Sopranos 13, Game of Thrones 10... Stuff?
Cable is wrought with short lifers that come back the next year.
Cable is wrought with short lifers that come back the next year.
2012 Renewal Axe List
- Thread starter Jax
- Start date
Awake is dead and gone - it was obvious almost immediately that the ratings would doom it.
A show like that can work on a network, but the mythology must be built up and expanded so that there is more fodder for writing stories. As the years go by, the mythology is expanded at a reasonable pace. There was enough to Awake's mythology that that could have happened. Probably the answer would have had to have been - both realities are "real" - not that one is a dream or he's dead or anything like that - but then you have a cool, reality-hopping series like Fringe.
Grimm, which is also on NBC and has gotten a renewal for S2, has a similar structure - a cop show with a fantasy-based mythology. The biggest difference is that Grimm is on Fridays (that's also what got Fringe a renewal on FOX and what kept Chuck going for so long), where networks don't expect much in the way of ratings, and it has colorful and charming characters (especially Monroe, who probably saved the ratings early on) to lock in a cult following. Awake's ratings dropped consistently while Grimm's stabilized at a survivable level.
Awake was smart but not likable in the way Grimm is. Shows survive on personality, not intellect (to put it mildly).
A show like that can work on a network, but the mythology must be built up and expanded so that there is more fodder for writing stories. As the years go by, the mythology is expanded at a reasonable pace. There was enough to Awake's mythology that that could have happened. Probably the answer would have had to have been - both realities are "real" - not that one is a dream or he's dead or anything like that - but then you have a cool, reality-hopping series like Fringe.
Grimm, which is also on NBC and has gotten a renewal for S2, has a similar structure - a cop show with a fantasy-based mythology. The biggest difference is that Grimm is on Fridays (that's also what got Fringe a renewal on FOX and what kept Chuck going for so long), where networks don't expect much in the way of ratings, and it has colorful and charming characters (especially Monroe, who probably saved the ratings early on) to lock in a cult following. Awake's ratings dropped consistently while Grimm's stabilized at a survivable level.
Awake was smart but not likable in the way Grimm is. Shows survive on personality, not intellect (to put it mildly).
I don't think Awake's "mythology" would stretch far enough for longevity, really. Either it's real or it's not, and once they give an answer, that's it, game over. So they should really have set it up with the answer in mind - hopefully they'll have squeezed it into the last episode.
If it's real, there are two whole universes to play in! How is that limiting? Most stories have to stick to one, and get years of stories out of it.
There could be more people than Britten who are "awake" in both realities. There was already a hint of one person like that. Britten might have to fight these people, or find allies among them, or both.
Britten could manage to convince some people in each reality that he's not crazy (by knowing things he couldn't possibly know otherwise, and keep doing that consistently to pile up the evidence.)
Britten could figure out how he became aware of both realities (did the accident damage part of his brain that otherwise "blocks" knowledge of both realities?) and team up with a scientist who could unblock other people (with or without their consent). For all we know, there are people who have already figured this out and are doing it. Maybe Britten was one of their guinea pigs.
Maybe the accident isn't what unblocked him - that was just an unrelated coincidence. Maybe the unblocking kicked in at an inopportune time, making him black out and causing the accident.
That's just off the top of my head. An imaginative staff of writers could go nuts with this stuff. It could have gone on for years, it just needed to be on Fridays and have some kind of charming Monroe character. Maybe if Britten was more of a scruffy underdog type...? Maybe if there was another character, a mysterious figure who seemed to know more than he/she should about the situation, and could become a sidekick or mentor?
There could be more people than Britten who are "awake" in both realities. There was already a hint of one person like that. Britten might have to fight these people, or find allies among them, or both.
Britten could manage to convince some people in each reality that he's not crazy (by knowing things he couldn't possibly know otherwise, and keep doing that consistently to pile up the evidence.)
Britten could figure out how he became aware of both realities (did the accident damage part of his brain that otherwise "blocks" knowledge of both realities?) and team up with a scientist who could unblock other people (with or without their consent). For all we know, there are people who have already figured this out and are doing it. Maybe Britten was one of their guinea pigs.
Maybe the accident isn't what unblocked him - that was just an unrelated coincidence. Maybe the unblocking kicked in at an inopportune time, making him black out and causing the accident.
That's just off the top of my head. An imaginative staff of writers could go nuts with this stuff. It could have gone on for years, it just needed to be on Fridays and have some kind of charming Monroe character. Maybe if Britten was more of a scruffy underdog type...? Maybe if there was another character, a mysterious figure who seemed to know more than he/she should about the situation, and could become a sidekick or mentor?
Eh, I can't think of anyplace it would really fit. Too old for the CW, too sci fi for CBS, too male for ABC. Maybe on FOX, but they've had troubles of their own getting sci fi shows to stick.
It's too broadcasty and mainstream for most of cable. Not arty enough for AMC or premium channels, not violent and crazy enough for FX. Syfy might like the premise if it were quirky and cute.
It's too broadcasty and mainstream for most of cable. Not arty enough for AMC or premium channels, not violent and crazy enough for FX. Syfy might like the premise if it were quirky and cute.
