$h*! My Dad Says

For the Twitter feed, see Shit My Dad Says.
The correct title of this article is $#*! My Dad Says. The substitution or omission of the # sign is because of technical restrictions.
$#*! My Dad Says
Genre Sitcom
Created by David Kohan
Max Mutchnick
Justin Halpern
Patrick Schumacker
Starring William Shatner
Jonathan Sadowski
Will Sasso
Nicole Sullivan
Tim Bagley
Opening theme "Your Dogs" by Ben Folds
Country of origin United States
Language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 18 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) David Kohan
Max Mutchnick
Camera setup Film; Multi-camera
Running time 21 minutes
Production company(s) KoMut Entertainment
Warner Bros. Television
Broadcast
Original channel CBS
Picture format HD: 1080i
SD: 480i
Original run September 23, 2010 (2010-09-23) – February 17, 2011 (2011-02-17)

$#*! My Dad Says (pronounced as "Bleep My Dad Says")[1][2] is an American television sitcom produced by Warner Bros. Television that aired on CBS. It was based on the Twitter feed Shit My Dad Says, created by Justin Halpern and consisting of quotes from his father, Sam.[3]

The show originally ran from September 23, 2010 to February 17, 2011, and aired on Thursdays at 8:30 pm/7:30 pm Central.[4] After 18 episodes aired, the series was replaced in mid-season by Rules of Engagement which had moved to Thursdays from Mondays.

On May 15, 2011, CBS announced that it had canceled $#*! My Dad Says.[5]

Contents

Plot

Main article: List of $h*! My Dad Says episodes

Ed is a very opinionated 72-year-old who has been divorced three times. His two adult sons, Henry and Vince, are accustomed to his unsolicited and often politically incorrect rants. When Henry, a struggling writer and blogger, can no longer afford his rent, he is forced to move back in with Ed, which creates new issues in their tricky father-son relationship. As weeks go by Henry is unable to find a job as a writer, mostly due to the lack of good material. He finally lands a job, when during his interview Ed interrupts with an irrational phone call that sparks the interest of the eccentric editor conducting the interview. Henry is ultimately hired, but is forced to continue living with Ed in order to be able to continue to write about his father's unsolicited rants, hence the title "$#*! My Dad Says".

Cast

Development and production

In November 2009, CBS announced that it was developing a television pilot based on the Twitter feed, which would be written by Halpern and Patrick Schumacker.[6][7] William Shatner landed the lead role in late February 2010, which triggered a green-light to produce the pilot.[8][9] Nicole Sullivan and Ryan Devlin came on board in early March.[10][11] Casting was completed with the addition of Will Sasso as Vince and Stephanie Lemelin as Sam later that month.[12]

The series was picked up by CBS in May 2010,[13] with reports saying that the role of Henry (played by Ryan Devlin in the pilot) would be recast.[14][15] In July, Jonathan Sadowski was cast in the role.[16] The character Sam (Stephanie Lemelin) was eliminated, never appearing in the broadcast pilot or subsequent episodes.[17]

Controversy

The title of the broadcast series was modified from the source material in order to comply with Federal Communications Commission regulations on the use of profane language during prime time. The profanity was also toned down and modified from Halpern's Twitter feeds.

On May 19, 2010, CBS announced the show's official name and 8:30 pm time slot at its upfront presentation of the fall 2010 schedule. Addressing reporters' concerns regarding the title, the network assured them that the expletive would not be used in promos.[18] Soon thereafter, the Parents Television Council announced that it was protesting the title because it alluded to an obscenity.[19] The PTC threatened CBS with broadcast license challenges for any affiliate airing the show or its promos before 10 pm.[20]

Responding to the controversy, CBS stated, "[The show] will in no way be indecent and will adhere to all CBS standards. Parents who choose to do so will find the show can be easily blocked using their V Chip."[21][22] Show star Shatner commented on the show's title, saying "We say spit; why can't we say shit?"[23] In addition, Bill Gorman from TVbytheNumbers wrote that the PTC protest was just giving the show more publicity, which he expected would boost ratings.[24]

At the July 2010 Television Critics Association press tour, Shatner further commented on the title saying, "The word 'shit' is around us. It isn't a terrible term. It's a natural function. Why are we pussyfooting?"[25][26].

