Let the rumors begin (thanks to “Cool” for the link) Variety reports:
Insiders at 20th Century Fox TV confirm that at least one network has expressed interest in “King,” which was handed its pink slip just last week by Fox.
ABC is believed to be that suitor, as “King” would make a strong companion to the net’s upcoming animated comedy “The Goode Family.” Even more fitting, “Goode” comes from “King of the Hill” exec producers Mike Judge, John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky.
A “King” pickup would give ABC a well-known franchise to help bolster “Goode’s” chances. It’s a defacto network scheduling rule, learned at Fox through years of trial and error, that animated half-hours fit best with other animated half-hours.
Fox’s decision not to order any new episodes of “King,” meanwhile, came just three days before the animated laffer posted its best ratings in a year, averaging a 4.3 rating and 10 share among adults 18-49 on Sunday night.
Still, network insiders said Fox won’t likely change its mind on the “King” cancellation. Net is looking to freshen up its animated stable, and after 260 episodes, believed “King” was ready for retirement. Read more on the drama via Variety.
Perhaps the Renew/Cancel Index does know all.
This report goes to show what kind of shows do get resurrected: those that have been on at least a season or so, preferably longer, and still had decent ratings when canceled, ie Jericho, Scrubs and now KOTH.
Also, it helps if the network interested is struggling with new content :cough: ABC :cough:
Yet, does ABC want to set its identity as the network that picks up old shows?
Would they be able to pick it up and get a new season up and running before the end of this season? I would think they would want to before starting The Goode Family.
Presumably either no one has the right to air King of the Hill until Fox is done with the episodes it has bought (which end sometime in 2009-10 according to the report we linked to earlier), or even if the contractual right does exist, no one would *want* to air them until Fox was finished with it. But perhaps Fox can be bought out.
There is a lot going on with this. ABC is likely going to purchase scripts and move from there. The time it takes to get the shows animated is a real drawback. There is no way ABC right now could make a Mike Judge hour long block.
I think what would be a good idea is if FOX gives the show to ABC by midseason so they’ll have space to air The Cleveland Show. Then ABC would have something to air alongside The Goode Family. Of course this probably won’t happen as FOX will likely hold on to King until the 2009-2010 season because they havent officially dropped the show.
…although I don’t watch “KING” – I find the comment funny that it’s run over 260 episodes and FOX thinks it’s ready for retirement because it’s on too long…
…and the TV show: “THE SIMPSONS”…that’s like approaching; a thousand episodes!!?
im ok with everything, i dont care what channel its on, as long as they dont cancel the show