Awake at the end of the day was basically a standard cop show--and in some ways it could be seen as two cop shows in one with the dual reality angle. Personally I'm tired of cop shows--by this point in my life I've pretty much seen it all for this type of program. The grieving angle also is pretty stale--we've all pretty much seen that type of story before. Then you add in the conspiracy element and the show just couldn't rise above the derivative feel the show had.
TV shows really don't need a mythology--they need a more open general premise and season long arcs --that to me is the key--you don't need a series spanning storyline that you drag with you on your back for years at a time that demands stalling in order to not give it all away --what writers need is to worry about one season long arc at a time where everything is wrapped up at the end of ep 22--letting them serve as standalone stories.
TV shows really don't need a mythology--they need a more open general premise and season long arcs --that to me is the key--you don't need a series spanning storyline that you drag with you on your back for years at a time that demands stalling in order to not give it all away --what writers need is to worry about one season long arc at a time where everything is wrapped up at the end of ep 22--letting them serve as standalone stories.
I don't see a problem with series long stories as long as the writers don't begin with a limited premise and then stretch it out rather than reaching a conclusion. This has been a problem with many serialized programs lately; think of the constant delay of Dexter Morgan revealing that he's a serial killer to his adopted sister. On Breaking Bad, in contrast, the writers didn't wait nearly as long for Skyler to find out that her husband was cooking meth.
Gonna miss Awake, especially with the mythology heating up. Had some powerful scenes about enjoying the moment while you can.
Ah well. That and the campy Finder, gone.
And I don't like Touch. Won't make Grimm appointment viewing, either.
I know how to pick 'em...
Ah well. That and the campy Finder, gone.
And I don't like Touch. Won't make Grimm appointment viewing, either.
I know how to pick 'em...
Oh Bollocks.
Not the Finder!
Maybe they could resolve the cliff hanger on Bones at some point?
Did anyone even know that I Hate my Teenage Daughter existed before they cancelled?
Not the Finder!
Maybe they could resolve the cliff hanger on Bones at some point?
Did anyone even know that I Hate my Teenage Daughter existed before they cancelled?
Apparently;
Elementary
Vegas (formerly Ralph Lamb)
Golden Boy
Made in New Jersey (formerly Baby Big Shot)
have been picked up by CBS, along with comedies Friend Me and Partners.
A Gifted Man
NYC22
CSI Miami
Unforgettable
Cancelled. CSI NY renewed.
Link1
Link2
UPDATE:
All official now.
Also, Rob cancelled.
Elementary
Vegas (formerly Ralph Lamb)
Golden Boy
Made in New Jersey (formerly Baby Big Shot)
have been picked up by CBS, along with comedies Friend Me and Partners.
A Gifted Man
NYC22
CSI Miami
Unforgettable
Cancelled. CSI NY renewed.
Link1
Link2
UPDATE:
All official now.
Also, Rob cancelled.
Last edited:
Awake's writing lately has been elevating it above the just-a-cop-show problem, like Grimm has done (in a totally different way). I'm not as annoyed to see Awake cancelled as I would have been if Grimm had got the axe instead, but given NBC's silly Friday night schedule with comedies as lead-ins to Grimm (???) they should have slotted Awake in there instead. If FOX can save Fringe on Fridays...
Fox has kept Fringe on Fridays because Warner Bros is willing to offer it at a very low licence fee because they make good money from it in international markets. Awake isn't in the same position.
Oh my goodness...
Cleveland Show is ripping on the Finder's cancellation!
Eventhough, y'know...
The Cleveland Show was made/started being made months ago.
Cleveland Show is ripping on the Finder's cancellation!
Eventhough, y'know...
The Cleveland Show was made/started being made months ago.
Yes! I hate CSI Miami, one of the worst shows I've ever seen with an unbelievably unsympathetic lead character, I'm glad it's the first CSI to get cancelled.
doubleohfive
Fleet Admiral
Yes! I hate CSI Miami, one of the worst shows I've ever seen with an unbelievably unsympathetic lead character, I'm glad it's the first CSI to get cancelled.
It's pretty pathetic that you celebrate the end of the show (that nobody forces you to watch anyway) so gleefully when it means that roughly 150 people who aren't famous actors are now out of work.
But that's ok. A show you don't like is off the air. Score one for the good guys!
I don't take any of the CSIs seriously anymore --and least of all CSI: Miami-- but for fuck's sake, find something better to get so excited about.
Hasn't CSI Miami been on for like 8 years or so? To have it cancelled with no send off for the fans who did watch is very unfortunate.
doubleohfive
Fleet Admiral
I don't personally have a problem with it ending. This isn't a Firefly situation, or an Arrested Development situation. I just don't care for the petulant joy some people take in these things.
It lasted for ten seasons. It was a good run and I don't think that there's any loose threads to for it to wrap up so as a fan of the show I don't have a problem with it ending like this. They must've suspected it was coming since the rewrote the cliffhanger out of the final episode and basically ended the show on a happy note. I would've rather had another season because the final episode didn't feel like a series finale unlike the CSI New York one which did.
