After the long-running success of Frasier (and Cheers before that), Kelsey Grammer has hit a rough patch in his career. His most recent blunder, Hank, finds Grammer playing the title role- a Wall Street CEO who's been ousted from the company he founded, forcing him and his family to move back to his hometown in Virginia.
That sounds like a reasonable enough set-up for Hank to get into all kinds of scrapes and comedy hijinks. However, since its premiere, Hank has lost over 3 million viewers in the span of 5 half-hour episodes, and therefore, ABC has decided to cancel the series. In fact, the ratings have been so low that ABC may not even air the remaining 5 episodes that have already been shot. Oh no, does this mean there won't be a very special Hank Christmas episode?! Let's take a closer look...
Three Camera Set-Up Vs. Single Cam
One potential reason for Hank's lackluster reception could be its use of the three-camera set-up. Most commonly reserved for the traditional sitcom (such as Cheers and Frasier), the three-camera set-up employs the use of multiple cameras to shoot any given scene simultaneously, therefore capturing a variety of different, standard shots. However, within the past few years the three-camera set-up has been phased out, as more and more sitcoms are being shot with a single camera, such as The Office and 30 Rock. But why the switch?
Compared to shows shot with a single camera, three-camera productions now appear dated, especially when they are paired with a laugh track as Hank was. The single-camera set-up provides a cinematic quality to television (as almost all films are shot in this manner), allowing for more specific, tailored shots and interesting camera angles. However, the most damning evidence that audiences are favoring single-cam productions can be found in Hank's peers, specifically the other three sitcoms that air on ABC's two-hour block of comedy on Wednesday nights. The Middle, Cougar Town, and Modern Family all employ a single-camera set-up and have all been renewed for a full season.
We Want Frasier
Yet another potential reason why Hank tanked is because viewers identify Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane, not some other blowhard named Hank. Of course this is unfair but it is all too real for many sitcom actors (among them Jason Alexander and Lisa Kudrow) who have tried to return to network television. Let's not forget back in 2007 when Grammer miss-stepped with Back To You, a sitcom that also starred Patricia Heaton of Everybody Loves Raymond fame. Strangely enough, Heaton now stars in The Middle, which directly followed Hank in ABC's Wednesday line-up and has since been picked up for more episodes.
So why was Heaton able to skirt cancellation, even though her career trajectory is similar to that of Grammer's? Ultimately, it seems the answer is quality television. In this case, writing and production values make all the difference. Although they may be more aesthetically pleasing, modern sitcoms do not have to be shot with a single camera to be successful (case in point- Two and a Half Men). But they do have to be well-written, which is something that the hackneyed storylines and plots from Hank lacked.
Furthermore, the character of Hank is far too similar to Frasier, what with their snobbish quips and holier-than-thou behavior. Except because Hank takes place in a small town in Virginia, Grammer's character comes off as exceptionally pretentious and rude to his working-class in-laws and neighbors. Seemingly Hank's demographic was that of the Frasier viewer who would've liked to see Frasier berate the middle class more often. For the rest us, we'll have to settle for this- www.youtube.com/watch
Kyle Donley - Hi, I'm Kyle Donley. I write and do comedy (not always in that order). Oh, I also live in Brooklyn and write articles for Suite101. I ...