Reception

Critical reception

Critical reception to the pilot was very poor, with Metacritic assigning it a score of 28/100.[27]

Ratings

Despite poor reception by critics, over 12 million viewers watched the premiere,[28] although the next two episodes lost nearly 25% of that audience.[29] The fourth and fifth episodes improved in ratings, being 10.16 million and 10.91 million respectively.[30][31]

Season Episodes Timeslot (EST) Season premiere Season finale TV season Ranking Viewers
(in millions)
1 18 Thursday 8:30 P.M. September 23, 2010 (2010-09-23) February 17, 2011 (2011-02-17) 2010–11 #38 10.69[32]

Awards

The show won the award for Favorite New TV Comedy at the 37th People's Choice Awards on January 5, 2011.

References

  1. ^ CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler, as quoted by Alan Sepinwall on Twitter, May 19, 2010
  2. ^ Kung, Michelle (May 19, 2010). "TV Upfronts 2010: CBS Copes With a Profane Show Title". The Wall Street Journal. http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/05/19/tv-upfronts-2010-cbs-copes-with-a-title-you-cant-say-on-tv/. Retrieved May 25, 2010. 
  3. ^ "CBS Announces 2010-2011 Primetime Schedule" (Press release). CBS Television Network. May 19, 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-05-25. http://www.cbspressexpress.com/div.php/cbs_entertainment/release?id=25083. 
  4. ^ "CBS Announces 2010-2011 Premiere Dates". The Futon Critic. July 22, 2010. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/07/22/cbs-announces-2010-2011-premiere-dates/20100722cbs02/. Retrieved July 31, 2010. 
  5. ^ Seidman, Robert (May 15, 2011). "'The Defenders,' 'S#*! My Dad Says,' and 'Mad Love' Canceled By CBS". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/05/15/the-defenders-s-my-dad-says-and-mad-love-canceled-by-cbs. Retrieved May 15, 2011. 
  6. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 9, 2009). "Twitter user 'Shit My Dad Says' gets CBS deal". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/live-feed/twitter-user-shit-dad-cbs-52537. Retrieved December 03, 2010. 
  7. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (November 9, 2009). "CBS hears what 'Dad Says'". Variety. Archived from the original on May 21, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5pu4T8Teb. Retrieved May 21, 2010. 
  8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 19, 2010). "William Shatner in Shit My Dad Says". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/william-shatner-shit-my-dad-20871?page=show. Retrieved May 21, 2010. 
  9. ^ "Development Update: February 20". The Futon Critic. February 20, 2010. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/02/20/development-update-saturday-february-20/8536/. Retrieved May 21, 2010. 
  10. ^ "Development Update: Monday, March 1". The Futon Critic. March 1, 2010. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/03/01/development-update-monday-march-1/8550/. Retrieved May 21, 2010. 
  11. ^ Schneider, Michael (March 4, 2010). "Ryan Devlin to star in 'Shat'". Variety. Archived from the original on May 21, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5pu3jSSSS. Retrieved May 21, 2010. 
  12. ^ "Development Update: Thursday, March 11". The Futon Critic. March 11, 2010. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/03/11/development-update-thursday-march-11/8567/. Retrieved May 21, 2010. 
  13. ^ "Development Update: Monday May 17". The Futon Critic. May 17, 2010. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/05/17/development-update-monday-may-17/8687/. Retrieved May 21, 2010. 
  14. ^ "Development Update: Friday May 14". The Futon Critic. May 14, 2010. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/05/14/development-update-friday-may-14/8676/. Retrieved May 20, 2010. 
  15. ^ Ausiello, Michael (May 17, 2010). "Breaking: CBS picks up '$#*! My Dad Says'". Entertainment Weekly. http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/05/17/cbs-picks-up-bleep-my-dad-says/. Retrieved May 22, 2010. 
  16. ^ Bierly, Mandi (July 23, 2010). "Jonathan Sadowski lands lead in '$#*! My Dad Says'". Entertainment Weekly. http://news-briefs.ew.com/2010/07/23/jonathan-sadowski-lands-lead-in-my-dad-says/. Retrieved July 24, 2010. 
