As a general rule, television Networks tend not to pick up pilots that have been rejected by another network. Pilots are different from seasoned shows that have already built a core audience. So, to hear that Netflix had ordered the series, Insatiable, was a bit surprising, but not totally out in left field. There are those moments in which a network will see something in a pilot that maybe the initial network did not see. Or, the creator of the series has someone at a different network that may be able to push the series through based on their influence alone.
One of the reasons that Insatiable did not make the cut at CW was because of the intense competition it faced. One show that seized one of two spots was a military show called Valor, and with the high level of patriotism in the United States, it is hard to miss with a military-based plot – the audience simply just eats it up. The second show that Insatiable lost out to was a Dallas reboot. Dallas was one of the longest running and successful prime time shows of all time. The original cast is legendary, so the brand alone carries power.
With all of this being said, the fact that Insatiable did not make the cut at the CW does not mean it is not a good show, but only that it was up against some very stiff competition. The problem with this dark comedy is that it is embedded in another pageant-based theme, and there are questions surrounding whether TV-America is ready for another show centered around the pageant. What proponents of the show might argue is that the pageant is only a backdrop and not the central theme.
The primary theme of the show is about a young girl, played by Debbie Ryan, decides to enter the world of beauty pageants to exact revenge on some girls who had earlier been her tormentors. The series does have a superstar cast that includes Alyssa Milano, Christopher Gorham and Dallas Roberts. The fact that the show is a dark comedy and not a pure drama may provide it an edge.
Netflix has been known to go out on the edge to provide platforms for shows that could not find homes, and thus a large stable of original shows that provide the network its power and influence. Netflix represents TV in the future and having a home on this network spells opportunity, no matter how you mark it up.
The challenge will be attracting an audience, because unlike on other networks, Netflix does not have scheduled time slots for shows in which the show will be automatically presented to the network’s audience. This means that they will have to adequately promote the show so that people will be looking for it. The show’s creators will have to do their job on social media and other internet-based platforms, as far as promoting the series is concerned.
The truth is that people loved to see those who have been wronged get justice, so there is a chance that people who love to root for the underdog will like this show.
Photo by Jen Lowery/SilverHub/REX/Shutterstock
Follow Us
