Now that we’ve survived May sweeps, television networks aren’t ready to let us go. They’re going to keep our attention as long as they can.
This time, TV land is abuzz with news from the proverbial chopping block. The last two weeks have decided whether your favorite show has dropped like a hot potato or has survived to see another season. Yep, it’s time for networks to decide what’s renewed and, more importantly, what’s canceled.
It’s a painful time for TV lovers and show producers alike.
Cancellations and renewals are done in time for networks’ upfront presentations. Upfronts are usually held during the third week of May, when fall schedules and beaming actors are pulled out in front of questioning advertisers and journalists. An upfront is all about a strong front and cohesive branding. Like anything in television, the whole ordeal is all about the Benjamins.
The TV landscape after upfronts may be even bleaker than finale season for some. Mainly, for those people who have to say goodbye to their favorite series. One of the hardest parts of being a die-hard fan is accepting when it’s time to let go of a show.
There are tons of shows that were gone before their times: ‘Arrested Development’ comes to mind, but there are just as many shows that have become doddering, unfortunate versions of their old vibrant selves. Sometimes, another season isn’t always the right answer.
Before networks officially made their decisions, there was a ton of speculation on the fate of old standbys that had lost some luster. The future of NBC comedies like ’30 Rock’ and ‘The Office’ were especially contested. Should they be put out to pasture?
Networks usually understand they have to handle a cancellation delicately. You can’t just swing the ax at a show that was one of your best. That’s just rude. ’30 Rock’ was given a 13-episode final season to wrap everything up. It won’t be randomly thrown off the mid-season schedule, inciting riots on Twitter. Writers can instead plan for a satisfying end for the fans who will have stayed with the comedy for six and a half seasons.
Fellow Thursday night comedy ‘The Office’ was renewed for its ninth season with little mention of an end in sight. Steve Carell exited the show last year. Carell’s replacement, James Spader, decided he wasn’t fit for the workplace drama and left after his season eight run.
Writer, producer and star Mindy Kaling jumped ship for her own series, the very buzzy ‘The Mindy Project’ on competing network Fox. ‘The Office’ seems like a ghost of its former ratings-juggernaut self, and I’m not quite sure what they can even do for a ninth season.
Almost all of the canceled shows this season were failed new series, not the older ones. It seems as if networks would rather stay with the safe choices that have some semblance of an audience than gamble on a questionable freshman run.
Most of the actors on ‘Gossip Girl’ have grown out of the five season running show. Viewers definitely have. ‘Two and a Half Men’ is wandering into its 10th season. ‘Fringe’ is getting the ’30 Rock’ treatment with a 13-episode final season.
But at least one old-timer is getting canceled. David Caruso finally has to put his sunglasses down. CSI’s airhead little brother, ‘CSI: Miami,’ was finally canceled by CBS after its 10-season run.
In these difficult economic times, it’s hard to let go of once-popular series. But stories will get stale. It’s inevitable. Networks should start focusing on the future of television instead of their fading pasts.
Ariana Romero is a junior magazine journalism and political science major. Her column appears every week. She can be reached at akromero@syr.edu or followed on Twitter at @ArianaRomero17.