What happened to the fall TV specials they had?

[Toreador]

When I was young before the new tv season the networks would have a special where they would showcase the new series that they were going to air. Show a few clips, talk to the actors, praise the shows that made it to another season. Make an event out of it. What happened?

With series costing so much you'd think the networks would try to pump as much excitement for the new series as they can. The only network that seems to do anything like that now is Fox with their little ET minutes on FX. Checking some of old preview specials on Youtube you could see the networks really go all out. They would even have a theme song for the season or the network (the only one I can remember is ABC using 'Still the One' for their theme).

Used to do the same thing with their Saturday morning cartoons, previewing them the night before (when the networks had decent saturday morning cartoons).

[StoneGold]

Pretty soon, you'll be asking what happened to the new fall season, period.

[metalhead_dave743]

Two Words... Reality TV.

[DoubleWide]

I remember these, God I'm getting old, and would not only look forward to them, but would be waiting for the Saturday Morning specials as well. There would be premier weeks with all shows getting new episodes at the same time. Fox came along and began offering their "fall" line up in the middle of summer. Then the major networks began to stagger their fall premiers and yanking shows after only a couple of airings in there never ending quest for ratings. So eventually the traditional fall premiers went the way of the phone booth. :frown:

[maczero]

I'd say the internet and entertainment news shows happened. It's probably a lot cheaper to let these two spread the buzz about your new shows rather than create a show just to promote your new shows.

[drwho]

The special left when Saturday morning cartoons got killed.

[Knightmare10880]

I really miss those old specials they were one of the best things during the fall season.