Question: Why get invested in a show if it is just going to be canceled?

Richard Dower

It's an interesting one, are you of the mindset and adopt and wait and see policy (to see if your fave show gets renewed) or do you just hope for the best and enjoy it while it lasts?

There does seem to be alot of debate on this topic, how networks are easy to pull the plug if a show dosen't hit (Lonestar anyone?) and why viewers are less interested in watching live and DVR/download....the flipside being that if you don't watch the adverts it's cause and effect, so your show gets axed.

A vexing conumdrum to be sure, of course us on this side of the pond makes zero difference as we don't have a Neilsen box, but fans of various shows still get frustrated when dumb Americans watch Jersey Shore and not Fringe for example.

Yes it's a business, networks don't produce anything with thought to art, creativity or entertaining....it's about $$$$, the wrong mindset imo. If viewers felt they would give shows a proper chance (i'm looking at you Human Target) and not mess shows about maybe viewers would have more loyality.

Thoughts?

Mr E

I just wait to hear what you say, Richard. You seem to know that a show is doomed before everyone else.

Seriously, I think I'm a bit more cautious than I used to be. Between the '05 and '07 seasons, I got burned a fair bit by cancellations. In the 2005 season, I liked shows like Threshold, Surface, E-Ring, Invasion and Commander in Chief. All decent, entertaining shows - all cancelled after (or during) one season. The next year I was a bit more cautious, but it seemed to be worse than the year before.... shows like Vanished, Runaway, The Nine, Drive, Kidnapped, Day Break - I watched them all, and they were all cancelled.

In the years after that, it wasn't as bad, although the cancellation of Journeyman always infuriated me ..... such a great show. The Forgotten was another really great show that nobody bloody watched (at least they wrapped up the main storyline).

To answer your question about waiting to see if the ratings are good, its not necessarily a bad thing. While it wasn't for that reason, I still had some great times with marathon sessions of shows I didn't (or couldn't) watch when they were on. I caught up on shows like Alias, The Shield, Rubicon, Firefly and others in back-to-back-to-back-(to-back-to-back etc.) sessions ..... For great serialised shows, it's the best way to watch them!

Despite our complaining about constant ratings updates, I think they're a necessary evil and good indicator of whether or not a show is totally doomed. Still doesn't stop me liking stuff like Human Target, V and No Ordinary Family, though.

I'll still curse you when I read your inevitable "ITS GONE" posts from those threads in the next few months. It's not your fault though.

Syferus

A more important question is why you would not watch something you might enjoy. It's far more about the journey than the ending.

slave1

An interesting slant on this is why continue to watch something that has become crap over the years, I've finally given up on Smallville after so many threats to do so, on the other hand I'll give Caprica Season 1 a lookie in the near future, yes it's frustrating knowing I won't reach a conclusion but it could be good (like I thought Jerico was).
Sometimes there is no end in particular, think ER which I enjoyed right up to the "no-end" final episode even though the last season was a swan-song to all previous seasons/actors.
Look at the whole "The End" climax to Lost which really split folk's opinions of the worth of having watched the previous seasons.
It's only TV (but I like it)

ziedth

Journeyman was mentioned by Mr E above and I often say to myself that yes it was awful to have it canceled and I think it could have been a great show.

But, I'm glad I saw what I did of it, even though it had the worst rushed ending I have ever seen the TV show viewing part if my life was much better from having watched it.

humanji

I'm quite happy that I'm about a year behind on most tv shows, so I know if there's another series coming. I'm still bitter about John Doe being cancelled after one hell of a cliffhanger which changed you're whole perception of the show. I just don't think I could go through that again!

tvnutz

ziedth wrote: »

Journeyman was mentioned by Mr E above and I often say to myself that yes it was awful to have it canceled and I think it could have been a great show.

But, I'm glad I saw what I did of it, even though it had the worst rushed ending I have ever seen the TV show viewing part if my life was much better from having watched it.

Journeyman was a really great show,very sad it got cancelled. And as you said the ending was rushed,but I was still glad they had some sort of conclusion. I prefer that then just leaving something hanging,like the 4400 which I also enjoyed but it never finished.

As someone mentioned if a show is enjoyable then I'll watch it,even if it is at risk. I enjoy watching V at the moment for what it is. It is not amazing or even great by any means,but I am enjoying it and I still watch it despite the high possibility it will get cancelled and not get a proper ending.