That was fast. If this were a newspaper, the ink would barely be dry on my previous post about the dismal ratings for The Ex List. Now, the die has been cast: CBS has canceled The Ex List. This Friday's show will be the end of the run. The four remaining shows in the can may be run off some time in the future, but more than likely they won't. For the immediate future, reruns of NCIS will fill the Friday 9 p.m. slot.
The Ex List is the first hour-long drama to be dumped this season. It's a sad commentary on CBS that they are so challenged when it comes to developing TV dramas that don't involve criminal activities.
You have to wonder if the powers that be are now second guessing their decision to not give Moonlight a second season. Say what you will about the vampire drama, that it also struggled in the ratings, that it was a niche program, etc. The bottom line is that it had/has a loyal fan base. There was a chance for CBS to develop something there, especially because of the appeal of actor Alex O'Laughlin. CBS signed him up for another series after canceling Moonlight, clearly aware of the fact that he's a talent they want on their network.
While the NCIS reruns will likely do okay on Friday -- it does well wherever they put it, even repeats -- the future for this spot could be filled by Harper's Island. That's the midseason hour mystery/horror drama that CBS has been touting since last spring, and most recently they added Harry Hamlin to the cast.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-28-2008 @ 10:10AM
Marka said...
They should have kept Moonlight. That show would have been building this year and Moonlight had a legion of ambassadors that would have assured it. It was a genre show--but a genre that is hot now. The network only needed a little patience. They nipped a potential hit in the bud.
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10-28-2008 @ 10:13AM
eric f. said...
huh. I thought this was a comedy. maybe a dramedy? I didn't watch.
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10-28-2008 @ 10:15AM
MERVE-THE-PERVE said...
It's a sad commentary on CBS that they havn't fired Nina Tassler yet.
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10-28-2008 @ 11:30AM
The Pepto Pimp said...
Whoah! Amen.
10-28-2008 @ 10:25AM
Diana said...
Damnit, I actually liked this one.
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10-28-2008 @ 10:57AM
mc said...
The reason this show did not succeed is because the girl is unsexy, unattractive, and uninteresting. She's like the brainy girl who should be taking your temperature, not giving you one. Even on Grey's Anatomy, the plastic surgery did not make her beautiful.
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10-28-2008 @ 1:52PM
Modwild said...
Nothing against her talent as an actress, but her "hot" quotient has definitely overstayed its limited welcome. I would venture to guess that this show would have done better with different casting. She would be better suited to a crime drama of some sort, in my mind.
And, yay. I'm glad its gone. I thought it would be cancelled before it hit the air. I love that they cancelled Moonlight, that had a very faithful audience, buzz quotient and better numbers. Someday maybe they will realize that not ALL shows can be a jaugernaut such as the CSI series. Not every show you enter into the game will be number one. If that was the case, there would only be one network on one channel.
10-28-2008 @ 11:20AM
Patti said...
Bring back Swingtown!!!
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10-28-2008 @ 12:01PM
Tammy said...
I second that motion! :)
10-29-2008 @ 8:05AM
eric f. said...
That show needs to be on HBO or SHO.
10-28-2008 @ 11:32AM
The Pepto Pimp said...
Bye Bella! I'll miss you, but not your show.
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10-28-2008 @ 12:42PM
Jeff N. said...
When I heard what CBS was replacing Moonlight with I figured it would last about a month. Guess I was pretty close. This wasn't a good show nor a good match to come after Ghost Whisper. Yes, they should of kept Moonlight if this was all they had to replace it with. I think most of the TV Audience knew this too.
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10-28-2008 @ 1:46PM
Lyn said...
It's Elizabeth Reaser, not Reasoner. In the tags, I mean.
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10-28-2008 @ 2:07PM
Modwild said...
I'll give a hearty "aye" to that motion, as well!
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10-28-2008 @ 3:34PM
Nva_gvup_Mick said...
AHHH, just when I started to warm up to The Ex-List...NOT!!!
I have to practice restraint by stating that CBS might not be the only one to blame for the demise of MOONLIGHT. I mean there were a lot of infightings behind the set that may never come to light as to what led to the demise. But the fact that Alex O'Loughlin chose to sign the deal with CBS showed that maybe he knows more about CBS than we do.
Having said that, ya know, now that CBS has Alex and can do whatever they want to do with him including resurrecting Moonlight, Sophia hasn't signed on to anything long-term, Jason is a toughie cuz I really love his snark but he's a smaller character in the show, and Shannyn (who also signed on to another HBO show like Jason) was all but gone from Moonlight.
Sooooo, it is not over until... It is not over. Moonlight Lives On!!! Rah rah rah!
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10-28-2008 @ 5:27PM
RD said...
I watched this show twice, and if it was a half-hour instead of an hour, it might have had a chance to be bearable - the writers were struggling to make 44 minutes, and it showed. I agree that casting was also a problem. Alyssa Milano would have been a better choice for Bella.
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10-28-2008 @ 6:48PM
jeff said...
can't say i am too upset. i watched one episode, and while decent at times, it was way too forced.
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10-28-2008 @ 7:10PM
Darlene K said...
YEP! They should have kept MOONLIGHT!!!!!!!
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10-28-2008 @ 8:58PM
Anita said...
All I can say is good. The show had potential, but they never fully developed it. Moonlight reached its first season potential and clearly had more awesomeness for second season. I still don't understand why they canceled it knowing Twilight and True Blood were coming out and that Moonlight could've served as the frontrunner for the vamp shows/films coming after it, (particularly considering the fanfare TB continues to receive while on a pay network) -
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10-29-2008 @ 2:38AM
Jojee said...
I guess I can delete the episodes I have waiting for me on my DVR.
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