I'm in chilly northern California rather than a warm conference room in Los Angeles, but hey, at least my Wi-Fi is good and I'm keeping on eye on the TCA coverage.
To nobody's surprise, CBS' Nina Tassler confirmed what you've known all along: Three Rivers is canceled:
Yes, it's officially canceled. "We've all known each other long enough to know that when something is on 'hiatus,' it's code for something else.
Somebody asked if Moonlight might come back now that Alex O'loughlin is freed up. No, but they are looking for a new vehicle for Alex.
Interestingly while the fate of Three Rivers has been sealed, the coffin hasn't been sealed for Numb3rs. Apparently both Numb3rs and Medium are being considered for additional seasons. Of course that means the reverse is also true and that neither might be back next year.
Numb3rs had its order shortened to 16 episodes this season, and CBS reportedly has a lucrative syndication deal with Lifetime for Medium episodes (but the specifics of that deal are too murky for me to know whether additional episodes next year would benefit CBS in that deal).
Numb3rs fans who were fearful that the show wasn't coming back next year should still be fearful. But those who'd written it off completely might have the tiniest sliver of hope. On the other hand, I'd read this as a sign that the color-code for Medium might need to change in our renew/cancel index to reflect some danger of cancellation in May.
if ture i would like to see both end well
Yes, we all knew Three Rivers was actually canceled. It is Tassler’s double talk that irritates the viewers. We were conditioned after Moonlight got the axe and the reason given was the same-old, same-old..not enough 18-49ers watched the show. So many good shows with exceptional casts, stories and great cinematography have met the same fate on CBS. That is, unless they are labeled “Bruckheimer”. Give us a break.
“Somebody asked if Moonlight might come back now that Alex O’loughlin is freed up. No, but they are looking for a new vehicle for Alex.”
Well, you know the old saying. If at first you don’t succeed, fail, fail again.
I think what everyone who matters is really wondering is: When will CBS set Alyson Hannigan free from the monstrosity that is “How I Met Your Mother”?! I think it is obvious to everyone that she should only be allowed to play lesbian witches! Years ago, when I first heard she was taking a part as a perfectly ordinary kindergarten teacher in a sitcom, I wrote her a carefully worded letter warning her of the danger she faced if she dared to play someone other than Willow. Couldn’t her love interest at least be played by Amber Benson?! But did she listen to me?! No! It’s a darn shame, really!
As for “Medium”, you heard it from me here first: it’s going to be cancelled! I’ve started using voodoo on a Patricia Arquette doll, and it’s already starting to work wonders! The next time you see a photograph of Arquette, be sure to take notice of the scarf she’s got across her neck! It’s not a fashion thing, but actually a sign that she’s doing her best to hide the oozing boils I’ve successfully managed to make appear there! CBS isn’t going to want anything to do wth her when I’m through!
Dollhouse! Dollhouse! Dollhouse! Dollhouse rules! Alyson Hannigan’s current job drools! Dollhouse!
I hear the Melrose Place crew was given the coded word HIATUS three days ago.
I suspect that they will finally decide to bring back Moonlight long after the Vampire craze is over.
Three Rivers was great show! It’s sad beacause only different medical drama is canceled, while all others, who all are same, still airs.
Numbers and Meduim hit season highs last night and Ghoast Wisper
I bet If Jerry Bruckheimer decided to produce MOONLIGHT the networks would be fighting to air it reguardless of the numbers. Case in point ABC’S the forgotten.
Numb3rs still has legs as proven by last night, I think the lack of publicity that Numb3rs receives as opposed to GQ and Medium is what is hurting the show, I’ve been saying for awhile that Medium is the weak link and is what is bringing down both GW and Numb3rs. Hopefully Numb3rs stays on for one more season, and the ( pm slot is filled in with either Miami Medical, The Bridge, or even Flshpoint which had pretty good ratings last season in that slot.
