Last Rites for 'Huff'
Tonight on Showtime, the superior series Huff takes its final curtain call. What was supposed to be the season-two finale is, sadly, turning out to be the series finale; the dark, over-the-top and never dull show, which has garnered critical accolades and Emmy wins (the Best Supporting Actress win for the wonderful Blythe Danner was fully deserved), was cancelled by the network last week due to consistently low ratings.
In the May 29 issue of B&C, we reported that CBS chief Leslie Moonves, whose company acquired Showtime after the split from Viacom, panned the network's approach to high-brow, critics'-darling programming, saying, “Showtime was a bit too much of an off-off-Broadway play. They were interested in critics more than audiences. Anybody who knows me knows audiences are the thing. I am a populist, and you can take your reviews and stick them. Just give me big audiences.”
Huff, it appears, is a victim of being too high-brow, not appealing enough to the unwashed masses. And that's quite a shame because, after only two seasons, Huff was really just getting started. Here's hoping that tonight's finale, at 10 p.m. ET, isn't too much of a cliffhanger, although, judging from last week's high-drama episode, that is unlikely. I'll be sorry to see it go.
By Rebecca Stropoli
dj whiteman commented:
i live in new zealand and have loved watching huff and like most people who have made comments here the show has so much depth and lovable characters and i wonder how they felt about their show being canceled let alone all the people around the world who have sat down and watched it its funny how much power 1 tv excutive can affect so many people some other network should have picked this series up
zetacap commented:
Hi. great site. thanks for info
elizabeth commented:
Is it normal for a show to win emmys and then get canned??!!
jofromaus commented:
Hi, I too am utterly stunned and devastated this series was cancelled. You don't make a show like this in the first place - which is a true work of art - for money. So why on earth would you cancel it for money? Lets all hope to god someone else picks it up - who can we campaign to?
ramills commented:
this comment section really sucks. I have tried to write a comment and it won't let me key it in. There isn't any spam or nasty words.
what's up? your filter really sucks.
Lynn commented:
I miss Huff. There is no series comparable.
haters of showcase commented:
F#*# YOU SHOWCASE!!!
HUFF IS THE BEST SHOW EVER!
Laura commented:
We just started watching Huff about a month ago. We became addicated. We went and rented all the episodes we missed. Last night we sat down with my adult nephew and his girlfriend and watched what, until just now did I know was the last episode ever. I can't believe there isn't anymore Huff... What a drag. We became connected to the characters because they are more real than any we see on prime time tv and what are we left with? American Idol? Spare me. At least Huff had teeth and spoke about down and dirty reality. It took one episode to real my husband and me in - ONE. I am stunned that one exec decided to ax it. That's unbelievable. In the event the cast event reads this - you all are amazing, but Oliver stole the show. My word! True talent and genius and one not so intelligent person said no mas. That's a real drag man.
girlofsparks commented:
I am sad and disappointed that money is the bottom line and that Showtime is sucumbing to the demands of HIGH ratings and LOW quality. It goes to show that stupidity rules and intelligence is being sucked out of tv-land until all that is left is reality shows and mindless droning.
Cheryl commented:
I just found out Huff was cancelled and I am very dissapointed in Showtime. I hope that HBO or even TBS would pick up this show. It was great. I loved the characters. Hank was great !! a perfect fit.
Showtime you F--ked up.
annette commented:
I did not know that Huff was cancelled and was stunned when I was tried to locate the Season 3 start date. This was the reason I subscribed to Showtime, so I am cancelling my subscription this month. It is a shame that Les Moonves does not recognize something truly unique. I had told many people about the show and some had started watching. Thanks for 2 great seasons.
Can't believe this! commented:
I've been waiting for the return of the glimmer of light in the showtime programming. HUFF would be it. I agree it was just getting started. The actors were getting very comfortable with their roles, the script was awesome, I could go on. SHOWTIME, you made a mistake.
WayUnderTheTable commented:
I'm amazed that Huff has been cancelled.
What's Left? commented:
Just under 30 minutes of programming is the only reason I still subscribe to Showtime. That's the series Weeds. Ever seen the ad Sunday is HBO? Well Sunday WAS HBO until the end of S** and the City and the Sopranos. Then there was Huff. We all turned to Showtime. Now without Huff and Dead Like Me, I sure hope Showtime has something worthwhile to offer or tons of people with cancel their subscriptions and watch Weeds at a friends house.
