Raw Deals
Michael Cudlitz, who played gay cop John Cooper on Southland, reacts to EW about NBC's ridiculous cancellation of one of their few worthwhile dramas: "In retrospect, I saw it coming. We were two weeks away from airing and [the cancellation news] has created more press for the show than NBC has put into it on its own...We were given the same statement that everyone got. [NBC] said they watched the first [four] episodes and determined that they were too dark...There's something else going on I'm sure. We had a cast and crew screening on Tuesday for the season 2 premiere, and it was phenomenal...There's some speculation that they're trying to cut costs because they're trying to sell the network, but I don't know. The thing that strikes me as very bizarre is that they have [six episodes] in the can, they don't have anything on right now that is doing well, and our show is good. Why would you not put it on? So something else must be going on....I'm pissed." Damn right -- you should be. God forbid there be a positive depiction of a masculine gay man on network TV. [EW]
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I still can't wrap my head around NBC's stupidity. Southland was a strikingly good show (all the more striking due to how crummy the rest of NBC's line-up has been lately), I can't believe these clowns would cancel it so prematurely.
I am so disappointed to read that there will be no Southland anymore. I found this show to be one of the more creative police dramas on television in a long time and every episode stole my attention completely. Yes, the show may be a bit dark but also it is thought provoking, real and has a great selection of characters and terrific actors to make those characters come to life. The remaining options on television in this category are escapism at best and for me will only be watched when I have nothing better to do. What a shame!
I never get into TV shows, and I was sucked in to Southland. I really hope there are smart People in charge somewhere that pick this show up quickly. Its worth saving. I hate Leno.
Canceling this show is a stupid move. So is having two very unoriginal dramas (Mercy, Trauma) as two of the very few scripted hours in your lineup. Have some balls, NBC. Take a creative chance, why don't ya?
NBC doesn't seem to know what to do with quality shows anymore. Here's to hoping some other company picks up Southland (I want my show dammit!!!!) and shows just how good ths series is and how many viewers you can get with the right timeslot.
NBC is stupid!
You go Michael.
NBC has made a big mistake in canceling Southland. And they'll surely alienate a bunch of fans who have long memories, and will think twice before ever starting to watch any new NBC shows.
Southland was a pretty good show and would have only gotten better. I read that they tweaked it a bit and were going to center around fewer characters. That would have been a good thing and would have pulled more people in quicker. I didn't like some of the characters in the first season. Not that the acting wasn't stellar across the board, but they just seemed to have too much going on. The cast was too large and you'd get into one pair of characters and they'd not appear in the next episode at all. It kind of messed with the momentum. That said, I was really eager for the new season to start. They put off the premiere and I was a little worried but then thought maybe it was a good thing but now I see that they were just being dishonest with the show's creators and actors. Pretty crappy way to handle things, I have to admit. The show and the people involved, not to mention the viewers that did tune in in season one, deserved better than that. Not a cool move, NBC. No wonder you come in last these days.
I love Southland and Michael Cudlitz for saying all that stuff in his interviews about NBC, someone needs to say something to them, who the hell do they think they are, their shows suck right now and Southland would of made NBC so much better. Some network needs to pick Southland up its an amazing show and any network would be lucky to have it.
I cannot believe NBC's canceling Southland (although maybe I should given its drastic decline in the past few years). Southland is the first NBC show in ages I've both enjoyed and respected. It's dark and gritty, yes, but most people I know happen to like that and more importantly, Southland did it WELL. It's a unique, well-written, realistic show that deserves to be shown somewhere; I will definitely follow whatever network shows it. Now, the only thing I watch on NBC is Law & Order, thanks Jay Leno.
I feel for John Wells and all the actors and writers associated with the show, and predict that their work will be vindicated by being picked up on another network. This show has great potential, with a quality cast portraying intriguing characters. I will miss getting to know them better, if no other network recognizes the significant and well-deserved interest Southland generated in a mere seven week spring season.
Continuing to air something like 'Cougar Town' instead of good ensemble drama pretty much says it all about what NBC thinks of viewer intelligence.
Now there are only three shows I watch on broadcast TV....and none of them are NBC.
C'mon, TNT, step up!
Cudlitz gave a beautiful portrayal of a non(networ-tv)stereotypical gay man. The writers and the actor deserve a heck of a lot of credit for actually putting this on television, and for their commitment to stereotypical-free writing overall. I'm really hoping a show this intelligent finds a home on a real network.
I'm pissed too, Michael. Cooper is my favorite character, precisely because of his uniquely realistic portrayal. What a shame that NBC is clearly run by morons.
Southland is a terrific show. I'll follow it wherever it goes, hopefully to a better and smarter network which knows what to do with quality drama.
NBC obviously has no respect for its audience. Well, now the feeling is mutual. I hope Southland winds up airing on another network and helps sink NBC (not that it really needs any help; it's doing a great job at that all by itself.
The fans are angry and we are banding together to let NBC know that enough is enough.
Join us and voice your frustrations over Southland's cancellation http://www.Twitter.com/SaveSouthLAnd or @SaveSouthLAnd
Other links:
Twitition: http://twitition.com/n3tvb
Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/nbcsouthland
Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=171360942974&ref=ts
Please join the fight and let NBC know that they have gone too far!
FR: NBC SUITS
RE: "SOUTHLAND" CANCELLATION
It it with sad attitude that we officially announce the cancellation of "SOUTHLAND" on NBC.
Truth be told, we TRIED to have the writing staff include a Farmer's Daughter looking to be married or an Officer who could partake in a dancing contest, but, sadly enough, they wouldn't take our notes.
We will instead be re-running "To Catch A Predator" episodes from 5 years ago because let's face it, watching pervs try to have sex with children is far more lucrative.
It's not OUR decision, people, it's the masses'.
Please enjoy the rest of NBC's new Fall '09 programming and REMEMBER!-
"An Hour Of Talk Show at 10 is a LOT more exciting!" (If you're 60+ and sleepy!)
N(insert tone)B(insert tone)C(insert tone)!
SUPER-IMPOSE:
Nothing...But Cheap!
This was the best show, I cant believe they cancelled it!
http://twitter.com/BenMcKenzieFans
Write to Warner Bros. TV, the producers of Southland, to show your support for the show.
http://www.timewarner.com
Peter Roth
President
Warner Brothers Television
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank CA 91522
Tel. 818 -954-6000
Fax 212-954-7667
Bruce Rosenblum
President, Warner Bros. Television Group
Warner Bros. Entertainment
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91522
Phone 818.954.6000
Fax 212-954-7667
Ken Werner
President
Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution
Warner Bros. Entertainment
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91522
Phone 818.954.6000
Fax 212-954-7667
Glad that we have Michael Cudlitz. He has done a great job ( still is) on promoting Southland now that NBC hasn´t!
The nbc.com/southland site, which was shut down earlier, is open again.
You can go there to leave comments.