WB: Sorry about that whole canceling 'Angel' thing. Our bad.
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WB: Sorry about that whole canceling 'Angel' thing. Our bad.
Old news, but I didn't see it posted anywhere:
http://saveangel.org/news.php?action...mments=1&id=40
http://saveangel.org/news.php?action...mments=1&id=40
In a surprising turn, newly ensconced WB head Garth Ancier admitted that cancelling ANGEL may have been a mistake.
During the TV Critics Press Tour yesterday, Ancier claimed that had the network and producers Twentieth Century Fox held off the February decision, ANGEL might have been renewed: "The mistake that was made between us and Twentieth was that we didn't wait until May, we just made the decision early based upon their request."
Last year, ANGEL was "on the bubble" and renewed at the last moment. Typically, series' fates are decided by programmers once all new show pilots are previewed.
This time around, the producers and ANGEL creator Joss Whedon requested that the network make an early February call for renewal. Then-CEO Jordan Levin informed Whedon over dinner that ANGEL would be axed.
The WB had two highly anticipated potential genre series, Lost in Space and Dark Shadows, neither of which panned out, leaving a hole in the program schedule. Dark Shadows, in particular, was expected to be a drop-in replacement for ANGEL, but says Ancier, the production did not "gel."
Series "on the bubble" could go either way. This past season, two such genre shows, UPN's Star Trek: Enterprise and FOX's Tru Calling, were renewed just prior to the "Up Fronts" -- when networks showcase their Fall line-up for potential advertisers.
According to Ancier, there's still interest in doing special ANGEL TV movies, but that David Boreanaz would need some "coaxing" to return to the role.
Ancier's statements may be viewed as a way to distance his new WB administration from that of former CEO and chief programmer Jordan Levin, who resigned last month and was seen as responsible for the end of ANGEL.
During the TV Critics Press Tour yesterday, Ancier claimed that had the network and producers Twentieth Century Fox held off the February decision, ANGEL might have been renewed: "The mistake that was made between us and Twentieth was that we didn't wait until May, we just made the decision early based upon their request."
Last year, ANGEL was "on the bubble" and renewed at the last moment. Typically, series' fates are decided by programmers once all new show pilots are previewed.
This time around, the producers and ANGEL creator Joss Whedon requested that the network make an early February call for renewal. Then-CEO Jordan Levin informed Whedon over dinner that ANGEL would be axed.
The WB had two highly anticipated potential genre series, Lost in Space and Dark Shadows, neither of which panned out, leaving a hole in the program schedule. Dark Shadows, in particular, was expected to be a drop-in replacement for ANGEL, but says Ancier, the production did not "gel."
Series "on the bubble" could go either way. This past season, two such genre shows, UPN's Star Trek: Enterprise and FOX's Tru Calling, were renewed just prior to the "Up Fronts" -- when networks showcase their Fall line-up for potential advertisers.
According to Ancier, there's still interest in doing special ANGEL TV movies, but that David Boreanaz would need some "coaxing" to return to the role.
Ancier's statements may be viewed as a way to distance his new WB administration from that of former CEO and chief programmer Jordan Levin, who resigned last month and was seen as responsible for the end of ANGEL.
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I remember reading this. I dont think ever actually said sorry but I think they may be regretting what they did.
Now they may have a hard time getting David back.
Good goin' WB!!!
Now they may have a hard time getting David back.
Good goin' WB!!!
Last edited by riley_dude; 08-12-04 at 03:02 PM.
#7
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Yeah, neither David B. nor Sarah Michelle Gellar want anything to do with Angel/Buffy any more. But I hear Joss may bring back some of the other characters in a series of WB movies. Most likely Spike, Willow, Giles and some others...
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But I hear Joss may bring back some of the other characters in a series of WB movies. Most likely Spike, Willow, Giles and some others.
- but if they hadn't asked to be notified about continuing earlier than normal - they very well could have gotten a 6th season?
