Back to You

Kelsey Grammer's Back to You is the first of FOX's new scripted line up to receive a full season order from the network.  Known for their quick axe, the move is a bit surprising considering Back to You has not been a ratings power house.  The smart money is on the apt prediction that Grammer's sitcom-royalty status will be a continuous, albeit slow, draw for the show.


Industry aficionados already know that FOX quickly pulled the plug on the disastrous Nashville, and the early sense was that Back to You's diminished ratings in the wake of a mildly strong premiere meant the show was in peril.  Not so.  Not only has FOX picked up the new show, but they have broken from convention, bypassing the typical ‘back 9' order and adding 11 episodes to the first season, meaning Back to You will run for 24 episodes, the allotment usually reserved for returning shows.

Fan's of FOX's buddy cop show K-Ville will be encouraged to hear that FOX has ordered four more scripts of the series.   This does not indicate that the scripts will be shot, but it does mean that FOX is at least interested in where the story is going and will be determining whether they think the continuing story is compelling enough to pull the borderline anemic show off the bubble.

K-Ville fans should take note, though, that the show will not be representing FOX in the first week of sweeps.  This would tend to betray the mindset that FOX thinks the series is dead weight.  

Back to You's pedigree from the producers to the cast is certainly an impressive one, so its not entirely surprising to see the show continuing.  The ratings conundrum, if nothing else, shows that FOX's executioners are subject to intimidation when it comes to facing such an intelligent, creative crew.  Now if only Kelsey Grammer had starred on FireFly.

- Jon Lachonis, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image Courtesy of FOX)