Episode 47: Prayers For the Dying (Saving Cancelled Shows)

In Defense Of

We never want to see a good tale come to an end, though we know that even "The Neverending Story" had to roll credits at some point. We live in a time when sequels, prequels, and extended universe content is more the norm than the novelty, and with our television programming, countless networks and distribution sources, we expect hit programs to get a long, healthy run, and for creators and showrunners to be able to share their ideas in full, to a logical and natural conclusion that leaves viewers satisfied. Life, however, runs on a very different set of production notes. Every viewer, every fan who has ever gotten invested in a television series likely knows the pain felt when word comes that the host network has decided to cancel a show before it reaches a narrative conclusion they are happy with. In many cases, the dedication to the program is such that no conclusion exists where they would be happy -- they'd prefer to see the actors suspended from aging, and live out their roles forever. But the fact remains that executive decisions (and at times, extenuating circumstances) come about that halt fan-loved series too soon. Sometimes they are given the remainder of their season to complete the narrative. Sometimes, the axe falls faster. What is a fan to do? Podcast host Josh Liston of joins us to discuss how fans react, and even rally to save programs slated for cancellation.