There is chatter brewing that the three cancelled shows will end their runs on Saturdays in January, as ABC won’t have college football anymore. Sounds about right, and shows respect for the fans and creators of the shows. That’s what ABC should do, really.

Blaming the ratings for the last two episodes as a justification for not airing the rest is kind of stupid. When word gets out that a show has been cancelled, fan campaigns (except for the truly delusional and obsessive) tend to wane and drives to increase viewership decrease. Not to mention the holidays.

I really think the ultimate blame for Daisies’ failure lies with the writers’ strike (and Bryan Fuller, FYI, supported that glorious idea). The ratings for Season 1 generally did drop, but they remained steadily over 7 Mil. The penultimate episode, airing an hour later, went up to over 10 Mil. The last episode, which aired deep in December, did drop significantly, to just over 6 mil., but that’s still better than any episode this season, and by that time, the rotten taste of the writers’ strike was already festering in everyone’s mouth.

I find it rather laughable that some pundits say a second season wouldn’t have happened without the strike. That’s just a ridiculous comment. You can’t use the numbers for one episode in December to make that assumption. ABC has already greenlit a full 22-episode season, which would have happened without the strike. I’m guessing the numbers would have taken a hit when American Idol premiered, but even if it is true that ABC wouldn’t have given it a second season without the strike, saying that fans should be grateful because of that is an insulting slap in the face because the end result is the same–22 episodes.

I know that this site is not about show quality, but Kristin’s solo on “Eternal Flame” was gorgeous and is already getting many YouTube hits.

I’m not into blaming ABC. Blame Disney if you must. The cancellation went higher up than Steve McPherson, who was always a fan. The writers’ strike was the number one, most significant culprit in Daisies’ demise.

And Nick C, totally disagree with you on Anna Friel. Woman is smokin’ hot.

I just watched the latest episode, and this show has hit written all over it. I like the show, but I don’t love it. It’s good, but it’s not great. What it is, however, is a fine procedural with excellent acting and a decent amount of wit. It also has managed to be the first show I’ve seen that could mix in a serial element without it overwhelming the show.

Like I said, it’s good, not great, but if NBC could lure the eyeballs to the tube for it a few times, people will stick around. There is nothing about this show that would preclude it from attracting the same people who watch NCIS or Bones or half a dozen other procedurals, and yet it also can manage to get on with people who like a little bit of serial with their milk.

I don’t know if this one good night will mean it can hold its own against the established hits around it going forward (I would suspect not, at least without help), but if NBC had half a brain, they would find a slot that works for this show. Again, not because I lurve it (I don’t), but because it’s exactly the type of show that is currently popular everywhere else. NBC has finally found exactly the type of show that’s working like gangbusters for CBS, and now it’s up to them to give it, ahem, life. While the first season wasn’t quite as easygoing and may have hurt the show on its own, now the show is rolling and only a completely inept network would not be able to find a way to program this sucker into at least a modest hit. It may take another year of playing in a stable timeslot with a solid lead-in, but there is no way this show can be compared to PD, Eli Stone, DSM, or any of the other oddball shows that died on the vine this past year or so. Those shows killed themselves by not being attractive to the majority. Life, however, will only die because NBC couldn’t get the majority to sample it.

And, yeah, I do have a man crush on Damien Lewis, but again this sucker is in no way my favorite show. I even liked it better last season when it was weirder and more serial flavored. But it’s still good now, and it’s definitely more a fit with the mainstream than it ever was, or than any of these other bubble shows ever could be.

So the ball is in your court, Ben. Going to hit it back, or fall on your ass flailing away?

Also, previews should be showed after shows with high ratings. Put a PD preview after Eli Stone ONLY? How is that going to work when Eli Stone is also a cancelled show with low viewing ratings? The rumours for canceling the show started earlier in the season. I had friends say they did not tune in to Pushing Daisies the week after the two-week break ABC put the show through, because there was virtually no advertising and they assumed the show had already been cancelled. Or was simply not being shown that week, either. If ABC truly wanted the ratings to go up, it would have done its part. It didn’t.

