I’ve already written a few times that I personally do not believe that CBS made an awful decision to cancel Moonlight. Out of all of CBS’ shows, Moonlight had the worst 18-49 demographic performance of any show other than re-airings of Showtime’s Dexter. I was always on the fence with Moonlight. I would not have faulted CBS for keeping it – though its 18-49 numbers weren’t great compared to all other CBS shows, Moonlight aired at 9pm on Friday nights and it did fairly well in consideration of that. Friday is increasingly a vast wasteland for broadcast network television.
But, since it didn’t do as well as Ghost Whisperer which aired on Friday night’s at 8pm before Moonlight, or as well as Numb3rs which aired at 10pm on Fridays after it, and since it was its worst 18-49 demographic rated show, I can’t fault CBS for cancelling it either. The biggest problem for Moonlight is it was a “genre” show.
I am a fan of many genre style shows, particularly science fiction, but I understand that such shows typically struggle mightily to reach a more mainstream audience. LOST and Heroes are rare exception and unlike Moonlight, despite not being what they used to be from a Nielsen ratings perspective, both LOST and Heroes are unquestionably 18-49 demographic superstars in this era. Moonlight certainly was not.
Instead, CBS decided to go with the new The Ex-List, a show about a single woman looking for love, and failing miserably. Personally I can relate to this much more than a show about vampires, and I’m sure I’m not alone in that. I have no idea whether the show will be any good or suck badly, but it’s certainly conceivable to me that the premise can reach a wider audience.
A month ago I wrote a post with a short poll on whether The Ex-List will do better in the Nielsen ratings than Moonlight. Both the poll responses and the comments were heavily skewed by the jilted Moonlight faithful. Out of 2,490 poll votes so far, 2,327 predict The Ex-List will do worse in the ratings than Moonlight. The comments, all 306 of them so far are similarly skewed. The most recent comment from “Isabel” reads:
Ex-list looks like exactly the kind of show a network dumb enough to cancel Moonlight would promote. Instead of a romantic thriller with a smart, sexy female lead who had incredible chemistry with a really talented male lead actor, we get a sad, whiny female lead who is nothing without a man (and a man who apparently wasn’t good enough for her the first time around!!) And to think that a woman exec at CBS thought this was a good idea???!!!
While it’s true Nina Tassler is the president of CBS entertainment, I get the idea that her boss Les Moonves certainly did participate in the programming decisions. Again, I personally think that the premise of the Ex-List has the potential for reaching more people than Moonlight and all things considered I do not think it was unreasonable for Tassler, Moonves or CBS in general to try something else.
Isabel’s comment was not as angst-ridden as many of the comments, which have the flavor of a woman jilted by her husband in favor of a younger woman. Which is at least a little bit ironic as Les Moonves’ is rumored to have dumped his wife of 24 years for a women who is 21 years his junior — Julie Chen, who also hosts CBS’ reality show, Big Brother. I would jokingly chalk that up to Moonves simply wanting to keep in good touch with the female 18-49 demographic as he nears the average age of a 60 Minutes viewer (which is 61! Moonves will turn 60 later this year).
I don’t get the gist that Moonves’ own ex, Donna is as upset about Les leaving her for Julie as the Moonlight faithful are that the show got cancelled, but Donna’s getting something the jilted Moonlight fans are not: a fat alimony check.
Ratings? There has been much talk within the industry that the Nielsen ratings are flawed. And correct me if I’m wrong, but CBS was one of the networks that asked that DVR ratings were included and Moonlight ranked high on that list.
Ratings? X-Files started with unspectacular ratings but FOX stuck with it and was rewarded with a winner.
Ratings? All shows that returned from the writer’s strike had lower ratings when they returned to the air. Were they cancelled?
Ratings? Then why until the very last week when the last episode of Moonlight was aired EVERYONE was saying that Moonlight would be picked up?
I submit Moonlight’s cancellation had nothing to do with ratings; it had to do with money…money CBS wanted to cut from its WB licensing fee. And it’s pretty SOP for networks to say “it was the ratings” when they cancel a show.
As far as The Ex-List? Maybe it will do as well as another CBS nepotism show…Swingtown?
Personally, I would be watching my back if I was a producer of a show on CBS…never know when one of the “blue suits” will have another family-inspired story to find time to air on their network.
