NBC Cancels AWAKE, ARE YOU THERE CHELSEA?, HARRY’S LAW, BEST FRIENDS FOREVER, and BENT

by     Posted 1 year, 36 days ago

awake-slice

Though we’ve been reporting on a bunch of very exciting pick-ups over the past 24 hours (including Community and Parks and Recreation), NBC has given the axe to a few of its freshman series.  The most high profile cancellation is the Jason Isaacs-fronted drama Awake.  The show, from Lone Star creator Kyle Killen and Homeland’s Howard Gordon, got off to a great star with a stellar pilot, but quickly spiraled into boring procedural territory.  I found the premise—a man is living two realities, one in which his son survived a car crash and one in which his wife survived—to be incredibly promising, but for some reason producers decided to rely heavily on the procedural aspect of the show and inject an eyeball-rolling mythology.

Audiences weren’t buying it, and the ratings steadily declined over the ensuing weeks. Killen is undeniably talented, so hopefully he gets another shot next pilot season.  Hit the jump for news on other NBC cancellations.

kathy-bates-harrys-law-imageAdditionally, THR also reports that the network has given the axe to David E. Kelley’s legal drama Harry’s Law.  Starring Kathy Bates, the series is currently nearing the end of a 22-episode second season.  The ratings haven’t been terrible, but they’re not up to par with the kind of hour-long dramas that NBC used to enjoy during the heyday of ER and The West Wing.  Most likely, the decision was made to make way for some other promising new drama series.

Cancellation news regarding the other shows that NBC decided to nix (per TV Line) didn’t exactly come as a surprise either. Chelsea Handler’s unfunny comedy Are You There Chelsea? will be no more, and I’m fairly certain I’ve never seen a promo for the other two shows, Best Friends Forever and Bent, in my life.  For some reason, NBC decided to renew the truly awful comedy Whitney, so I guess the network hasn’t entirely given up their dream of remaining in fourth place forever. I can’t say I’m particularly upset at any of these cancellations, and I’m thrilled that Community and Parks and Rec are returning.

Be sure to check back next week during the upfronts, as all the networks will be unveiling their fall schedules and announcing what new shows will be filling the void left by the aforementioned dearly departed series.

are-you-there-chelsea-image

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  • Phoenix

    Awake had a really interesting premise. I think it would’ve worked better as a short series.

    • dogg

      Great premise, good actors, but it never went anywhere. They should have been laying down plot points about the central mystery from episode 1 to hook viewers. This was yet ANOTHER example of writers wasting a season laying foundation instead of getting on with it.

  • Anarvin

    Adam, be honest, how many episodes of Awake did you see? Becouse I have to agree with you on procedural thing in SOME episodes, but other episodes were pretty amazing. And I cant agree with you about mythology. There is almost none.

  • Elitist Prick

    Yeah, Awake was this season’s poster boy for “wasted potential.” It would have done much better on cable and had not been subjected to the requirements of a procedural drama. The result was something unsatisfying as both a serialized show and a procedural. It made me sad.

  • nelson

    oh please

    Awake is probably one of the best shows currently on

    last nights episode was phenomenal

    as i expected Americans are the ADD audience they cant sit down and watch a damn show unravel

    Awake is too good for main stream cable

  • Adam Isaretard

    shut up adam.

  • junierizzle

    Chelsea Chandler’s. Show being canceled is the best news Ive heard all day.

  • THomas K.

    NNNOOOOO!!!!

    Bent was fucking hilarious.
    So bummed right now.
    Honestly, check it out on Hulu.

    • George

      Tad Quill(creator of Bent) had a screening for Bent pilot on Tuesday for some SAG foundation event. So hopefully he’s willing to try the alternative of selling it to another network. TBS recently acquired CougarTown from from ABC Studios. They would be quite the pair next midseason.

  • Shaun

    Awake was an excellent show. I had a feeling that the plot was too complicated for the mindless drones that watch network television. The only reason I watched the show was because Jason Isaacs was the main character. He’s a very underrated actor. Had this show originally aired on AMC of even premium cable, it would have had a better chance of lasting. Those channels, for the most part, have a more intelligent demographic

  • Dan

    I think Bent was my second favorite new comedy of the year (second only to Suburgatory) I am so disappointed with how this show was handled. No advertisements, only allowed 3 hours of television time in three weeks, and was not released at the beginning of the season. The show was truly unique and funny, and I hope that it can be carried out on a network other than the graveyard to good comedy. NBC, you are becoming a failure.
    But thank God Community was renewed.

  • Strong Enough

    NOOO someone else has a different opinion than mine!

    oh no!

