It’s no secret that some of the best programming on television is happening outside of traditional network television. The reasons are endless: fewer restrictions, shorter seasons which often equate tighter storytelling, networks that are more willing to take risks with series concepts. Lonestar, the cancelled-too-early series by Fox TV about a conman with two wives, was axed after two episodes. Series creator Kyle Killen discussed the fact that he envisioned Lonestar as a cable show on network TV. It was a gamble, and one that ultimately failed.

Network television is all about the “key demographic.” The business of ratings are mind numbing and unfair, but here’s a basic breakdown: television networks make their money off of advertisers. The target demographic is the 18-49 demographic, meaning, 18-49 year olds with purchasing powers. A show is likely to stay on the air if advertisers are willing to buy ad space based on the viewers watching the show.

For example, if ten million women are sitting down watching Desperate Housewives and see an ad for Maybelline, as opposed to two million men watching Fringe who see an ad for a Range Rover, the network is going to give priority to Desperate Housewives. Cable shows still operate under the ad model, but because their viewership is considerably smaller, they can take much bigger risks. Cable television has saved shows from extinction: most recently, Damages was given the reprieve courtesy of Direct TV.

Because advertisers see women as the target demo, some of the best male-oriented shows are on cable*, such as…

Friday Night Lights | NBC
(Technically a network show, but was cancelled, sent to cable, and then brought back on network)

Friday Night Lights follows the lives of the members of the Dillon High School Football team in Dillon, Texas. It is my opinion that this is the best show on television at the moment, and I’d venture to say it’s probably one of the best shows of all time. I’m not a football fan (or at least, I wasn’t until I started watching this show.) However, the show is able to capture the struggles of young men in today’s metrosexual world. It’s also a fascinating, and realistic, insight into the life of Middle America. From a technical perspective, the writing is always sharp, the acting is flawless, and this show has Emmy Snub written all over it. Though the series is in its final season, this will remain one of the true hallmarks of television for decades to come.

Burn Notice | USA

Burn Notice centers on Michael Westen, a spy who was “burned” and sent to live in Miami. With no money or the ability to find work, Michael uses his skills that he learned while working as a spy to solve crimes independently. The show manages to balance action, comedy, and romance, without ever seeming contrived or over-the-top, a tough feat to do with any show set in Miami, a city that’s about as subtle as a bomb. The series is a procedural, but unlike others, the series also relies heavily on its own “mythology,” the backstory of who burned Michael and why. The show has consistently performed well for USA, but it’s little known to those who exclusively watch cable. That shouldn’t be the case.

Southland | TNT, formerly on NBC

This is one of the best shows that started on network but was too intense for audiences to handle. Luckily, TNT gave the show a reprieve from death and it will be returning in 2011. The series follows a group of cops in Los Angeles as they solve homicides and the like. What sets this show apart? For one thing, it features a stellar cast, including Ben McKenzie (playing a role surprisingly different from Ryan Atwood), Kevin Alejandro, Michael Cudlitz, and the incredibly underrated Regina King. The show is gritty and dark, and a completely different take on the cop show genre.

Archer | FX

Archer is an animated take on the spy genre, and it is probably one of the best comedies on television. The show features a great cast including SNL/30 Rock’s Chris Parnell and Arrested Development’s Jessica Walter. Though I was at first resistant to the show because it’s animated, this is the farthest thing from the cartoons I grew up on. It’s crass, vulgar, and absolutely hilarious. It’s an obvious spoof to spy shows and movies, but it does so in an innovative way that hasn’t been seen before.

So why do male-oriented shows fare better on cable? Aside from the advertising perspective, network interference on cable TV seems to be lower. Because ratings aren’t the driving force, cable networks tend to have more leeway with the content of their shows; violence, nudity, and language are not as tightly controlled. They are also willing to take risks on shows that take a longer time to develop.

Network television isn’t going anywhere any time soon. However, this was the weakest fall season for new shows in a very long time. There has yet to be a qualified hit. Meanwhile, cable television has provided the best “water-cooler” shows for several years now. Because of this, there’s been more diversification of programming on cable. Female-headlined shows are starting to appear, but they’re missing the “martini roundtable” trope of Sex & the City and my dearly departed Lipstick Jungle.

Some quality programming continues to exist on network, but it seems that the new frontier for the 2010’s as far as television programming exists on cable.

* Before any of my fellow Gallatins freak out and whip out words like “heteronormative” and “commodification,” I’m intentionally speaking in generalizations. As a gay man, I’m not a part of the key male demo, but that doesn’t mean I can’t sit back and enjoy two men beating the crap out of each other. Hollywood, and worse, the business world, is not quite as progressive as NYU.