Before, I start this - let me be clear about one thing. By writing this, I realize that I'm opening up a giant can of worms and I'm probably going to get a lot of poo flung in my direction. But I think this needs to be said, and besides, everyone likes playing devil's advocate once in a while.
Unless you've been under a rock (laugh if you will, but sometimes clichés say it best) for the past few weeks, then you've heard or read about how unhappy people are with the programming executives at FOX. A few weeks ago FOX canceled Reunion and, as far as we can tell, Arrested Development has gotten the axe too. We're all angry. They were both great programs, well written, and enjoyable. But as is so often the case with amazing TV shows... nobody seems to watch them.
We've yelled at FOX, called them various mean names (I like "jerk-faces"), and mulled over the realization that we're probably not going to find out who actually killed Sam. But the fact remains - the ratings weren't there. So put yourself in the shoes of whatever Rupert Murdoch underling had to make the call and give these two shows their walking papers. I don't know about you, but I like my job... and I tend to do things that allow me to keep it. The shows weren't performing and they got canned, end of story. Here's a simple analogy: would you keep a puppy who won't stop peeing on your leg simply because he's got a cute face? If that were me, hello animal adoption center.
Now before a bunch of you get all high and mighty (you know who you are), let's not forget that FOX gave AD a chance already. Ratings-wise, it probably shouldn't have lasted as long as it has. It sucks that Emmy wins don't dictate a show's future (although in this case it arguably was why FOX gave it some more slack), but those who love the show know it's good and that's something they can't take away from us. Group hug. And it's not like we don't have hope. There are interested parties in AD and maybe it will get a second life. I wish I could say the same for Reunion but I'll get over that loss much quicker.
So yeah, it's easy for us all to bash FOX. But it's business warfare and these were the casualties. Believe me, I'm PO'ed too but unfortunately I get why this had to be done. Next time, just remember the puppy that won't stop draining it on your ankles and hope that someone else is willing to put up with his antics.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-21-2005 @ 11:05PM
Sam McConnell said...
Three years for a failing show. That's not bad. Not bad at all.
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12-23-2005 @ 12:07AM
Perry Wilkey said...
You cannot compare Reunion to a dog and your leg, are you serious?
The only travesty here is the total incompetence of the FOX programming schedule. In business you must pick your battles, placing anything against CSI and expecting success is pure stupidity. If they were smart, they would air repeats of House during that time slot. They are so stupid they are going to place the OC up against CSI now, which will result in a viewer decrease and lost revenue for FOX (morons). If it were not for sports, FOX would not be in business, they obviously have no clue how to market anything. The only reason sports makes it on the network is that the viewers find the channel that has the game they want.
All it would have taken was real marketing, as ABC did with Desperate Housewives. You cannot show the first three episodes of a trilogy only once, take a four-week break and expect everyone to tune back in. If it were not for the fact that I watched the first three again before the fourth I would not have tuned in either. Look at all of the dead spots FOX has in their week; they could have done the same thing ABC did. If CBS had launched the show, placed it against House, they would have had all ten of the top ten shows for the week. The only thing I can say for sure is that in ten more years they could be history if they do not get someone with common sense and an IQ of more that a warn beer running their marketing and programming.
Yeah, comparing the incompetent of FOX to that of a dog and your leg is like saying a man in a walker should climb Mount Everest, he could make it and be the first, but looks more like a snowballs chance you know where. Reunion was doomed the second FOX placed it against CSI, shown the first three then took a four week break.
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12-30-2005 @ 8:39PM
Leslie said...
I understand business. But let's get real. How many show's have beat CSI in the last 3 years? CSI either wins its time slot or is in the top 3. So how do you get loyal viewers to an iconic show to change over to your brand new murder mystery? You show it sporatically and hope the viewers will hang in there. Why didn't Fox just try Reunion on a different night? Why not just move it to a different night and finish the season. If FOX ever puts on a show with the similar premise of tellling a story over a season (24), doubt I'll watch it. To cancel a series in midseason that has unresolved issues means the leadership at FOX has no respect for its viewers. More options exist than the axe. OBTW if a cute dog keeps peeing on my leg, I teach it to pee outstide, it's called training. Who is going to train FOX?
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1-05-2006 @ 7:57PM
chris said...
I am sick and tired of FOX.... I understand if a show does poorly then you cut it... and man i get tired of getting hooked on a show and then never getting to see the end.... Point Pleasant, Fastlane... now Reunion... heck they even cut Family Guy for a few years and that has a cult following.... then the shows never get on dvd so that the faithful can see the ending.. well execpt Point Pleasant that is.... but now I have watch ever episode of Reunion... only to have wasted my time on another Fox show that I will never know the ending of.... that like watching a movie at the theater only to find out half way through that it has been doing poorly at the box office so you can only see the first 30 minutes now..... and it seems like Fox is the only one to poorly manage the time slots its shows are put in and then cut the show without first changing the timeslot to gain viewers..... I wish the whole Fox company would go under for the crap they are pulling on their viewers
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1-09-2006 @ 8:58AM
Chris said...
