ABC cancelled yet another outstanding show!

[PatSeg]

Every time I give ABC a 2nd chance, they continue to let me down.

I knew this was the last season for Boston Legal, but I didn't realize that last night was the LAST night! The series finale was brilliant as expected, but what a loss. Denny and Alan even talked about getting their own show on another network, one that CARED about the show.

I don't know how a show like Boston Legal ever got on ABC in the first place, but it was an intelligent, quirky, enlightening, and informative show, with a lot of politics worked into the storylines. I am currently catching up on all the reruns on ION and WGN. How sad though that there will be no more.

Hopefully Alan and Denny will find another Network to call home!

[katty]

1. yep, all gone

[PatSeg]

2. I'm so sad!

[katty]

91. me too

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. You and me both

I just discovered ION and it's been pure joy.

That show last night was simply the best thing I've ever seen on television, except for Richard Nixon's resignation speech. It was, from beginning to end, two hours of pure genius.

ABC truly fucked up.

I don't know what your TV set up is like, but WUSA channel runs "House" reruns every weeknight, and a whole bunch on Saturday nights. I love that show beyond reason, and even seeing a rerun three or four times is joy for me.

[PatSeg]

9. ION is becoming my new favorite obscure TV station!

I'm catching up on all my Boston Legals and then I'll just watch them all over again. It was ironic that when I decided to start recording Boston Legal, ION just started showing it from the very first episode! It was one of those shows I had been meaning to start watching and as luck would have it, I started when it was almost over. Did the same thing with West Wing!

ABC and FOX both have canceled so many outstanding shows that I try not to get hooked on any of their shows. I can never forgive FOX for Firefly!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

48. BRAVO

I just discovered that BRAVO shows old "West Wing" episodes every weekday from 8 to 10 a.m. here. It's caused me to start waking up earlier, just so that I can watch them. I had almost forgotten how great that series was.

"Boston Legal," though, is the show that most reminds of what my actual practice of law was like. It's simply brilliant.

[PatSeg]

52. Thanks,

I didn't realize that West Wing was on Bravo again. I know someone who has been waiting for it to be back on TV. I have the first six seasons on DVD and the last season on TIVO (except the LAST episode!). I've seen some episodes three times.

"Boston Legal" reminds you of your actual law practice??? So it isn't all that far fetched?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

56. The last episode of West Wing

made me so sad, because Chimpy Fucknuts was our real President. And now, look how things have changed!

Yeah, the practice of law - we had a general practice, I was the litigator - in a metropolitan area like DC/NoVa has its share of goofy moments. It's very much a small town place, nestled inside a big city. But, some of the things that happened - and this began more than thirty years ago - still break us up when we talk about them. Great times. A judge who used to force me to close my eyes whenever I appeared before him. (No, he never explained why, and yes, I closed my eyes.) Clients who came to court higher than a kite. Us getting high before a real estate settlement and realizing as it began that we had made an error (this was in the days before computers) and were too stoned to figure out what we'd done wrong, so we blamed it on the secretary - who gladly took the fall in exchange for cash - and rescheduled.

There were heroic moments, too. I was lucky enough to handle bail hearings for a couple of Catholic priests who used to demonstrate against the Vietnam War at the Pentagon (my first bail hearing), and tried to help a Black Panther in Nebraska who'd been framed by the FBI and COINTELPRO in the murder of a police officer. That poor guy is still in prison, but we took it all the way to the US Supreme Court, where we lost, and Wolf v. Rice is still goddamn controlling Fourth Amendment law..

And there were the people who'd show up to get their settlement money. There was no settlement, there was no money, there was no case, and all their belongings were usually in a tent under the bridge south of our offices, or in a shopping cart out in the hallway. A few bucks and they'd be gone for another week.

Unless they got into the bathroom. When that happened, we usually had to call the police.

Then, when Francis (or Frances - we never did figure out its gender) would show up on its motorcycle, throw rocks at our second-floor windows, and then toss an envelope to us for us to stash in our safe. No, we never knew what was in the envelope. We didn't dare look.

The best book in our law library was the hornbook, Prosser On Torts, which had the pages inside razor-bladed out so that we could hide our joints inside the book.

Of course, I'm not going to tell you what my best buddy male partner and I did in the Lawyers' Lounge at a nearby Federal correctional institution. It was memorable, and we never regretted it. We're still the best of friends.

