Comments on: Could Syndication Save Reaper?

By: Maria

Maria — Wed, 27 May 2009 02:54:09 +0000

Well, I’ve signed a petition and e-mailed ABC, which produces Reaper, imploring them to continue Reaper either in syndication or on the Sci Fi Channel, where it would fit in so well. Reaper is the only show I watch on CW and I loathe this cheapskate strategy of the networks to clog the airwaves with reality show idiocy and remakes of shows that were last seen in the 90′s.

By: Chrisjozo

Chrisjozo — Sat, 16 May 2009 16:36:07 +0000

Is there any possibility that it could be put on ABC family channel? They didn’t have any success with their recent comedy hour, although I thought roommates was actually a good show. Maybe Reaper could work there.

By: Brian D

Brian D — Sat, 16 May 2009 13:12:13 +0000

Reaper’s a good show that has decent numbers. It should be renewed all though it really doesn’t fit well with where it’s at on CW. Syndication may be a decent fit as it seems to have worked well for Legend of the Seeker. I think also cable could be a good fit for it.

By: Kwyjibo

Kwyjibo — Sat, 16 May 2009 06:05:06 +0000

Reaper is a great show that deserves better than being on The CW, now maybe it can finally get the recognition and respect that it deserves!

By: catko

catko — Sat, 16 May 2009 05:32:16 +0000

I wrote my Bay Area affiliate to let them know there’s a good-sized fanbase for Reaper that would bring in good ratings for a Sunday night.

By: ReaperDMV

ReaperDMV — Sat, 16 May 2009 03:17:17 +0000

FYI – Tyler’s made public statements not only that Reaper takes priority, but that he wants to come back. Also, Tara and Michele sent a note to us correcting that they will still be involved in Reaper if the show is renewed. They worked it out in their new contract.

And yes! We’re advocating emailing your local CW affiliate and letting them know you’d like them get get Reaper – especially for the newly CW dumped night of Sunday. That’s ABC’s plan right now anyways. And don’t forget to email ABC and thank them for not giving up on Reaper.

http://www.cwtv.com/stations

http://abc.go.com/site/contactus.html?lid=ABCCOMGlobalFooter&lpos=CONTACT

By: Bill W

Bill W — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:41:26 +0000

One additinal thought, why doesn’t the CW just cancel Smallville and Supernatural also. Then their producers could syndicate them and sell them, and Reaper, to the local CW stations as a three hour block for Sunday night programing. And, best of all for Dawn, she could have another night for her girlie shows!!! Everyone wins.

By: Bill W

Bill W — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:16:43 +0000

For those on here that say they have never seen the show, I would suggest getting a copy of the Pilot episode (our library system has 10 copies of Season 1, so I’m sure many libraries around the country have it – you can sample it for free) and watching it. I think it is one of the best Pilot’s I have ever seen and it hooked me on the series. That and the last six episodes of Season 1 were excellent. Give it a try. Invest 41 minutes of your time and watch the Pilot, if you don’t like it, you won’t like the series. But if you don’t like it, I’ll be shocked!

By: dwalker

dwalker — Fri, 15 May 2009 22:06:27 +0000

are these rumors true about reaper or are they just rumors

By: John

John — Fri, 15 May 2009 21:09:41 +0000

So would we find out if this is true next week when the CW announces their fall schedule? Or would we have to wait?

By: Ike

Ike — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:42:07 +0000

The last several episodes of Reaper have been really fun. The show is actually playing around with some pretty interesting ideas and story arcs, and is well-thought-out. I think it can even work without Tyler Labine, esp. if they allow the character of Andi to actually DO something and participate in the action, rather than being sidelined apparently just because she’s a girl (and that’s been pretty surprising considering the female exec producers). Let the girl kick some ass and maybe a few more people might tune in. Well, probably not but it can’t hurt.

By: ABCFanatic

ABCFanatic — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:05:12 +0000

I dislike how ABC Studios tries to save their dying shows – Scrubs, Reaper, The new Adventures of Very Old Christine.

By: Nick C

Nick C — Fri, 15 May 2009 14:55:14 +0000

RSH, you should start your own web site on how TSCC was ruined by idiots. You obviously still have a lot to get off your chest.

By: Richard Steven Hack

Richard Steven Hack — Fri, 15 May 2009 12:36:14 +0000

I loved Highlander. Considering that the original movie was mostly a “cult hit” and panned by the critics, and the second movie was one of the worst movies ever made despite the second appearance by Sean Connery (the only good thing about it), and the third was so-so, it’s amazing that the series was ever made at all.

But it then went for six seasons despite being very formulaic in the first season or two, spun off a very good new movie plus a second movie and also spun off a second series which lasted one season with mixed critical reaction.

TSCC – or any series for that matter – should be so lucky – and could have been.

By: clutz

clutz — Fri, 15 May 2009 12:06:41 +0000

I have never seen Reaper, but I rather like this idea. It might be cool to see a resurgence of Xena/Herculues/Highlander/etc….levels of syndicated original programming. LOTS and Reaper together would be a good start.

