10 Shameless Attempts By TV Shows To Boost Their Ratings
5. Roc Started Broadcasting Episodes Live
Roc was an American comedy-drama starring comedian Charles S. Dutton as a Baltimore garbage collector. Though it only lasted three seasons, it would have been cancelled significantly earlier if it hadn't struck upon a novel way to boost its waning ratings.
Season one of the show was only moderately successful, but given the fact that the four principal cast members were accomplished stage actors, Fox decided to try and broadcast a live episode, something fairly rare at the time and which would create buzz and excitement.
The episode was received so well that Fox decided to ditch season one's format entirely, broadcasting every episode of season two live in an attempt to stay fresh. Though the boost at the start of the season was high, ratings soon levelled again, and Fox decided the added complications of a live performance weren't worth the effort.