Those were good days.............................

[PatSeg]

57. I know what you mean

about the ending of West Wing. The show was like an alternate reality - it was the way things SHOULD have been. I am really enjoying the campaign on West Wing more so now that I can see the many uncanny parallels to the real life presidential election. Only I think Obama was a much better candidate than Santos and Arnold Vinick was much better than McCain.

Sounds like you have a lot of great memories. It appears that Kelley must have worked in a similar firm. Maybe he could use a contributor for his next show! The final episode looked like they wanted to do a spin off with Alan and Denny.

Thanks for sharing!

[Shiver]

116. Vinick was based off the public perception of McCain

In no way were they actually alike.

By the way, with how everything else from the West Wing campaign mirrored the 2008 Primary and GE, was I the only one who got worried about Biden?

[PatSeg]

120. Shoot!

I hadn't really thought about that. I'm glad I wasn't thinking along those lines, I would have been even more of a basket case!

You're right, McCain was nothing like Vinick, who was actually a pretty cool guy. Too bad McCain didn't imitate more than the "veto pen" gesture.

[Shiver]

121. I wanted Vinick to win for a good portion of the season

And from what I heard, he was supposed to. After John Spencer died, though, they changed it, because they thought that Santos losing both the election and his vice-president would be too much.

I was really worried about Biden for several hours on election night, so yeah, be glad it wasn't on your mind :P

[PatSeg]

123. That's interesting

It would have been more realistic if Vinick had won. Santos was a terrible candidate.

It is hard now rewatching the scenes with John Spencer, knowing he doesn't make it the end of the series. How sad that must have been for the rest of the cast.

[question everything]

138. Some compared Santos offering Vinick to be Secretary of State

to Obama doing to same with Clinton. They even ran a clip of that segement. (May have been CNN, not sure).

[Norrin Radd]

77. Perhaps you should write scripts based on your experiences?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

80. Wanna know something funny?

Back in the old days - the eighties - I wrote for "Miami Vice," and when Michael Mann's protege, Dick Wolf, stepped out to do his own shows, he was kind enough to hire me for some work during his "Law and Order" show's first two seasons. Ultimately, I stopped doing it because it stopped being fun, but one of the problems I had with this spectacular drama - and it's really a wonderful show - was that it had no way to show the funny side of the practice of law.

They also became unbearably (for me) politically correct.

Now, I write novels, but, strangely, I've never written about my own legal escapades. Maybe that's next?

[Norrin Radd]

115. With this show gone, seems like there is a vacuum you might fill.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

125. There's no market

ABC never promoted "Boston Legal," as the actors mentioned in the final scene. They're pitching reality shows and stupid half-hour sitcoms.

The networks are clueless.

Strangely, the Fox Network has brought along "House," which is, I believe, the best show on TV right now, and one of the best ever. Fox, of all places.

[PatSeg]

127. FOX does that now and then

but they usually cancel the good ones after one season! How "House" survived is a mystery.

Of course, I'm still amazed that Boston Legal lasted on ABC for this long. Some of their episodes were so blatantly liberal and anti-Bush, I am stunned that ABC didn't yank them.

[NYCGirl]

4. Bill Shatner has an interview show on Biography Channel so I think maybe he's

done with Boston Legal.

(He's a wonderful interviewer, BTW.)

http://www.biography.com/shatner/

[PatSeg]

7. Yeah, I saw that

He was surprisingly good!

His role on Boston Legal was priceless. I'm quite sure he'll miss "Denny Crane". Kelley comes up with the most original characters I've ever seen on TV. I fell in love with him back with Chicago Hope (another show canceled before its time).

[JitterbugPerfume]

92. Boston Legal and Chicago Hope

two of the best TV has had to offer

dammit

[PatSeg]

99. We loved Chicago Hope

Never could get into ER and didn't understand how it lived on and Chicago Hope got the ax. Of course it appeared Chicago Hope was having a lot of problems; lost Mandy Patinkin and probably some writers, as the quality of the scripts started to degrade.

[JitterbugPerfume]

108. I couldn't get into ER either

It just was not of the same quality

I loved Mandy Patinkins character, bigger than life and twice as dramatic!

