"Skin" and "Boomtown" cancelled
11-05-03, 12:47 AM
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"Skin" and "Boomtown" cancelled
Anybody care to predict the next to go?
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LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Fox has canceled prolific producer Jerry Bruckheimer's new series "Skin" after three low-rated airings.
Meanwhile, NBC has officially pulled the plug on the critically praised sophomore drama "Boomtown."
"Skin," Fox's "Romeo and Juliet"-esque serial drama set in the world of Los Angeles' adult entertainment industry, shut down production Tuesday after completing eight episodes.
Fox will run back-to-back original episodes of "The Next Joe Millionaire" at 8 and 9 p.m. Monday for the next two weeks, leading into the two-hour "Millionaire" finale Nov. 24.
Meanwhile, "The O.C." will return to its original Thursday 9 p.m. time slot -- sort of. Fox has slated encore airings of its hot new teen soap on Thursday for the remaining three weeks of the sweep in addition to original episodes in the series' new slot at 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Despite the massive promotion "Skin" received during Fox's highly rated postseason baseball telecasts as well as mostly positive reviews, the Ron Silver (news) starrer opened to a disappointing 6.3 million viewers and a 2.7 rating/6 share among adults 18-49. It most recently averaged 4.1 million viewers and a 1.8/4 in adults 18-49, beaten by the WB Network's "Everwood" in total viewers by 1.4 million viewers and tying "Everwood" and UPN's comedies in 18-49.
The cancellation of the character-driven "Skin" marks the first series demise for Bruckheimer, who has been on a roll with such hits as CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (news - Y! TV)," "CSI: Miami," "Without a Trace" and, most recently, "Cold Case."
The cancellation of the Peabody Award-winning "Boomtown" was expected after NBC first benched the show two weeks into the season and then moved "Third Watch" from Monday to "Boomtown's" Friday 10 p.m. slot.
"Third Watch" had a strong premiere on Friday last week, handily winning the time slot in the 18-49 demographic, while "Boomtown" trailed CBS' "The Handler" and ABC's "20/20" in its most recent outing.
Production on "Boomtown," which was on hiatus, will not resume. Six episodes were filmed, with two making it to air.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
Meanwhile, NBC has officially pulled the plug on the critically praised sophomore drama "Boomtown."
"Skin," Fox's "Romeo and Juliet"-esque serial drama set in the world of Los Angeles' adult entertainment industry, shut down production Tuesday after completing eight episodes.
Fox will run back-to-back original episodes of "The Next Joe Millionaire" at 8 and 9 p.m. Monday for the next two weeks, leading into the two-hour "Millionaire" finale Nov. 24.
Meanwhile, "The O.C." will return to its original Thursday 9 p.m. time slot -- sort of. Fox has slated encore airings of its hot new teen soap on Thursday for the remaining three weeks of the sweep in addition to original episodes in the series' new slot at 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Despite the massive promotion "Skin" received during Fox's highly rated postseason baseball telecasts as well as mostly positive reviews, the Ron Silver (news) starrer opened to a disappointing 6.3 million viewers and a 2.7 rating/6 share among adults 18-49. It most recently averaged 4.1 million viewers and a 1.8/4 in adults 18-49, beaten by the WB Network's "Everwood" in total viewers by 1.4 million viewers and tying "Everwood" and UPN's comedies in 18-49.
The cancellation of the character-driven "Skin" marks the first series demise for Bruckheimer, who has been on a roll with such hits as CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (news - Y! TV)," "CSI: Miami," "Without a Trace" and, most recently, "Cold Case."
The cancellation of the Peabody Award-winning "Boomtown" was expected after NBC first benched the show two weeks into the season and then moved "Third Watch" from Monday to "Boomtown's" Friday 10 p.m. slot.
"Third Watch" had a strong premiere on Friday last week, handily winning the time slot in the 18-49 demographic, while "Boomtown" trailed CBS' "The Handler" and ABC's "20/20" in its most recent outing.
Production on "Boomtown," which was on hiatus, will not resume. Six episodes were filmed, with two making it to air.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
11-05-03, 01:00 AM
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Skin is no surprise. Won't be missed either.
In retrospect, i'm glad I didn't catch the first season of Boomtown. If I did, i'd be plenty pissed. As it is, it's bothering me after just three eps.
But, what doesn't make sense to me [not that networks ever do] is:
Why in the hell renew it if you have plans to just kill it after three eps?
Why just cancel it outright without giving it another shot in another time slot? Any Boomtown historian know how big of a rating difference there was between this season and last?
Stupid network. Zucker better watch it. His old shows are fading [and some will be gone]. And his new shows aren't that good [and MOST will be gone].
Perhaps he'll be next...