That remark on Medium is somewhat of a surprise, the obfuscation on Numb3rs not so much. It definitely tosses out my theory that CBS wouldn’t even consider axing two of its Friday shows in the same season.
And the fact that people are still asking about Moonlight shows how much harder our mental heath care providers need to work.
I do hope Miss Tassler throws a bocquet to fans of ‘Three Rivers’ and Mr. Alex O’Louglin and announces her intention to air the remaining five produced episodes. Perhaps the Friday at 10 pm slot once ‘Miami Medical’ has finished its run would keep the medico-genre audience around?
Medium has to be safe for next season. It’s numbers are still good, especially for Fridays. I’m thinking, though – if it is renewed over Numb3rs, we may see it go to Sundays at 10pm. If not, I bet it’ll remain on Fridays with Ghost Whisperer. Numb3rs may be renewed with 13 episodes, but I wouldn’t bet on it. I think CBS knows they can find something better than Numb3rs, and feels it would be best to just let it go, a la Without a Trace.
I thought Nina Tassler’s comments regarding Medium were fairly positive. That didn’t sound like it was “on the bubble” to me. Sounded like they’re pretty happy with the Friday lineup. Maybe I just am not as good at reading between the lines, or maybe you all just want to see Medium fail, so you’re reading more into it than there really is. Either way, I’m betting Medium will be back for at least one more season, without question. You’ll see.
I’m not suprised that Numb3rs might be cancelled. It was awesome the first couple seasons, but how often do you need a mathmetician to figure everything out? It started getting to the point that it was just obsurd. Anyone can do the math on this one…
Bounce the show around in time slot
[add]
put it on after brand new shows that are total garbage
[add]
stupid rehashed stories that make no sense
[add]
show that leads the prime time charge (Ghost Whisperer) turns to garbage because lead actress/exec prod had to add her homeless-five-day-drinking-binge looking boyfriend to the cast
[equals]
Death from above.
I’ll be suprised if it does get renewed.
Mediumfan: one downside to not being at the TCAs is not hearing exactly what she said. The tweet from Daniel Fienberg seemed to indicate that Tassler said both shows were being considered for next year. However, everything else I’ve read did seem to be positive with regard to Medium (she talked about flow out of GW).
If she did say that both Numb3rs and Medium are being considered for next year, there’s really not any tea leaf reading to it and I stand by what I wrote above. Unfortunately I haven’t seen a full transcript yet.
“And the fact that people are still asking about Moonlight shows how much harder our mental heath care providers need to work.”
he he, good one!
I honestly do not understand who in their right mind would want a show so forgettable in its mediocracy like Moonlight to come back in any shape or form. Seriously, vampire craze or not, that show was just substandard.
quote – “On Friday’s crime lineup, which has slipped in the ratings this season: “We have two shows there with ‘Ghost Whisperer’ and ‘Medium’ that have good flow. ‘Numbers’ is being considered for next year but we had to cut back on its order to get ‘Miami Medical’ on the air. We had a high-class problem, we have more content than we have real estate for.”
That does not sound like Medium is on the bubble. She said that they cut back on Numbers order to make room for Miami Medical. So did she say something else about Medium to indicate that it might not make it to next season? If not, I’m callin’ baloney.
“I’m not suprised that Numb3rs might be cancelled. It was awesome the first couple seasons, but how often do you need a mathmetician to figure everything out?”
Isn’t that true of every detective show though? Even House is absurd. I think the audience takes all that with a grain of salt.
Again, I was referring to Daniel Fienberg’s comment that Tassler said both Medium and Numb3rs were being considered for next year. It’s possible that was wrong, and again, I have not seen a full transcript of the session.
Edit: another write-up, this one from Sitcoms Online, does indicate that Tassler did frame it that way:
NUMB3RS and Medium still have a chance to return next season and Medium flows very well with Ghost Whisperer.
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/blog/2010/01/tca-winter-2010-press-tour-cbs-and-cw.html