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And...canceled.
- Thread starter dragonjax
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These days, I'm stunned when any series I find during the first season survives past that season's finale. I was holding my breath for Castle, but it seems to have staying power!
Of course, USA or SyFy shows are a fairly safe bet. USA is pretty good about not launching a series until they're fairly sure about it, and SyFy just lets /everything/ stick around even if they actually /should/ cancel it.
Two of my absolute favourite shows ever were cancelled far, far, far before their times:
Carnivale
Dead Like Me
I would have added Futurama to that list, but thankfully the Fox execs pulled their heads out of their asses for two seconds, and started it back up.
Carnivale was particularly a bad blow because they left so much open at the end of the very last season. Brilliant writing, brilliant cinematography, brilliant art direction. I still have open wounds from that one.
Carnivale
Dead Like Me
I would have added Futurama to that list, but thankfully the Fox execs pulled their heads out of their asses for two seconds, and started it back up.
Carnivale was particularly a bad blow because they left so much open at the end of the very last season. Brilliant writing, brilliant cinematography, brilliant art direction. I still have open wounds from that one.
The Carnivale creators have actually posted resolutions to all the dangling plot threads and explained what would've happened (thankfully).
Dead Like Me got a really wretched movie conclusion, and the creator went on to make Wonderfalls and Pushing Daisies... both of which were /also/ brilliant, and both of which were /also/ cancelled before their time. Bryan Fuller just doesn't seem able to win with his own pitches...
Fox is notorious for canceling shows after one or two episodes. They've been doing it for years.
These days, I primarily watch cable shows. It seems like the only networks really taking chances are AMC, HBO, Showtime, USA, FX, etc.
What is most frustrating is that networks won't give quality shows a chance to find an audience, but yet they push hard to make a sitcom like "Sh--t My Dad Says" get on the air in rapid speed.
These days, I primarily watch cable shows. It seems like the only networks really taking chances are AMC, HBO, Showtime, USA, FX, etc.
What is most frustrating is that networks won't give quality shows a chance to find an audience, but yet they push hard to make a sitcom like "Sh--t My Dad Says" get on the air in rapid speed.
Blang. I loved Lone Star. Haven't seen Monday's ep. yet.
I, too, must be careful about the shows I love.
I, too, must be careful about the shows I love.
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I loved Dead Like Me. And Moonlight. And Pushing Daisies. And Firefly. And a whole host of other shows that were canceled before their time. These days, I'm almost tempted to not start a new show until after the first season has aired and it's picked up for a second season, just so I don't get hooked on it. This year, I've only picked up Hawaii 5-0, and I just have to pray that it sticks around.
Hawaii 5-0 has had some stellar ratings, so they are probably safe.
I hate to say it, but canceling Lone Star doesn't surprise me at all. When was the last time a primetime soap that wasn't focused on teens (90210, One Tree Hill, The OC) actually took off and thrived on network TV?
I hate to say it, but canceling Lone Star doesn't surprise me at all. When was the last time a primetime soap that wasn't focused on teens (90210, One Tree Hill, The OC) actually took off and thrived on network TV?
Lone Star isn't really a Fox-isolated incident, though. Any network would have canceled it after two. The ratings were terrible.
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Anybody else remember when "only" 4.1 million viewers was enough to make it an unbridled success? No? Just me? Okay, I'll shut up.
(Kind of like when one of Madonna's albums sold "only" 3.5 million copies in its first weekend and it was declared a flop. She wrinkled up her forehead and said "A flop? Triple platinum? By whose standards?")
(Kind of like when one of Madonna's albums sold "only" 3.5 million copies in its first weekend and it was declared a flop. She wrinkled up her forehead and said "A flop? Triple platinum? By whose standards?")
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They did? I'll have to find those. I was hooked on Carnivale, and very pissed off when it was canceled.
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And? "Farscape" was on for several seasons and it got a miniseries. It wasn't canceled after two aired episodes.
Oooooooooooh, I was too! The cinematography in that show was brilliant; I just enjoyed *looking* at it though the second season wasn't as strong as the first.
Ya, I know, but it's not anywhere near the same as being able to watch them. The brilliance in that show was the writing interconnecting all these things. I almost didn't read what would have happened. Now I'm kind of sorry I did.
I don't even count the Dead Like Me movie. No Rube, and the woman they got to play Daisy was god-awful. I never did catch Wonderfalls or Pushing Daisies. Pushing Daisies looked really similar to Dead Like Me though.
Reminds me of somebody else *cough*Joss Whedon*cough*. Don't even get me started on Firefly being cancelled
.I remember one show I was totally bummed got canned...anyone remember American Gothic with Gary Cole? I loved that show. I think it only went 1 season. Might not have even finished the entire season. It was early to mid 90's.
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You are not the demographic. People on this board are writers. Writers are not the demographic for TV.
For every person who likes great writing, quirky plots, and fine acting, there are ten who are simply bored, and flip the remote over to the familiar comfort of According to Jim (8 seasons)
There are some exceptions, shows that appeal to almost everybody from teens to elderly writers, but they are few and far between.
Dragonjax, I feel your pain. I loved Lone Star. I, too, am feeling like the kiss of death.
There are several shows that sounded kind of promising this time around that I didn't bother with, thinking they'd be cancelled just as I got interested, but I fell for it with Lone Star...
FWIW, somewhere (Zap2It?) they said they're going to burn off the remaining 4 epis on the weekends.
There are several shows that sounded kind of promising this time around that I didn't bother with, thinking they'd be cancelled just as I got interested, but I fell for it with Lone Star...
FWIW, somewhere (Zap2It?) they said they're going to burn off the remaining 4 epis on the weekends.
Someone's at the door.... someone's at the door.
That so creeped me out!
Yep, I remember American Gothic.
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Ah, crap. I caught an episode of Lone Star on monday and liked it quite a bit.
One I really miss is Action, the Jay Mohr as a sleazy hollywood producer sitcom from the early 2000s. It was about the funniest thing I've ever seen on TV, and the dialogue was brilliant.
One I really miss is Action, the Jay Mohr as a sleazy hollywood producer sitcom from the early 2000s. It was about the funniest thing I've ever seen on TV, and the dialogue was brilliant.
