Uh Oh…A GMMR Favorite Being Canceled?
March 22, 2007 by Kath Skerry
Ok super sleuth’s I need your help…or perhaps one of our beloved comedies does. Michael Ausiello just posted this Blind Item about a comedy on the brink of cancelation. Read below and then let’s chat:
This week’s blind item is so depressing, you may want to shield your eyes. It concerns a comedy series that enjoys a cult following, tons of buzz and heaps of critical praise. Unfortunately, the laffer in question lacks support where it counts the most: at the very network that airs it. You see, an influential suit at the net thinks the show is about as funny as a root canal, and is flummoxed by its appeal. He/she proved this by passing the laffer over for a major promotion earlier this season — a sleight that left members of the media (yours truly included) scratching their heads. Basically, said big shot would be more than happy to permanently clear it from the sked, and the program’s modest ratings may be just the excuse he/she needs. There’s just one problem: Because the knee-slapper isn’t perceived as a “bubble show,” there are no fan campaigns being organized to help save it. In other words, there’s a very real chance this endangered series could be put out to pasture in May with nary a postcard mailed or petition signed. And I can’t think of anything less funny than that. So, any guesses? I hate to say it, but this show’s very future probably depends on you figuring it out.
The options…Scrubs, 30 Rock, How I Met Your Mother, The Office?!
Let’s just scratch The Office right off the list. It thankfully doesn’t fit in with the facts above. But here’s what kills me…one show fits in VERY well. That show? My beloved How I Met Your Mother. The clue that gave it away for me was “He/she proved this by passing the laffer over for a major promotion earlier this season…”. A lot of TV critics were wonderin why HIMYM wasn’t given the coveted post-Super Bowl spot on CBS.
I’m kind of panicking here. Any other thoughts on what show Ausiello is talking about? And if it is HIMYM can you PLEASE PLEASE help me figure out a way to get the buzz going. Don’t make me bring out a petition, because I will.
Related Posts
Filed under TV News
Well, I don’t have any other ideas but you know I’m on board for a petition campaign.
That would be a heartbreaking day. Maybe we could go steal “an influential suit at the net”‘s truck for ransom? Maybe if they didn’t want it anymore, another network would take it???
My first thought is Scrubs. NBC does not support it at all because the parent company of ABC owns the syndication rights, so NBC doesn’t make money off of it. But, isn’t this Scrubs last season? Why cancel a show that has only a few episodes left to air?
I do not think it is The Office. Ausiello says there is no fan folowing. Um…I think the Office has a following, especially one that would rally.
I don’t really watch any CBS comedies. Maybe HIMYM. It seems like a hit.
I don’t watch 30 Rock either. How are the ratings? Maybe the executive doesn’t like Tina Fey? Who knows.
Why won’t Ausiello tell us?
I just hope it isn’t 30 Rock. HIMYM being canceled would be a shame but 30 Rock being canceled would be really upsetting. It has evolved into a side splitting show.
please not 30 rock, please not 30 rock
I’m with samsmom, my first thought as I read that was Scrubs. But it doesn’t make sense since next season will likely be its last, regardless of which network it’s on. Please let us know if you hear anything else on this!!!
Please, please, please, please not HIMYM!!!
I thought it had good ratings and that’s why The Class was doing alright? I can’t see why they’d get rid of it…you’d think this mystery show is something with an unconventional means of making people laugh, i.e. the office. While I don’t think it’s the office it could be a show like it….
I think it sounds like Arrested Development, but we know that’s not it…..I’m perplexed!
Even though The Office was scratched off the list already…it was renewed in January for ’07-’08. So definitely no worries. I hope it’s not HIMYM. When it’s good, it’s sooo good.
Any one of those shows being cancelled would be disheartening. I follow all four religiously. Although I agree that The Office can’t be considered to be cancelled. It’s too much of a money-maker.
The other four shows, however, do fall into those listed reasons. The Class also falls into this television purgatory.
If one of those shows is indeed cancelled, I would like to know what this so-called big shot network executive plans to replace one of those shows with. Another pathetic reality show? More game shows that requires no skill? Another sitcom about fugly guys and the impossibly gorgeous women they are married to? Gimme a break.
Big shot execs like this guy who has nothing in the area where his heart should be are the reason that television is so far behind everyone else.