In retrospect, i'm glad I didn't catch the first season of Boomtown. If I did, i'd be plenty pissed. As it is, it's bothering me after just three eps.
But, what doesn't make sense to me [not that networks ever do] is:
Why in the hell renew it if you have plans to just kill it after three eps?
Why just cancel it outright without giving it another shot in another time slot? Any Boomtown historian know how big of a rating difference there was between this season and last?
Stupid network. Zucker better watch it. His old shows are fading [and some will be gone]. And his new shows aren't that good [and MOST will be gone].
Perhaps he'll be next...
11-05-03, 01:52 AM
#4
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NBC "executives"I would have been shocked if it was brought back. Kingpin bombing was the only thing that got it a second season in the first place.
I think The Lyon's Den is next to get the official word. It's on hiatus right now and the L&O:CI rerun in it's place did alot better then LD was doing.
I won't be shocked if Tru Calling is also gone soon.
11-05-03, 03:17 AM
#5
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I watched the first two episodes of Skin. Not at all surprised that it got canceled already. Like MrX said, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Tru Calling gets canned.
11-05-03, 04:31 AM
#6
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I really loved Boomtown, but it took me awhile to come around. I think that Skin deserved to be cancelled, but they should have gotten more than three episodes in order to try to build an audience...
11-05-03, 07:23 AM
#9
DVD Talk Limited Edition
NOOOO! Damn NBC, why didn't they just pair up Third Watch and Boomtown and see what happened?
I swear networks wouldn't know a good show if it bit them in the a$$. What are the odds we'll actually see the rest of the filmed episodes? (slim to nonexistent I know but I have to hope for something)
I swear networks wouldn't know a good show if it bit them in the a$$. What are the odds we'll actually see the rest of the filmed episodes? (slim to nonexistent I know but I have to hope for something)
11-05-03, 07:31 AM
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The networks must be looking at my Replay Channels, seeing what I watch, and choosing those as the ones to cancel. Skin and Boomtown are gone. I also watch The Lyon's Den and Tru Calling and those are probably next on the chopping block.
I hope they quickly release a DVD set of Boomtown and include the unaired episodes.
I hope they quickly release a DVD set of Boomtown and include the unaired episodes.
11-05-03, 07:43 AM
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Originally posted by Chew
I can't believe the way NBC treated Boomtown from the very beginning. Pretty sad.
I can't believe the way NBC treated Boomtown from the very beginning. Pretty sad.
Skin was no surprise...the show was ok at best.
11-05-03, 08:21 AM
#13
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The second episode this season of "Boomtown" was top notch stuff, so at least it went out on a high point. Really, the show killed itself by abandoning the premise that made it interesting. I almost stopped watching it myself (although I'm glad I caught this season's episodes...let's hope they show what's left on Bravo).
I never watched "Skin." Seemed pretty stupid to have a show about a pornographer on network tv where you can't show nudity.
I never watched "Skin." Seemed pretty stupid to have a show about a pornographer on network tv where you can't show nudity.
11-05-03, 09:04 AM
#17
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by Groucho
NBC made them drop the "different points of view" thing? Got a link?
NBC made them drop the "different points of view" thing? Got a link?
What Zucker did to "Boomtown" is a travesty - and yet so typical of uninspiring executives.
Created by Graham Yost, "Boomtown" looked at an ordinary street-level crime in L.A. through the perspective of seven people involved, including cops, paramedics, beat reporters, the D.A.'s office, city officials and perps. The TV version of "Rashomon," crossed with "Pulp Fiction," it won critical acclaim, a Peabody Award and the affection of the usual smallish crowd of quality drama freaks.
Zucker's first vote of confidence was taking it off during November sweeps last year, a move guaranteed to reduce the audience, which assumed it had been canceled.
Then he further spooked "Boomtown" fans this season by moving it from Sunday, where it had been doing well, to Friday, where it hasn't.
And now he is thinning the audience again by taking the show off the air, as they say, temporarily. Hiatus, even the dimmest TV viewers know, is the death knell.
In between, Captain Doogie tried to fix "Boomtown," despite all its kudos. His idea was that it had to be lightened up. Also, the basic concept had to be changed. He didn't like the multiple perspectives.
The truth is Zucker didn't like "Boomtown" from the start. He doesn't like dark stuff. "American Dreams" was more to his taste, a sappy show about life in the 1960s.
He would have cut "Boomtown" last season if it weren't for all the critical hosannas and the expected media uproar over killing something that was at least new and different.
Created by Graham Yost, "Boomtown" looked at an ordinary street-level crime in L.A. through the perspective of seven people involved, including cops, paramedics, beat reporters, the D.A.'s office, city officials and perps. The TV version of "Rashomon," crossed with "Pulp Fiction," it won critical acclaim, a Peabody Award and the affection of the usual smallish crowd of quality drama freaks.
