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20th Television
Seth MacFarlane, a Hollywood powerhouse, primarily in the television realm, is known for his creation of successful long-standing shows like “Family Guy” and “American Dad”. However, nobody is immune to having a misstep. For MacFarlane, his significant flop occurred in 2013 with the sitcom “Dads” which aired on Fox. Despite riding the wave of his career’s peak at the time, the network’s confidence in the show led to a remarkable critical disaster.
So, how poorly received was “Dads”? It holds the dubious honor of being the worst-rated sitcom on Metacritic with a dismal 15 “Metascore”. It’s worth mentioning that only shows with a minimum of seven reviews are counted on the site. Nonetheless, “Dads” was a universally derided failure, lasting just a single 19-episode season before it was axed. The cancellation came even before the final episode was broadcast in July 2014.
Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild co-created “Dads”, a comedy that revolved around two successful gaming entrepreneurs and best friends (portrayed by Seth Green and Giovanni Ribisi). The plot thickens and comedy unfolds when their fathers, played by Martin Mull (“Clue”) and Peter Riegert (“The Mask”), move in with them.
Originally, the network ordered six episodes of the series before committing to a full season. Fox had high hopes for the show, given MacFarlane’s involvement as a key producer and a stellar cast. Moreover, MacFarlane had just enjoyed the massive success of his movie “Ted”, which grossed an incredible $549 million at the box office, spawned a sequel, and eventually led to a prequel TV show on Peacock. What could possibly go wrong, right?
The rocky start of “Dads”
What led critics to vehemently oppose “Dads” at its release? The show was largely criticized as being humorless and offensive. For instance, a scene where Green’s Eli and Ribisi’s Warner coerce Brenda Song’s Veronica, an Asian-American character, into dressing as an anime girl to entice potential Chinese investors. MacFarlane, known for his controversial humor in “Family Guy”, failed to hit the mark this time.
Fox was cognizant of the ongoing discourse. The network even published a trailer for the show which included negative reviews, such as HuffPost branding it “offensive”, alongside positive viewer comments. Before the premiere, Wild admitted at a press event in August 2013 (as reported by CNN) that the pilot episode of “Dads” may have its issues, but promised to address them in future episodes:
“We aim to keep ‘Dads’ audacious and irreverent, but it’s vital that it’s also funny. If the pilot missed the mark, we’ll strive to hit it better in upcoming shows.”
In Wild’s defense, it often takes time for a show to establish its identity. MacFarlane’s own “The Orville” took a whole season to nail down its essence. However, the sour reception of “Dads” and the lack of audience prevented Fox from extending its run. A second season was never on the cards.
In a September 2013 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, while discussing the controversies and poor reception of the show, executive producer Mike Scully argued that critics should be more patient:
“I believe the audience is more inclined to allow a show to evolve than critics are. Critics used to understand that a pilot is merely a blueprint of what a show could be. They seem to have forgotten about a show’s potential to evolve and that most have bumpy beginnings. You don’t have everything figured out in your first episode or even your first season.”
For those interested, “Dads” is available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video.
FAQs
Who is the creator of “Dads”?
“Dads” was co-created by Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild, with Seth MacFarlane as one of the key producers.
How long did “Dads” run for?
“Dads” ran for a single season, spanning 19 episodes.
Why was “Dads” poorly received?
The show was largely criticized as being unfunny and offensive, and it failed to connect with the audience and critics alike.
Where can I watch “Dads”?
“Dads” is available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
