NBC has announced that it has cancelled Southland before even a single episode of Season 2 aired in the show's terrible new Friday timeslot. Apparently the show was just too dark for the network to air at 9 PM, though that wouldn't have been a problem if there wasn't a giant chin taking up the 10 PM slot five nights a week. And could it really have been so much darker Season 1? Wasn't it pretty gritty and profanity-filled from the get-go? The only remotely encouraging news coming out of this is that John Wells (who executive produces and runs the show's production company) says that they are shopping around for a new home for this engagingly realistic cop drama.
Personally, my hope is that it winds up on FX, where tt wouldn't be too dark for the network that airs Nip/Tuck and used to air The Shield. But AMC might be a nice landing spot, too, given the way that network cultivated Breaking Bad. Southland already finished filming six episodes for its second season, and since last spring we only got seven episodes, I was definitely looking to spend more time with these characters. I almost would rather they have cancelled the show in May instead of getting my hopes up -- not to mention the cast's (oh, all those Tweets from Michael Cudlitz about how good each episode he shot was!). It's pretty cruel to move this show out of its comfortable Thursday night spot, claim that it will move to Fridays and then shut it down only two weeks before it's supposed to premiere.
It's especially sad given the long history the network has with John Wells. His production company was behind The West Wing (he served as showrunner for several seasons), he co-created Third Watch and he also kept the blood flowing into ER for 15 seasons. When that showed first aired, it was nothing if not dark and twisted. The first season was some of the bloodiest content I'd ever seen on network TV and they went on to drop a helicopter on someone! It broke the mold, and given the fact that there are two mediocre medical dramas on this season trying desperately to copy the success of ER, I'd say that Wells knows what he's doing.
That's not to say he can't make a dud. He (and his company) were also behind Presidio Med and Smith, both of which got axed in fairly short order, but Southland truly didn't deserve that fate. In fact, it was well-received by the critics and had pretty decent ratings. which is why it doesn't make sense that NBC didn't let this show at least have a fighting chance this season. I'm not really sure that Southland is much worse than anything that SVU cranks out in terms of violence or graphic subject matter, and its bleeped-out profanity is far less offensive to me than watching the terrible acting on Mercy.
If the show doesn't find a new home, I hope that the episodes that have been filmed end up on DVD for purchase. I'll happily fork over some cash for them. Otherwise, all we're left seeing from this season is this short little clip of a scene that stops before it gets really violent, and that's a shame.
Your thoughts on the matter? Leave 'em below.
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I was really happy when this was renewed. Statement of renewal, to me, is now meaningless. I wont believe that a show is coming back until it airs anymore. If they had just canceled it after the end of season 1, I would've understood. This is stupid.
I was really surprised to read this since I've passed filming for Southland yesterday and today on my way to and from work. This is terribly disappointing. I hope they get picked up on cable because I figure that is where most of the good stuff is headed anyway.
Seriously, they're canceling a promising show with good reviews and decent ratings? I know the economy is tight, but you need time to develop a show. The success of Desperate Housewives/Lost/Grey's Anatomy in their first year, all in the same year, was a fluke, but most networks seem to think that's supposed to be the norm. It isn't. This show had loads of potential. I really, really, hope this show goes to FX or AMC or FOX or wherever, and becomes a solid hot, just to spite the hell out of NBC. And how could they screw over John Wells, of all people? Stupid NBC, they deserve to be in last place.
This is the thing that just kills me with the mentality of some of our executive class in Hollywood. They see that ratings are down across the board, and it's been already proven that people are tired of faked reality shows, reality competitions, and tired talent shows. Ratings are down for prime-time altogether, and with shows like NCIS bringing in the highest ratings while ratings are down, just means they'll keep rehashing the same things again and again. I really did like Southland, I thought that they were really starting to build something with these characters. I was hoping for more, but honestly, haven't we had enough of this too?? Again and again... police-dramas, hospital-dramas, courtroom-dramas, and forensic-pathologist dramas (which they just re-hash with new cities). Now they're all copy-catting each other with psychic crime solver shows, war-on-terror shows, mixed in with a little bit of "phenomenon" shows. But typically they just do the same thing again and again, then wonder why people tune out.
NBC is a joke - this show was awesome - particularly the two lead beat cops - the only bad part was the African american detective and her love life story line which was boring and slowed the show. I hope Fox picks up the show and pairs it with Fringe (two of the best shows on tv)
I am not surprised NBC cancelled. It was a brilliant show!! Superb acting,good story content and it was so different than all the CSI knockoffs. I really felt like I was watching a real police story in LA. NBC is the lowest in ratings and needs to do some Managerial revamping. I too hope cable picks it up as that is about all I watch anymore.
