FOX pulls 'Ben and Kate,' scraps four-sitcom Tuesday bloc in favor of 'Hell's Kitchen'
'Raising Hope' will pull double duty until March
Dakota Johnson and Nat Faxon in "Ben and Kate."
As recently as two weeks ago, FOX president Kevin Reilly said there was nothing that could be done in-season to fix the flagging fortunes of his Tuesday comedy lineup, and that "we've just gotta play through" from then until May.
But several more weeks of ratings data for the night in general changed that opinion, as today FOX announced that "Ben and Kate" is being pulled from the schedule immediately, and that the four-sitcom bloc will be going away by March, with "Hell's Kitchen" leading into survivors "New Girl" and "The Mindy Project."
"Ben and Kate" has consistently been the lowest-rated of the four comedies, and has been viewed as damaging "New Girl" at 9. So it's gone, though FOX insists the remaining episodes will air at some point. In the meantime, FOX will double up on "Raising Hope" episodes on Jan. 29, Feb. 5 and Feb. 26, and air "New Girl" repeats at 8:30 on Feb. 12 (the night of the State of the Union Address) and Feb. 19. The "American Idol" semi-finals pre-empt the whole Tuesday lineup on March 5, and then beginning March 12, a new season of "Hell's Kitchen" takes over at 8, leading into "New Girl" and "Mindy."
As a reward to "Raising Hope" for this double-duty, the show's hour-long season finale will get to air after "Idol" on Thursday, March 28 at 9.
I watched "Ben and Kate" intermittently over its brief life, enjoying certain parts (particularly everything involving Oscar Winner Nat Faxon and Echo Kellum together), but never really feeling like it transcended my initial assessment of it as a show that was likable but only occasionally laugh-out-loud funny. The failure of the Tuesday comedy bloc was one of many things to go wrong for FOX this season — if anything, FOX's overall struggles probably kept "Ben and Kate" on the air a month or two longer than it otherwise might have lasted.
Reality shows can be iffy lead-ins for sitcoms ("Dancing with the Stars" didn't do much for "Happy Endings," but "Goon" has cratered without "The Voice" in front of it), but this is at least FOX making an effort to protect "New Girl," and maybe see if "Mindy" is salvageable.
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Next 60 CommentsBrandon
January 23, 2013 at 5:04PM EST Reply to CommentWould have much preferred axing Mindy over Ben and Kate, but I guess she gets a plus for semi-name recognition. There needs to be a network for these boutique comedies to thrive and not worry about ratings. Sad to see both Apt 23 and Ben and Kate go.
John Agreed. The quality difference between Ben and Kate and Mindy was staggering.
January 23, 2013 at 5:13PM ESTjoel Agreed +1. Mindy had it's moments but it was mind-numbingly dumb as it was occasionally funny. Ben and Kate isn't exactly high art, but it was consistently funny in an irreverent way that typically fails miserably on broadcast television (cough cough, Community, cough). All of the pieces hadn't really gelled yet, but it felt like it was finding a consistent style and tone after the first couple episodes. Oh well.
January 23, 2013 at 5:23PM ESTjoel And before I get attacked for comparing anything favorably to Community, I'm thinking of Community season 1, which took a good dozen episodes to determine what it wanted to be. Used to be that all sitcoms went through a first season like this, but now they have to establish themselves in their first ten minutes or get axed.
January 23, 2013 at 5:25PM ESTBroadcast television is becoming a waste of time.
Mark Ben and Kate was definitely better than Mindy. Ms. Kaling is so annoying and over-rated.
January 23, 2013 at 5:50PM ESTDavid Sanders Agree with Joel. The networks need to give these shows more time to establish themselves.
January 23, 2013 at 5:53PM ESTEven Seinfeld was not an immediate hit and needed time to find its voice and viewers.
Ian I was on the verge of giving up on The Mindy Project regardless, but this news had pushed me to boycotting it in protest. I'm sorry, Mindy; it's not about you. I know it's not going to make a difference. I'm just heartbroken and petty and bitter, and your show just hasn't connected with me.
January 23, 2013 at 6:20PM ESTdoog The Mindy Project getting to continue makes this news sting all the more. It wishes it could be a tenth as good as Ben and Kate.
January 23, 2013 at 8:14PM ESTGuest I love The Mindy Project. Dr L is someone I get tremendous joy out of. I can relate to her on some levels and when she's over the top, she has me in stitches. Last night, when she left a message to The Lifetime Network before her date is a prime example: as a single woman, I have actually left in my apartment a letter "to whom it may concern" in the event I disappear mysteriously during a blind date.....But then she went that extra mile and proposed the cast and plot lines for those making a movie about her life and tragic death. Golden.
