Black Tuesday
May 16th, 2007 | by Scott |
I always look forward to upfronts week where the networks reveal there fall schedules. It’s when you find out, with certainty, if your favorite shows will survive to live another year.
It had been announced a couple of weeks ago that any hopes of Gilmore Girls coming back for an abbreviated 8th and final season were not going to come true. So, I knew that last night was not just the end of the season but the general end as well.
However, in addition to the loss of Gilmore Girls, three more of the shows that I enjoyed got the axe yesterday: What About Brian, The Class, and Jericho. On top of that there is still no Rock Star on the horizon. It seems all but dead at this point.
My thoughts on the demise of each of these shows:
Gilmore Girls: As far as series-enders go this was a fitting conclusion, ending the same way it began 7 years ago with Lorelai and Rory enjoying breakfast at Luke’s. As bummed as I am that it won’t be back I can’t imagine a better way for it to fade out. If it had came back it would have dragged out story lines that met a fitting conclusion last night.
For all of my complaining about the shape that the Palladino’s left the show in at the conclusion of last year, Dan Rosenthal did an admirable job in righting the ship and bringing the show to a rightful end. He never could get the rapid dialogue and the obscure pop culture references that are Amy Sherman-Palladino’s trademark. But who could?
From the greatness that is Richard and Emily Gilmore to the baffling pervasity of Kirk’s jobs, from Taylor’s legalistic manipulation of town codes to Paris’ manic aggressiveness Gilmore was a show that was truly one of a kind.
It was a show that I got hoping that Tracy and I could find a mutual TV interest. I wasn’t holding out high hopes that it would be of interest to me but I was quickly proven wrong. Any assumption that this was a chick show was quickly put to rest. Instead of a weepie, maudlin hour of twee programming it was, instead, almost a-emotional. The characters talked around issues by talking fast and funny. It was sharp, witty and rambunctious.
Although it was set in a world hermetically sealed from all that occurred outside of the confines of Stars Hollow it was a great case study in relationships, of mothers and daughters, and hope.
Lauren Graham is one of the best actresses on TV and has never been nominated for an Emmy. Let’s hope that she is finally recognized for giving us one of the most enduring characters in TV history.
Good night Stars Hollow, you will be missed.
What About Brian: I really can’t fault ABC for this. They did bring it back for a second season when there was no major reason to do so. It was a mid-season show that never gained an audience. But it did get a second season and I always considered it to be the best show on television that nobody was watching. Intriguing story lines and likable characters made for an entertaining hour. And it introduced me to my favorite song of 2006, Gabe Dixon’s “All Will Be Well”
The Class: This show was much hyped going into the season but never could gain any traction in the ratings. The sad part of this story is that as the season progressed they continually made tweaks and modifications that indicated this was going to become a strong show. If a little bit of patience had been exhibited it might have taken off in season 2. But we will never know.
Jericho: This is the most bothersome one for me. It’s a case study in a studio killing a show: Introduce a serialized freshman show, get people hooked into it, yank it off the air for a three month winter hiatus, then put it back on the air opposite American Idol. Brilliant. We will never know what happened between New Bern and Jericho. And that’s unfortunate.
I’ll be looking tomorrow at the new shows coming up this fall. Any thoughts on the shows hitting the road?
34 Responses to “Black Tuesday”
By greg on May 16, 2007 | Reply
CBS sucks.
By greg on May 16, 2007 | Reply
and here’s what’s coming in Jericho’s timeslot:
Kid Nation, meanwhile, is an hourlong reality series that gives 40 kids aged eight to 15 exactly 40 days to transform a 19th century ghost town into a working, livable, government-run town without parents or any adult figures. The show is already being referred to as Lord of the Flies TV.
Thank God. We haven’t seen enough reality shows yet…
Idiots.
By scott on May 16, 2007 | Reply
8PM (7 central) is becoming a graveyard of crappy television. Largely unscripted fare.
And, yeah, it sucks.
By scott on May 16, 2007 | Reply
And how is Kid Nation a good lead-in to Criminal Minds? Explain that to me.
By KS on May 16, 2007 | Reply
Jamey got me watching Gilmore Girls a few years ago, and I have to admit I was a little sad to see it go off the air.
