“It’s going to take a Super Bowl-size effort to grow a new comedy hit these days,” writes Variety’s Rick Kissell, evaluating the slow start for this season’s new comedies.

In fact, Kissell writes, no comedy since “Modern Family"’s debut in 2009 has come close to the ratings performance of that juggernaut. And that’s “not for lack of trying.” Between them, the Big Four broadcast networks put 26 half-hour sitcoms on the air this fall, the most in a decade.

So far, CBS is faring the best with its new entries, with Robin Williams’ “The Crazy Ones,” Anna Faris’ “Mom” and Will Arnett’s “The Millers” all receiving back-nine orders. Still, even though “The Crazy Ones” is this season’s top-rated new comedy, it’s still a ratings point back from this season’s top drama, ABC’s “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”

NBC’s attempt to restock its once “must-see” Thursday night line-up has failed to launch, with such shows as Sean Saves the World and the critically well-received Michael J. Fox Show mostly ignored by viewers.

Over at ABC, both its Tuesday night comedies “The Goldbergs” and “Trophy Wife,” and its Wednesday night comedies “Back in the Game” and “Super Fun Night” are turning in adequate ratings, but nothing to get a studio excited about coming syndication deals.

Finally, although Fox’s “Brooklyn 99” got a lot of early-season attention, the combo of that show and “Dads” isn’t lighting Fox’s Tuesdays on fire. That said, Fox is going to give its plum post-Super Bowl spot to “Brooklyn 99” and “New Girl, demonstrating the network’s faith in both of those shows.

Brief Take: Good comedy is hard to come by, but one big one can drive a network’s ratings and fill a studio’s coffers for years, so Hollywood will keep on searching.

Read More: Variety

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