[PatSeg]

111. Great character!

And he sang too. Kelley creates some of the most original characters on TV. Alan Shore and Denny Crane, there's no one on TV like them.

ER was so frenetic, like Chicago Hope on speed, but with no character development or storyline.

[question everything]

139. And Picket Fences

Another Kelley's. The episodes often ended with the judge delivering his verdict and a speech, pretty much in line of what Alan Shore has been doing.

[Subdivisions]

26. His new show "Shatner's Raw Nerve" on Biography Channel is

excellent. I've seen him interview Valerie Bertinellin and Tim Allen so far. He'll be interviewing adult film star Jenna Jamieson and Jimmy Kimmel tonite.

This is perhaps the best interview program I've ever seen. Simply excellent.

[HeeBGBz]

81. Thanks for the heads up on that. I love Shatner

I was sad to see BL cancelled. I enjoyed all the characters so much.

[merh]

30. I'm bummed - I don't get Biography channel.

:(

[PatSeg]

34. You can watch it online

http://www.biography.com/shatner/episode-guide.jsp

Shatner really surprised me. I would have never seen him as a talk show personality and the show is very different. It comes across as very intimate and personal.

[merh]

69. wonderful!

thank you for the link :woohoo:

I think Shatner is great.

[merh]

70. dang it, those are just 1 min preview clips.

:(

[PatSeg]

73. Oh crap!

That wasn't very nice of them. Maybe they'll have the full shows online eventually. I'll keep my eye out.

[merh]

75. they are teasers, that's for sure

thanks for the link - please do let me know if you see they will be on line in toto

[PatSeg]

76. I will

Its not nice to tease people like that!

[NYCGirl]

86. Neither do we in NYC, but they show replays early weekend mornings on A&E

(if you have that). My TiVo is getting those for me, since 7AM on Saturday is too early!

[merh]

107. I need to check the A&E programming schedule here to

find out if they rebroadcast it and when.

:woohoo: I might get to watch the full interviews after all. Thanks for the tip.

[YOY]

5. But I bet they're keeping the give a house away show..and CBS is keeping that rotten 5th grader pap.

As long as they don't cancel Jeopardy. All other game shows suck next to it. Keep asking the questions only smart people can answer Alex!

[PatSeg]

10. Reality shows are much cheaper to make

A point well made in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip that also got canceled because it was much too expensive to maintain until it got a wider audience.

[blue_onyx]

17. Well, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip ...

was also a bad show, IMO. I tried to get into it but the show was SOOOO boring. But I'm sure a large budget did play a part. That's why I knew Pushing Daisies would not make it too long (was it officially canceled?).

[PatSeg]

18. I started watching Studio 60

a few weeks before it got canceled. I'm really a jinx.

It was a bit difficult to get into to, but the writing was excellent and they had an amazing cast, part of why it was so expensive.

[Cleita]

20. I thought "Pushing Daisies" is airing new shows right now?

I don't watch it because I prefer to watch Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert at that time but I thought it had been renewed?

[PatSeg]

23. They are still airing new shows

but according to a post at IMDB.com, TV Guide confirmed that network executives said it was canceled.

[Cleita]

25. That's too bad.

I'm sure other people not as politically involved as me enjoyed it. I saw it a few times and thought it was charming.

[PatSeg]

27. At least that is one show

I didn't kill! I think I'd better not watch any shows until they've been on TV for five or more seasons.

[Mollis]

71. I'm so sad that got cancelled

It was my favorite show :(
There are still a few more episodes left, though.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

6. Excellent show ... Great finale! I'll miss it too. n/t

[Ian David]

8. Supposedly, it's because the cast wants to move on. n/t

[PatSeg]

11. According to the finale

it was more a network issue, though some of the cast had already moved on. Supposedly ABC never promoted the show from the very beginning. I'm surprised they kept it as long as it did.

[drbtg1]

131. True

ABC wanted to kill it last season, but brought it back to get it to the 100 episode mark, a plus for syndication.

[PatSeg]

136. Thanks

I didn't know that. It sure felt like they were getting the bum's rush at the end.

[MrsBrady]

83. that line always makes me laugh

actors want to be employed, not have to move on.

why do you think people stay on soaps for years and years...
steady work, home every night, etc..

[PatSeg]

89. Kind of like a politician

wanting to spend more "time with my family"!

