While the Renew/Cancel Index can’t predict everything – especially behind the scenes stuff that doesn’t have anything to do with the ratings (which we believe to be the case with King of The Hill, it is sure to be right about the following shows being sliced by mid season:
- Pushing Daisies
- Eli Stone
- Dirty Sexy Money
- Lipstick Jungle
Though Lipstick Jungle has already been damned to the purgatory that is Friday nights on the broadcast nets, it probably has the best chance of survival of any of those shows for one reason: it’s on NBC. I don’t think that will be enough to save it.
Heroes is in turmoil. Lots and lots of turmoil. But not Pushing Daisies style soon-to-be-cancelled turmoil! It’s still one of NBC’s better performing shows among 18-49 year olds, though last week’s premiere of 30 Rock even drew more 18-49 year old viewers, which must frighten the peacocks at NBC.We had one commenter go on and on about how it’s the fans fault the show is now screwed up. That’s just plain wacky. It’s very clear to me where to place the blame: NBC. Here’s why: season one was a hit, but because NBC mucked around with the schedule and had it off the air for months even during season one, the ratings when it came back from hiatus were not as good as they had been beforehand.
NBC crafted what I’m sure it thought was a very creative solution to the problem at the time: do twelve part story arcs that start and end within twelve episodes. That way, if it’s off the air for a couple of months, it will come back with a brand new story arc.
Guess what? The creative talent around Heroes didn’t craft the more successful (and much better, in my estimation) season one under those terms. And having to create under that scheduling seems to have completely screwed the show.
Here’s an idea – go back to making the show a regular old serial, and don’t constrain the creative talent by forcing story arcs that must complete within a twelve episode window. Let them plan out a few seasons worth of story, and then let them try to program to that.
Can you imagine what would’ve happened with LOST if it had been forced to create the show in the fashion NBC has forced Heroes?
Despite the freefall from ratings awesomeness, Heroes has a ways to fall before it meets it hits the ground. Unfortunately for Pushing Daisies, Eli Stone and Dirty Sexy Money, those shows didn’t have as far to fall and are very close to impact. It’s only a matter of time.
With the news that they have a $4 mil budget, I think they are going to have some pretty drastic cuts before being renewed. And if those in charge can’t agree to those cuts, then I think the show may actually be in legitimate trouble.
and one tree hill?? will go on?
Thank you for answering my question on this. I had left a question in the cancellation index forum, but this tells me what I wanted to know.
I am a die-hard heroes fan, but even I have to agree there have been some plotlines that are hard to swallow.
I’m sorry to see Pushing Daisies go. This show was clearly a victem of the writers strike.
Julia, at the current level of ratings, my guess is it’s safe even at $4 million per episode provided that it can average $120K per 30 second spot. That gets it over break even on a cost basis with room left over for promotion. plus given the 18-34 numbers even now, I think it must easily average over $120K/30 second spot. Plus there’s product placement, and DVD gravy in it for them.
Hitsimo, given where the CW is, on a ratings basis, yes — though I am not sure whether the producers, actors, etc. want to do another season.
NBC just can’t handle a hit show; Ben Silverman is a moron. Heroes i think can be done pretty cheapy like the first episodes of season one were; the powers don’t have to be over-done with CGI. Its the characters and thriller directing thats the reason as to why people tuned into Heroes.
Sad, because to me Heroes died in Season 1. It was great and now it’s terrible with about 9083240 different characters.
I really like Pushing Daisies, it’s a fun light show. And all the characters are great!
Okay, now you’re just talking out of your @$$! This is all based purely on speculation!! It’s not official that these shows were cancelled! Nothing’s being cancelled until ABC says so!
Jason, ok, but I’ll bet you the $5 allowance your mom gives you that Pushing Daisies, Eli Stone, and Dirty Sexy Money are all cancelled before the season ends…
First of all, I’m 21 years old and get $30 every week. Second of all, I’ll bet you nothing that you didn’t read THIS yet (http://wizbangpop.com/2008/11/04/tv-movie-news.php)
I am not giving up on Pushing Daisies! PUSHING DAISIES WILL SEE SEASON 3!
And I’ll also bet you all the money I have that with proper campaigning, Pushing Daisies will NOT go down the crapper!! Just go to savepushingdaisies.blogspot.com for details.
haha, fair enough Jason. I’ll go the $30 allowance AND all the money you have that no amount of campaigning will save it.