January 23, 2013 at 10:06PM ESTI'm not saying you're crazy if you don't like TMP, (to each their own) but I wanted there to be at least one person on here extolling its greatness.
StephenH2OMan
January 23, 2013 at 5:11PM EST Reply to CommentGosh, I really want TBS to start saving all my favorite failed network comedies! They should be trying to pair "Cougar Town" with something and I'd be very happy if that something was "Community," "Happy Endings," or "Ben and Kate"! Or, you know, all three.
bjssp I wonder if it might be good for another network to pick up a show that seems to be universally liked but struggles in the ratings. Imagine if Fox picked up "Happy Endings," should it be cancelled, or better yet, if CBS picked it up and put it behind "The Big Bang Theory" as it tried to expand to four comedies on Thursday.
January 24, 2013 at 4:03PM ESTThere are plenty of reasons why this wouldn't happen, but it's nice to dream, isn't it?
mrbilliam
January 23, 2013 at 5:12PM EST Reply to CommentI watch an awful lot of network comedies but with shows ending (30 Rock, Office), getting officially canceled (this, Apt 23), and being in definite danger of getting canceled (Community, Parks, Mindy, Happy Endings, Raising Hope, Go On, maybe even New Girl) I think it will be a pretty small amount of them to make it to next season. I'm worried that the network sitcom landscape might be mostly multi-cam next fall.
David (@chudleycannons) Raising Hope and Go On (and New Girl) aren't likely in danger of being cancelled. RH is a season away from hitting syndication numbers (and has a good score on tvbtn - it's either listed as near certain or certain), Goon is the second highest rated comedy on NBC, and New Girl is (I think) Fox's best rated live action comedy. Also, if you watched any of the FOX animated comedies, all of those other than Cleveland Show are doing great and are already renewed.
January 23, 2013 at 5:31PM ESTKnuckles I did not actually start liking Raising Hope until this season, and now it's one of the most consistently hilarious shows on TV (then again, don't listen to me, I like Nashville and thought that The Following, while utterly ludicrous, was thoroughly entertaining - it's really just "Unbreakable" but with a white, completely melodramatic bad guy). All that aside, I actually thought Ben and Kate was rather sweet, and funny. Couldn't stand Lucy Punch at all, but what can you do?
January 23, 2013 at 5:53PM ESTBrendan Noel I don't think we have to worry about single camera sitcoms dying. NBC has ordered 11 comedy pilots so far and 9 are single cams.
January 23, 2013 at 7:27PM ESTbjssp @BRANDON NOEL:
January 24, 2013 at 4:05PM ESTI think it's important to distinguish between single cam and single cam that is offbeat and weird. The new Michael J. Fox show is going to be single cam, if I recall correctly, but it will almost certainly be more like a convention sitcom in style than something more unusual--and no, I don't mean that as an insult.
Atta
January 23, 2013 at 5:13PM EST Reply to CommentThank god I'll never be forced to watching the crummy credit jokes of this show again when I start watching my DVRed New Girl.
Carrie
January 23, 2013 at 5:14PM EST Reply to CommentI loved, loved, loved this show. RIP.
DonBoy
January 23, 2013 at 5:17PM EST Reply to CommentWow. I completely understood the cancellation of B23 yesterday, because its nature it to be aggressively off-putting, and even I though I like that kind of thing it I understand most people don't. But of Ben and Kate -- what's not to like?
Maybe they should retool it as a single-cam.
(JOKE.)
Amy
January 23, 2013 at 5:20PM EST Reply to CommentI'm really disappointed to hear this! I thought the show was really charming and funny and had a lot of heart. Definitely sad to see this happen, and I hope they really do show the leftover eps at some point.
amg Ditto. And the cast had such great chemistry with each other; even the actress that plays little Maddie. I really enjoyed it--certainly looked forward to it more than Mindy. Here's hoping TBS might snatch this up too, come on TBS--this show is perfect for you!
January 23, 2013 at 6:10PM ESTDavid (@chudleycannons)
January 23, 2013 at 5:21PM EST Reply to CommentI knew this wasn't likely to get a second season, but I thought it would have finished out the season. Hopefully Fox will let them finish out the season, but according to wikipedia they're only on episode 15 out of 19.
peter
January 23, 2013 at 5:46PM EST Reply to CommentDamn, Ben and Kate was easily the best new network show of the fall. Sucks to see it go.
gladly
January 23, 2013 at 5:53PM EST Reply to CommentAww, I loved last night's episode too. Luka Jones was charming in it, and let's face it, it's not like Up All Night is long for this world. Jones may be a new generation of showkiller.
nath
January 23, 2013 at 6:05PM EST Reply to CommentEasily the best new show of the season. I wish they'd kept it around and given it an offseason to find an audience.
neilnfw
January 23, 2013 at 6:05PM EST Reply to CommentSeriously? I just started watching B&K last night -- (first two episodes on Hulu) and found it both funny and charming. Thanks, Fox, for the gut punch. Hell's Kitchen? Give me a f-ing break.