Yes, I agree the show isn’t made for everyone. It’s quirky and different. But the fact that it at least has consistent ratings every week even if lower than what they would want, should show the network that it has followers, and faithful ones. The writer’s strike took its toll, nine episodes is hardly enough for one to get acquainted with characters and want to follow in their footsteps. But what about summer reruns? These could have been used to gain new viewers and maintain the ones already captivated by refreshing their memories after such a long break in the series.

Pushing Daisies is a true loss for television. Whether you liked it or not, it at least provided us with variety and out of the ordinary writing. If only WB would attempt a deal with a different network.

There were other good ABC shows that were not given the chance. Cashmere Mafia was one of them. Sure it was a New York version of Desperate Housewives (I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT AS A SEX AND THE CITY REMAKE) the characters all matched Susan, Gaby, lynette and Bree, but it did not get a second chance. The show was okay at first but it was gradually getting better. The writing was better and the women were connecting. Then it got canceled. My point is it would have done well if they would have saved it and put it behind Desperate Housewives on Sunday nights. So be greatful PD at least got a second chance.

Private Practice is going to jump in the ratings when it is put behind Greys Anatomy come January. It will probably start averaging 9-11 million viewers again.

All of what I said about the 14th is pure speculation of course, but that’s my best guess.

ABC promoted PD more than any other new show last season and more than any sophomore show this season.

PD just didn’t “work,” or what ever you want to call it with the network. I know more than a few people who loved it, but I knew even more who gave it a shot and couldn’t stand certain aspects. I was in that boat. I liked the idea, but the more the show went on the more I hated the “Chuck,” character and the more I couldn’t understand the relationship. I think part of it was dressing her in such hideous clothing. At least Olive was usually wearing something that showed her um talent (it’s not a surprise to me that when she covered up to be a nun the ratings dropped). Ok that last bit was tongue in cheek…

I remember when JAG was cancelled by NBC. And when every tv critic passed NCIS third season rise of as a passing peak in the wake of pretty awesome season 2 finale. CBS really stuck it out with this franchise and it paid of so beautifully. No doubt, if they do that NCIS spin off it will just keep on making money for another decade.

Dude, do I want that to happen for Life, but if this slight uptrend doesn’t stick, I promise not to send NBC any zen audiotapes or papayas.

Well, I agree with Ugly Betty. Lost on the other hand…Dullsville. So I would have to say that the only good thing on ABC (for me) is Ugly Betty and Life on Mars.

Why stop promoting when it was on the rise? Freakin *** wipes!!!

ABC has given up now, as it should. It might have tried harder on PP, yes, but that’s because it does better numbers on an albeit low level, because they see a chance of reviving it via Grey’s Anatomy and because it’s produced by their own studios and as such actually making them money from DVDs, merchandise and possible (if ever) syndication.

I am not sure these conspiracy theories are winning PD fans any cosmic brownie points with anyone not equally as smitten with the show.

was only the lowest rated show through ABC not promoting it and devoting more time to the crap that is Private Practice and Grey’s Anatomy

If ABC spent half the money on what it does on Patrick Dempsey’s hair on Promoting PD then it might have stood a chance.

At this point I would start over and totally reorganize the NBC schedule…seriously.

Robert,

Stop being a Schrooge. You should be celebrating the achievement. It may be the only time it is #1 in its timeslot. Cherish it with the rest of us.

Will it ever be a monster success? Probably not, but I’m pretty certain everyone here would have said the same about NCIS six years ago. Never know what might happen, and NBC is at least a network that has nothing else going for it at the moment. That Life is showing at least some signs of life has got to be good for it.

That said, the numbers from here on out will tell the tale more so than one nice showing against marginal competition (I mean you, Private Practice). But it can’t be that expensive, and given their absolute dearth of programming (NBC running out of shows??), never know where this might lead.

God, I hope so, because come January there will be almost nothing on that I like. And Damien Lewis should always be on the air somewhere at all times.

Maybe now, those oldies from CBS who crossed over to NBC and discovered what the heck Life was (a procedural!) may stick around–even a couple of million defections is good news.

Regarding FOX–God no! Not another reality show hit! Yuck.