Of course ABC hasn’t made an official announcement yet. It will hold off doing so until it officially announces its mid-season lineup.
the reason heroes is in ratings free-fall is because people are lazy. Too lazy to follow the story with, admittedly a very large cast. Really though…it’s worth it. Heroes I think is really on the up-swing plot-wise. When that happened in Season 2, the ratings boosted. (Out of Time was the lowest rated of season 2, after that it went up, as the story picked up). I at least hope this is the case.
Can ABC really replace 3 shows at mid season? they also have nothing for tuesdays at 8?
I think/hope that ELI can make it until the end of the season at least!
I hope you are wrong about Pushing Daisies getting axed. It’s a very original show, with wonderful actors. I’ll miss that show more than I would if Heroes got pulled this season.
Thanks for the link, Jason. At last someone who isn’t biased towards PD.
Johnthemon, too lazy to follow the story? Yeah, I choose not to because otherwise I’d get a major head ache about everything that could’ve been done so much better if they’d actually have decent people doing the writing.
Personally, my own up-beat concerning Heroes was day or two ago when people started to speculate that Bryan Fuller will return to Heroes writing cast.
As I’ve said in the past among with many, many people – Heroes was *great* on its sophomore season. And talks about it going sour because of the strike is an urban legend – it went down with the finale of Season 1. It was a slap in the face to all the pre-dating episodes before it. It was like all the writing staff had suddenly died and replaced with Hollywoodesque-actionjunkie zombies…
Josh, ABC has quite a few shows waiting for mid-season addtion to the schedule. They recently claimed they ordered just 20 episodes of Samantha Who? (instead of the typical 22) because of their significant supply of shows ready to come off the bench.
I am not giving up on Pushing Daisies! Say whatever you want, but I am gonna believe that it will survive at least for a full season order.
Pushing Daisies is done, over. I can tell you that Fuller is currently in talks with another network and producer to immediately start writing for them as soon as ABC makes it official. Look for ABC to make it official next week.
That looks to be good news for Heroes fans anyway.
It’s funny how you talk and talk, but never give any sources. Makes one wonder.
Please Nick C, sources would really be dandy.
Pushing Daisies will not be Cancelled… Yet.
Despite all the lackluster ratings, the show is to critical acclaimed this year. I believe ABC will hold on to the golden globes to see how well it does there and if anything good happenes there, then ABC might keep the show for a lil longer.
The problem with the show is that ABC aint advertising the hell out of it. the show is freaking great, critically acclaim and a major cult following. Its Arrested Development all over again <_<
Alde and Rachel, I am the source. If you feel the need to go back and look at my posts on here reporting that ABC officially told Fuller to make the 13th episode a finale vs a cliffhanger they are on here well before anyone in the media reported it (but then they just confirmed exactly what I stated).
The show isn’t “canceled,” but that is just a formality. Ratings are the worst on the network and nothing will really change that. So it’s just a matter of time. The fact that they did ask for the show to be made a finale says what their intentions are. You can act like a crazed fan and say “there is still a chance! We will send daisy seeds,” but the facts are these:
The Show is the worst rated scripted show on ABC.
The Show was asked to re-write the 13th episode to “finish it all up,” and not be a cliffhanger like it previously was.
The show’s head has started to let his agent entertain offers for other work.
You can take those 3 facts and come up with a rather easy to believe conclusion: The show isn’t going to last much longer.
Nick C, how exactly do you know all this inside information about all these different networks? What is your job, if you don’t mind my asking? You must be really important if you can get all this info about what’s going on inside ABC, FOX, etc.
Also PD fans ignore all posts like the one from Unknown. Awards are not increasing advertising income for ABC. ABC also promoted PD more than fans want to admit. In fact ABC spent a lot of money promoting Pushing Daisies more than most of their other shows. ABC is not the enemy here. It’s just smart business.
Nick, you forget that Pushing Daisies is this season’s Moonlight. Attempts at logic are futile!
@ Bill
LOL
Rachel, I know more about some networks than others. FOX is mostly a mystery, but when I state things like “Terminator is moving to Friday,” that is because it is what I heard from a reliable person. FOX still hasn’t made a final decision on the Spring Schedule. Right now if it happened today, Terminator would be airing on Fridays. Pushing Daisies on the other hand, I know exactly what happened. Media outlets reporting exactly what I reported is not a coincidence.