Zach L
January 23, 2013 at 6:08PM EST Reply to CommentThis one is a shame, real enjoyable show. Curious what FOX's game plan is next year. Would be interesting to see New Girl, Mindy and Andy Samberg's new show all on the same night
Cousin Larry Appleton
January 23, 2013 at 7:15PM EST Reply to CommentI can't blame FOX for cancelling this (FOX has pretty much accumulated a few years worth of goodwill for how they treated Fringe) but I'm still very sad to see it go.
I actually think this show *is* laugh-out-loud funny, and I think all five members of the cast were terrific. I assume Nat Faxon and Lucy Punch will be fine, but I really hope that Echo Kellum and Dakota Johnson can find new projects in the near future. Johnson especially deserves another shot - the networks will be failing if they can't find a good vehicle for her.
Brendan Noel
January 23, 2013 at 7:30PM EST Reply to CommentMy dislike of Ben and Kate definitely puts me in the minority, but it was definitely disappointing to see this entire Tuesday block fall flat on its face from the outset. I'm not a huge fan of The Mindy Project, but I still have enough passion for the early days of The Office that I wanted Mindy Kaling's show to be successful. Who knows with that one.
LJA
January 23, 2013 at 7:58PM EST Reply to CommentDamnit, this news is upsetting. I really loved this sweet little show.
And FOX would probably be surprised to know that when I watch Ben & Kate live, which is most weeks, I turn the channel when it's over and right as New Girl starts.
War Chief Shake Zula
January 23, 2013 at 8:13PM EST Reply to CommentIs "Goon" deliberate or a typo of "Go On"?
Atta Its deliberate, from Seth McFarlane's Saturday Night Live appearance where he was impersonating Ryan Lochte pronouncing the show. God i need a life.
January 23, 2013 at 9:03PM ESTCousin Larry Appleton I thought Alan was using it before that, actually. I think it's a mini shout-out to the Sean William Scott movie "Goon."
January 23, 2013 at 9:11PM ESTI could be 100% wrong here, but even if I am, check out "Goon," it's pretty good.
Brendan Noel Cousin Larry Appleton is correct, Alan's been calling it that since the summer. As have many other people, because the show hasn't done itself any favors by using a logo with the two words pushed together. And NBC's on air hashtags are always in all caps so it looks like #GOON (they try to change the darkness of the words to separate them but it doesn't really look like it)
January 23, 2013 at 9:43PM ESTDoubleWonderful Wow, I'm so used to the Sepinwall GOON that I read straight through it without hesitation, knowing exactly what he intended. F&I Podcasters unite!
January 24, 2013 at 7:26PM ESTJoe
January 23, 2013 at 8:52PM EST Reply to CommentOuch. This will no doubt annoy E4 over here in the UK, who have just spent a good deal of money and the show and spent a fair amount of time promoting it. I didn't like the show so much, but this has gotta be a burn for E4.
Scott Rosenberg The show had a full season order. Not sure how much is in the can, but being pulled from Fox won't affect the ability of international broadcast partners to air the remaining episodes. Much as I loved it, there was not a chance in Hell of this show getting a second season, so it can't be that much of a loss.
January 23, 2013 at 10:42PM ESTLbsammills51
January 23, 2013 at 9:07PM EST Reply to CommentThis sucks.
I really liked Ben and Kate. Though I laughed more at The Mindy Project, I enjoyed Ben and Kate waaaaay more than Mindy. That's not meant as a diss to Mindy Project, I just came to love the characters on Ben and Kate very quickly, whereas with Mindy Project I barely care about anyone other than Mindy, Danny and Morgan.
All I know is, if this has to happen, somebody BETTER hire Lucy Punch for a comedy. She was amazing. Hell, throw her in with one of the surviving Tuesday comedies on FOX. Just put her somewhere. I loved her enough that I'll probably follow her to her next show.