By Jason Bybee on May 16, 2007 | Reply
After this season’s debacle, I wish 24 would be cancelled. Instead, we’re going to be forced to endure a more seasons of a tired-looking Jack Bauer trying to save the world yet again. Yawn.
By Jonathan on May 16, 2007 | Reply
My first taste of Jericho was the second episode, and I didn’t care for it. It seemed quite bland, so I canceled the season pass. Later I decided to give it another shot, and it was nice to be able to quickly catch up by watching the old episodes on the web. I’ve enjoyed it, though my negative feelings returned with last week’s episode for some reason. Regardless, it’s disappointing that it’s canceled. It seems that the serialized drama is going out of fashion…if only it had happened to reality shows instead. This and The Nine and Six Degrees from this year (plus Surface and Invasion from last year) make a fairly strong argument for waiting to watch these shows on DVD so that you can watch the ones that make it without the risk of investing time in a show only to see it die mid-story after the first season.
By Jenny P on May 16, 2007 | Reply
I, too, will miss Lorelai and Rory. Although, with the Paladinos gone, it was a very fitting time to end it all. I thought last night’s episode was well done. I laughed so hard at Taylor’s tribute speech to Rory. It was classic! And as much as it pains me to admit, I actually cried- real tears- last week when Logan and Rory broke up. Despite the disappointing season this year, Gilmore Girls will still go down as one of my favorite shows of all time.
I am most disappointed, though not surprised, that What About Brian has been cancelled. I really loved this show and still can’t figure out why it didn’t catch on.
By Scott on May 16, 2007 | Reply
KS, glad to know there are other males who are clued in to the greatness that was Gilmore.
Jason, I agree this year of 24 has been by far the worst ever. They promise an overhaul this next year. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt but that show is definitely on notice for me.
By Scott on May 16, 2007 | Reply
Jonathan, you are right. Too many shows tried to ape the format of 24 and then Lost. I think this next year we are going to see NBC pay a huge price by trying to push too many Heroes clones.
Jericho wasn’t going to win any awards but it was good TV. Too bad they won’t get to play out the story.
Jenny, I think What About Brian suffered from being a mid-season show and a poor time slot. If ABC had placed it on Sunday night behind Desperate Housewives it would have had more of a shot.
I teared up several times last night in the finale of Gilmore, though nothing compared to me sobbing like a baby when Mark Greene died (ER). And Taylor’s speech was a classic.
By greg on May 16, 2007 | Reply
looks like there’s an online petition to attempt to persuade the SciFi channel to pick up Jericho.
By Jason Bybee on May 16, 2007 | Reply
The cancellation of Jericho really surprises me. I thought it had garnered a nice little fan base. I guess TV execs have always had itchy trigger fingers, but it seems like you have to let a show develop, find it’s own voice, etc.
I heard 24 was going to overhaul things next season. I still don’t know if I’ll watch. I put it on notice last season. I really wish the series had ended after S4.
By Scott on May 16, 2007 | Reply
But season five was it’s most critically acclaimed, successful season. It’s always hard to know when a show is gonna jump it seems.
I have to applaud ABC for allowing the producers of Lost to set a definable end. That was the only way to keep that show from becoming a mess. We have 2 seasons of 24 left. Let’s see if they can turn it around.
Jericho did have a fan base until they yanked it for three months.
By Belinda on May 16, 2007 | Reply
I was most sad about 7th Heaven going away. I have to admit this past season was nothing to get excited about, but it had been a really good show. It was scheduled to go off last year, after the WB/CW merge, but they brought it back. It never seemed to be “on” this season - I had thought it was because they had done a finale and then had to revive it. I had hopes that it was a learning curve of sorts to get their scripts planned out. Not so it seems. There really is very little on TV to watch. We watch a lot of HGTV and tape judge shows to watch (Judge Alex and People’s Court). There’s really nothing compelling on at all anymore.
By Jason Bybee on May 16, 2007 | Reply
I didn’t know FOX had already determined there would only be 2 more seasons of 24 left.
I know everyone thought last season’s 24 was the best, but S4 wrapped in a way that I thought would be a perfect ending to the whole series. That was the pinnacle for me.