By: Nick C

Nick C — Fri, 15 May 2009 05:05:03 +0000

Riff, ABC Studios has the showrunner and everything lined up for the syndication run, if they can get it done, they will. It looks like a 50/50 chance if you ask me.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 15 May 2009 04:23:03 +0000

I love the show and will watch it wherever ABC studios wants to put it. I would love to see it do moderately well on Sundays and show the CW that guy oriented shows can do well and shouldn’t be thrown under the bus.

By: Riff Rafferty

Riff Rafferty — Fri, 15 May 2009 03:36:53 +0000

Don’t believe this will happen. Too many people are over at 20th Television now (granted, in second position in one case) and I don’t think the affiliates will want it. I’m sure ABC Studios would like to find a companion to “Legend of the Seeker” for the numerous affiliates — such as mine — which are airing that in a 2-hour block with a repeat of the preceding episode, but this isn’t it.

By: pete

pete — Fri, 15 May 2009 03:02:36 +0000

Smart move ABC Studios, they already have the hottest syndicated show, (Zena rip off can remeber the name), if I was a CW affiliate I would look at the numbers that it is delivering on Tue, and figure Sunday at 7PM, then I will also get a repeat for later in the week, sounds like a win/win especialy if it is ready for the fall, should do better than Jericho reruns(this what the 4th run CBS, SciFi, Universal, HD Net) and old MGM movies, it should at least do what Jericho is doing

By: Lizardman

Lizardman — Thu, 14 May 2009 23:04:02 +0000

Personally I think season 2 of Reaper has been one of the most consistently well made of almost any show on television. The last few episodes were a little weak as it almost seemed that a few of the cast were sleep walking through their parts but for the most part the standard four part stories have been consistent, well written, and acted. I am looking forward to this seasons finale and would watch this in syndication for sure. Thanks,
Lizard

By: The_GodfatherSJP

The_GodfatherSJP — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:14:53 +0000

Nick C, personally I never watched the show, I was familiar with the star’s name because I’ve been reading Pilot pickup news, and I’m not familiar with the process. This is my first time looking at it mainly because as a TSCC fan I’ve been obsessed with the show’s fate as you might image. Don’t worry, I’m not rabid and I’m not going to crow that it has a chance. I put together a spreadsheet around FOX’s existing shows filling in Pilot orders as the news came in, and basically with Sons of Tucson, Past Life, Human Target, Glee, and Cleveland, I know there’s absolutely no room for TSCC on any night other than Fridays in the Spring or Sundays at 7-8PM (yeah I know, laughable they’d even consider putting the show there, so I know there’s no chance now). Have to say though, with the spreadsheet I put together, I don’t see room for ANY show, Dollhouse too. I can post it if you want. I split it into 2 halves for Fall and Spring. Basically for my sanity I just kept the 2008-2009 schedule and fit new shows around the already renewed ones.

Or you can just call me a knucklehead for putting all this effort into it.
I definitely think you’ll call me a knucklehead or something worse. So will a lot of the posters here.

By: David4

David4 — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:49:48 +0000

Everyone already ditched the show, so the question is would Reaper 2.0 be worth saving?

By: Brandon

Brandon — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:41:11 +0000

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.

By: Nick C

Nick C — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:35:31 +0000

ABCFanatic, syndicated like Xena was. Not syndicated like Seinfeld is.

By: ABCFanatic

ABCFanatic — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:31:56 +0000

Its not even season 3 and its already to become a syndicated show?

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:15:23 +0000

Forget Reaper. Bring back Charles in Charge!

By: Nick C

Nick C — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:10:13 +0000

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.

By: The_GodfatherSJP

The_GodfatherSJP — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:54:09 +0000

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.

By: Nick C

Nick C — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:13:01 +0000

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.

By: thewbviewer

thewbviewer — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:03:24 +0000

I think reaper could be good for syndication.

By: Nick C

Nick C — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:00:53 +0000

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.

By: The_GodfatherSJP

The_GodfatherSJP — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:55:53 +0000

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?

By: Chuck Collins

Chuck Collins — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:35:08 +0000

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.

By: Tony

Tony — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:27:53 +0000

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.

By: Jimmy McAwesome

Jimmy McAwesome — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:13:21 +0000

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

By: Nick C

Nick C — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:04:09 +0000

Godfather, from what I just found out Tyler Labine would be recast in SONS OF TUCSON if REAPER is renewed.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:02:49 +0000

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.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:00:55 +0000

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.

By: The_GodfatherSJP

The_GodfatherSJP — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:59:45 +0000

How is this going to happen with Tyler Labine starring in Sons of Tucson over on FOX?

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:59:21 +0000

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.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:57:39 +0000

Wouldn’t Reaper be too expensive for affiliates to fund?

By: Bill W

Bill W — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:52:46 +0000

Thank you Bill for posting this so Reaper fans will be aware and can e-mail their local stations!