ABC Family announced its new lineup this week. The cable network's upcoming slate is full of what some might call "chick TV" with female-oriented series like Perfect 10, Ruby and the Rockits and 10 Things I Hate About You (yep, it's based on the movie) all receiving 10-episode orders.This might be good news for young female TV-addicts, but sci-fi fans are no doubt bummed that Kyle XY and The Middleman will not be returning to the network.
Kyle XY will end after its current third season, and the prognosis is not good for the wonderfully zany Middleman. Though the fate of The Middleman was not mentioned in the new lineup announcement, it's probably fair to say that we've seen the last of Matt Keeslar and Natalie Morales fighting talking apes and evil Lucha Libre wrestlers. According to SyFy Portal, sources at ABC Family say the network has no plans to order any new episodes of The Middleman, and Morales seems to have moved on. She's starring in the Boldly Going Nowhere pilot, which is expected to be picked up by Fox.
There is some good news for Middlefans. The first season of The Middleman will hit DVD this summer. The DVD is being produced by Shout! Factory, who put out great sets for Freaks and Geeks and Mystery Science Theater 3000. I'm with the folks at i09 who are encouraging readers to grassroots promote the hell out of this DVD when it comes out. The Middleman might not have mass appeal, but it deserves to be seen and hailed as one of the best, funniest and weirdest things to end up on TV in years.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-02-2009 @ 2:21PM
pokemon plastic said...
Unfortunately networks hate zany and smart and well, anything quality...I got a suggestion for quality tv viewers..most people put stuff like American Idol and Dancing with the Stars in the background while they cook or clean...so if you see this while at a friend's house...just change the tube..put it on a quality program more than likely they won't notice and you'll help the ratings of good shows..
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2-02-2009 @ 3:24PM
1iPete said...
So I assume that Art Crawl! is cancelled this year. Bummer.
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2-02-2009 @ 3:25PM
Claire said...
alas, i enjoyed those shows for what they were worth. i was surprised that Kyle XY lasted as long as it did. and The Middleman was completely out of place on ABC family. but it gives comfort that one day it will a cult show whose cancellation will be bemoaned by hundreds of thousands.
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2-02-2009 @ 3:47PM
Franklin said...
If I wasn't convinced before, I'm now completely convinced that all network executives are complete and utter bastards. Bastards, I say!
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2-02-2009 @ 3:50PM
0megapart!cle said...
The Middleman was a joke. I'm sorry, I watched the first episode, and it was literally painful. I watched a bit of the second episode, and it was similar.
Kyle XY's cancellation is much bigger news, and I'm surprised TV Squad is burying it inside a post on the worthless Middleman show getting its just deserts.
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2-02-2009 @ 6:21PM
Brian said...
Not only is the Art Crawl cancelled, but a space just opened up in the illegal sublet Dub-Dub lives with her equally photogenic artist roommate, Lacy.
Bah.
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2-02-2009 @ 6:15PM
bkdealer said...
I'm really sorry about Middleman--I only discovered it part of the way through and was looking forward to it being rerun so that I could catch the first episodes. It was entirely too intelligent and funny for network tv!
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2-02-2009 @ 6:28PM
charleswheeler said...
Oh crud!
Now we have to start fighting evil ourselves.
Bummer...
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2-03-2009 @ 12:09AM
Hawthorn said...
My little pony! That's just gosh darn unfair. What a great series.
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2-03-2009 @ 8:07PM
Alice said...
These two shows were the only times I ever visit ABC Family... bye bye ABC Family.
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