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

[thisisbone.livejournal.com]

I think NBC is hurting more than we're seeing. They're cutting their losses.

I'm sorry, hon. I hope those six eps see the light of day eventually. :(

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

NBC is hurting and it only has itself to blame.

1. They hired a supposed wunder kid who had ZERO experience running a network of any kind and let him run it into the ground. I don't give a shit that he's a burn the candle at both ends, pot smoking party boy, I care that he was totally unqualified and Jeff Zucker refused to (and STILL refuses to) acknowledge this.

2. In 2007 they decided to forgo pilot season altogether because Silverman didn't think pilot testingresearch was important. Remember that fiasco that was The Bionic Woman? That's a Ben Silverman gift.

3. Jeff Zucker and the NBC PTB ignored the man with experience (Kevin Reilly) that was running NBC to promote his golden boy and in effect forced him to leave.

4. They basically abandoned scripted programming this year to suck Jay Leno's cock, because he was holding The Tonight Show hostage and wouldn't turn it over to Conan O'Brien.

5. They have continually gone for the cheaper fair like reality shows and 'talent' shows, while continuing to drag out bloated, super expensive dead horses like ER and Heroes and all those Law and Order franchises or repeating the Grey's Anatomy formula (see both Trauma and Mercy) instead of supporting new *quality* fare and giving it a shot.

And then they wonder why they're in last place and all of their owners are talking about selling them off whole sale. It's just disgusting.

[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.

[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.