Kath & Kim wins full US season
NBC has given Kath & Kim a huge vote of confidence announcing a full-season pickup of the American version.
The network announced an additional nine episodes of the sitcom with Molly Shannon and Selma Blair. With a current order of 13, that’s a full 22 eps.
NBC has aired four episodes so far, averaging a 2.6 rating and 6 share among adults 18-49, averaging 6 million viewers. While it has slipped following its strong premiere, it has retained all of its My Name is Earl lead-in in those measurements and has built by 4 percent in the 18-34 demographic.
NBC Entertainment’s Teri Weinberg said, “We have incredible confidence in the creative auspices of this show and we believe it’s a perfect fit with our Thursday-night comedies.”
Despite it not faring so well with Australian viewer, and lousy reviews in the US, this is a major king-hit for Jane Turner and Gina Riley.
Source: Variety
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I was half expecting this, given the demos are average. The third episode was just awful, but I won’t give up on the show yet.
I think I just heard 7’s programmers swear…
lol my reaction was like molly shannons in that pic.
does ch7 intend on airing this in summer? ever again?
NBC must be desperate giving a full season to a show rating around 5m. And it did lose some of it’s MNIE lead in about 700,000.
lol, I cant believe this got renewed. Im guessing 7 will try milk an audience out over summer.
This is great news, I quite enjoy it!
This will be back over Summer
I bet they’re just doing this to piss us purists off.
I actually hope Seven will let this run over summer. As atrocious as the first episode was, the second wasn’t quite as bad and I wouldn’t mind seeing how the rest of the episodes play out.
The Aussies are never going to like it, as they will compare it directly. But this is just what I expected in the US. Once it finds its audience and has found its own way, it will succeed.
This could turn out like the Office, first episode was terrible but after that it just grew and got better and better. You never know.
Like others I hope ch7 airs it over the summer but not holding my breath waiting!
Damn you channel 7 I was enjoying the show, and now look what happened!
The first ep wasnt too bad - the second was a shocker, mainly due to Selma Blair. I actually think the show would be ok if not for her.
I hope 7 bring it back - its preferable to the repeats of the ‘Aussie’ version.
That last episode Seven aired sucked so much I barely raised a snigger. It’s a wonder anyone hung on after that.
The first episode used the same script as out Kath & Kim, does that mean all you haters others also hate the original?
NBC unlike most other US networks likes to give comedy show’s a chance. If Sienfeld had been on any other network it would not have been given the chance to grow into what it has become.
This is also why 30 Rock has lasted, and i believe that is growing in popularity, as well as growing in quality, even though it was always excellent.
I’d rather a network gives a show a shot, than cancel it before it can find itself or get a chance based on the first couple of episodes.
Good point grinspoon, shows such as Cheers and Seinfeld were utter flops in their first season but went on to be huge hits because NBC nurtured them, Ugly Betty is showing some signs of weakness in the same slot as Kath and Kim paricularly in the demos so this is a good call on NBCs part I reckon!
oh no nbc what are you doing?
with the Australian version only producing 5 episodes per season and only having 4 seasons (making it 20 episodes) the USA Version will have more episodes than the Aussie one.
Mydoona, they actually produce 8 episodes per season, so there are 32 in existence (not 20).
Tv yeah i hate the original as well,it’s utter rubbish. And Seinfeld and Cheers were critics darlings when they started despite the ratings,like Arrested Development and 30 Rock but they actually became hits. NBC persisted because they were obviously quality shows whereas K&K is obviously a dog.
I can tell you this is because NBC has no more comedy pilots in development and they need 4 comedies for Thursday night. It’s easier cheaper and less risky to order 22 eps of K&K rather than spends milions on developing launching and marketinga new comedy - and risk getting similar ratings. Case of Better the devil you know.
The show is total crap … but Americans like that cheap, lame “Saturday Night Live” style B-Grade humour … they wouldn’t know good comedy if it hit them in the face!
Jack!