Pushing Daisies fans need to just accept it and move on. The only thing that could save the show is viewers and that means convincing Nielsen viewers. If people could do that then they’d have a shot (but a very slim one). The show would have to jump up in viewers by about 50%. It’s all just a formality now.
I see… wish I was able to get inside info like that, heh (though in a sense, I suppose I sort of am by getting it from you). But gwaa, Terminator on Friday… man I don’t know. I just don’t know. The only thing keeping me slightly optimistic is that Bones will be with it apparently (do you know which show would be the lead in?) Yeah, as you can see, I’m obsessed with Terminator, so any other interesting info you get about its fate would be great to hear.
Speaking of Nielsen viewers… is there some kind of online community of forum where they gather or something? I wouldn’t mind doing some advertising.
Rachel, BONES would be the lead in. However I know the Producers at BONES don’t want to be on Friday nights and their show is doing extremely well. So it’s hard to say what will happen. If it was today, it’s Bones/Terminator.
Friday Night isn’t a night to go die on. CBS just proved last week a show can do well on Friday Night, even as a repeat.
Nick:
Ah, that’s comforting then, at least it seems to be… Bones has a strong fanbase already so it’s capable of being a strong lead-in. And hopefully those viewers will stick around for Terminator, thus causing its fanbase to grow. Heck, all us fans should unite and watch both shows and propel Fox to victory! … well, at least those with a Nielsen box.
Yeah…Pushing Daisies is on ABC not NBC.
This might sound like a weird idea, but what if another network were to buy Pushing Daisies.
What if another network were to buy Pushing Daisies?
Anna, sadly for the fans, the show has simply done badly in the ratings. Poorly performing shows are not in demand elsewhere.
Srry my comment went in twice. But one more point, Pushing Daisies did get 12 emmy nominations, and huge critical acclaim. Maybe there is a network out the there that cares about quality.
Why don’t they try another night for Pushing Daisies?? Other shows get moved around all the time… and Dirty Sexy Money is awesome too. and i like Eli Stone. Why do i fall for all the low rating shows
Seriously though, it’s such a good show. I’m sad.
It has been years since I’ve watched anything on a regular basis, but Pushing Daisies has become my “must see” show. I love everything about it, and have been so saddened to hear it will most likely be canceled. ABC never gave it a shot. It was doomed the moment they put it on hold after the writer’s strike. Now we’ll go back to ignoring the rest of the crappola these networks put out.
Is it possible that more people TiVo their favorite shows and aren’t watching as much TV in general. Maybe that explains the drop in ratings for some of these shows?? Compared to last weeks ratings I bet they increase this week. The World Series and election are over. We want our regular shows back without watching all the political commercials.
I’m a Lipstick Jungle Fan and there’s a chance it could survive so EVERYONE please watch Lipstick Jungle on its NEW spot Friday @ 10:00 pm EST or it might not be around much longer!! We’ve got to get the ratings up ASAP! If it’s not the show for you, no worries but if you want to see it have a chance to develop please spread the word! Thanks!
Wow, now PD has “huge critical acclaim,” wow. That should stop the cancellation! Wait, it just has good reviews. The vast majority of Emmy nods were for things like hair, makeup, set design, and pilot related things (best directed episode). Heck, Barry Sonnenfeld directed the Pilot and won an emmy. It’s Barry Sonnenfeld! He should win an emmy, what competition does he have? He also hasn’t directed an episode since season one’s “Dummy.”
That and the repeated “ABC never gave it a shot,” claim. They combined it with Private Practice and went out of their way to promote last season and this season. ABC did all they could for it.
On the one hand, I understand Fox moving things around, just to test the waters. However, I can’t understand why, assuming they want the Scifi/fantasy crowd to tune in, they put it on Friday night when the Scifi channel will showing the last season of Battlestar Galactica on Friday night around the same time in January.
