Is This Crap Still On?

Freaks and Geeks, Firefly, Twin Peaks...all great shows with very short lives. Meanwhile a show that relies heavily on the spit-take thrives for seven years and counting.

What happened? Wasn't Seinfeld enough to change the face of sitcoms? I understand that there is a market for shows that don't challenge or offend the sensibilities of the average viewer, I just wish the networks would allow a small niche for the rest of us.