RAGE BLACKOUT.

[hackthis_archive]

They've canceled Southland. Before they've even aired any of the episodes they shot for Season 2. Apparently it's too dark and gritty. In short, too smart and real for network TV. Not enough fluff, bullshit, fake tits and bad acting.

I knew this shit was coming. I could smell it when they pushed the premiere date back to October (give it more press, MY ASS), but to not even broadcast any of it. At all. I just -- YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO AT LEAST AIR A FEW EPISODES AND PRETEND ASSHOLES.

All fail NBC. Even now that Ben Silverman is gone.

Fuck, I am genuinely depressed. I don't even...

ETA: Michael has posted some numbers you can call here at the NBC comments line (212-664-2333 -- if the mailbox is full press '0' for the operator and she'll direct you somewhere else) and southland_tv has some execs phone numbers that you can call too. And a twitter. Please call, fill their mailboxes. Let them know this decision is bad, but DON'T BE RUDE. Just, you know, let them know you're disappointed, that you don't approve and think they're making a mistake. Because they are.

Comments

[elfinobsession.livejournal.com]

This is the same dumbass network that moved L&O: Criminal Intent to USA and then FIRED Goren & Eames. They are totally made of suck! I can't believe they are letting that sycophant Leno take up the 10pm time slot! That is 5 drama's right there!

[lunaysol.livejournal.com]

Yes. The only thing I watched on NBC other than their Thursday night comedies was Southland! No wonder GE is rumored to be selling them off to Comcast! Dummies.

[burntcopper.livejournal.com]

BOLLOCKS. And I can't even do anything because I live in a different country and would thus have no influence on viewing figures.

Seriously, they can't even give it a chance to up its ratings by seeing how the episodes in the can do?

Note that they cited the fact that it was dark. Well, yeah, if you push all your designed-to-air-at-10pm shows to 9pm, of course they're going to come off as dark and gritty. And execs, you have noticed that all your originally scheduled at 10pm shows are doing worse because of it, right?

[thisisbone.livejournal.com]

Yup. I could see it coming when Kevin Reilly left. He was the one who really championed Friday Night Lights, which I read somewhere may not air until summer 2010 (after airing on DirecTV starting this month). I told Mr. Bone last night that they have NO IDEA what people want to watch.

One pet theory I have is that because of how long it takes to get shows in the pipeline, that the crashing economy caught them completely off guard, and they're not hitting the right "tone" for the current situation. The dramas that offer splendid casts and gritty realism are getting overlooked in favor of dancing has beens, half hour comedies starring has beens, and anything cable is offering.

It sucks.

[wolkendunst.livejournal.com]

This is so disappointing, I was really looking forward to the new episodes.

[missdunham.livejournal.com]

I MAILED MY RAGE AND TWITTERED MY RAGE!

>:( AND I'VE NOT EVEN SEEN IT YET!

[beck-liz.livejournal.com]

And it's the same fucking THING, where there's a ton of build-up, and then the not giving a shot.

Yeah. I don't know what goes on in their heads over there, but it's clearly not anything resembling Earth logic.

I LOVE COOPER

[kattiya.livejournal.com]

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/10/michael_cudlitz_will_never_wor.html

By the bye...

[askmehow.livejournal.com]

Southland might have been picked up by TNT. (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3ib26dae96f6367a44acb2857acd7729da)

:D :D :D :D :D

[chibirhm.livejournal.com]

Quickly de-lurking to say that this (http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/10/wells-two-networks-interested-in-southland.html) appeared on my Twitter feed this morning and I thought of you.

[sundappled.livejournal.com]

THIS IS ALL VERY VEXING AND RIDICULOUS.

And, er, is it just me or is there something up with your profile? On my laptop it shows the Photobucket bandwidth exceeded image repeated rather loudly down the center of the page, which I find rather odd as I do not seem to remember you having an image repeated down the centre. But then I am a html amateur and these things are all very complex.

(And I apologise if this should come up in your inbox twice; spelling errors on my part annoy the bejeezus out of me and, like an overtired fool, I missed it on the preview. Bed time now.)

[thisisbone.livejournal.com]

And now they're dicking around with releasing it to TNT?!?! Jesus CHRIST.

It looks like we will at least see the filmed episodes -- it sure would be nice if they picked it up for real.

Congrats!!

[ladydey.livejournal.com]

"Turner Entertainment Sees the Broadcast Networks as Its Fattest Target," i.e., TNT picks up Southland (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/02/business/media/02tnt.html?_r=1)