Summary
One CBS sitcom series focused on millennial culture faced cancelation for the most ironic reason. The network airedThe Great Indoorspremiere in October 2016, and by 2017, the show was on the chopping block. The comedy series initially had a time slot leading into Thursday night’sThe Big Bang Theory,but the headliner didn’t live up to its position in the 2016-2017 CBS lineup. As such, the show became anothersitcomcanceled after one season. Ultimately, the cancelation came down to the show’s premise, which, ironically but perhaps not unintentionally, turned off some of its viewers.
The series starred Joel McHale as Jack Gordon, an adventure reporter who becomes the boss of a group of millennial-aged digital specialists after the magazine he works for, “Outdoor Limits,” ceases its print edition. Jack is hesitant to adapt to the times, and it’s made worse for the character because he is surrounded by a group of millennials, who he perceives as aloof and stubborn workers. The series had a decent cast, featuringSuperbad’s Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Stephen Fry.Stephen Fry is best knownfor his role in the BritishBlackadderseries. He portrays Roland, the founder of “Outdoor Limits.”
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The Great Indoors Focused On Millennials Being Easily Offended
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The Great Indoors Failed To Secure Renewal For Season 2
Ultimately,The Great Indoorsreceived a lot of criticism for how it depicted millennials as overly sensitive. Ironically, millennials being offended by the series (because of the premise that millennials were easy to offend) ultimately led toThe Great Indoors’cancelation before it could see season 2. The series' ratings didn’t hold up. According toDeadline,after CBS bootedThe Great Indoorsfrom itsTBBTheadliner time slot, moving the series to Monday night, its ratings dropped to an all-time low of 3.9 million viewers. The series had its lowest rating with adults aged 18-49 (viaDeadline.)
In the 2016-2017 schedule, CBS also aired the comedy sitcom seriesTwo Broke Girls, The Big Bang Theory, Mom,and Matthew Perry’sThe Odd Couple.
Ultimately, the series couldn’t retain its audience, and its premise put it in a difficult position to do so. In 2016, millennials, born between the early 1980s and the mid-1990s, comprised anyone between their early 20s and late 30s. Some young people were likely turned off by the series mocking the state of young people’s lives. Likewise, there was no guarantee the digital marketing department angle would appeal to older generations. While the series failed in the network’s standards,The Great Indoorsis a fascinating time capsule of conversations about generational differences in 2016, at least from one perspective.
The Great Indoors
Cast
The Great Indoors is a sitcom centered on Jack Gordon (Joel McHale), an adventure journalist who transitions to a desk job at a digital magazine. The show explores the generational clash between Jack and his millennial coworkers, as he struggles to adapt to the technologically driven office culture.
