Tru Calling Dead?

jill_valentine

Admittedly I was watching it solely out of a wierd nerdy loyalty to the 'Ku, but...

Yesterday Fox announced that they were delaying Season 2 of Tru Calling. It was scheduled to be back in early November, now it's just "Later in the season" The reason given is to give North Shore the 9pm slot, thus giving it a lead in from the OC. Tru Calling just about got enough ratings to get it's second season, and believe me it wasn't the strength of the plotlines that got it by. However, it was showing some real promise at the end of this season, and the whole cast (shockingly, I mean inclusive of Jason Priestley) were acting their asses off, sometimes in the face of overwhelmingly bad writing. Several ex Buffy writers had just jumped on board for the next season. It's a shame for everybody if it's to get starved and axed just when it was getting watchable.

And then today...

"Fox is cutting back on "Tru Calling" before the show's second season even begins.



Net Monday announced that the skein won't premiere as planned on Thursday, Nov. 4. Instead, the timeslot will be filled by Hawaii sudser "North Shore."


What Fox didn't announce, however, is that the net seems ready to scale back the production order on the Eliza Dushku (news) starrer from 13 segs to just six episodes. Decision could be a death blow to the 20th Century Fox TV/Original show, insiders conceded.


Fox execs made much of the decision to bring back "Tru" for a second season, hailing the call as evidence of the net's willingness to be patient and give shows with potential time to find an audience. It's the same rationale the net used to pick up season two of the critically-hailed "Arrested Development."


What's more, Fox execs are said to have liked the direction "Tru" writers have taken in early season two episodes.


So why the change of heart? Insiders said simple economics may have played a role.


With "American Idol" set to invade Fox's sked again come January, and reality skeins such as "Renovate My Family" and "Trading Spouses" off to a strong start, net may not want to spend the coin on a full order of "Tru," insiders claim. That's particularly true now that Fox has ordered "Point Pleasant" (also from 20th/Original) for a possible early 2005 bow.


But there's also evidence senior News Corp. management believes that "Tru" may simply be too narrow in its appeal, and that the skein will never be able to break out. While scaling back to six episodes is not the same as canceling a show, it's rarely a good sign.


One caveat: Some industry insiders believe there's still a shot "Tru" could produce its full 13-episode order, if only because under some scenarios, making the shows might be cheaper than not doing so. There's also a chance Fox might try the show on Friday night, some insiders said. "

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/variety/20040913/va_mi/fox_nips__tru__in_the_bud_1

Soooooo... I think it's safe to say it's dead. I can't say I'm surprised, or awfully saddened, but it was a crap way to go about it. Fox tried to build themselves up as the Nerd's friend, and then realised they'd have to put in effort. What's really frustrating is that Fox have systematically demanded the removal of every single element that could have added up to something interesting. (Tru's junkie sister, Tru failing now and then, the woozy camerawork, Tru actually doing work in the Morgue...) and then killed it because it wasn't distinctive enough... Argh!

projectmayhem

the show was utter muck to be honest. i cought one or two episodes towards the end and thought it was pretty rubbish.

can't say i'll notice if it's gone or not...

Zhane

bring on a Faith spin-off!

neGev

The show sucked anyway, although yerwan was easy on the eyes.

ElNino

I think North Shore is better anyway. And it has some hot chicks as well - particularly Brook Burns.

neGev

Whatever about North Shore, a quick google on Ms. Burns is more than adequate consolation for the loss of Tru Calling

SCULLY

When it started off first it wasn't up to much but by the end of the series it got to be quite good - typical then that they seem to be thinking of axing it.

jill_valentine

It's fairly definite. Fox are contractually obliged to do at least six of the 12 episodes, and barring a miracle I don't see them doing the whole twelve. Which means my Buffyverse nicotine patch is doomed. It's no great loss to the industry or anything, but it's frustrating that Fox kept trying to strangle it, and then when it got watchable anyway they still killed it. If they'd just axed the show last year, everybody would be much better off, but they pissed around with it and now everybody involved is stranded this TV season. But then Fox are bastards all round, so I dunno why I'm surprised.

LFCFan

It started off pretty poorly but with the introduction of Tru's opposite (Priestly) it opened up some interesting avenues to explore for the script writers. I'm not overly pissed off if it's axed but I would have liked to see the direction it had gone in.

