TV’s New Summer Dramas Are Struggling, But They Still May Be the Networks’ Best Option (New York Magazine)

However, as awful as these [network] numbers might seem, they're in line with the ratings of most mid-level scripted cable summer shows, like Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva and TNT's Leverage. More important, most are actually doing better than the ratings Fox and ABC generated last summer with repeats. "Even at a 1.1 [in the key demo of 18-49], The Gates is doing better than the 0.6 we did last year in the time slot with a repeat," notes ABC scheduling chief Jeff Bader.

The summer TV season includes many of my favorite shows, but what networks don't seem to understand is that the reason they're successful on the cable networks is because they're actually good shows, not just cast-offs made on the cheap. Will anyone in this town ever get that it's about quality content?!
Read the full article here.