ABC has already canceled Life on Mars, but in the post-Jericho apocalyptic world (at least for network TV executives) that is internet TV fandom it comes as no surprise that fans have begun efforts to "Save Our Show".
We know that that they have already begun to work through the standard checklist of the dead show struggle:
- Sign a petition, check!
- Spam comments on the abc.com forums, check!
- Create a "Save our Show" fansite, check!
They asked for us make a post on their efforts, but I don't believe in supporting such efforts. They are a waste of time (although everyone needs a hobby!), and they unrealistically raise people's hopes. Certain sites (several linked in our blogroll) prey upon the grasping hopes of desperate fans. We do not.
However, just to make sure LOM fans get the most out of their new hobby, here's the rest of the checklist to make sure you've covered every possible angle (they've all worked before!):
- Harangue all other possible broadcast and cable networks to take your show. (Scrubs, Law & Order: CI)
- Badger DirecTV to take out its checkbook to subsidize your show. (Friday Night Lights)
- Ask the show producers to make a crazy cheap deal to keep the show on ABC ('Til Death)
- Send various bits of flotsam reminiscent of the show to the executives at ABC (peanuts, Jericho)
- Spend every penny you have on DVDs of the show (Family Guy, Futurama)*
But, above all, have fun! Because that's what hobbies are supposed to all be about.
*Thanks to commenter dave for reminding me!
lol, sadly I don’t think budget cuts would save LOM, but hey a hobbies a hobby. Isn’t it the production company that does the budget cuts and not the producer?
Fin, sorry for being unclear, but I tend to use “producer” and “production company” interchangeably. Presumably, the producer calls the shots at the production company.
Great article Bill and sums up the cliches that fans of certain shows seem to do when their show is facing uncertain fate.
I’m just thankful the show will have closure, and broadcast a series finale. I’ve enjoyed a few of the episodes of this series, but I have not been impressed with all the episodes.
Networks get what they deserve. When ABC sent out a press release touting LOM ratings last week even though it had already been cancelled, what did they expect would happen?
I do appreciate that they allowed LOM to wrap up and are airing all the eps, and I never get involved in these silly fan generated campaigns, but networks court this type of fan devotion, so what do they expect will happen?
ha ha. good stuff.
Scrubs-under performing on ABC
FNL- Still under performing on NBC.(don’t know how it affected DirectTV)
Til Death- Underperformed and now gone.
Jericho- Underperformed and now gone.
So here’s hoping LOM is a good fit for ABC family. (it’s not)
You forgot the most effective method. Buy DVDs in ridiculous quantities.(Family Guy, Futurama, Firefly/Serenity, maybe Arrested Development/TBA movie)
dave, you are correct, I will add that to the list!
Man, I feel for the fans!! I’ve never seen the show, but for their sake I hope these efforts are successful!
But it worked for Cagney and Lacey!!!!
“Til Death- Underperformed and now gone”
It’s not gone! It has been renewed for next season…….
Another interesting show but on the wrong outlet to succeed, it might have been successful on Spike or SYFY (when it comes into existence in July) but not enough of an audience for a broadcast outlet. Maybe executives need to think through shows before they put them on a path to failure. I still believe DVR users do not care what channel a show is on, nor does the DVR and eventually shows that are on cable outlets will get the same or nearly the same rating as the broadcast networks, I just never give the channel location q second thought, I find most of what I view either from online reviews, ads promoting the show or from a search of the program guide data according to the shows I really want to watch. My user name identifies my primary genre chose but it is so limited and getting smaller all the time that I out of desperation watch many shows hoping to find them interesting. LOM is one of them and it does have an appeal and is reasonably entertaining. I have watched every episode so far and will see it until the end.
That’s sad and a bit condescending. Trying to save our show is not a “hobby” for bored people that get their kicks from sending networks peanuts or mars bars. It’s trying to save a great show that got canceled because poor promotion,poor schedule time and the assumption not a lot of people are watching. The Nielson ratings are out-dated because they are given to people who watch too much TV and DVR is killing our favorite shows. We live in a world where now we can record our favorite show if it’s on too late. So a lot more like the show than the ratings say. I’ll be damned if they take this show away.
I think Angel fans took out a crazy expensive whole page ad in some trade magazine and Veronica Mars fans either had a billboard and/or a plane carrying a VM banner. Jericho fans also bought extra DVD and send them to the troops.
I know way too much about way too many save our show campaigns.
Oh, and while it did not work for many, JAG thrived on CBS after NBC canned it. Alas, much like Scrubs, it was produced by the sister company of the network picking it up all along.
Anthoula, guilty as charged as labeling it a “hobby” for a bit of fun.
What would you call it? A “waste of time”, “a noble, yet futile quest”, “anything, except late for dinner?”.
ABC did everything possible to give ‘Life on Mars’ the best chances for success…clever adaptation of the British series to New York setting, brilliant casting, tons of fall promo publicity leading up to the premiere, huge lead-ins (from ‘Grey’s’ to ‘Lost’) with 10 pm over-runs to keep viewers tuned. The show was brilliant in execution, and I’m absolutely mystified as to why it failed to connect with viewers.
I am mystified it got made, after I saw the original pilot I thought that the only way to fix that was the recycling plant. They changed the city, thet changed the cast, ut they left the weakest link of the pilot in place, Jason O’Mara. Even propping him up with real talent couldn’t save the show.
While I am definitely more condescending than the average guy, I don’t see much point of mocking the fandoms. It could be that I just got it mostly out of my system in the 2007-2008 season!
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t see the point of the save-the-show campaigns either, but I think it’s probably better for us to write about why we don’t promote “save our show campaigns” than to mock the fans directly (though certain individual fans do bring it on themselves at times).
We don’t promote the save the show campaigns because we believe they are a futile waste that stir false hope. Plenty of other sites do this because there is web traffic in the stirring of false hope. You could say false hope was a cottage industry of sorts.
But especially in a case like Life on Mars where its 18-49 ratings were so low it wasn’t even close to being on the bubble, such campaigns are unrealistic and, in my opinion, unreasonable.
Fans should join the new 125 life on Mars forum
http://z3.invisionfree.com/Life_On_Mars/index.php
It’s worth a try Bill Gorman.
Out of the three choices I would pick B:”a noble,yet futile quest” because I know deep down that it won’t work but I hope for the opposite.I am grateful for them giving Life on Mars the rare opportunity of an ending but still feel that they’re making a huge mistake. So what if you think our efforts are futile. If they won’t stop the cancellation then at least they know that people loved that show.
I don’t understand your attitude. To me, you sound like a person who never put any effort into anything. A quitter. Likes to take the easy out of everything. Is it your “hobby” to criticize and laugh at other peoples efforts to do something. Reminds me of the judge Simon Cowell on American Idol. I don’t mind him as a person or as a judge because some of those singers needed a vicious whack to the head but its not we ever heard him of singing. Actually How did he become a judge on the show anyway? Randy and paula I understand since they are singers but simon I dont understand
To be completely honest I’m not particularly surprised that Life On Mars hasn’t worked in the US. Its success in the UK was underpinned by nostalgia and the Gene Hunt character and I don’t think either of those translates particularly well to the US.