  • seriouslynoseriously

    I can;t believe they are cancelling Awake its a shame that b/co f these mindless stupid reality shows people cant expand their brains to actually watch something different that forces you to actually pay attention……a shame

    Cancelling Harry’s Law just as it is getting good…

    Why do networks start new plots when they know they are going to cancel a show….SMH TV is getting more & more disappointing…too many so-called funny shows that are just mindless crap about people doing stupid stuff…..or stupid reality shows and their spin-offs…

    • deka david

      You are sooo right about Harry’s Law. I am so dissappointed, and flabberghasted that Whitney is still here to give us all PTSD.I found new faith in believing a network would put a good program on for us that live in the real world and enjoy watching. All of us dont weigh 80 lbs. and can still be successful and enjoy programs that represent the way people really look , being all shapes, sizes and colors

  • SoulHonky

    You should check out “Bent” on Hulu; it’s actually pretty funny. I agree with you on “Awake”; it would have been better as a short one off series or mini-series.

  • Chris

    Awake was the best TV show I’ve ever seen. The Acting was so incredibly subtle and perfect it should win awards. Seriously. The story was incredibly deep on a psychological level as well as plot-level. The writing and even the cinematography was phenom.

    This is a sad commentary on the American audience that a show of this quality doesn’t at least get two seasons. Shame on us.

    • John

      I agree with you 100%. It was the best show on television. I am SO disappointed in NBC. What a sorry network.

  • Paul

    This show was amazing. Way to go NBC for ruining something great.

  • Nida

    After seeing the last episode of awake, I became more of a fan. I definitely need a conclusion to this!

  • Ettesoj

    I was excited when Awake previewed and have watched the entire season. Finally a show different from the mainstream. It’s thought provoking, intelligent and keeps your interest thoughout each episode. The acting is incredible, the writing far reaching. The writers have hit every emotional level, you feel for Micheal Britten you become involved in his story, and you want to help him choose the right life. The finale almost destroyed him, when he can’t get back to his son. What a shame NBC keeps choosing the wrong shows to cancel. This maybe a wake up call for them (pardon the pun), but I think they made a huge mistake.

  • Kevin

    It’s absolutely ridiculous that “Awake” is being canceled. I have been a fan since it premiered and it kept me coming back each week. Jason Issacs does an amazing job. The writing and camera work is something you rarely see on network TV. Guess we have to dumb everything down to the level of idiocy that currently gives ratings in this country. Now I see why one of my other favorites, Lost, had ratings drop every year. That show, like “Awake”, required you to have an I.Q. above 10. Yay, this just means more reality shows!

  • Slippert

    Why does NBC bother to develop new shows. They just cancel after their first season. I had said I would not watch another NBC show because of the way they cancel good shows too early but I got sucked into “Awake” and I love it and of course, it’s going to be gone. You SUCK NBC. Get a backbone or give up on tv shows and get on with your Reality TV station like you always do. You excel there and I don’t watch those. Let the other stations develop the shows. NBC is a reality tv station and nothing more.

  • TheNoodleFish

    I cannot even believe they’re cancelling Awake. It is currently the best long-form show on tv, the best show NBC has EVER produce, and they’re getting rid of it. This is reminiscent of Syfy network cancelling Stargate Universe, its best and most promising series.

    This is absolute foolishness. What the hell is the network thinking? Do they want to lose all of their viewership? I don’t watch anything on NBC except Awake, and I’m not alone in that. They produce show after show consisting of boring, repetitive plots, or dumb reality shows, or boring talent-less talent shows.

    I’m really thinking of petitioning them to keep this show. It’s that good.

  • HPSwami

    Many people I know (myself included) are now hesitant to invest in a high concept drama such as Awake because we don’t trust the network to keep it alive long enough to see it through to a satisfactory conclusion. These shows should come with some sort of minimum guarantee. I’m tired of having the rug pulled out from under me and no longer trust a major network with a show like Awake.

  • Gabe

    There’s already a petition going around for Awake to be continued. http://www.facebook.com/BringBackAwake <— like the facebook page and sign the petition! (link is on the page) NBC obviously got something wrong, we need members to show them!!!!

  • D

    Awake is/was a great show! It should not be cancelled. It is the only show I watch on T.V. and I look forward to Thursday nights because of it.

  • NEO

    I just started watching this show through hulu. When I first heard about it I wasn’t excited but when I began watching I was hooked!!! I wish Netflix would pick up Awake! I hear they are interested in picking up cancelled shows – fingers crossed!

  • Amy Zone

    I am so incredibly bummed about the cancellation of AWAKE. My husband and I were hooked. I think it was one of the most original and interesting shows on TV. Yes, I think it might have started out, for some, a bit difficult to follow, the premise of two worlds was a bit confusing, but after the 3rd episode it was just mesmerizing. So hope it gets picked up again…

  • Craig

    It always amazes me that one person can hate a show and another can love it. So I basically don’t care what anybody says about any show including Adam. I watch what I like and don’t watch what I don’t like and I don’t care about anybody else’s opinion. Also, I am glad Whitney is back for a second season. I like that show and I will watch it.

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