#14
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Originally posted by RobCA
Pardon my ignorance, but who is M.E.?
Pardon my ignorance, but who is M.E.?
#17
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Originally posted by Shannon Nutt
Yeah, neither David B. nor Sarah Michelle Gellar want anything to do with Angel/Buffy any more.
Yeah, neither David B. nor Sarah Michelle Gellar want anything to do with Angel/Buffy any more.
#18
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Maybe a couple months on the convention circuit with Hugh-the-Borg might change David Boreanaz's mind.
The WB was planning on screwing over Angel all along, despite what they say. They had been renewing a lot of their shows BEFORE Joss/ME/Fox asked them if they were going to renew Angel. I would guess that the "Angel" people wanted to know what the hell was going on. Combine this with the knowledge that The WB was planning on putting a new "Dark Shadows" series in their fall line-up, and it sounds like they wanted to quietly cancel "Angel" and replace it with a new vampire show that they had a bigger stake in.
The WB was planning on screwing over Angel all along, despite what they say. They had been renewing a lot of their shows BEFORE Joss/ME/Fox asked them if they were going to renew Angel. I would guess that the "Angel" people wanted to know what the hell was going on. Combine this with the knowledge that The WB was planning on putting a new "Dark Shadows" series in their fall line-up, and it sounds like they wanted to quietly cancel "Angel" and replace it with a new vampire show that they had a bigger stake in.
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Originally posted by resinrats
Like David B has any luck with roles besides Angel. Might as well stick with what brings in the dough. SMG did had success outside of Buffy.
Like David B has any luck with roles besides Angel. Might as well stick with what brings in the dough. SMG did had success outside of Buffy.
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Thats what I was really afraid of with the whole TV Movie idea. I was a casual fan of Buffy and a big time fan of Angel. Angel has always been the better show since season 2. Better writers, better stories, and better characters. I want TV movies that continue the Angel series. I know the Buffy characters are in the same universe, but if I didnt want them in the series... why the hell would I want to see them in the tv movies?
#22
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Originally posted by resinrats
Like David B has any luck with roles besides Angel. Might as well stick with what brings in the dough. SMG did had success outside of Buffy.
Like David B has any luck with roles besides Angel. Might as well stick with what brings in the dough. SMG did had success outside of Buffy.
Personally I'm glad Buffy retired when it did, but Angel deserved a full-fledged ending! I mean first WB tells M.E. to avoid season wide story arcs which they pretty much do (totally unnatural for a Whedon show) and then cancel it anyway. It should have been allowed a whole season with a grand story arc, a real powerful "big bad" and a series resolution. What we got was fine, but it only helped to highlight what the show COULD have been all season had it not been creatively stiffled by the WB suits.
Last edited by rfduncan; 08-13-04 at 11:22 AM.
#23
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Originally posted by rfduncan
Have either of them? Gellar has been kicking ass and taking names with such blockbuster films as the Scooby-Doo movies. PLEASE!
Have either of them? Gellar has been kicking ass and taking names with such blockbuster films as the Scooby-Doo movies. PLEASE!
#24
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Originally posted by riley_dude
Show's without the anchor star? Isn't that like having Laverne and Shirley without Laverne and Shirley? The Ripper is one thing but most of the good characters are dead and I dont want to see the Spike Action hour.
Show's without the anchor star? Isn't that like having Laverne and Shirley without Laverne and Shirley? The Ripper is one thing but most of the good characters are dead and I dont want to see the Spike Action hour.
"Angel" was fitting the bill quite nicely. And then the WB cancelled it. If they didn't show "Smallville" and "Gilmore Girls" I'd stop watching it altogether.
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Originally posted by rfduncan
Have either of them? Gellar has been kicking ass and taking names with such blockbuster films as the Scooby-Doo movies. PLEASE!
Have either of them? Gellar has been kicking ass and taking names with such blockbuster films as the Scooby-Doo movies. PLEASE!