I’m an assistant in TV land. I’m coaming my fancy database for clues. It’s not 30 Rock or The Office. Guarenteed. Kevin Reilly loves ’em both and has all but promised to bring 30R back. And as someone said above, The Office has already been picked up for next season. Doubt it’s Scrubs as I read an interview with Reilly where he was talking about flipping the thurs night sked around so the office leads into 30 Rock, giving it a better chance for sucess. I fear your right about “…Mother” which is a real shame. I’ll keep digging and let you know if I find anything.
I don’t think it would be Scrubs….why cancel a show after 6 seasons (that argument sounds good in my head). And as for HIMYM….I’ve watched a few and didn’t really like it, so I really have no opinion on the matter.
Wow – before I read BeckyLoo’s comment I would have thought it was 30 Rock. I don’t find it funny myself, so maybe that was my – oh so logical – reasoning. Also, not sure it has much of a huge mini-van driving fan base, despite some critical acclaim for Alec.
But now who knows? If it is HIMYM, petition away.
It’s gotta be HIMYM, which really would be upsetting. Can’t live without my weekly Barney fix! 🙂
As many of you had said it’s obviously not The Office since it was renewed for next year. I also read on Entertainment Weekly that the NBC peeps really think that 30 Rock will shine like The Office did if given a chance next year. So that leaves us with Scrubs and HIMYM. My Fiancee and I LOVE both shows so GMMR just let us know what you have planned, be it a petition or whatever, just say the word and we’ll follow!
PLEASSSEEE LET IT BE SCRUBS!!!
How I Met Your Mother’s super bowl episode was about not finding out the winning team on the day after… and it didn’t get the after-Super Bowl spot (which went to some dumb Criminal Minds episode about a person murdered at a super bowl party). Unfortunately, I think your right on this one GMMR, because that episode seemed to be made specifically for that coveted spot.
While I fear for HIMYM, could it be Earl? It seems like it’s an aquired taste and a cult hit. Though I can’t think of what the promotion would be since it’s already on Thurs night.
I’m about 90% sure it is HIMYM because the clue is Michael Ausiello tagged his blind item with the words “mother” and “met” [I believe, I saw this in the threads underneath] and his blind items are usually tagged for about 20 minutes before they are removed.
Earl’s already picked up for 2007-2008. “Old Christine” has lower ratings than “…Mother” but that tag tip sounds rather damning. Happy to sign a petition. Love that show. Barney tickles my fancy.
OH Please not HIMYM…. There IS a big fan following. We gather over at HowIMetYourBlog.com and we all love the show. There is already a HIMYM petition here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savehimym/
Go sign it if you want to see more of the Barnacle!
Unfortunately it looks like it could be HIMYM. Kristen just put up her Save One Show column and she has HIMYM as one of the possible cancellations. Have you started the petition yet, because I am ready to “Sign up!”?
How could they even talk about killing such an AWESOME show?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?! CBS will loose a viewer if they do so.. I came to CBS just for HIMYM.. There will be nothing else for me if they cut that out…. I relate so much to that show, my friends and I would be crushed if they cancelled it!
Ben, thanks for the link to the petition. (scurries off to sign)
Kath,
I think that a petition is needed! We need to save it!
my guess is how i met your mother…the network keeps talking about how 30 rock is one of those shows that takes time to develop a following, like the office. and i just read something recently where zach braff was saying that things are “looking really good” for another season of scrubs. besides, if it WAS scrubs, they wouldn’t have left it on this long if they had such tepid feelings about it.
and if it IS scrubs…well, somebody’s gonna die.
First of all, responding to “samsmom”, this season of Scrubs in not planned to be the last. Next season is though, I believe. It has always been possible for NBC to not pick it up, but I would still be pretty surprised.
Also, I’ve just started to get into HIMYM due to the DVDs. And although it’s not as great as Scrubs or The Office, it’s MUCH better than any other CBS sitcom. I just think it would be really sad if a CBS exec thought that the show was subpar for the network.
My guess is HIMYM, too. Since CBS only has one night of comedies, they have room for 4 next season. That David Spade tripe is supposedly going to get picked up and of course they’re keeping 2 and 1/2 Men, so it comes down to HIMYM, The Class and the Old Adventures of Christine, or whatever to duke out for the last 2 spots. If Christine does well now that’s back on the schedule and thus makes next year’s lineup, perhaps because of this “influential” person’s preference, CBS would go with The Class over HIMYM?