[XemaSab]

118. Unless you had a certain role as an FBI agent on a wildly popular show in the 90's

which you abandoned to become a big time movie star. :eyes:

[Phred42]

12. nothing but cheap reality and talk shows

[Captain Hilts]

13. Television programming is supply driven, not demand-driven. nt

[PatSeg]

16. I agree

There is an audience for quality programming, but the networks promote and push the cheap crap.

[Yukari Yakumo]

147. They're lurking around the various niche channels on cable, not on network TV. {nt}

[butterfly77]

14. You said it...

I just discover it earlier this year and the actor who is best friends with Will Shatner's character is excellent. I was telling my son about the show and he said he enjoyed it too. Now I guess I will have to try to see it in reruns.

[PatSeg]

15. I've encountered a lot of people

who say they just recently discovered the show. I had watched a couple of episodes in the past, but never really got hooked until a few months ago. Clips of the show have been shown at DU and that got me motivated.

I've been watching it on ION and WGN. Sadly I think I'm almost up to date. I hope Kelley has a new show soon to fulfill my craving for original, intelligent TV.

[SoCalDem]

19. Good luck getting it on the air.

Networks don't care much anymore about quality programming.. CBS canceled a great show last year during the strike..Journeyman..It was a new take on "Quantum Leap"..with a sinister side to it.. It was just getting really good..and gone..

I watch mostly shows on "non-major" networks these days..

Eureka...Mad Men...Burn Notice...Starter Wife....Monk...Psych....Rescue Me....In Plain Sight...Dexter...Brotherhood...Secret Diary of a Call Girl... Californication...Weeds....Big Love..and BBC stuff & PBS too..

About the only stuff I still even watch on regualr tv is Dave & Craig..Desperate Housewives & Law & Order..

[PatSeg]

21. I remember that show

I didn't realize it got canceled.

Lately, most of the really good shows are on basic cable or HBO. I rarely watch network TV anymore.

One of my favorite new shows is Mad Men - who would have thought AMC would come up with an award winning show? The networks are all becoming FOX-like. Bizarre.

[SoCalDem]

22. Oooh I forgot that one.. gotta add it now.. n/t

[PatSeg]

24. Great Stuff!

I've never seen anything quite like on TV.

[lildreamer316]

29. BURN NOTICE. ooooooooo. Love it.

Such quick wit and great action without it feeling gratuitus.
Love Psych too. Laugh out loud funny.

[PatSeg]

33. I've just started on that one

but haven't gotten into it yet. I have the first season on DVD. Once I've caught up with Boston Legal (very soon), I'll dig into Burn Notice. It will be nice to get away from politics for a while.

[SoCalDem]

42. It starts back up in a few weeks.. so does Damages..(forgot that one too)

I'll never forgive Showtime for canceling "Dead Like Me"..or HBO for killing off "Deadwood" in lieu of that atrocious "John, from Cincinnati"..

[PatSeg]

53. "John from Cincinnati"

was one of the few losers for HBO. What an awful show! What on earth were they thinking?

[Eurobabe]

85. Damages, yessssssssssss

that was a wicked show! :thumbsup:

I also heard that Breaking Bad on AMC is coming on again after the first of the year?

AMC has had some killer series: Mad Men, Breaking Bad...

[question everything]

141. Add damages to your list, when it comes back. On A&E (nt)

[OneGrassRoot]

31. I just discovered it recently as well, and tape the IONS and WGN....

airings. I figure by the time I am caught up and have seen all the episodes, my own short-term memory deficit will allow me to start watching them all over again, as if I've never seen them!

There are benefits to having lousy short-term memory. ;)

Brilliant show. Best ever, IMHO.

[PatSeg]

35. Same here

I'm rewatching West Wing and it has been long enough that a lot of episodes are new again. Also any show with a lot of intelligent dialog can be watched numerous times. I tend to pick up on things I've missed before.

I think if ABC had promoted this show from the beginning, a lot of us would have started watching it sooner.

[peekaloo]

78. The ION shows are edited. Maybe that applies for all the syndicated ones.

Still funny and doesn't really detract from the storyline of each ep but the occasional naughty word/line and bottom burps are gone. ;-)

It was a fun ride while it lasted.

[Cetacea]

28. I always thought the lack of PR was odd.

Great show, and one of the few I have watched in many years.