Stormshadow4life
January 23, 2013 at 9:40PM EST Reply to CommentIt's been said before...but I can't understand anyone enjoying the Mindy Project over Ben and Kate. I just don't understand America's viewing habits. Laugh track happy piece of garbage like the entire CBS lineup dominate, while shows with actual laughs get canceled (Ben and Kate, Don't Trust the B)
natx
January 23, 2013 at 10:19PM EST Reply to CommentThis is terrible tv news. Seriously what is wrong with american tv public when a show like ben & kate gets cancelled for a hack job of a chef. Ben & kate was easily one of my new favorite shows of the year. And Much better than mindy project at that.
Scott Rosenberg
January 23, 2013 at 10:39PM EST Reply to CommentNo way around it: this saddens me. This show was to me what the turd that was "Bent" was to critics: thin on plot and audience but big on warmth and charm. Heartfelt for all it's ridiculous the way "Chuck" was heartfelt for all it's ridiculousness. It wasn't a good show, but it was still a perfectly watchable half hour of silly good feelings, executed by a decidedly underrated cast, and for that it will be missed. RIP, Ben & Kate, RIP.
Dudleys Mom
January 23, 2013 at 10:54PM EST Reply to CommentThe "Dudleys Mom" curse continues...if I like it = cancelled.
youngjt80 Could you start liking the Kardashian's or Honey Boo Boo or any reality show for that matter?
January 24, 2013 at 5:33PM ESTHollie
January 24, 2013 at 2:49AM EST Reply to Commentoh FOX, how does this not shock me.. They ruin everything good.. I am in complete agreement , Why they would cancel Ben and Kate over the Mindy Project is beyond me. B&K was an adorable show, talented actors, and very charming. I'm sad to see it go .
Some guy
January 24, 2013 at 3:56AM EST Reply to CommentNot surprised, but a pity nonetheless. I found the show to be really charming (aside from Lucy Punch's character who I flat out couldn't stand- I'm generally not averse to abrasive, self-centred characters but she wasn't funny enough to make up for it).
I've lost interest in The Mindy Project, at least for the moment, so I don't really care if it survives the season or not.
Col Bat Guano
January 24, 2013 at 4:42AM EST Reply to CommentWhy are people blaming The Mindy Project for this cancellation? You realize there is no relationship between the fates of the two shows?
Dezbot I'm squarely in the minority because I like Mindy and don't like B&K, but yeah, I don't see the relation, either. This is Fox's fault because it's their decision, isn't it?
January 24, 2013 at 12:35PM ESTSlushy I don't think people are directly blaming The Mindy Project per se. It's more that they're upset that we live in a world where The Mindy Project survives while Ben and Kate does not.
January 24, 2013 at 2:54PM ESTAdam Kenny
January 24, 2013 at 6:21AM EST Reply to CommentBummer. My wife and I enjoy watching "Ben and Kate" a lot. I've only watched one episode of "The Mindy Project". I did not find it particularly funny and never went back to it again.
Brian S
January 24, 2013 at 7:28AM EST Reply to CommentMindy must be like Whitney - her terrible little show sticks around, while a much superior product is sidelined. Unfortunate. First the B23, now B&K. I really can't fault the networks though. Nobody is watching. Not like the shows weren't being promoted.
Ted Schmoesby agreed. tv networks crave 18-30 but many in that demo barely watch tv and a miniscule amount when it first airs in real time. meawhile the 30-50 demo are the ones watching most of these shows, the only ones watching in real time and spend just as much if not twice as much on the crap they're advertising for that drives this whole thing. as jerry would say "who are the marketing geniuses who come up with this stuff???"
January 24, 2013 at 11:37AM ESTbrian_shea
January 24, 2013 at 9:09AM EST Reply to CommentLiked the show and thought it was hitting its stride. However, a video on Hitfix with the three leads talking with Dan prior to the season starting worried me because they didn't seem to have the same kind of camaraderie that you see with the New Girl cast and groups like Parks and Community. I wonder if this was doomed from the start with some forced casting choices.
unhappy ending shows like 2. 1/2 men on fumes , but B&K bites the dust. Sorry, but Happy Endings bettr. Fit for TBS
January 24, 2013 at 11:31AM ESTjoel If they didn't have camaraderie off camera that certainly didn't come across in the show. The particular delivery styles are all a bit different, but they always felt real and comfortable with each other to me.
January 25, 2013 at 3:49PM ESTPolyWogg
January 24, 2013 at 1:04PM EST Reply to CommentWhile I'm glad some people like Mindy, New Girl, B23, Ben and Kate, Happy Endings, and a few others, I have never willingly lasted five minutes into any of them. I can handle BBT as Jim Parsons' delivery is fantastic straight-face. But I have no credibility in this area...I can still occasionally sit through HIMYM, even though I know it is terrible.
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