We've been predicting that the CW wouldn't renew Reaper for the network, but if ABC is able to syndicate it to enough local CW stations on the network's now abandoned Sunday nights, it could stay alive, at least in those local markets.
ABC Studios wants to produce original episodes of Reaper, an hour-long dramedy, to syndicate to CW affiliates for Sunday nights, several sources confirmed.
ABC Studios has pitched the idea to stations, who say they're interested in the show if the terms are right. That means all-barter deals and scheduling flexibility, although the show would be intended for 7 or 8 p.m.
A CW spokesperson declined to comment on the talks, the presence of which would indicate the show would not be returning to the network's lineup.
more where that came from at Broadcasting & Cable.
Thank you Bill for posting this so Reaper fans will be aware and can e-mail their local stations!
Wouldn’t Reaper be too expensive for affiliates to fund?
Paul, I don’t know anything more than what you can read in the linked article, but presumably ABC knows the cost range that can work in local markets and have structured their pitch accordingly.
How is this going to happen with Tyler Labine starring in Sons of Tucson over on FOX?
And to be perfectly honest i don’t want a season 3, season 2 should be the end the show quality has nose-dived due to CW butting in and wanting it to appeal to their female 18-34 demo, next season Smallville is changing it’s name to SmallGirl to try and attract more women to the 8 year old show.
Thanks Bill but i honestly don’t see this happening but if they dramatically revamp the show back to it’s roots i’ll give it a shot i suppose.
Godfather, from what I just found out Tyler Labine would be recast in SONS OF TUCSON if REAPER is renewed.
Labine has a first clause in his contract with Reaper. This means that if reaper is renewed he would have to stay with Reaper. However, I do not know what would happen if the show is renewed in syndication. I suppose it could go either way
I personally like Reaper just as much as last year but I was married to the fact that this would not be renewed. I think it sort of makes sense. Syndication needs more shows, Reaper can appeal to that audience, could be produced for a lower amount (already film in Vancouver so that’s a plus). I think losing the creators and Tyler would be the big blow. I think it would be a shame for Tyler Labine to be stuck on Reaper another year when he could be starring in his own show on Fox though.
I’m all for it though. The more Reaper the better.
Reaper would have to be even more sexed up and the plots would be even simpler with cheaper special effects. Is that what we really want?
I’d rather see a special 2 hour finale movie that wraps everything up neatly once and for all. Let Reaper RIP.
Okay, he’d be recast. Wouldn’t FOX be more than a little upset though if the main star for a show they want, and quite possibly one of the main reasons for the pickup, can’t do the show? Wouldn’t that doom it’s prospects? I know it’ll be on the Fall Upfront regardless, but they can’t be happy with this correct?
godfather, Tyler Labine is a nobody in their eyes. The show is good due to script and writers. They’ll get someone else and not think twice.
I think reaper could be good for syndication.
REAPER isn’t that expensive. It won’t need much changing for syndication. I hear they’ve asked Kevin Smith to come in and do something with it. Hopefully he does.
Well, okay. He was cast as the star though, that’s why I thought this didn’t make much sense at first. Do networks ever greenlight a pilot based on an actor’s work in what’s shown? There must be a few examples of this.
godfather, sure, it’s called a vehicle in the bizz. However, SONS OF TUCSON wasn’t a Tyler Labine vehicle. It wasn’t made around him, he got cast in it.
Forget Reaper. Bring back Charles in Charge!
Its not even season 3 and its already to become a syndicated show?
ABCFanatic, syndicated like Xena was. Not syndicated like Seinfeld is.
If Labine is on board this is great news. Without Sock the show just wouldn’t be Reaper. They have some excellent reoccurring characters like Ted, Sam’s dad, Alan, demon neighbor Tony, and Nina. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jenny Wade, who plays Nina, becomes a high profile “it” girl in Hollywood in the next couple years. But losing Sock would just change the chemistry and quality of the show. Reaper has a sci-fi outer shell, but the core of the show is built on comedy, which is heavily provided by Tyler Labine’s performance.