was on because it was Tuesday.

Miami vice did the opposite 😄

Good show overall but it got some weird episodes too

I actually had someone tell me to watch a show, saying that you "just" need to get through the first 3 or 4 seasons of the show, then it will get good.

I still haven't watched it.

I think a system where shows arne't rated on views would be better. Like each show had genuine passionate artists and had no input from shareholders. Then shows would naturally be good.

Not too far from now, mostly AI content.