Zucker's first vote of confidence was taking it off during November sweeps last year, a move guaranteed to reduce the audience, which assumed it had been canceled.
Then he further spooked "Boomtown" fans this season by moving it from Sunday, where it had been doing well, to Friday, where it hasn't.
And now he is thinning the audience again by taking the show off the air, as they say, temporarily. Hiatus, even the dimmest TV viewers know, is the death knell.
In between, Captain Doogie tried to fix "Boomtown," despite all its kudos. His idea was that it had to be lightened up. Also, the basic concept had to be changed. He didn't like the multiple perspectives.
The truth is Zucker didn't like "Boomtown" from the start. He doesn't like dark stuff. "American Dreams" was more to his taste, a sappy show about life in the 1960s.
He would have cut "Boomtown" last season if it weren't for all the critical hosannas and the expected media uproar over killing something that was at least new and different.
11-05-03, 09:15 AM
#19
Moderator
Thanks, Chew. I was bitching about that all last season, and never knew it was the network. I always thought that it was too hard for the writers to come up compelling plotlines every week.
11-05-03, 10:26 AM
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Originally posted by Chew
Here's the specific Boomtown section from a long article.
What Zucker did to "Boomtown" is a travesty - and yet so typical of uninspiring executives.
Zucker's first vote of confidence was taking it off during November sweeps last year, a move guaranteed to reduce the audience, which assumed it had been canceled.
Then he further spooked "Boomtown" fans this season by moving it from Sunday, where it had been doing well, to Friday, where it hasn't.
And now he is thinning the audience again by taking the show off the air, as they say, temporarily. Hiatus, even the dimmest TV viewers know, is the death knell.
In between, Captain Doogie tried to fix "Boomtown," despite all its kudos. His idea was that it had to be lightened up. Also, the basic concept had to be changed. He didn't like the multiple perspectives.
The truth is Zucker didn't like "Boomtown" from the start. He doesn't like dark stuff. "American Dreams" was more to his taste, a sappy show about life in the 1960s.
He would have cut "Boomtown" last season if it weren't for all the critical hosannas and the expected media uproar over killing something that was at least new and different.
Here's the specific Boomtown section from a long article.
What Zucker did to "Boomtown" is a travesty - and yet so typical of uninspiring executives.
Zucker's first vote of confidence was taking it off during November sweeps last year, a move guaranteed to reduce the audience, which assumed it had been canceled.
Then he further spooked "Boomtown" fans this season by moving it from Sunday, where it had been doing well, to Friday, where it hasn't.
And now he is thinning the audience again by taking the show off the air, as they say, temporarily. Hiatus, even the dimmest TV viewers know, is the death knell.
In between, Captain Doogie tried to fix "Boomtown," despite all its kudos. His idea was that it had to be lightened up. Also, the basic concept had to be changed. He didn't like the multiple perspectives.
The truth is Zucker didn't like "Boomtown" from the start. He doesn't like dark stuff. "American Dreams" was more to his taste, a sappy show about life in the 1960s.
He would have cut "Boomtown" last season if it weren't for all the critical hosannas and the expected media uproar over killing something that was at least new and different.
11-05-03, 11:13 AM
#24
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by Rogue588
[B]In retrospect, i'm glad I didn't catch the first season of Boomtown. If I did, i'd be plenty pissed. As it is, it's bothering me after just three eps.
[B]In retrospect, i'm glad I didn't catch the first season of Boomtown. If I did, i'd be plenty pissed. As it is, it's bothering me after just three eps.
Hopefully I didn't miss any shows. I guess I can finally delete my Season Pass.
I also hope they release a DVD of the the entire series, and include the unaired episodes. It seems better to make money off of them than let them rot somewhere.
11-05-03, 11:26 AM
#25
DVD Talk Legend
As posted by me in the US-Coupling cancellation thread on 11-01-03:
I considered Boomtown already gone. 
Tru Calling will be gone very soon. The 3.3/5 it received in the premiere was lower than the 4.5/7 that Skin premiered with.
How sad is it at Fox that they are supplementing their schedule where Skin was by shoving back in the second hour of a floundering JM2.
They must not have wanted to edit the two hours together into one weekly episode.
Originally posted by Y2K Falcon
Skin is next. Then Tru Calling.
Skin is next. Then Tru Calling.
Tru Calling will be gone very soon. The 3.3/5 it received in the premiere was lower than the 4.5/7 that Skin premiered with.How sad is it at Fox that they are supplementing their schedule where Skin was by shoving back in the second hour of a floundering JM2.
They must not have wanted to edit the two hours together into one weekly episode.
