2004-02-18 - 02:37 p.m.
Stage Two
Angel has been cancelled by the idiots who run the WB, and I have received a couple of reader inquiries as to why I haven't said a peep in this space. Well, to be quite honest, it has taken me a while to process the news. I've moved beyond the initial denial though, straight on to the anger part of the grieving process.
This move by the suits makes absolutely no sense. No show in its fifth season increases its viewership by 12%. Except Angel. No program on the network has gotten four TV Guide covers in the past year and a half. Except Angel. No WB show has critical acclaim across a broad media spectrum. Except Angel. No show on The WB has a rabid cult-like fan base that drives massive DVD sales and gets great ratings in syndication. Except Angel.
So not only did they do more than they needed to do to be renewed last year, but they completely outdid themselves in ratings, an impossible feat for a show so old. And yet, the axe comes down. Those smug WB bastards knew it during the 100th episode party.
You see, next year they're going to launch a new vampire show, ANOTHER remake of Dark Shadows. Why they think that's going to work is beyond me, since launching a sci-fi/horror show is really difficult to accomplish. ANYWAY, at the party, WB prez Jordan Levin said with a straight face that Angel wouldn't have to worry about competing with Dark Shadows. The bastard already knew they were dumping it. FOR NO DISCERNIBLE REASON.
The WB has screwed over my shows before. Buffy to be sure, and also Felicity. But Angel's case echoes the tragic tale of Roswell. See, the WB "stood by it" with suddenly reduced episode orders and executive plot-meddling for two seasons. Then, a cuter baby made it into the development nursery. A show about an alien baby, raised on earth by loving human parents, who then has to deal with crazy powers and struggle of being secretly different in his teen years.
No, I'm not talking about Roswell, although the concept is the same. This particular baby was called Smallville. The toddler Roswell had gotten just old enough to not be cute anymore, so it was tossed out with the Buffy bathwater and put on UPN. Yes, Superman's story existed well before Roswell, but it's an established pattern. Withdrawing support from an established show with a dedicated fanbase because a younger, sleeker model comes along.
I don't begrudge Mr. Levin and his associates the right to run their network. But their moves don't make sense. When Dark Shadows tanks next year, and the WB no longer has a critically acclaimed attention-getting "buzz" show (sorry Gilmore Girls and Everwood, but y'all are press snoozers), I hope they see the error of their ways. Then again, they probably won't. Or maybe Levin doesn't care. After all, if anyone does catch on and fire him, he'll still have the ample bosoms of Alyssa Milano and Steve Harvey and Reba McEntire and Ron Jeremy and whatever prudish sluts are still working on 7th Heaven to cry into.
I have heard rumors that they are shopping the show around, and I hope that's true. I also hope that if it doesn't move to another network, Mutant Enemy has enough time to wrap things sufficiently in order to launch some movies or something. Five years is not enough time, especially when the current season has inspired all kinds of new questions. Angel still has stories to tell. And I still want to hear them.
Dream Watch 2003: Nada.
What I'm Listening To: Hold music. Celine Dion's oeuvre? Better with her singing it.
What I'm Reading: Lucky. The whole magazine is about shopping! I love it!
What I'm Watching: One Tree Hill. Moira Kelly came back with a vengeance. A great, toe pick-inspiring performance. And the moment she embraced Dan and said a simple thanks was very touching. Poor Keith! Who knew he had the alcohol tolerance of a woman? He better be forgiven. I loved Nathan throughout, and I hope Haley can forgive him and get back, cause they're phenomenal together. When Nathan's words made Lucas wake up and tenderly touch his hand, I half expected Nathan to punch him in the face and scream "I'm not gay, you incestuous loser!" But he didn't. So I think we're seeing real growth in our young Nathan. Brooke is such a sweetie. I hate Lucas and his wooden TRL woman for conspiring to break her little heart.