Big Nelly

Though it was good towards the end but then missed da last few epidsodes.....started watching on TV3 again!! good show for a Saturday nite before the pub!

jill_valentine

On the upside, maybe it means Dushku will be in better things...

Big Nelly

I know wat better things I wud like her to be in.....my bed.....haha!!!

Anyway maybe but needs more films....how did the first one she did get on in box office? forget the name of it now! teen movie thing!

jill_valentine

It's easy to forget that she really is a terrific actress as well as a purdy face...

She's been in... True Lies, Race the Sun, (TV3 inflict that on us from time to time.) Bring it On, Soul Survivors, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Wrong Turn. With the exception of the panned Soul Survivors, all did at least reasonably well, but nothing too special.

jill_valentine

Sort of on-topic...

Noticed the greatest combination of names ever on IMDB...

Richard Madeley.

Judy Finnegan.

Eliza Dushku.

"From IMDB - "Richard and Judy" (2001) playing "Herself" 19 April 2004 "

What a glorious idea. Not only because The 'Ku gives uniformly wonderful interviews (Re: Robert De Niro - "It's all about the mole, I think. It's all about the big mole with hair growing out of it that we both have in common. The hair grows back after every shoot." ) but because the concept of Richard "Acts like a pervert" Madeley taking an active part in an Eliza Dushku interview is just so insane it's inspired.

Well, after that, I had to find it. I've downloaded it, and I'm watching it now.

God bless Richard, proving once again, that he is one of the most inept interviewers the world of television has to offer. So far, Dushku's after spending 4 minutes and counting trying to help him understand the premise. Judy nearly asked something, but thank God Richard jumped to the rescue and interrupted her. Judy has spent the rest of the interview glaring at Richard, and I can almost see her graphic fantasies of gutting Richard with a broken bottle play out in her murderous stare. The 'Ku was looking more and more exasperated with Special Needs Richard, but is now grinning like a proud primary school teacher because by jove, I think he's got it. And she didn't need flashcards or handpuppets to illustrate it after all, even if she did have to (brilliantly) mime the TimeWoosh effect. Richard looks like he expects a sweetie to celebrate his eventually grasping the premise.

Richard is looking antsy now. Not only has Judy got a word in edgeways, she's done her homework and is actually asking questions and looking interested in the interview subject, as opposed to Richards ingenious style of asking the same question only shoutier until he eventually understands the answer.

Oh no, it's alright. Dushku was actually talking about her time on Buffy and how interesting and rich Faith was as a character. Luckily though, Richard was there to leap in with an entirely redundant question that's essentially what Dushku said 30 seconds before but with a questiony tone at the end of the sentence. Honest to God, somebody should explain this stuff to him beforehand, because 80% of all his interviews consist of him asking for things to be spelled out for him.

In fairness, it sort of looks like he was jealous of Judy being able to run an actual interview. Not to be outdone, he tried to regain his status as the only person in the studio allowed talk by demonstrating his knowledge of everything, and succeeded in proving himself to be even more of an idiot than we first imagined. Ha, Dushku just interrupted him (Interrupted him)to tell him he was wrong.

Oh, he's let her speak about herself for 40 consecutive seconds now. His next one should be a doozy. Gah!?! Judy got there first, and made a sensible link to a clip from Chosen! Well done Judy! Go for it girl! Live that dream! Holy Crap! Judy got to talk again after the clip as well, even if Richard is still wittering something in the background. Newfound respect to Judy, who actually does know what she's talking about (Fan petitions to save Angel) Oh, it was all going so well and then Richard came in with a smugarse expression and basically said "Yeah, but your fans are all wierdos anyway, except our daughter who's sane. Not like those wierdos" Judy interjects in our defence, and I suddenly get the wierdest feeling that their conversations during interviews are like verbal domestic abuse or something. Anyway.

Richard counters that Dushku herself once said the fans are scary freaks, right? Dushku's shifting uncomfortably, and Richard has a sort of obscene relish on his face. She does the standard "Most are great, and I really love them, but some..." It freaks her out when people call her by her character name, which is fair, because the character in question is a slutty serial murderer who's shared a cell with people like Deb.

And we're in wrap up mode. Everybody starts reeling off episode times, dates and channels, and oddly, shaking hands. And after a nine minute interview, Richard finally drops the pretence and blatantly stares at her chest. Well done Richard.



I think I used this one...

http://www.elizadushkuonline.com/ht...004/04.html#26a