Did "The Sarah Silverman Program" get cancelled?
#26
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Re: Did "The Sarah Silverman Program" get cancelled?
I wonder what kind of state Comedy Central would have been in these days had Chapelle not bolted and they actually had to pay him the gigantic sums of money they offered. Granted, Chappelle had a pretty big audience, but still, the cost of his deal would have probably put CC in an even worse place than they are now.
#27
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Did "The Sarah Silverman Program" get cancelled?
It seems that the problem is the quirky stuff - the "animated sequences and musical numbers". Personally I could care less if they cut that because it's my least favorite element of the show (I enjoy it mainly for Silverman's crude, arrogant, psychotic persona) but I respect their position in wanting to stick to their guns.
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Re: Did "The Sarah Silverman Program" get cancelled?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090303/tv_nm/us_silverman
Chris
Gay TV channel saving "Sarah Silverman"
By Nellie Andreeva
2 hrs 23 mins ago
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – "The Sarah Silverman Program" will be back for a third season on Comedy Central, following the resolution of four-day day standoff over planned budget cuts.
The cable channel has ordered a 10-episode season of its signature live-action series, which will now be co-financed with gay-oriented sister cable network Logo.
"We're happy," Silverman said. "All we ever wanted was just to make our show. Nothing fancy -- just our show."
It's a happy ending to a drama that threatened to make "Sarah Silverman" the first major primetime casualty of the economic crisis after the cable network was forced to slash the budget of the series by more that 20% and its executive producers refused to continue at those terms.
"Things were tough on Friday and over the weekend," said Comedy Central's president of original programing Lauren Corrao, who headed the network's efforts to keep "Sarah Silverman" on the air. "We very much wanted the show, we just couldn't come to an agreement for a budget that was acceptable and uncompromising to the producers and that we could afford."
Like every other entertainment company, Comedy Central's Viacom parent has imposed companywide belt-tightening measures. As a result, Comedy central proposed picking up "Sarah Silverman" at an $850,000-per-episode budget for Season 3, down from $1.1 million for Season 2.
Concerned that the drastic reduction won't allow them to keep the integrity of the single-camera comedy, which incorporates animation and musical numbers, Silverman and her fellow executive producers Dan Sterling, Ron Schrab and Heidi Herzon declined the offer.
In a surprising twist, Corrao came up with the idea early on Monday to share "Sarah Silverman" with another Logo, which caters to gay, lesbian and transgender viewers.
She called former Comedy Central executive Marc Leonard, now a senior exec at Logo.
After discussing the idea for several hours, Logo's brass called up their Comedy Central counterparts to tell them they wanted to be part of the show.
Details on how the financial responsibility and the window sharing will be divided between the two partners are still being worked out, but sources said with the combined financing, "Sarah Silverman" will have a budget a tad higher than last season's $1.1 million per episode.
Logo has run Comedy Central shows before, including animated series "Drawn Together," but this the first time the two networks are involved in co-financing a series together.
In broadcast TV, NBC made a similar arrangement with DirecTV last year to bring back critically praised but low-rated drama "Friday Night Lights."
Logo is looking to capitalize on Silverman's strong appeal among women and gay men. Additionally, two of the main characters on the show, Sarah's neighbors Brian (Brian Posehn) and Steve (Steve Agee), are a gay couple.
Logo aired two episodes of "Sarah Silverman" in the summer as part of its NewNowNext awards show weekend when the Comedy Central series won in the best show you're not watching, beating such heavy hitters as AMC's "Mad Men."
"Sarah Silverman's" writing team is expected to begin work shortly. The show's third season, which will get a cross-promotional support on both Comedy Central and Logo, is eyed for a premiere in the first quarter of 2010.
The story started off as a possible grim example of the effects of the deep recession on high-end primetime series.
But in the end, "It was all about our love for Sarah and the show, which we couldn't allow to get off the air, and about getting as creative as possible with financing in the tough economic environment," Corrao said.
(Editing by Dean Goodman at Reuters)
By Nellie Andreeva
2 hrs 23 mins ago
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – "The Sarah Silverman Program" will be back for a third season on Comedy Central, following the resolution of four-day day standoff over planned budget cuts.
The cable channel has ordered a 10-episode season of its signature live-action series, which will now be co-financed with gay-oriented sister cable network Logo.
"We're happy," Silverman said. "All we ever wanted was just to make our show. Nothing fancy -- just our show."
It's a happy ending to a drama that threatened to make "Sarah Silverman" the first major primetime casualty of the economic crisis after the cable network was forced to slash the budget of the series by more that 20% and its executive producers refused to continue at those terms.
"Things were tough on Friday and over the weekend," said Comedy Central's president of original programing Lauren Corrao, who headed the network's efforts to keep "Sarah Silverman" on the air. "We very much wanted the show, we just couldn't come to an agreement for a budget that was acceptable and uncompromising to the producers and that we could afford."
Like every other entertainment company, Comedy Central's Viacom parent has imposed companywide belt-tightening measures. As a result, Comedy central proposed picking up "Sarah Silverman" at an $850,000-per-episode budget for Season 3, down from $1.1 million for Season 2.
