Update: I heard from CBS that Harper’s Island is just preempted for the week of 5/16, and will return 5/23. My guess is CBS just wanted to go with The Mentalist for the final Saturday of May sweeps (this year’s “May” sweeps run April 23 – May 20).
Original post:
I received a few e-mails from astute observers pointing out that Harper’s Island doesn’t appear to be on any Saturday schedule for May 16. It’s not on in any of the program listings, or the published CBS schedule that lists a repeat of The Mentalist at 9pm on May 16.
Quiet removal from the schedule, or schedule updating error or something else? All my program guides, and the CBS site list the episode for Saturday May 9. It could definitely be that there was some sort of snag with updating the schedule for May 16, but the schedules for May 2, and May 9 got updated…
that repeat of the mentalist is on the schedule for weeks now, so harper’s island should be back on may 23.. i hope!
This would be a poor PR move on CBS’ part. I had no problem with them shutting down any possibilities of this going past 13 episodes, but is it really that critical of a time slot that they can’t even waste one hour on Saturday nights for the next two months? They spent a lot of time making sure everyone knew HI would start in April, last 3 months, and have a resolution. Don’t back down now. They already have the most viewers, don’t get rid of people for such a silly reason.
“They already have the most viewers, don’t get rid of people for such a silly reason.”
say what? HI is epic failing; it’s CBS’s kings, only cheaper!
I was told before last weeks episode aired that the Mentalist Repeat was going to be scheduled on the 16th. No clue why.
Wow that’s kinda weird….the show wasn’t doing **THAT** badly?
I added this blurb to the post:
Update: I haven’t heard anything but one thing that occurs to me is that it’s possible CBS just wanted to go with The Mentalist for the final Saturday of May sweeps (this year’s “May” sweeps run April 23 – May 20).
TheFutonCritic has Ep5 airing on 5/9, but they have it listed as a rerun…
Nevermind, you guys were talking about 5/16.
such a shame! plus its on a Saturday why even bother to re-sched like NBC’s kings. It’s stupid.
Harper’s Island is moving on to die as it’s ratings are nothing impressive.
CBS says its only a one week preemption returning on 5/23.
I was under the impression that this was a miniseries?
yes it is a cool limited 13 episode series Alex everything gets wrapped up in the end
it’s more like a horror film divided into 13 episodes
Thanks, Robert. I’m glad to know that after investing in the first 4 episodes I’ll get to see it through the end.
it would suck if they had cancelled it after episode 5
i saw that episode and it addressed all the major problems with the first 4 (why no one relized people went missing etc.) , had an amazing ending and build up of tension and after what happened at the end everyone finally knows there is a killer and the panic begins
By skipping next week, doesn’t that insure that the finale won’t air on July 4th? It will now end on the 11th instead.
Wow, what a clear, pristine promo photo! Is it possible that the actress wore braces? I think I can almost see the marks on her teeth!
Good to know it’s just preempted for a week. This show is quite fun (flaws, contrivances & all) so I just want to see it through to the end. If a network can’t commit to a short series full run, I don’t know why they’d take it on in the first place. Just the same after Harper’s Island is done, I’m taking my viewing back to cable, where 13 eps is a season & I can count on a steady timeslot.
Andrea, Photoshop is even cheaper than braces.
We’ll see if they move it back to Thursday these networks after all aren’t exactly trustworthy. They still air it on Thursday’s on Global TV. Honestly I just don’t think the show is that great all though it was definitely well promoted which probably accounts for it’s good ratings for the premiere.
Why the big worry about Sat night ratings for sweeps. It is nothing but a repeat wasteland anyway.
Sam, just speculative — but probably not very speculative that a repeat of The Mentalist will beat the 1.0 adults 18-49 rating HI garnered last Saturday.
I’ve never seen the Mentalist Pilot but i love the show so i will certainly be TiVo-ing that.
I have seen at least three promos for Harper’s Island while watching CBS this evening (Ghost Whisperer and now Flashpoint). I will probably see another during NUMB3RS.
Thanks for the post! I didn’t see it scheduled on my tivo and got to you through Google to see if it was canceled. I like the show, even if they did move it to time slot of death.
I mean it’s not the best show ever, but it is good cheesy fun. We do a round table discussion to discuss the show each week (ok-most weeks)… you are all welcome to join in.
