I Don't Get It - I Really Don't

I'm not sure about this, but is this the first season ever when a
plethora of absolutely low-rated shows are given full-season orders?

Steven L....

I don't think so (though I obviously don't have all the data for the
last 60 years).

Because: In the past, we've seen many, many shows whose ratings rose
*after* their first season and peaked in season 2 or even season 3.
That happened because their networks were committed to the shows and
held on thru the first season of disappointing ratings. If anything, we
used to have more of that in past decades: NBC kept Original Star Trek
on the air for 3 whole seasons of disappointing ratings, and Fox kept
X-Files on the air despite its dismal ratings in its first season;
whereas last season, CBS didn't even give Threshold a full-season order.

Last month, I started a discussion thread on "late bloomers"--shows that
had lousy ratings in their first season but went on to be big hits in
subsequent seasons. There were a lot of them.

Most of the shows you mentioned are new shows. The networks may hope
they will turn out to be "late bloomers"--just like X-Files, JAG,
Baywatch, Cheers, etc.

Monday's What About Brian and Studio 60 were both given a thumbs up for
a full season in spite of their latest ratings, Studio 60 with a 4.7
and What About Brian with a 3.8. Meanwhile, FOX limps on with
Standoff, Justice and The O.C. and NBC is still hanging in with Friday
Night Lights and The Biggest Loser, along with ABC and its Men in
Trees, all of them in the 4 rating or less range. Has the success
threshold been lowered that low already? And it still keeps on adding
salt to my Smith wounds.

Zane...

First off, anyone who uses the word "plethora" gets a thumbs up in my
book. I just love that word!

As to the ratings, I don't get it either. In any other year of this
decade, none of those shows would have gotten a back nine order. In
fact, most would be history by now.

I have my own Smith, it was Clubhouse on CBS (the baseball show). It
was 100 times better than Friday Night Lights. There is no justice.