I hate getting to wrapped up in network shows because they cancel them at the drop of a hat, without letting the catch on. Fox and the cable stations give a show a chance.
I think the fact that they drop them so quickly goes against them as people just don't watch them, knowing they will be gone soon.
I read that with more and more people on the internet and doing other computer things that distract them from TV shows, that networks don't think people will watch intense dramas anymore. I think really it's because reality tv is so much cheaper to produce. Unfortunately, I don't care for reality shows much.