Good luck pitching a show to the Fox network in the near future because they’ve been canceling series–good series–all week. Yes, I realize we’re only at Wednesday but it’s been a blood bath the last two days. Late Tuesday night Fox ended any hopes for new seasons of crime procedural/dramas Chicago Code and Lie to Me. Earlier in the eveningHuman Targetand Breaking In were given their pink slips as well.
This was especially a frustrating year for Chicago Code showrunner Shawn Ryan (Shield) who produced two critically-acclaimed shows (FX’s Terriers being the other) but neither caught on with enough television viewers to satisfy their respected networks. Those who watched these shows knew that it was the quality of the writing or the acting that was holding it back. Usually, the challenge has been getting people to take a chance and commit to a full episode or two to be aware of the shows. Ryan is a common thread between the two shows as he was an executive producer and showrunner for the second season of Lie to Me.
Or maybe it was Jennifer Beals who was the kiss of death who was a regular cast member on Lie to Me as Zoe Landau for seasons 1 & 2 and moved over to star in Chicago Code as Teresa Colvin. She appeared to be out of her element as Chicago’s first female police superintendent but seriously the finger cannot be pointed to any one person, it’s just a signal to what mainstream TV audiences want to see-it’s clearly not original scripted television. The biggest shame is that we don’t get to see Jason Clarke as the riveting Detective Jarek Wysocki for more than the two final episodes that will air.
Lie to Me was the Tim Roth vehicle and psychological procedural that involved a doctor and his associates to assist federal investigations by interviewing tactics, reading body language and other facial and voice expressions. Lie to Melike many other Fox shows started well but slipped in the ratings in subsequent seasons. It just didn’t stick out far enough in the saturation of procedurals in network and cable television.
Soon Fox will be known as the safe house for animated comedies (The Simpsons, Family Guy, The Cleveland Show, American Dad, Bob’s Burgers) singing/talent shows (American Idol, Glee) and not much else. The only shows renewed that don’t fit either mold areRaising Hope, Bones, House and Fringe.
This was especially a frustrating year for Chicago Code showrunner Shawn Ryan (Shield) who produced two critically-acclaimed shows (FX’s Terriers being the other) but neither caught on with enough television viewers to satisfy their respected networks. Those who watched these shows knew that it was the quality of the writing or the acting that was holding it back. Usually, the challenge has been getting people to take a chance and commit to a full episode or two to be aware of the shows. Ryan is a common thread between the two shows as he was an executive producer and showrunner for the second season of Lie to Me.
Or maybe it was Jennifer Beals who was the kiss of death who was a regular cast member on Lie to Me as Zoe Landau for seasons 1 & 2 and moved over to star in Chicago Code as Teresa Colvin. She appeared to be out of her element as Chicago’s first female police superintendent but seriously the finger cannot be pointed to any one person, it’s just a signal to what mainstream TV audiences want to see-it’s clearly not original scripted television. The biggest shame is that we don’t get to see Jason Clarke as the riveting Detective Jarek Wysocki for more than the two final episodes that will air.
Soon Fox will be known as the safe house for animated comedies (The Simpsons, Family Guy, The Cleveland Show, American Dad, Bob’s Burgers) singing/talent shows (American Idol, Glee) and not much else. The only shows renewed that don’t fit either mold areRaising Hope, Bones, House and Fringe.
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