I loved Moonlight. It had everything, romance, drama and comedy. The casting was superb. CBS had their heads up their butts for canceling this outstanding show. I am part of that all important 18-49 demographic, and CBS can kiss that goodbye. Robert, have you any idea how many millions of Moonlight fans are still seething????? WE WANT OUR SHOW BACK AND WE WANT IT NOW!!!!
You said it better than I EVER could. Right On, Tami!!!
CBS stabbed “Moonlight” in the back!
I have never posted anything or cared about a TV show until MOONLIGHT. I watched it once and was hooked. Alex is a star and those of us that took the time to watch know this. Maybe some of us dont want reality or reality like shows maybe some of us want to get lost in a romance that we can only dream about. There is true chemistry between them. I personally think they made a mistake, it was the only show I made time to watch , it brought me to CBS, and it took me AWAY too!!!
Tanya
I am a little confused as to why a man by his pic appears to be on the backside of 50 would be so intent on caring what 18-49 yo want to watch. As an older viewer do you feel that badly about yourself that bow down to being force fed bad programming.
I for one dont believe those numbers are accurate. The system needs tossed and completely revamped. There shoud be room on network tv for everyone.
Which is why we Moonlight fans are writing to advertisers. we want to be recognized as a viable spending group that are sick and tired of being ignored. I think you should join our campaign and stop trying to cut us down.
I watch very little television but watched Moonlight with a friend on Friday nights. I really enjoyed the twist on the vampire legend. And before you label me as another vamp fanatic, I do not read vampire literature or seek out all to do with vampires. Moonlight was a romantic thriller with a vampire twist. Good cast, good humor, beautiful photography. I will not be watching the Ex-List (or Swingtown, for that matter). There is nothing there to interest me.
Robert, what was the point of this thread? I mean, seriously. You knew what was going to happen. :rollingeyesbigtime:
Robert, CBS is the one who gave Moonlight the axe! They deserve every ounce of the rage!
Andrea, fair enough. maybe Holly is right and it was just boredom. I accept the shame of your eyeroll…
I am unsubscribing my TV BY THE NUMBERS newletter!! You have it all wrong!
Moonlight is the BEST!
well robert, apparently hell hath no fury ….
Susie:
You took the words right out of my mouth! I am positive we are speaking about the very same obsessed fan who carried two boxes of Moonlight props and memorabilia of the Warner Bros set last month to auction “for charity” when most of it is decorating her home! She has no life, and no income either if she loses her hold on her tribe so she is reporting weekly secret instructions from an unknown entity and instilling false hope in those who want to believe something – anything from a seriously unstable woman with delusions of grandeur!
All I can say is “beware of worphipping false idols”, especially those with their hand out for money!
Doug: Get a life…………………………..or at least some taste.
I will never watch CBS again. Ex List is so stupid and boring. How can anyone believe that Ex List will get more people???!!! Moonlight was a great show. Alex, Sophia are such great actors. Ex List is thumbs down for plot and acting. BOO CBS!!!
LOL Robert, excellent post! and of course, those rabid fans commenting here just prove your point – much like the jilted wife who goes overboard and in her angst, trashes everything that reminds her of her husband.
I, for one, am going to watch the Ex-List. It sounds like something that can bring in many female viewers, and has more of a chance to retain the Ghost Whisperer fans better than Moonlight ever did. Moreover, I am sure most of them eventually cool down and end up watching the Ex List despite their solemn vows to “boycott” CBS.
Yes, my name shows the year of my birth. And yes — I loved Moonlight!! Shame on CBS. Maybe USA or SciFi will pick it up? CBS — are you even listening?
Are you kidding, Moonlight Rocks, the best show ever. I cant believe that CBS will not listedn to 8 million faithful fans just because we do not have a neilson box, shame on you cbs.
Moonlightfan78
In my opinion, people in that age demographic are now going to watch DVDs or go out on Friday nights.
Doug,
We get it already, you hated Moonlight……………………………..
MOONLIGHT is the very best show on now T.V. I am hopeful it will get picked up by another network. “Mick” Life is short…. ftp
i am a proud fan of MOONLIGHT. I have loved the show since the beginning…it has somethig that NO other show has… a group of DEDICATED fans from all over the world , willing to do whatever it takes to get it a second season (and more) because we believe it is an EXTRORDINARY show…i have no desire to waych ANY other show PERIOD.
Right on ,dude!!
The freaks are alive and well, I see.
My name is not Holly…………………………
In a message dated 6/23/2008 11:15:14 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
writes:
I’m going to kill you. All of you. Moonlight was the shiyit…and now, you must die. You shall pay for your treachery!!!