Wow, I'm surprised to see so many people call this show "brilliant." I wasn't too fond of it. It definitely wanted to be 'gritty' but it didn't really succeed. It still had lame-ass, sappy speechifying that terrible cop shows have. Made me roll my eyes often. When I watched it, it just made me wish that I was watching The Wire, because this show desperately wanted to be The Wire. Plus NBC had a much better cop-show and that was Life. Never should have been canceled. I can't quite bring myself to feel bad over the Southland cancellation though. Way, way overrated.
Such a waste. What were they thinking... Its a shame such a promising show got canned before it had a fighting chance...
This is a HORRID decision by NBC, if they could not "affoard" the show or thought they did not have an "appropriate" timeslot they should never have renewed the show. What a bunch of wankers!!
NBC sucks, but then, that's why they're struggling. Great, great show; I hope it finds a home on a better network.
I loved "Journeyman" and "Life". Both canceled. I guess so long as a program is appealing to the lowest common denominator of society it's considered a hit. If the networks are still using the Neilson Rating system then I think they are hopeless out of date. Just how many reality shows can one society stomach? You want reality? Go do some volunteer work.
Go here for more information on Southland and how you can help the show find a new home.
http://community.livejournal.com/southland_tv/
I agree that Jay Leno is taking up too much time on NBC. He should have just stayed on the Tonight Show. Southland was a good show that would have done well at 10pm, but I think it will find a new home on a cable network. Jay Leno is also affecting the Law & Order time slot as well. I would much rather watch L&O at 10pm.
NBC you guys really suck. Southland was a great show.
NBC did this back in 2003 to 'Boomtown.' At least 2 episodes of the second season were aired and then it was *gone.* The rest of the season was burned off some 2 months later. NBC will move awesome shows to Friday nights to die. In the case of 'Southland' it never got the chance to try for a viewership on Fridays... I hate you, NBC.
NBC's track record stinks. Just look what they've done to another critically acclaimed show - Friday Night Lights. They're right to shop SouthLAnd to a cable network - just not one affiliated to NBStupid please! 'Leno' who?
I think NBC made a bad move, and I never even watched the show. From all reports, it was a good show, and it sported an impressive producer in Welles and a talented cast. If they didn't want to spend the money or really were concerned about the darkness of the show, they should never have renewed it in the first place. The networks are all insane! Do you guess realize that every time a show is cancelled, every cameraman, soundman, writer, gaffer, grip, and craft services person loses their job? We all bitch about how this show is crap, or that show is crap, but it's actually super sad when a show is cancelled. Leno is putting hard working people out of work for nothing but an ego to match his chin. I feel bad for his staff and crew (not their fault NBC made a deal with the devil), but their jobs are on life support as well.
i would like to see tv show angie on dvd. loved this show.
And the major networks wonder why they're losing audiences! What a said state of affairs to cancel such a well written, well acted, well directed show. I hope Southland finds a new home on a network that deserves and will appreciate them!
im sorry to hear that an execellent show like southland was cancelled. networks keep stupid shows on the air and get rid of the good ones
Even Jay Leno hates his new show!
Even Jay Leno hates his new show!
The cancellation of this winning show was such a disappointment. The realistic and poignant perspectives portrayed in Southland was truly refreshing. I am truly dismayed that this show was cancelled and junk remains alive. How really effective is the gauge?
TNT has picked up the show - Jan 12 I believe - gonna' show all 13 eps. No commitment further, just have to see how it goes.
If TNT does not work out, I bet FX might take it on..It seems like their MO.
However nothing will beat The Shield
I believe A&E picked it up, airdate 1/13/10
Ummmmm anybody remember a great show called Third Watch? That show was amazing! And this show may have the chance to be the next. Glad to see some little company called TNT was smart enough to pick it up!!
When I heard TNT was considering picking up Southland, I wrote on their website that I'd get cable if they did so, and they did and I did. (I told the cable rep to make sure they noted why I was getting cable in case anyone asked.) NBC finds such good shows - Fri Nite Lights, American Dreams, Southland - and then cancels them. They are so low in the ratings; why don't they try holding on and building audience for these great shows - critically acclaimed shows - and become the HBO of the nets? A strategy that might work. Nothing else seems to.