Also, since the almost obligatory “Moonlight jab” has been posted, the Futon Critic has just announced, literally, that the Scifi channel has gotten both the series, “Invasion,” and Moonlight, and will show then both, in that order, before Battlestar Galactica, starting January 23, 2009. Now, while it is obviously not unsual for Scifi to get “cancelled” series for their programming, the scheduling seems rather unusal when you consider that they usually show an old rerun of the newer series at some point on the same night, or an oldie of a Stargate, etc. Also, you would think that they would put Invasion, which is about an alien invasion, right before BSG-their flagship show-but apparently they are opting to put Moonlight there. This is three days after Moonlight will be released on DVD, so maybe the Moonlight owners worked something out with Scifi to get the show on air to help with the sales. Anyway, that is the report.
Concerning Bones and TSCC, maybe it will work, since Bones has an established audience.
Nick-
While you are not entirely wrong, you are not entirely right either.
First of all, there has been no indication from ABC that they are canceling Daisies- yet. There has been some discussion at the network of moving the show to a different time slot to see how it performs before canceling it. But they have not ordered more episodes beyond the first thirteen, and time is running out. The show is filming the final ordered episode now, and then the cast and crew will be on tenterhooks waiting for word from ABC.
Secondly, it’s true that Bryan Fuller has been approached by other networks and producers to work for them should Daisies be cancelled. Just yesterday it was reported that NBC is seriously wooing him in hopes that he will return to Heroes and sort out the mess that show is in. It’s now widely accepted that after he left Heroes at the end of season one to work on Daisies, the show took a sharp turn for the worse.
Third, Pushing Daisies is in fact “critically acclaimed”, with almost universal praise coming from every major and minor source of criticism- both traditional and online. And twelve Emmy nominations for a nine episode first season is nothing to sneeze at. If the show were to make it this season, it’s almost certain to garner many more Golden Globe and Emmy nominations.
Fourth, and finally, Fuller was NOT told to rewrite the thirteenth episode to make it a finale rather than a cliffhanger. As it stands, the episode IS a cliffhanger, which will also have to double as the finale should ABC decline to order another nine episodes and finish out the season. If anything, Fuller and his writers wanted to craft a nice finale episode to wrap up the show with a ribbon for the fans, but since they are filming that episode now and ABC still hasn’t decided what they are going to do, there is no choice but to make it somewhat open-ended in case the network decides to finish the season.
Of course, word could come next week that ABC is ending the show. And that would be a shame.
All, There are many ambiguities in the current situation for Pushing Daisies.
The fact that it is ABC’s worst performing scripted show for adults 18-49 is not one of them.
Thats all that really matters in the end. It’s a dead show.
Come to terms with it in your own way. I understand that Denial is the first step.
I choose to think I’m living in Hope, rather than Denial. But I’m funny that way.
Charles, while hope is at the very core of existence for most people (nihilists excluded) when hope is applied foolishly, it’s just foolish. I could hope to be 7′2″ and a center in the NBA. I could hope that Gisele Bundchen would knock at my door. While the chances of either of those happening are indeed slimmer than the chances of Pushing Daisies being renewed, relatively speaking it’s about as likely.
Some things are beyond hope. My NBA career, and Pushing Daisies renewal among them.
i am so pissed pushing daises went off!!!!! i turned on the TV on wednesday and instead of pushing daises, DANCING WITH THE STARS was on!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ah!!!!!!!!!! bring back p.d.!!!
!!!
Charles, the fact that Bryan decided to write it open ended is a shame. He was told to end it. I know what was said. I know they left the door open to shows being ordered if the show picked up in viewers. I also know they decided to cancel the show today after last nights improvements for Private Practice with a real lead in.
It doesn’t change the fact that ABC told Bryan to wrap it up, and Bryan unfortunately had some foolish hope as Robert calls it.
The show is done now. Bryan IS likely moving to NBC nearly immediately.
Nick, since you seem to have inside information regarding the interactions between ABC and Bryan Fuller, I can only assume that you know something the rest of us do not. I do not work on the show or for ABC, but I know someone who does and that is where I got my information.
Since you are so intimately familiar with what ABC is doing or is about to do, I’ll ask you: if the network told Fuller to “wrap it up” at the end of the last episode ordered and he didn’t, wouldn’t they be in a position to make him “wrap it up”? Would the network allow a writer to dictate the plot line of an expensive show just because he was holding out “foolish hope” that they would order more episodes in the face of rapidly dwindling ratings?
I thought the network was all-powerful, or at least more powerful than that.
