OK, NBC Universal is officially brain dead and off it’s rocker. Yeah, that’s redundant, I know.
Just two weeks before the show Southland was due to return for its second season, the executives at NBC Primetime Scheduling have -- in their infinite wisdom -- decided that the show is “too expensive” and canceled it. Of course, Warner Brothers has already shot 6 new episodes, they are 4th in ratings (of 5 broadcast networks) and they are so far gone that GE is trying to sell them off.
If you haven’t seen it, Southland was a cop show that takes place in Los Angeles with the LAPD, but unlike any cop show you’ve seen before. This show was REAL! The characters, the stories, the emotions -- this was finally a show on NBC that was worth watching that wasn’t Seinfeld wannabes or Sci-Fi. It was also one of the few prime time shows that had a realistic depiction of a gay character who was NOT a drag queen, a femme, a fashion designer or any other sterotype. At the same time, that same character’s “straight” partner was played by a known (and much loved) out gay actor. Added bonuses for an excellent prime time drama!
The fan reaction has been strong -- reminiscent of the reactions in 2007 when Jericho was canceled by CBS. While there has been rumor circulating today that TNT might make a bid to take over the show, that hasn’t stopped fans from berating NBC Universal and Warner Brothers about what may be the dumbest move in network history.
In doing my part to further the cause for Southland, I setup a website quickly using Google Sites at http://www.SaveSouthlandShow.com with some basic info and links, and put together a petition at PetitionSite.com. There is a “Twitition” going that has some momentum, but unfortunately you have to have an account on Twitter to sign it, which is leaving a lot of fans out (bad thinking folks -- Twitter is great, but it’s not the be all, end all of the Internet!). I did, however, link it from the site’s Petition page. Every little bit helps!
So that kept my Sunday night busy. It may be a few wasted hours and the $10 domain registration fee in the long run, but at least I fought for something I believed in. There is so much garbage on television these days, when we finally get something of quality on that’s worth watching, then they cancel it AFTER renewing it before it even airs -- something fishy is going on at the network. That’s worth fighting for in my mind.
If you haven’t already, please visit http://www.savesouthlandshow.com and go to the Petitions page. Definitely sign the Public Petition, and if you have a Twitter account, sign the Twitition, too. Every voice counts and we need to let NBC know just how much they screwed up!
Save Southland!