Concerned that the drastic reduction won't allow them to keep the integrity of the single-camera comedy, which incorporates animation and musical numbers, Silverman and her fellow executive producers Dan Sterling, Ron Schrab and Heidi Herzon declined the offer.
In a surprising twist, Corrao came up with the idea early on Monday to share "Sarah Silverman" with another Logo, which caters to gay, lesbian and transgender viewers.
She called former Comedy Central executive Marc Leonard, now a senior exec at Logo.
After discussing the idea for several hours, Logo's brass called up their Comedy Central counterparts to tell them they wanted to be part of the show.
Details on how the financial responsibility and the window sharing will be divided between the two partners are still being worked out, but sources said with the combined financing, "Sarah Silverman" will have a budget a tad higher than last season's $1.1 million per episode.
Logo has run Comedy Central shows before, including animated series "Drawn Together," but this the first time the two networks are involved in co-financing a series together.
In broadcast TV, NBC made a similar arrangement with DirecTV last year to bring back critically praised but low-rated drama "Friday Night Lights."
Logo is looking to capitalize on Silverman's strong appeal among women and gay men. Additionally, two of the main characters on the show, Sarah's neighbors Brian (Brian Posehn) and Steve (Steve Agee), are a gay couple.
Logo aired two episodes of "Sarah Silverman" in the summer as part of its NewNowNext awards show weekend when the Comedy Central series won in the best show you're not watching, beating such heavy hitters as AMC's "Mad Men."
"Sarah Silverman's" writing team is expected to begin work shortly. The show's third season, which will get a cross-promotional support on both Comedy Central and Logo, is eyed for a premiere in the first quarter of 2010.
The story started off as a possible grim example of the effects of the deep recession on high-end primetime series.
But in the end, "It was all about our love for Sarah and the show, which we couldn't allow to get off the air, and about getting as creative as possible with financing in the tough economic environment," Corrao said.
(Editing by Dean Goodman at Reuters)
#30
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Re: Did "The Sarah Silverman Program" get cancelled?
I really want to smoke pot with Sarah Silverman.
For now, I guess I'll keep watching the show.
For now, I guess I'll keep watching the show.
#31
Moderator
Re: Did "The Sarah Silverman Program" get cancelled?
oh come on Logo?? wonder how much of the raunch they'll let fly, Logo censors more than Comedy Central does.
#32
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Did "The Sarah Silverman Program" get cancelled?
#33
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#34
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Did "The Sarah Silverman Program" get cancelled?
Up and down second season, but yay to more dry sheets, ice cream, and jelly beans!
Was also thinking they struck a deal similar to the DirecTV/FNL airings.
Was also thinking they struck a deal similar to the DirecTV/FNL airings.
#38
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Re: Did "The Sarah Silverman Program" get cancelled?
UPDATE: Yes.
Sarah Silverman's show axed by Comedy Central
NEW YORK (AP) - On her Comedy Central show, Sarah Silverman got drunk on cough syrup, mocked the abortion rights debate and seduced none other than God.
That's all over now.
The network says "The Sarah Silverman Program," which recently ended its third outrageous season, won't be back for a fourth.
Inspired by Silverman's persona as a standup comic, the scripted show featured her as a flighty, self-consumed slacker living in the fictional town of Valley Village.
Audience erosion was deemed the main reason for canceling the show.
NEW YORK (AP) - On her Comedy Central show, Sarah Silverman got drunk on cough syrup, mocked the abortion rights debate and seduced none other than God.
That's all over now.
The network says "The Sarah Silverman Program," which recently ended its third outrageous season, won't be back for a fourth.
Inspired by Silverman's persona as a standup comic, the scripted show featured her as a flighty, self-consumed slacker living in the fictional town of Valley Village.
Audience erosion was deemed the main reason for canceling the show.
#39
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Did "The Sarah Silverman Program" get cancelled?
That's too bad. It was one show that constantly kept me guessing and laughing. I especially loved the one where Brian and Steve make a baby.
#41
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Did "The Sarah Silverman Program" get cancelled?
Up and down second season, but yay to more dry sheets, ice cream, and jelly beans!
Was also thinking they struck a deal similar to the DirecTV/FNL airings.
Was also thinking they struck a deal similar to the DirecTV/FNL airings.
#44
Re: Did "The Sarah Silverman Program" get cancelled?
That's too bad. I thought it was a really funny show with great writing. I usually didn't care as much for the Sarah Silverman parts, but the supporting cast was always really good.
#46
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Did "The Sarah Silverman Program" get cancelled?
Hopefully the closing of this door opens another: "Big, Orange, and Gay: The Brian and Steve Show."
#47
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Did "The Sarah Silverman Program" get cancelled?
I enjoyed most of the first season (the one with the fart in the car was classic), but bailed out early on the dreadful season 2 and never looked back
#48
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Re: Did "The Sarah Silverman Program" get cancelled?
i couldn't even find it on CC this year. think it kept getting bumped by Ugly Americans. then saw some listings on LOGO and thought they picked it up which i could see. honestly, i kinda got bored with the 2<sup>nd</sup> season.
#49
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Did "The Sarah Silverman Program" get cancelled?
Wow this reminds me that I did not watch season 3 at all. Kinda forgot about it and I guess my DVR did too. Hopefully a complete series comes out.