[PatSeg]

36. The politics were so opposite

of ABC's, I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did. I guess they hoped it would die of natural causes.

[SammyWinstonJack]

32. And replaced it with yet another scummy 'reality' show.

:banghead:

[PatSeg]

37. I hate reality shows

It really scares me that these shows have such a big audience.

[SammyWinstonJack]

40. I hate them too. NBC canceled "My Own Worst Enemy"

x( I was just getting into watching that show and really enjoyed it. NBC canceled "American Dreams". ABC canceled "October Road", and now "Boston Legal" all good shows. Seems every time I get hooked on a show, the network cancels it. :argh:

[PatSeg]

41. For us, it used to just be FOX

Whenever they aired a new show that we really like, it rarely lasted one season. Now it is all the networks. I have HBO and it helps keep me sane. They actually take chances and air original, often controversial programs.

[SammyWinstonJack]

46. HBO and Showtime have great original programs, well worth the price.

[PatSeg]

51. I love HBO

I like Showtime, but HBO has had more high quality shows and original movies in my opinion. They tend to dominate the Emmys every year and with good reason.

[Sebastian Doyle]

44. Well that was dumb of them.

Why would they cancel "My Worst Enemy" NOW, when there's actually a chance for it to find an audience with Boston Legal gone? NBC's not going to have any 10:00 shows except for the human chin next season, but they could always move it to another night.

[SammyWinstonJack]

45. We DVR'd "My Own Worst Enemy" so we could watch "Boston Legal"

That was my thought as well, now "MOWE" will have a chance and the morons at NBC cancel it. x(

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

62. Blue State, I'm STILL pissed at NBC for cancelling "American Dreams."

Plus, they never did give us our series finale.

I watched all the DVDs of Season 1 this past weekend. They never did come out with Seasons 2 and 3 on DVD. Grrr...

[SammyWinstonJack]

87. Yes, so am I!

:grr:

[question everything]

142. It was kinda a finale, when she joined her friend

running away from home, and the draft.

Once NBC canceled the West Wing and American Dreams I have not watched anything on NBC, except recently SNL.

[Sebastian Doyle]

38. I think the networks are giving up on any TV shows that actually require writing material

Especially in the 10:00 hour. ABC's going to run three hours of so called reality crap in prime time now?

NBC's giving the 10:00 hour over to a cloned Tonight Show every night of the week?

CBS doesn't have anything worth watching as it is anyway. Network TV is truly dead.

[PatSeg]

39. Yeah, its pretty sad

I can count on one hand the shows I watch on Network TV and now it is one less.

[Sebastian Doyle]

43. Yeah, same here.

And some of the others I watch on occasion would be "ER" also in its last season, and "Lost" which is already scheduled to be done next year. I guess there's still "Heroes", but even that hasn't been as good this year. :(

[PatSeg]

47. I haven't watched Heroes

and have been tempted to rent it, but I'm afraid I might kill it!!!

The only network show left that I watch is "Life" on NBC. The first season was good, but its getting a bit stale already. Back to cable! SciFi channel has a lot of good original programming and I'm looking forward to the final season of Battlestar Galactica. You'd never seen anything like that on Network TV.

[SammyWinstonJack]

50. I can't wait for "BG" to start back up. It's a great show!

[PatSeg]

54. Exceptionally good program

and it got off to a really sluggish start. If it had aired on network TV, it would have been canceled before the first season was over. I guess we should be grateful that there are still good programs being made. They can afford it on cable because they play the shows many times and then put them on DVD. It works out to our advantage.

[SammyWinstonJack]

55. FX has some good original programs, so does TNT

"Rescue Me" and "Damages" on FX are good shows. "Leverage" on TNT with Tim Hutton looks like it might be a good one to watch. You're right, these cable networks tend to take risk that network TV are unwilling too. 'reality' TV is more their style, it would seem. x(

[PatSeg]

58. I loved Rescue Me in the beginning

but then it turned into a soap opera, which is too bad. For a while there, he really captured life in the Fire House in a big city.

I've seen promos for Leverage - maybe I'll give that one a try.