As for Jericho, you could say the same thing about Heroes. It was off the air forever, too, and came back just as strong. I think NBC did a great job of promoting it, though.
By Scott on May 16, 2007 | Reply
Tracy watched 7th Heaven for a while. I never caught the appeal. Too saccharine for me. But people loved it.
By Scott on May 16, 2007 | Reply
Actually the numbers for Heroes is dipping a bit. But, ultimately, it didn’t go against American Idol when it returned. That’s huge.
Although I’m glad to see that House actually beat AI in the 18-49 demographic last night for the first time. Hopefully, the lackluster line-up of “talent” they are propping up this year will signify that that show is on the wane.
By Jason Bybee on May 16, 2007 | Reply
I don’t think the show’s going anywhere, man. Just give in and watch it, dude. Time to be sucked into the cultural vortex.
AI is to me and Sunny what Gilmore Girls was to you and Tracy: common TV time. It’s entertaining.
By Scott on May 16, 2007 | Reply
I watch it. But I watch it cause I’m a pop-culture junkie. I sat there last night thinking I hate every one of these songs and there is no way I would buy an album from any of them.
Simon (who I think is the only one worth listening to) can gripe about song choices all he wants but it’s a show chock-full of horrible songs.
By Jason Bybee on May 16, 2007 | Reply
I like Melinda, but she’s kinda bland. I think Jordin’s the most accessible of the 3. She’ll have a career in pop music. I can’t stand that Blake kid. What a dweeb.
By Scott on May 16, 2007 | Reply
Melinda is incredible. No doubt about that. I would like a little more rock and roll. Or singer-songwriter. How about a Dylan night?
By Jason Bybee on May 16, 2007 | Reply
I could get excited about Dylan night. He’d be a weird “mentor” though, wouldn’t he?
You always said Rock Star was a rocked-up version of AI. Is it not going to air this summer?
By Scott on May 16, 2007 | Reply
Looks like Rock Star is dead.
By jp on May 16, 2007 | Reply
I heard a rumor that for Rock Star it could be for the lead singer of Queen. That could be cool. What other shows got the boot?
By len on May 16, 2007 | Reply
Scott,
I don’t know which I find more disturbing: your exposing us to Celine Dion’s AC/DC imitation or your admitting to crying at the death of an ER character. (Watching ER is bothersome to me in an of itself)
Never watched an episode of Gilmore Girls so don’t have any thoughts on that. I do know that this season of 24 has sure been a dud after a great beginning.
By Scott on May 16, 2007 | Reply
Len, did you ever watch ER? Anybody who has can vouch that the death of Mark Greene is one of the most wrenching moments in TV history.
By Jonathan on May 17, 2007 | Reply
Indeed it was.
By Jonathan on May 17, 2007 | Reply
Another very sad moment for me was when Magnum (as in P.I.) died. But then he came back to life for another season.
By Jenny P on May 17, 2007 | Reply
Cried like a baby when Dr.Greene died. And like you , Scott, I just can’t give ER up. Been watching it too long.
By KS on May 17, 2007 | Reply
JasonB: I think Blake is the best left on the show, even before Melinda was voted off. Anyone still watch survivor?
By len on May 17, 2007 | Reply
I watched ER many years ago. I even watched when Mark Green died. Yes, it was good TV. I liked him because we have the same hairstyle. There’s just not enough bald guys in leading roles in my opinion. I can’t explain what it was, but ER just got on my nerves after a few years. It had to do with George Clooney I’m sure.
The only TV that men should cry over would involve the Arkansas Razorbacks and some form of national championship.
By Scott on May 17, 2007 | Reply
Never watched Magnum. I could never get past the porno ’stache.
Jenny, looks like just one more season. It’s time.
I hate Survivor. Then again I hate 98% of reality shows.
I will, though against my better judgment, watch America’s Got Talent with my kids this summer.
Len, get in touch with your feminine side
By Belinda on May 17, 2007 | Reply
I have to admit - the more recent episodes of 7th Heaven weren’t nearly as good as when the kids were young.
There’s really just not much on tv anymore to watch . . . oh well, guess we’ll have to READ. haha
By Scott on May 18, 2007 | Reply
Belinda, there is much to watch on TV. Namely:
Heroes
The Office
How I Met Your Mother
House
What else?