Hell yes, I can blame Fox for the failure of "Reunion." Those inept a**holes scheduled what was a bright, promising, and intriguing series against the #1 show on television - and actually EXPECTED it to succeed? I'm not a network SUIT, and I saw failure a mile away! They totally mishandled this show. They brought it on opposite "CSI" and "The Apprentice." Just as the show was building momentum, they yanked it off the air for several weeks for the World Series - then returned it without any fanfare or promotion. Then, they yanked it off the air - failing to show the last few filmed episodes just to see if the ratings would increase - and replaced the new episodes of "Reunion" with RERUNS?! How well did THAT work out for you, Fox?! In addition, Fox is just throwing this show away without even trying it in another time slot. I despise Fox, and yes - I totally blame their incompetance for the failure of "Reunion." I will never watch their idiotic network again.
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1-09-2006 @ 3:25PM
chrissy said...
Fox, Fox, Fox, Get your heads out of your a*s! Reunion is a great story and it must be finished! Put it on another night, so CSI don't dominate the ratings. Every time I get hooked to a new show (North Shore, Point Pleasant)it gets cancelled! Thursdays now suck! Reunion was much better than The O.C.
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1-13-2006 @ 12:39AM
Gina said...
I am so disappointed with fox for cancelling reunion. i was immediately hooked and it became a weekly family event (by the way, family members are also super PO'ed!!) they did not give this show the attention it deserved...it it so rare these days to find a well-written, thought-provoking, suspensful, and entertaining series!! this is exactly what reunion was! i am sick to death of all of the lame reality shows out there that manage to make it season after season! but then a show w/ a real plot and ongoing twists comes about and they cancel it! good job!!
and what was fox thinking placing reunion against the apprentice and csi?...hello! it was set up to fail from the start! those shows already had a loyal following. not to mention, the "weeks at a time" breaks b/w episodes would make it hard for anyone to keep up. it may have made it had fox marketed the show properly--why not air it and have repeats of previous shows prior to the newest episode, especially after the "breaks," so that viewers had a chance to get hooked? or play the episodes twice in one week? how can you stop a show like that mid-season and leave viewers hanging...it's a murder mystery!!! my family acually became more hooked on reunion than they did on the oc!! reunion should be granted a fair shot...repeat the episodes consecutively, then pick up w/ new ones to complete the 20 years so we find out who murdered sam! i'm tired of becoming hooked on shows and looking forward all week to a new episode, only to find out it's been cancelled! fox--bring back reunion for all it's loyal fans and your faithful viewers...before you don't have any left!!!
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1-16-2006 @ 7:36PM
Ginger Williams said...
I, too, am a huge Reunion fan. Started with the first episode and continued watching throughout all of the obnoxious breaks in the series (baseball, other specials, reruns, etc.). I totally agree with all the other comments here that it seems unlikely that most would be able to keep up with the sporadic schedule. Each week at 9 pm, I would check Fox to see if it was on - And sigh in disgust when it wasn't. I never dreamed Fox would cancel this show mid-season. In terms of anticipation, this show ranks right up there with 24 - cannot wait for the next episode. I never knew what was going to happen next. Now... I guess I will never know. I have searched high and low for any indication that this series was based on a book or will be released on DVD to no avail. I am in the 18-49 age group, am college educated, and make over $100,000 per year. Aren't I, a loyal viewer, in the target group?? How could Fox do this? And... I quit watching CSI for this show !!
I understand that it is all about ratings, but give the show a reasonable chance. Show a Marathon of the early episodes to get new viewers hooked, then complete the season. Please do not leave me hanging with just Reality shows to watch. I would rather sit in the dark.
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1-16-2006 @ 8:30PM
Genevieve said...
I just now found out through these blogs that we don't get to find out the rest of Reunion. We invested our time(Fox's Almighty Dollar...) and we get rewarded with what is aking to a slap in the face.
Disappointed with Fox; where is there any integrity in Fox? Integrity would have allowed us the faithful devoted viewers to see the episodes through the end. Integrity is losing some dollars because you didn't play your cards right(didn't air it on a good day/time slot!!!!) Integrity would have cared more about us viewers than the almighty stinkin dollar that won't do any good in heaven or hell or below the earth's surface. We should truly boycott all shows. Hey if they, Fox want to keep regulary punish our loyalty to their network shows only to have them swept out from under our appreciative eyes, I say, let's boycott and girlcott ALL of Fox's show so that one day down the road, they'll have the rug swept from under them and all their fat juicy salaries that we viewers pay heavily for-only to have shows yanked! Or perhpaps we should pray for the hard-nosed and cold-hearted, lacking integrity big wigs at lofty Fox. Fox is a cunning animal....
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