I wrote last week about how out of touch Hollywood is with mainstream American values. Here are five shows from the new fall season that demonstrate that disconnect in action:
The Playboy Club (NBC): Who thought that the American public was dying to see the inner workings of Hugh Hefner’s DNA-stained caverns? The ratings for this disaster are already in — and they’re disastrous, of course. Its premiere garnered a mere 5 million viewers.
Whitney (NBC): Take Comedy Central star Whitney Cummings and put her in her own show. What could go wrong? Just about everything. This is the same Whitney Cummings who said that Quentin Tarantino has “produced more retarded things than Sarah Palin’s vagina.” Lovely.
New Girl (FOX): This is essentially a rehash of Three’s Company in reverse — a girl moves in with three guys. Hijinks ensue. Or not.
Suburgatory (ABC): A girl moves out to the suburbs with her dad. Then she makes fun of the suburbs. Because Hollywood hates the suburbs. Get it? Yeah, we’ve been getting it since The Graduate.
Revenge (ABC): Woman travels out to the Hamptons to take revenge on the evil Wall Street folks who ruined her parents. Hey people, it’s not class warfare, it’s math!
Some of these shows may be good. Who knows? Maybe Hollywood will stumble onto something. But note a pattern: the network that continues to appeal to most Americans — and the network that doesn’t appear on this list — remains CBS. That’s because they aim at older audiences, and so have less need to be “edgy.” It’s also why you won’t see them winning too many Emmys in the near future.