Charles, Bryan was given a choice. He was told to wrap up the loose ends. I’m under the impression he did wrap it up. Shows get canceled all the time that don’t get a chance to wrap things up. If Fuller wasted his chance, ABC doesn’t care. I know that the ending was re-written last moment. I haven’t read the new script, but I know it is not ending in the huge cliff hanger it was originally intended to end with.
Why would a network care how someone ends a series they won’t be continuing? They don’t. They like to let people like Bryan think they do care, but reality is they could care less.
I see. Well, I hope the ending is as fantastic as the rest of the episodes have been. I’ll still hope out foolish hope that the show gets another nine episodes before they pull the plug!
Charles, they pulled the plug today. Sorry.
Fine Nick, it’s cancelled. But do you dispute this report:
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/pushing_daisies/index.html?franchise=watch_with_kristin
Especially the part when she says they’re waiting AFTER the election to see what happens? And how can that be done when ABC isn’t even airing it, which doesn’t make any sense?
I would rather hear that PD is being cancelled from someone who works at ABC, not watches them, like you. If PD is cancelled, fine, but ABC will be making a horrible decision.
I haven’t seen anything in the press today about Pushing Daisies being cancelled, and my friend said everybody over there is hard at work on the show today.
Hmmm…
From Entertainment Weekly (dot com) this afternoon:
“RUMOR: Pushing Daisies has been axed.
Fiction. An ABC insider insists that no final decision has been made re: Daisies. (The net has until mid-January to order more episodes.) But with production set to wrap early next week on the show’s 13th and possibly-final episode, there’s little reason to be optimistic. (This also doesn’t bode well.) At least if the series bites the dust, as EW’s Lynette Rice reported exclusively, Bryan Fuller has said that he’d return to Heroes. Silver lining, kids!”
Here’s the fiction: Nick C acting like he is a network insider..
People, Barry and others are still discussing the future of PD, however that future is about the airing of the remaining episodes only. The decision has been made, they are working out the details. As I said before anyone reported it in the media, Bryan has reached a deal with HEROES. You don’t have your agent go work out a deal if your show is sticking around.
TiMBO, that is weird. I’ve claimed to know things about certain shows, and with better information about certain Networks. That is all. My info on PD is top notch however. That is how I reported on here about the Finale being rewritten before any media outlet. I also reported the deal with HEROES first. So take that for whatever it is worth. However, PD is dead. It’s not airing next week, and ABC is making decisions NOW about the future of the network. PD is the worst rated show on the network.
Nick, do you think ABC will announce next week their midseason plans?
PLease dont cancel pushing dasies,I’d like 2 find out what happened 2 lil gumshoe!!!!!
NOOOOO!! Not Pushing Daisies! Say it ain’t so =[ I have thee absolute worst luck in finding TV shows to adore, only to have them cancelled well before they’ve been given enough chance or the appropriate time slot.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooo (breath), Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! I just love my “daisies”!!!! This always happens to me, which is why 90% of the shows I watch are reruns. I don’t get into scripted “reality” shows. This a tragedy, when you have shows like “house of payne” and “sarah silverman”, getting ratings from who knows where. I know they’re different networks but, it just “burns-my-biscuits”!!
I hate to see “Daisies” and D,S,M go. We love these shows. Private Practice needs to go instead. We just happen to watch it because it is in the middle of these two fantastic shows. I wish ABC would give them a chance. Between the writers strike and the election stuff they just did not have a chance. Maybe another network will possibly pick them up like sometimes happens. We love the quirkey “Daisies” and D,S,M is so much like the old Dallas and Dynasty all rolled into one but up to date. You can’t just watch one episode of “Daisies” you have to watch multiple ones. All the actors on both shows do a fantastic job in their rolls. I hope some how the powers to be will change their minds at the last minute.
Pushing Daisies should not be canceled! It is definitely the most well-made show on television. It’s creative storyline and endearing characters keep me glued to the tv!
Yay,It’s not been cancelled!thanks ABC!!!thank you!thank you!thank you!
So now it’s been confirmed…ABC CANCELLED PUSHING DAISIES!!!
What the HECK! That is such a fantastically charming and original show. It figures. Oh, and Eli Stone is gone, too. Can we get yet ANOTHER cop drama on TV??? Come on, ABC! Stand behind these brilliant shows, or the airwaves will be filled with nothing but spoiled rich kids, crime dramas and bad singers/dancers.
ABC…Another Boring Conformist.