<p>In Les Moonves’ perfect world, everyone would be between the ages of 18-49, and no one would thaink. There would be no philosphy, no literature, and no God. Rather, there would be busty blondes, “Thriller”-esque zombies, and lots of sensationalist murders. Thank God, life isn’t run by CBS.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, CBS cancelled Joan of Arcadia. The reason? “We thought talking to ghosts would skew younger than talking to God.” And you know what’s sad? He’s probably right. Who needs Hegel and Howards End when you can see Jennifer Love Hewiett? Who needs a show that questions God and man when you can see a show that questions how many ways a zombie can appear? Who needs actors with Oscars and Emmies and praise galore when you can have eye-candy intead? Well, I do.</p>
<p>Joan of Arcadia is one of the two shows I can credit with influencing my life (the other being The Simpson in its glory days of my youth). I was dead-set on hating it from day one and if not for a random act of fate (or was it divine guidance?) that literally changed the way I viewed the show-and God, I would probably be dancing on Joan’s grave instead of weeping beside it. Even when the show faltered and stumbled in its second season (Ironically, in attempts to catch younger viewrs.), it still should head and shoulders above the rest. Because, you see, watching Joan was-is-about learning. Not the I23’s and ABC’s learning of School House Rock but refining and redefining what you believed. It was about faith and silence, betrayal and pride, life and death, what is sane and what is insane, and so many other things I cannot tell you know. It was about seeing how far your actions could reach and about questions that doesn’t have answers. Nothing in Joan was ever as simple as it seemed-a teenage breakup became in allegory on guilt and innonence, a juggling ball a symbol of sorrow. Never did an episode leave me without something to ponder or a new way to look at life. I didn’t always agree, but I wasn’t supposed to. Barbara Hall did not create this show to make everyone happy-she created it to make them outraged or sad or introspective or active. She created it to make them think-and it did.</p>
<p>I admit I watch CSI (including the horrible spin-off in Miami) and a reality show or two, but I also admit that they really don’t matter. Those shows can be fun and thrilling, but they cannot be great. And I take solace in the fact that long after Jerry Bruckhemier has fallen from his golden podium and America has forsaken his CSIs, the ripples Joan created will still be spanning outward in unrecongiziable and unknown ways.</p>
<p>Thank you, God, that Joan Girardi didn’t talk to Les Moonves.</p>
<p>wolfpiper, I feel your pain, though I’ve never seen “Joan of Arcadia.” My heart was broken many times in my youth by boneheaded programming decisions. The contempt network executives feel for the American public can’t be overstated.</p>
<p>As a high school and college student, I’d wish that something would happen to loosen the death grip held by the major networks on American culture - and lo and behold, something did! Cable programming has cut profoundly into network revenues and ratings, marginalizing Moonves and his ilk. “Joan” may well show up in a new incarnation on cable (I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you).</p>
<p>I’ll admit I’m ancient enough to hope for good things for Amber Tamblyn because of the crush I had on her Dad when I was younger. In case you didn’t know, Russ Tamblyn was a child actor in the 1950s and had some terrific roles as a young man in movie musicals. You can check him out on DVD in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and as Riff in “West Side Story” (a perfect performance). Appropos of nothing, I realize, but my mind’s rambling this AM.</p>
<p>I, too, am sad to hear about Joan, and Jack & Bobby. They were both well-written, intelligent, thought-provoking shows which were far more real than any reality series on tv. Unfortunately, this type of programming decision is nothing new. One of my favorite series of all time suffered a similar fate back in the late 80’s. Anyone remember A Year in the Life? It took place in Seattle and starred Richard Kiley and Sarah Jessica Parker before she became a household name. Great show.</p>
<p>I heard on the radio earlier this week that 35 million people voted Tuesday night for American Idol, and I forget the total number of votes cast this season but it dwarfed the number who voted in the presidential election in November. This struck me with the thought that I guess it’s not surprising what is successful on tv, nor with who won the election. ;)</p>