I have to say if it comes down to those two I’m kind of torn. HIMYM has better writing, but other than NPH the cast is so lackluster, while I really like the acting and chemistry on The Class.
You know, I can’t believe I’d ever say this but I wouldn’t be that upset if HIMYM got cancelled. I have loved loved loved the show since its inception but over this past season it has really lost its funny for me. I’ve gotten to the point where I barely even chuckle at Barney’s insanity/awesomeness anymore.
On the other hand, if The Class got cancelled I’d through myself off a moderately tall building. Now THAT is a quality show.
You know, I can’t believe I’d ever say this but I wouldn’t be that upset if HIMYM got cancelled. I have loved loved loved the show since its inception but over this past season it has really lost its funny for me. I’ve gotten to the point where I barely even chuckle at Barney’s insanity/awesomeness anymore.
On the other hand, if The Class got cancelled I’d throw myself off a moderately tall building. Now THAT is a quality show.
Oops, sorry for the double. Was trying to quickly fix my grammar error. 😉
Sus, your “moderately” tall building made me laugh. That’s cute!
Is anyone else sick of these blind items? If Ausiello really cared about the show, he’d tell fans so that we can organize some support for it.
And because apparently I have no self control, my two cents: it’s either The New Adventures of Old Christine or HIMYM.
The more I read it, the more it sounds like HIMYM… which it had better not be. I hope that whatever show this is doesn’t get cancelled, because that would just be another reason to hit network suits upside the head.
I think we need more than a petition to save HIMYM, I think we need a postcard campaign of some sort.
You know, as much as I dislike CBS for being so conservative with TV shows: cloning one crime procedural after another, I’ve respected them for keeping a show like HIMYM on the air. It proves that the traditional sitcom does not have to fade: it can be funny, fresh, and creative. If HIMYM gets cancelled, I will seriously never watch CBS again.
Not like I watch other shows on that network anyway…
NO!!!!! If it’s How I Met Your Mother I will help with the campagin. It’s such a great show. I just got my boyfriend hooked on it. It really should be on another network, one that would appreciate it. Where do I sign! 🙂
I hope it’s not HIMYM. It always makes me laugh and is the only good thing on CBS.
It has to be How I Met Your Mother. It fits best with the clues from Ausiello and Kristen from E! included it in her Save One Show voting, so it must be in trouble. It hasn’t been consistent this season, but I would really miss it.
I really don’t think this show has lost any funny, nor is it inconsistant. It may not have the best ratings, but what show really does? (Drama/Reality aside). I think there are very few genuinely funny shows on TV anymore, we can’t let another get away. Now I’m not saying that HIMYM is in the same league as Arrested Development, but we can’t let this happen to HIMYM.
Sounds like HIMYM to me, which is too bad because my roommate & I think it’s hilarious! It’s one of the 3 shows that I watch religiously. If Kath starts another petition, I will definitely sign it!
I’m so glad so many of you posted saying it’s not Scrubs or 30 Rock. When I first read the blind item I instantly thought Scrubs since next season will be it’s last and I remember reading somewhere that Bill Lawrence said that if NBC didn’t renew the show he had a commitment from ABC.
I don’t watch HIMYM so I don’t care if it’s cancelled. Tried watching it but it was horrible.
Please do not let it be Scrubs. I heard it was going to go one more season as long as schedules can be worked out with mainly Zach Braff and Bill Lawrence. Scubs is still a great show that has clever off the wall comedy and can still really pull at your heart strings. Sometimes I think you have to be born in the late 70’s and love musical theater to get it but that’s why it rocks. But I am ready to rally for any of the shows in question.
Please don’t let it be Scubs. I heard somewhere that it was going to go one more season as long as schedules can be worked out mailly with Zach Braff and Bill Lawrence. Scubs humor is so sharp but off the wall and I love it. Sometimes I think you need to be born in the late 70’s or love musical theater to get it. But that’s why it rocks!! I am ready to rally for any of the shows in question. I would hate to think that because one suit does not like something it will be taken off the air. That is too much power in the wrong place. Let’s crack this case so we can crush the suit with internet fan power.
If you recommend it, then I’ll watch it. When does HIMYM come on? I thought it was a CBS show lol
[…] the best show on television, but how long will it last? Give Me My Remote speculates that How I Met Your Mother might be canceled soon. I can’t imagine anyone deciding to cancel […]