This past year or so has been particularly bad, with the (planned) ending of my favorite show, Battlestar Galactica. (The new, bleak, 9/11-metaphor version, obviously, not the goofy Tribute to Feathered Hair from 1979.) I didn't like having to deal with BSG going away, not at all. But almost as bad was the cloud of doom that seemed to be hanging over my other favorite show, a phenomenally well-written and well-acted cop drama on NBC called Life.
My worst fears were realized when NBC decided to give Jay Leno his own show five days a week during prime time. Not being very industry savvy, apparently, I was confused. Doesn't Leno already have a show five nights a week, conveniently programmed at a time when I can easy avoid it? Ah, yes, but this new show will air at 9pm Central, during the time that was usually reserved for dramas. Sure enough, NBC cancelled Life after only two seasons.
It occurs to me that NBC and high-quality L.A. cop dramas are not a match made in heaven. (Look out, Southland, which is a great show but one that I am trying not to fall for, lest it break my heart, too.) First came Boomtown, easily the best show I have ever seen on television, after one season. I've still never gotten over that one. Then came Raines, also done by the same writer and producers of Boomtown and Band of Brothers. Raines only lasted for seven episodes, even though it starred Jeff Goldblum. Come on, NBC. Jeff Goldblum? You don't cancel Jeff Goldblum. Jeff Goldblum cancels YOU.
Anyway, I recently ordered the newly released box set of Life: Season 2, and it arrived yesterday. It was bittersweet, of course, but I decided to make the best of it, right up until I opened the case and saw the ad that NBC included with the set.
Dick move, NBC. You are dead to me.
"Dick move, NBC. You are dead to me." - Priceless
ReplyDeleteI teased my husband endlessy about "Battlestar Nerdtastica" for a long time. Then one day I was bored and sat to watch it with him, and I got totally sucked in before the last season aired. It's a really great show, and I will miss it.
ReplyDeleteIf you like cop dramas you should really try "The Wire". It was on HBO but you can rent/netflix the seasons. It is an amazingly well done production.
ReplyDeleteAre you trying to tell me that avuncular smirk doesn't ease the pain?
ReplyDeleteAre you made of STONE, man?
Jay Leno sold his soul to the devil and now the rst of ou our paying for it.
ReplyDeleteI love Southland: it is doomed.
I wish I actually believed in the devil, makes it easier to understand why NBC network execs are so stupid. I think I could program better with a dart board.
They seem to be taking a page from the Fox book of bass-ackwards station management. WTF?
ReplyDeleteOuch. So very wrong. You can now tell people that Jay Leno ruined your Life.
ReplyDeleteSmart, well acted, well written shows are SOOOOO overrated. I mean really... follow complex plot lines and fancy-shamcy dialog??? PLEASE. Heck, if you have to do THAT you might as well start READING. Now, if you can pander to the lowest common demonator AND mug for the camera... cash in the bank, my friend, cash in the bank.
ReplyDeletewell first of all, when i saw the word "injury" mentioned in the blog title , i thought, oh lord, rob's cut off another finger tip.....
ReplyDeletei'm sorry rob, i'm going to have to duck after immediately posting this, but i've never heard of Life....and i LOVE jay leno :( I do enjoy Southland though :) NBC as a network does suck.
Cancelled? Cancelled!?! Well, crap. I don't pay enough attention to these things. Life was one of the few primetime shows I watch these days. I can't believe we won't get to see what happens next. RIP Crews and Reese.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you can get your BSG fix with Caprica which starts in January.
ReplyDeleteOops, when I turned on comment moderation, I forgot to turn on the email notification letting me know that there were actually comments waiting. Sorry about that.
ReplyDeleteCna't stand Jay Leno, love BSG. have never seen Life, but will now be looking for it.
ReplyDeleteI am also sad about the cancellation of life that was a great show! What is wrong with NBC
ReplyDeleteI might have to send this post over to my good friend who is one of Jay Leno's head writers (he actually hates his job, though). I'm in total agreement with you but about different shows that are constantly replaced with reality tv. It seems that only HBO and Showtime consistently show quality stuff and maybe AMC because of Mad Men.
ReplyDeleteOH CRAP! You're kidding??? I had not heard that Life was cancelled. I LOVED Life. I have a feeling this fall is going to be a bummer...
ReplyDeleteI still mourn Raines. I have even broken my rule of watching shows in the Law & Order series because it means I can see Jeff Goldblum at least every other week. But it's not really the same.
ReplyDeleteThat was such a good seven episodes.
I thought I was the only person who watched Boomtown. I loved that show!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I just finished watching both seasons of Life on DVD. Damn that Jay Leno! We really enjoyed it and are sorry it was cancelled.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen Sons of Anarchy on FX? Great writing, laugh out loud funny scenes even though it is ANYTHING but a comedy! Season 2 is about to start, just watched season 1 on netflix.
ReplyDeleteWicked humor is back. You must be feeling better...
ReplyDeleteYou know what is even scarier? I heard commentary on NPR yesterday about how if Leno's new show is successful, it could change the landscape of broadcast television entirely. More networks will move to this type of format, and stop making dramas, because it's much cheaper to produce.
ReplyDeleteI will never forgive Leno for ruining TV is this happens.
You called it, Rob. Southland is gone.
ReplyDeleteWhat? Seriously? Jesus Howard Christ, I hate being right sometimes.
ReplyDelete