[JitterbugPerfume]

97. Battlestar Galactica is awesome!

[SammyWinstonJack]

49. Apparently "My Own Worst Enemy" took a hit because "Heroes" has been lagging in ratings this yr.

:shrug:

[Exilednight]

59. It is sad to see this show go, but the fact is that it had lousy ratings. I don't blame the .......

network for pulling plug. In fact, I am surprised that they kept it as long as they did. It's really not ABCs fault that the show had lousy ratings, they tried everything to get people to watch it, especially after winning several Emmys. What this really proves is the fact that America can not handle a smart and intelligent show for any length of time. Several shows, most of which are NBC properties, outlived their rating success. Yet, American Idol is on what; it's seventh or eighth season and continues to set rating records?

Don't blame the networks. There in this to make money. Blame the people who prefer to remain "dumbed down".

[PatSeg]

61. People from Boston Legal

claim that the network never really promoted the show and they got a little dig in during the final episode, saying as much. I don't recall seeing the show advertised. I watched it because of clips I saw here at DU and because a few people I know had recommended it.

As a lot of people have observed, network TV is turning into all reality shows, all the time! They are much cheaper to make for them. That's okay, we've still got cable!

[Exilednight]

63. I saw commercials for every season except for this one. They really did go out of their way .......

to promote it. I think ABC believed that their Emmy success would help propel the show to higher ratings. In its first season, it was continually in the top ten, but by season two it had began to slip, and continued to do so.

I agree about reality television, but I find very little in the way of quality television on cable. I use to like Bravo, but they went the route of reality TV. USA is all Law & Order all the time. TNT is nothing but overblown machismo. F/X has some decent programming, but anything worth watching is on pretty late at night. Discovery channel was pretty cool for a while, but then they went the do-it-yourself route, along with TLC. Showtime has pretty good programming. HBO has canceled all their good shows.

To be honest, I pretty much only watch cable news or PBS, and the occasional history channel special.

[PatSeg]

66. Being I really don't watch ABC as a rule,

I guess I wouldn't have known about the advertising. Evidently there are some bitter feelings from the Boston Legal side towards ABC.

I was just commenting recently how stations like Bravo and A&E used have more high-brow programming and now they've gone with a lot of reality trash as well. Even the History Channel has some tabloid crap. I think the industry is now on Reality Overload and may actually start looking for some new ideas. How many of these shows can the market absorb?

HBO still has some great original movies and I know, if something new and creative comes out, there's a good chance it will be on HBO.

PBS always has Frontline and American Experience, consistently good shows!

[mwb970]

79. I guess this isn't the place to say that I tried it twice and didn't like it.

:hide:

[PatSeg]

94. What?!?!?

Just kidding. Actually I'd tried it a couple of times two years ago and it just didn't click. I guess I started off with the wrong episodes. Later I saw clips here that really grabbed me so I gave it another shot. This time it took. It could be because I was able to start from the first episode, not sure.

[mwb970]

130. I've been blaming the "wrong episodes" theory.

Whenever I try to get someone interested in a show and they actually watch it, it's always some unrepresentative episode that they end up not liking! I do remember being struck by how improbably attractive all of the lawyer types on BL were - it made it hard for me to believe that they were lawyers. In fact, for the first half hour of the first one I watched, I assumed it was a spoof of "legal" shows and was (somewhat) enjoying it as such, but it turned out that it's not a spoof. (Or is it?)

Another factor is that I don't usually care for drama shows, although I do love Battlestar Galactica and consider it to be the best show on TV. I'm sure there are those who find that show improbable!

[PatSeg]

133. I understand exactly what you're talking about

So much depends where you come in on the show, which is why it probably took me several tries before I got hooked. It did bother me that there were all kinds of guys in the show, but the women were all thin and pretty in the beginning.

The show does have a "spoof" feel to it, as well as some compelling drama, but once I tried watching the show from the beginning, I was comfortable with the style.

Battlestar Galactica is exceptional television. Can't wait for it to come back in January.

[valerief]

60. Probably the best series on network teevee. Hell, network or cable teevee!

It should live on in syndication.

[Exilednight]

64. Hopefully syndicated TV doesn't kill this show like they Bravo did with the West Wing ........

I love the West Wing, but even I thought that four hours a day was a bit too much.

[davidpdx]

65. At least the show had a good run

Five years isn't bad. There are tons of shows that got canceled after one or two seasons that really pissed me off.

Standoff
Shark

And the one that will piss me off FOREVER...

