TCA-How Quickly They Turn
Don’t think that television critics reserve their scorn for the industry that they simultaneously love and detest.
On Saturday, during CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler’s portion of the summer press tour in sweltering Pasadena, it took only a moment for the cascade of sarcastic comments to follow one apologetic scribe’s misguided question on behalf of readers about Tassler's perspective—almost two years later—on the cancellation of Joan of Arcadia.
“You’re kidding, right?” Tassler asked in amazement. Nope.
Shifting to polite television speak, Tassler said, “It was a wonderful show and it’s nice that it’s held in such high regard.”
Soon others were piping in: “What’s going on with the Beverly Hillbillies? Just kidding.”
Another asked about last season’s quickly canceled, Love Monkey.
Mark Shaffer commented:
CBS still doesn’t realize what they have done by canceling Joan of Arcadia. It was the best program on their network. Its only fault was that too many people over the age of 49 loved it. This was the reason CBS cancelled it . . . so they could skew younger.
Well, they have gotten their younger audience, but in doing so, they have told everyone over the age of 49 to go to hell. I have not watched any CBS programming since May 18, 2005.
I do not need to watch television, and I will not give my time to a network or its advertisers who feel anyone over age 49 is not worth caring about. CBS used to be an all-inclusive network. Now, quality programming doesn’t matter, only the numbers.
I will continue my boycott until one of two things happen: CBS sponsors a movie to give "JoA" a decent closure, or a mini-series to do the same. Since I don’t feel it is likely that either will happen, I expect I will forever be a former CBS viewer.
rustybutt_in_Alameda commented:
Aside from the fact that CBS killed the most intelligent show on TV because it skewed too old, they showed a total lack of concern for the viewing audience because the show ended on a season ending cliff-hanger, so there was no decent resolution or end of the story line.
It was strictly a business decision. Any of who might care about it don't count because we're not in the demographic they want to sell to. But then I suppose the CBS TV execs are no more scumbags than their counterparts on the other networks who bring us non-stop crime dramas, bursting bodices and un-reality shows. Time to renew my library card!