<p>What I find frustrating is how the cancelled shows are selected for cancellation. I have a close friend who is a far right conservative, and he adhers completely to the values of competition and market forces. He says if more people watched a certain TV show, it would stay on. </p>
<p>But he’s totally wrong. It’s not the ratings - i.e., number of households watching a show - it’s the demographics. So if 500 20-year-olds watch a show, the show will have more chance of staying on the air than if 750 50-year-olds watch the show. So basically, anyone over the age of 45 doesn’t count. That really annoys me.</p>
<p>That’s because the sponsors covet the younger viewers. The younger viewers are more likely to be influenced by the latest buzz and run out and spend huge amounts of diposable income on the latest hot nonsense. Us ol’ folks over 50 are just too old and set in our ways for them to care about us. We are putting kids through college and saving up for retirement, so we are far less likely to run out and buy a three-armed sweater just because we saw one in a Gap commercial.</p>
<p>in febuary, my favorite music station was taken off the air in philadelphia… they said the same thing… not enough listeners… not making enough money… and they replaced it with something that’s making a lot LESS. they replaced a great rock station with a rap station… and it’s not even a good rap station. the rock station has since re-created itself on the internet, and an online petition was started. in two months over 65,000 people signed it… i guess only time shall tell what will come of their online version.</p>
<p>so, it’s not just TV… it’s all sorts of media ;(</p>
<p>(i don’t watch tv, and actually have never heard of your show, but it’s still dissapointing to see things leave like that… just as my radio station)</p>
<p>Joan of Arcadia was the only TV show that my wife and I regularly watch together, so for that reason I am sorry to see it go, and I am annoyed at the reason it was cancelled. But, the show seems to have run its course. Some of the recent episodes felt strained to me and I was getting a little tired of watching 20 something actors pretending to be high school students. She should be graduating from high school now anyway! :)</p>
<p>But don’t worry! I believe we will soon be able to watch a new “reality” show starring Britney Spears and her new husband! How sick is that?</p>
<p>Even sicker…? I have heard that people are bidding on Britney Spears’ positive pregnancy test that a maid found. That has got to be one of the most disgusting things I have ever heard! What is the winner going to do with it? Frame it and brag about it to all his friends? Honestly, that is gross!</p>
<p>Sickest of all, I think, will be the inevitable “How to Raise Your Child Right” by Britney and Kevin. Watch for it at the top of the bestseller list in a year or so.</p>
<p>Yes I remember a year in the Life. Another wonderful show that fell by the wayside. I remember also when SJP played a new attorney on Equal Justice. I am sorry to see Joan of Arcadia go off the air. What a week it has been. Rory Gilmore leaving Yale, what will they talk about next year, now Joan. I really wanted to see what her college process was going to be.</p>
<p>Down to my last 2 guilty pleasures: Desperate Housewives and Greys Anatomy</p>
<p>Haven’t watched a regular TV show since the end of “Twin Peaks.”</p>
<p>CSI’s, 24, NYPD, Raymond, Friends, Cheers, Seventh Heaven, South Park, West Wing, Sex and the City…never seen a one of them. Fortunately, I get the gist of some by reading MAD Magazine. The last two are the two that might tempt me the most, given the opinions of friends whose taste I respect.</p>
<p>Mr.B, anent disposable income, hearing the D complain about how fast her paycheck disappears is almost knee-slapping funny. At least she’s doing consistent savings.</p>
<p>However, I’d gotten an unexpected $100 during the year and sent it to her for “whatever.” She held on to it and blew it at Bloomingdale’s in NYC last week.</p>
<p>TheDad,
Go out and treat yourself to the first season DVD set of West Wing. Smartest show on TV, and the early seasons are the best. I guarantee you will not be able to watch an episode of it and multi-task at the same time. You and your D would love watching it together (if she plans to come home this summer).</p>
<p>Zippy, a thinking dudes daily comic, has been canceled twice by the Washington Post, to substitute for other “newer” comics. E-mails by many have brought my favorite pin-head back.</p>
<p>A good way to watch a series like West Wing is on DVD from the public library…Then if you like it you can find the other seasons. </p>
<p>I remember when my daughter got her first paycheck and she said, “Social Security, why are they taking it out of MY CHECK!” The first pay check can turn liberals into conservatives when they read the stub.</p>