  17. ^ Shanahan, Mark; Goldstein, Meredith (September 14, 2010). "Scoring Some Roles". Boston Globe/Boston.com. http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2010/09/14/scoring_some_roles/. Retrieved October 26, 2010. 
  18. ^ Rice, Lynette (May 19, 2010). "CBS Announces Fall 2010 Schedule". Entertainment Weekly. http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2010/05/19/cbs-announces-fall-2010-schedule/. Retrieved May 21, 2010. 
  19. ^ Bauder, David (May 20, 2010). "Parents Group Angry at Title of CBS Series". Yahoo! News. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100520/ap_en_tv/us_tv_cbs_series_title. 
  20. ^ Abrams, Natalie (May 20, 2010). "Parents Council Protests CBS' $#*! My Dad Says". TV Guide. http://www.tvguide.com/News/Parents-Protests-CBS-1018806.aspx. Retrieved May 20, 2010. 
  21. ^ Braxton, Greg (May 20, 2010). "Parents group frowns on new CBS comedy (Updated)". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/05/parents-teacher-council-frowns-on-new-cbs-comedy.html. Retrieved May 21, 2010. 
  22. ^ Ward, Kate (May 20, 2010). "Parents Television Council Object to '$#*! My Dad Said'". Entertainment Weekly. http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/05/20/my-dad-said-ptc/. Retrieved May 21, 2010. 
  23. ^ Patterson, Troy (May 20, 2010). "What William Shatner Thinks CBS Should Call S#*! My Dad Says". Slate. Washington Post/Newsweek Interactive. http://www.slate.com/id/2254102/entry/2254524/. Retrieved May 21, 2010. 
  24. ^ Gorman, Bill (May 20, 2010). "PTC Does Its Best To Give '$#*! My Dad Says' A Ratings Boost". TVbytheNumbers. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/05/20/ptc-does-its-best-to-give-my-dad-says-a-ratings-boost/51980. Retrieved May 21, 2010. 
  25. ^ Hibberd, James (July 29, 2010). "William Shatner: CBS should call my show...". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/live-feed/william-shatner-cbs-call-show-54134. Retrieved December 03, 2010. 
  26. ^ Fernandez, Maria Elena (July 28, 2010). "TCA Press Tour: William Shatner thinks '$#*! My Dad Says' should spell it out". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/07/william-shatner-think-s-my-dad-says-should-spell-it-out.html. Retrieved July 30, 2010. 
  27. ^ "Metacritic Bleep My Dad Says Season 1 Reviews". http://www.metacritic.com/tv/bleep-my-dad-says/season-1...html. 
  28. ^ Seidman, Robert (September 24, 2010). "TV Ratings Thursday: ‘The Big Bang Theory’ Scores at 8pm; ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Tops Night With Young Adults; ‘My Generation’ Premiere Stalls". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/24/tv-ratings-thursday-the-big-bang-theory-scores-at-8pm-greys-anatomy-tops-night-with-young-adults-my-generation-premiere-stalls/64978. Retrieved September 29, 2010. 
  29. ^ Seidman, Robert (October 1, 2010). "TV Ratings Thursday: Bones, Fringe, Grey's Anatomy, Nikita Rise; Community, 30 Rock, $#*!, Big Bang, CSI, The Office, Outsourced Fall". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/10/08/tv-ratings-thursday-bones-fringe-greys-anatomy-private-practice-nikita-rise-community-30-rock-big-bang-csi-the-office-outsourced-fall/67188. Retrieved October 1, 2010. 
  30. ^ "Thursday Finals: The Big Bang Theory, $#*!, 30 Rock, The Office, Outsourced, Grey’s Anatomy, Fringe All Adjusted Up". http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/10/15/thursday-finals-the-big-bang-theory-30-rock-the-office-outsourced-greys-anatomy-fringe-all-adjusted-up/68224. 
  31. ^ Gorman, Bill (October 22, 2010). "Thursday Finals: Grey’s Anatomy, Big Bang, CSI, Vampire Diaries Adjusted Up; Private Practice Down; Plus NLCS Game 5 Ratings". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/10/22/thursday-finals-greys-anatomy-big-bang-csi-adjusted-up-private-practice-down-plus-nlcs-game-5-ratings/69266. Retrieved October 23, 2010. 
  32. ^ Gorman, Bill (June 1, 2011). "2010-11 Season Broadcast Primetime Show Viewership Averages". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/01/2010-11-season-broadcast-primetime-show-viewership-averages/94407/. Retrieved January 2, 2012. 

External links