Fox to Renew That 80’s Show for Second Season

 LOS ANGELES- Fox Broadcasting Company Programming Director David Sleven said yesterday that the channel will be renewing That 80’s Show for a second season. The announcement was a part of Fox’s usual May presentation of its upcoming television year schedule.

The first season aired in 2002, hoping to spring off the success of That 70’s Show. Using a similar format to its predecessor, the show features main characters Corey Howard and June Tuesday as struggling punk rockers in 1980’s San Diego. Sleven believes the concept is exciting to revive. “Get ready to return to the totally rad lives of Corey and Tuesday, back on Fox this fall,” he said. “Their relationship captured the hearts of an entire generation, while simultaneously reminding us how the 80’s were not unlike today.”

Asked for specifics on the decision to bring back a show that finished its original run 11 years ago, Sleven cleared his throat a few times before finally answering, “It was mildly popular before, so I guess we may as well give it a whirl.” He denied Fox was just trying to relive its sitcom glory days of That 70’s Show.

Instead, other executives explained that the renewal is part of a larger effort to capitalize on earlier success stories. They cited their plans to bring back 24 in 2014, four years after it originally ended, as an example of their vision. “At Fox, we do whatever it takes to provide well-rated television, even if we have to use shows that were cancelled long ago.

Sleven made it clear that the decision to renew That 80’s Show was “absolutely not” because the channel doesn’t want to take a risk on a new show. Some critics alleged that networks today strive to eliminate completely original material to reduce the accompanying cost of marketing for a totally new idea.

While denying that the network was following such a strategy, Sleven did note that series like That 80’s Show already have a built-in audience. “Those 10 loyal viewers will be eager to come back to the show right away,” he said.

                                                                                        -By Mike Vandenberg