What Do These Events All Have in Common?

So, some television history was made recently which doesn't appear to be getting much press but I think it's more significant than most people realize. But first, let's start with a pop quiz.

What do the following events have in common?

• Cliff and Clair Huxtable share a dance and a final bow to the audience.
• Sam Malone locks up the bar and says "Sorry We're Closed" to the final customer.
• Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer share one last moment together in a jail cell.
• Six friends all leave their apartment keys and head down for one last cup of coffee.
  

Here are a few of the many correct answers.

1. All of them are related to television shows on NBC
2. All of them are related to final episodes
3. All of them were on Thursday nights
4. Jennifer Aniston was hot, ok so that only applies to one of them, who cares it's my blog.

Yes, all of the above are true but there is one other commonality.

5. All of them were filmed before LIVE studio audiences

So what's the connection to the recent television event?

Last Thursday, in a total ratings move, FOX decided to air a meaningless NFL preseason football game instead of the regularly scheduled "So You Think You Can Dance" results show. In an effort to give the participants enough time to practice the new dances they continued to film the show on Thursday night however in front of the LIVE studio audience. FOX then decides to wait until Monday night to actually broadcast the show.

Simply the sheer fact you reading this blog right now proves that any schmuck with a computer and an internet connection can have their opinions, thoughts, humorous anecdotes and even their television reviews spread across the digital highway in a matter of minutes.

So how did FOX respond to this imminent information leak of their precious results show?

The entire studio audience was all kicked out before revealing the votes.

That's right, the host of the show Cat Deeley comes onstage and announces the "bad news" for everyone seated in the theatre.
"In order to preserve the integrity and suspense"...blah blah blah "we are asking for everyone to please leave the theatre"

She should have just said, "The asinine management at FOX have decided to broadcast football instead of our show and in order to protect our ratings on Monday night everyone needs to leave immediately" cuz you know that's what she was thinking. Brits don't watch American football anyway.

This could be the beginning of the end of LIVE studio audience entirely. With more and more personal blogs, forums and MySpace pages out there, it will continue to be impossible for the networks to keep anything locked down.

Sad :( Long live the laugh track.