Joan of Arcadia

Les Moonves is a ******* idiot for canceling that show.

[PatSeg]

67. The one that pisses me off FOREVER

is probably Firefly. It didn't even make it to a full season, FOX played the episodes out of order, moved it all over the week, and did not promote it.

You're right, five years isn't bad. At least they went out before it got really stale and redundant. Its just I thought they would get a full season. I didn't know last night was going to be the END.

[Luciferous]

72. ABC sucks

I quit watching them when they canceled October Road and replaced it with such lovely shows as "I survived a Japanese game show" WTF is that crap?! I don't even bother watching TV anymore.

[PatSeg]

74. I boycotted them

when they canceled Politically Incorrect. I drifted back to watch The Job with Denis Leary, then they canceled that, too edgy evidently. Both times I wrote them in protest, vowing never to return. They lured me back with Boston Legal, now I no longer have any reason to watch them.

"I survived a Japanese game show"??? Sounds like an SNL skit. I think the networks have gone bi-polar.

[SammyWinstonJack]

88. "October Road" was a very good show, still mad at them for canceling that!

x(

[PatSeg]

68. Article from the Boston Globe about the finale

Major spoiler alert!!!!

http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/blog/2008/12/39boston_legal.html

[HeeBGBz]

82. The series finale was great

I hope some other network picks it up or creates a spinoff.

[PatSeg]

102. That was what the characters implied

that they wanted at the end of the show. We can always hope!

[Mudoria]

84. When I think of networks that cancel good shows I always

think of The Sci-Fi channel: Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, Farscape etc etc. My friend refers the the Sci-Fi channel as the channel "where science fiction shows go to die". I'm still trying to get my mind around the concept that the Sc-Fi channel has programming like "Estate of Panic", 'Cha$e", "Scare Tactics" and ..... ECW. ECW wrestling??? wtf.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

90. They better not touch "Lost." I'd be pissed.

It's sad how many good scripted shows have been scrapped in favor of reality trash these days.

[Initech]

93. As far as LOST goes...

JJ Abrams himself has stated that the show will probably end after the sixth season. They said they wanted LOST to have a clear beginning, a clear middle, and a clear end. They dont want it to become stale and I respect that. I think that is why Arrested Development was so brilliant was that it had all those things.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

98. Yeah, I think that has saved the show, both ratings-wise and creativity-wise.

Arrested Development--now that was a great show. It could have probably had 2-3 more seasons at its top notch level, but it did go out on top.

[Initech]

100. I hope they do the same for "Heroes".

I love that show. Cant wait for the third season DVDs.

[XemaSab]

122. I'm glad to hear that "Lost" has been planned out from the beginning

I've had a few favorite shows in years past that didn't seem to know where they were going, and I was reluctant to start watching Lost in case it wound up like those OTHER shows I really liked that died long, painful deaths with no clear resolution.

I'll say this: I think more shows should be designed to last only two or three seasons, and have the whole story planned out from the beginning. Networks should (perhaps after a pilot show) approve either the full two or three seasons, or just bin the concept.

This also seems like a good time to say I'M NOT A FAN OF REALITY SHOWS!!!! (Except Project Runway :hide:)

[PatSeg]

124. I was always concerned that "Lost" was going

the way of X-Files, which ended up all over the place with no coherent vision. I almost gave up on "Lost" as I thought that was what I was seeing for a while there.

[Initech]

128. I agree.

I mean look at what happens when perfectly good shows get dragged out over many, many seasons (*COUGH* Simpsons *COUGH* *COUGH*). I like it better when they have things planned out from the beginning, like The Shield or Arrested Development, or pretty much anything on HBO. That is a better way to do a show.

Actually a better way to do things would be to have fewer episodes and then show the seasons at different times of the year like USA does. Then you dont have networks saving their best episodes for a certain time of the year.

[PatSeg]

129. Or take a really great storyline

that is too complex and lengthy for a movie, but not enough story for several years, and make it into a mini-series. I'd love to see more mini-series and I'm glad that HBO has made that format popular again.