Oops –I thought it would give the “where to” in the comment. If you want to take part in the round table you can go to: http://www.superficialgallery.com
If you think I am being spammy, I’m sorry and didn’t mean to be
Kind of lame that CBS couldn’t have just held the show on Thursdays for its whole run, especially since nearly half of that run will be after May sweeps.
At least Global in Canada is still showing it on Thursday nights, since they don’t have anything to replace it with (and for all I know, it could be doing better in Canada than in the US, with all the Canadian actors in it and everything).
They could move it back later, but that would be too much of a loss for sweeps, especially when reruns will do better.
As long as they don’t cancel it, I’m happy. They should still conclude on the originally planned date with a 2-hour finale considering July is a TV ratings wasteland anyways. Hopefully, they mention at the end of tomorrow’s episode that it’ll be back in two weeks. I still think they should have kept it on Thursdays. I wouldn’t expect them to move it back there however but I guess it’s possible once the other shows have concluded their seasons and everything is in repeats. In fact, since the show is already filmed and edited, they could air a 2-night 6-hour marathon of the series to get it over with if they wanted.
Hopefully CBS will hang in with it all the way to the end. Don’t burn it off as a marathon. I’d like to see them come back to this concept next year. I would hope you could get some “name” actors involved who aren’t interested in a multi-year series. Pick a great location, film in the summer when they can bring the family, I bet you would get some talent. I think if they had positioned this concept like the cable networks do with Burn Notice, Monk, etc as a summer alternative, they would have done much better with it.
AZTop, I would be *very* surprised if CBS didn’t air all the Harper’s episodes. I would be equally surprised if they brought it back reincarnated next season.
I was thinking more of something of the “closed-end” story type. Do something more like Prime Suspect or Murder One, or Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Never even consider having it as a recurring series. Probably too “literary” for network television, but I think they need to try something different. Remember in 2000 when they tried Survivor during the summer.
just dont cancel it! i absolutley love this show! it’s something i look forward to each wk. it keeps you on your feet all show long.
-cds
I agree with you Crystal. We really like the show and look forward to it each week. I just wish they had kept it on Thursday nights, but we can alway DVR. Just don’t cancel the show!!!! I was worried when I did not see it on this week.
This has nothing to do with the episode not airing. But if you look at the photo they have definately photoshopped her smile. This girl played Ruby on Supernatural and the only way I recognized her on HI was by her teeth and smile. That’s not it. I don’t know why but they’ve changed her look for this photo.
I hate that Harpers Island is not airing tonight. We have a whole group of folks who get together just to watch. We are so sad its not on!
I miss it being on, even a changed time.
I am very bummed that Haper isn’t on tonight. I am thankful that it has not been canceled. Who the heck is killing all the peeps??? It would be such a tease for the show to go off the air with no conclusion. This happened to me when i got into Reunion. I needed closure so bad that I came up with my own ending. Please let Harper play out till the end!!!
Just to throw this out there, but didnt CBS kill a show in the middle of the damn story in the recent past????? Anyone remember Jericho? I heard they were bringing that back or brought it back, but I sure as hell never seen it. CBS has a history of doing this, so I wouldnt be surprised to see them do it again. They did already push it to Saturday night……..if they do this again, I will never watch CBS again, I dont care how good the show may be. CBS needs to realize people to invest time in these shows, and want to see an ending. Not to be left in the dark like fire flies. Flying aimlessly around with no clue.
WOW…I can’t believe it!! I went to watch Harper’s Island lastnight and to my amazement there was a repeat of the Mentalist on…What’s up with that…I was so mad..I’ve been waiting all week to see what happens next and it wasn’t there!!!
I agree with Bill (May 17th) — people do invest time to see episodes in shows that are connected. CBS squanders credibility when it disses an audience by moving the show around and offering no explanation. Score one for the corporation, to hell with the viewers.
I really like Harper’s Island. I may be one of the few.
I love that it is a 13 episode Horror movie.
I am so relieved it was just preempted!! I love this show….it joined the ranks of CSI, NCIS, CSI:NY, The Mentalist and a few others I really look forward to each week. At the end of the series I hope they come up with another 13-weeker of mystery! and suspense.
Thanks for this post, I wondered why my DVR didn’t tape Harper’s Island and I was hoping it wasn’t cancelled. It’s not the best show, especially with all the over-the-top nudity and sex, but I like these type of shows and I like mini-series. Glad to see it isn’t wiped out.