FOX hasn’t hit a home run with a half-hour sitcom in years. Even though Raising Hope’s already been renewed for a second season, it’s hardly a big success. Running Wilde didn’t even get to air all 13 episodes before it was cancelled. Will FOX have better luck with Traffic Light?
Traffic Light follows the changing lives of five thirty-somethings. Mike (David Denman), Adam (Nelson Franklin), and Ethan (Kris Marshall) have been friends since college and have seen each other through both highs and lows. They now find themselves in different places in their lives. Mike’s a lawyer who’s married to Lisa (Liza Lapira) and they have a young child together. He’s trying to carve out a little space for himself. Adam recently moved in with his girlfriend, Callie (Aya Cash), and is discovering how this change impacts his life. Meanwhile, Ethan is the perpetual bachelor who loves women is only committed to his pet bulldog, Carl.
The sitcom debuted on February 8th to a disappointing 1.9 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 4.59 million viewers. The next week, the show’s ratings dropped by 36% in the demo to a 1.4 and 3.49 million viewers. In week three, they popped back up a bit, to a still-disappointing 1.6 in the demo and 3.99 million viewers.
For the fourth showing, FOX gave Traffic Light a special timeslot, leading out of a 90 minute edition of American Idol. With that great lead-in, the sitcom scored a 2.8 rating and 7.32 million viewers. That was a much more positive sampling and FOX was surely hoping that more viewers would then tune in on the following Tuesday night. They didn’t. Last week’s episode attracted a 1.5 demo rating and 3.82 million viewers.
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Thus far, Traffic Light is averaging a 1.8 rating in the demo and 4.64 million viewers — essentially tied with Fringe, one of the lowest-rated scripted series on the network. If you remove the special post-American Idol ratings from Traffic Light’s average, the sitcom falls to a 1.6 in the demo, matching the average of now-cancelled Running Wilde. That’s terrible.
It’s inconceivable that FOX would renew Traffic Light for another season. What’s more, at some point they may start replacing Traffic Light with something else. Will FOX air the eight remaining episodes? We’ll have to wait and see.
But, what do you think? Is Traffic Light worth watching? Is it funny? Would you keep it or just cancel it now?
Image courtesy FOX.
Keep it. Two more of us love it.
Very upsetting to see this show on the likely to be cancelled list. It is one of the few network comedies that actually makes my wife and I laugh out loud. The series makes me think of a baby version of Modern Family – not in terms of the plot lines, but rather in the excellent writing and delivery of genuinely funny dialog. I’m a big fan of Nelson Franklin, and I’d hoped that this would be a good vehicle for his comedy. Damn, looks like this will be another quality show that doesn’t measure down to the “dumbest common… Read more »
I watch Traffic Light on Hulu (I don’t have cable tv) with my boyfriend and we both love the show!!! It makes us laugh out loud and we both feel like we can completely relate to the characters and their situations. I think the show would have a huge following if more people knew about it… It just needs to be promoted better and will succeed!!! I really hope it’s not canceled!!!!
I LOVE Traffic Light. Very funny show about things that do happen in real life. I found the show on Hulu. I did not hear about it on FOX. Maybe a little marketing would help. The show is great I hope it stays on.
My wife and I love this show and can’t stop laughing. It takes every day, humdrum couple conflicts and turns them into a very enjoyable, funny show. Excellent character chemistry with filming that seems very real. I don’t know how else to put it. We just discovered this gem on Hulu and watched the first 5 episodes in one night. Please don’t cancel!
We love Traffic Light. We totally look forward to it every Tuesday!!! Hope Fox keeps it!
Keep keep keep. Each episode gets better. Great to see male friendships in comedy.
Add me to the list of fans. Yes I expect it to go away. But it really helps to know the quirks of the characters to make each episode shine – great cast and writing.
I have watched the original series in Israel and it was as funny, dare I say it, as my favorite comedy Seinfeld. You need some time to identify with the characters, but once you do, it get’s funnier every time. Fox should push it more. It will pay off big time.
A funny and relateable show that needs some time to catch on. I’ve already had sevral friends start watching after I recommended they record an episode.
Traffic Light is an awesome show, few characters are flawed and relatable to all demographics. I can identify with different characters and relate to the situations, it’s a very enjoyable show almost therapeutic, eye opening experience. I think it needs more promo and a different time slot. Love it, great job, defiantly keep.
This is going to sound like such an excuse, but I really think it is true. Traffic Light is a hit or miss show, that I would say has only really missed on the episode that aired right after American Idol. While FOX was kind enough (and smart enough) to promote the show that way, it just happened to fall on their worst episode so far (7 episodes in). While not the best show from this first season, I really think this is a show that, once it gets its legs moving, will be a show that will get people’s… Read more »
I LOVE Traffic Light. I don’t know why the ratings aren’t impressive but every week the show delivers something I can relate to. I hope it doesn’t get cancelled. Give the show a chance!!!!
I wish everyone would give this show a chance. The situations are funny and you don’t have to listen to that ridiculous canned laughter. If you’ve ever been or had best friends, it’s easy to relate to. I would think the male audience would especially love this show.
Please don’t cancel!!!!!!!!!
Best new sitcom of the season! One of the few shows I watch on the “insipid” FOX Network. “Traffic Light” does not pull big numbers, but it and “Human Target” are the only shows on FOX that don’t totally stink. (“Glee” may be an exception.) “TL” is a very cute and charming show worthy of a full second season. (RIP…”Running Wilde” and “Good Guys”…forgive FOX for they know not what they do.)