[Regret My New Name]

140. I think this is Lost's last season.

In fact, I believe they wanted last season to be the last one but ABC wanted it around for another two seasons, and that's why the last season and this one is so short. At least, I could have sworn I read that somewhere. I might have dreamed it up or something... I have weird dreams. Like this one time I was in this giant pool of cream cheese and there this talking octopus wearing a... Actually, I don't think I'm going to get into this anymore than I already have,

[Initech]

95. All the major networks suck now.

Good TV shows are being trashed in favor of shitty reality shows like Dancing With The Stars. That's why I love buying the shows on DVD so I dont have to worry about that crap. I keep meaning to check out Boston Legal but haven't had a chance yet.

[PatSeg]

104. Yep, they're going for the cheapest alternative

This became very obvious during the Emmys when obscure cable stations and HBO took home most of the awards. In order to include the networks, they had to create a new reality category! How pathetic.

Now NBC has another "cheap" option - put Leno on during prime time, five nights a week. So much cheaper than five series and it will air all year long. Oh well, better than another reality show.

[Initech]

112. Yeah, that really pisses me off.

I think Leno REALLY screwed over Conan by doing that. Fuck him.

[PatSeg]

117. NBC must have made Leno an offer he couldn't

refuse. I figure his salary must be out of sight, being they don't have to pay the cost of a REAL prime time show.

Yesterday, Leno said people just don't stay up as late as they used to, which is probably true.

[DevonRex]

96. I haven't watched a single show on ABC since that "debate" in the spring.

And I really, really missed watching Boston Legal, too.

I wish another network would pick it up because I absolutely loved it.

[PatSeg]

103. I'm watching the reruns

in syndication, ION and WGN. It is on another channel as well. It shouldn't take long for the more recent episodes to hit syndication.

[DevonRex]

105. I've done that too, when I remember it. I need to set up a reminder

so I don't miss any. Even the ones I've seen are worth watching again. I absolutely love the relationship between Alan and Denny. Even without all the great political stuff the show would be worth watching, just for them.

[PatSeg]

113. I've never seen a friendship quite like it on TV

It is totally unique and endlessly fascinating. They are complete opposites, yet touchingly devoted to one another.

[JitterbugPerfume]

101. I loved Jerico too

I am the kiss of death as far as TV shows go . If they touch Ugly Betty I am FINISHED

[Blue_Roses]

106. are you serious?

:wow: that is my favorite show! What the hell?

[PatSeg]

114. Caught me off guard

I've been watching it every week and I didn't see anything to indicate that it was ending so soon. I only knew this was the last season.

Also, a lot of the regular cast members weren't in the finale, which I thought was rather odd.

[ceile]

109. I'm waiting for them to cancel "Life on Mars"

Best new show this season, I think. So of course it's probably on the chopping block. Wasn't "Swingtown" on ABC? Another great show that only got one season....

[drbtg1]

132. Swingtown was on CBS

n/t

[question everything]

145. Not cancelled, yet, going on hiatus

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=50706

Will come back in mid January and will air after Lost which makes sense and will give it a good lead=in.

[question everything]

110. Sooo which moderator did you cozy to keep this thread on GD

instead of banishing it to the Lounge?

:banghead:

[PatSeg]

119. Boston Legal is a very political show

If I hadn't seen videos and posts about it here in the past, I wouldn't have been motivated to start a thread about it. I figured there were a lot of people out there that cared about the show and some who didn't know it had ended.

[question everything]

135. I know that and you know that but, apparaently, some moderators

are clueless.

[PatSeg]

137. And that is understandable

Anyone not familiar with Boston Legal would not know that it is very timely and political, with a strong liberal bias. They might think it is just another courtroom drama show. I know I did until I saw a couple of clips that blew me away. One of them was the first Supreme Court hearing that was posted here not long ago.

[El Fuego]

126. Life on Mars is safe, for now. IT'S THE BEST SHOW ON TV!!!!

It's on hiatus and will return in January to a new time slot after Lost.

[ceile]

134. Sweet!

I love that show.

[brooklynite]

143. They contacted me about using my house for exteriors...

...so I assume they'll be in production for the foreseeable future.

[AntiFascist]

144. I'll bet it was due to the pharmaceutical industry...

the show was constantly raking them over the coals, even in the final episode. Didn't an ABC exec say he was embarassed by the show?

[PatSeg]

146. I was amazed at what they got away with

and the putdowns on the pharmaceutical industry was incredible. I don't think anyone advertises on TV more than drug companies. I wonder how they got any sponsors. They really should have been on HBO.