Pat commented:
I wasn't aware of Huff being cancelled until I heard Blythe Danner's Emmy winning speech. I could not get past Huff's cancellation and the rest of the Emmy's became white noise to me. Huff was a program so character rich that it didn't matter how dark it got. It was definitely one of the best programs on the air, and Oliver Platt deserved more than an emmy for his performance. I will truly miss this show.
Jason commented:
When I heard Huff was cancelled, I was entirely at a loss for words. I didn't catch wind of it until last night's Emmy Awards, when Blythe Danner mentioned it on stage. I was literally floored. I just sat there, rocking back and forth, muttering to myself "I can't believe it." I repeated those words for about 15 minutes on and off to my wife. Her and I both loved the show like no other. What a great loss.
HBO or FX should pick the show up asap. Any network should be proud to be raising the bar, not lowering it. I just don't get where the networks are coming from anymore, I really don't.
viewer commented:
Dead Like Me and Huff were both GREAT shows and I will miss them. Weeds is the only reason left to continue my Showtime subscription. Is there anyway they could reconsider and continue Huff -the finale had so many cliffhangers!
DGB commented:
Huff was my favorite show. With only the Brotherhood left, I may just cancel and wait fot the Brotherhood DVD from netflicks.
Les Moonves -- you're an idiot!
Tina, Pgh. PA commented:
I AM EXTREMELY PISSED OFF!! Finally a smart, witty show with feeling and excellent writing and they cancel it. I had heard rumors and thought NO WAY, IMPOSSIBLE, it was just getting really really good, all the characters have depth and you care about each and every one. Someone should sent these comments to whatever Moron decided to make that decission. I agree with some of the comments WHO DO WE COMPLAIN TO? they HAVE RECONSIDER!!!!!!!
really miffed commented:
Showtime's cancelling of "Huff" shows that it is determined to maintain its status as the also-ran "premium" cable channel. If it weren't for "Weeds," Showtime would be toast as far as I and my family are concerned. But I suppose that show will be next...
Mom of three teens commented:
Les Moonves apparently has no clue about the loyalty that a show like Huff earns -yes, it's slower, but once you get hooked... my three teenagers and I made sure to be watching Showtime every Sunday night; we discovered Huff the second season, used On Demand to watch the entire first season in about a week. Such a disappointment. Intelligent young people look for intelligent shows that speak to their experience (not to mention their parents look for intelligent shows, as well.) Eventually those teenage viewers will go out and choose a subscription channel for themselves. Except for Weeds, Showtime under this Les Mooves guy is a wasteland. Seriously considering cancelling.
herm commented:
i just cancelled showtime (as it turns out, i am paying more to my cable co. because of the package pricing structure) it was worth it just to tell them it was because they cancelled my favorite show
ps can you tell me who to email to air my greivances
expat commented:
Is there anything we can do? What a great show!
Its A Gift commented:
What is it with Showtime? First "Dead Like Me" now "Huff". These two shows were head and shoulders above the mindless fluff usually shown on TV. I am rather insulted by the suposition that TV viewers may not actually be entertained by shows offering something other than "survivors" or "idols". Let mainstream television pander to the sheep who need to be told what is entertaining . . . while cable gives us charactors and show worthy of our time and interest.
Showtime, shame on you for selling out. You've lost yourself a customer.
Melody Kadlac commented:
The cancellation of Huff is unconscionable. Huff was the best that the cable series genre has ever had to offer with great performances from an excellent cast, most notably Blythe Danner, and Oliver Platt. I would be cancelling my Showtime subscription were it not for the upcoming return of Weeds. I despise Leslie Moonves, whoever the hell he is! Please, will someone do something to make Showtime reconsider???
Griffin commented:
I only subscribed to Showtime to see Huff, and now I will cancel. I am sure that more violence and reality shows will be aired in its place, since the new owner wants "the common audience" instead of the "intelligent audience". Again, more "swearing and expletives" will appear as American's intelligence I.Q. becomes lower....."MORON"will eventually be the "average popular audience". The NEW CBS chief can go "stick" himself!
nyjet commented:
"Anybody who knows me knows audiences are the thing" I know that Les Moonves is a hack, Love Boat actor. I know that he tried to sue Howard Stern. And I know that he had a hand in killing one of the best shows on TV.
ME commented:
Is there anything that we can do? It is a great show! What a cliff hanger! I think that HBO should be its usual smart self and pick it up. I'm cancelling Showtime, and I told them. (If anyone is listening)
go figure commented:
When Les Moonves is long gone, the lose of a smart high-end production will be appreciated. This is the mind that chased away Howard Stern from radio... GO FIGURE!
Huff had a great script and fantastic cast. Love that Paget Brewster!
Azaria is good, too!