Comments on: NBC cancels SOUTHLAND – Wait, what?

By: Siri Atiragram Lleof

Siri Atiragram Lleof — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:45:10 +0000

Here’s an article I found talking about shopping Southland to cable: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/10/shopping-southland.html

By: Brad L

Brad L — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:39:15 +0000

Trauma is so dead.

By: Kwaku A

Kwaku A — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:28:05 +0000

Southland was one of my favorite new dramas, so I’m extremely upset that its been axed. Hopefully another network (TNT or FX), will pick up the series. Also, NBC cut down Day One to a miniseries, so I hope the net is developing maybe one or two new dramas for Spring (JJ Abrams project?). Other than that, I wouldnt be surprised if Trauma gets axed — but I definitely feel its a type of show that would do better in a less crammed timeslot.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:07:30 +0000

As Brad L pointed out, they aired repeats at 8pm over the summer. The mature content spiel is just PR nonsense.

The real problem is that NBC renewed it after only seeing three (downward trending) ratings results. Dateline getting better results than this will just seals the deal.

I fully expect Trauma to have production canceled any day now as well. The only question being what NBC airs there instead. Far from being moved to Friday, Heroes could be getting the 9pm slot instead!

By: NeilG

NeilG — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:50:57 +0000

I think Wendy has it right with the Dateline/Leno comment. Southlands was relatively expensive for a friday night drama that was unlikely to ever pull in huge numbers while it remained in that slot.

What I’m suprised by is that it was allowed to get as far as 6 episodes, or $12 million if you want to put it in money terms.

By: TomKE

TomKE — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:03:54 +0000

Southland should’ve been on cable to begin with. It’s just not broadcast material.

Nick, any chance it would go to USA or an other cable networks?

By: Wendy

Wendy — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:16:50 +0000

I wonder if part of the reason that NBC did this is the cost of promotion? The cost to promote TV shows and movies is exorbant! NBC is getting decent ratings with their existing Dateline/Leno Friday combination, so I can see them questioning the value of changing that line-up & pumping $$ into promoting a show that was bleeding viewers in it’s first season. That’s just one potential factor…others include Leno taking up the ‘gritty’ 10pm hour & the fact that Ben Silverman was too quick to renew Southland to begin with. I think this is a business decision for NBC, but while it may save them dollars they’re going to lose a lot of goodwill with fans & critics.

What shocks me the most about this…is the timing? Why, oh why, would you send out this press release on the night of the big Jim/Pam Wedding episode of the Office?? This is one of the few bright spots NBC had up their sleave for the fall schedule. It just seems odd to do a rain dance on the same day you’re throwing a parade. Is there a legal reason or something that they couldn’t wait until tomorrow?

By: Brad L

Brad L — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:17:24 +0000

Subway put a ton of money into Chuck so I don’t think NBC can cut the show back (or cancel it). Back 9 is a totally different story.

By: Chuck3G

Chuck3G — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:07:39 +0000

I wonder if they will order the back 9 for Chuck. They have nothing left.

Maybe GE is trimming the fat so they can sell to comcast.

By: Brad L

Brad L — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:05:51 +0000

NBC already cut down DAY ONE to a mini-series.