I’m wondering: Anyone out there psyched about the return of Kings to prime-time?
This low-rated but highly original show was a bomb for NBC (which is really saying something, given NBC’s ratings woes), yet it also attracted a pretty sizable cult following. Kings returned last week to a Saturday-night time period with its first new episodes since April. Tonight’s episode is directed by Akiva Goldsman, who’s written everything from the script for A Beautiful Mind to episodes of Fringe.
I hear that part of Kings‘ following is among viewers who like to track the parallels the series has with Old Testament characters and stories. Me, I keep checking it out because I like the acting.
How about you?
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My viewing for tonight: “Kings” (canceled, being burned off until NBC changes its mind again), “Primeval” (canceled, and I understand it ends on a massive cliffhanger) and “Eli Stone” (canceled, but might have some resolution?). And people wonder why I’m a nihilist.
I was taken in by ‘Kings’ right away, but started to lose interest after a while. My girlfriend and I spent a lot of time trying to figure out why. It had everything we loved, and even its occasional cliches or bad writing were qualities that didn’t turn us off from other shows.
I finally figured it out: humor. The show just doesn’t have enough of it. There are the two guards, clearly emulating Shakespearean fools, but they’re disconnected from the rest of the action.
Compare ‘Kings’ to ‘West Wing’. Whereas both have excellent performances and an epic scale, only Aaron Sorkin found a way to infuse even the weightiest moments with humor that both propelled the story and made you care about and relate to the characters. ‘Kings’ just hasn’t found that yet. The consequence: I don’t care enough to keep tuning in, and when I do, it sometimes feels plodding.
Still, it has some quality work, and I hope it comes together soon.
“Kings” is an all around great show. I don’t watch it for any other reason.
I, personally, have never watched it live. Occasionally on DVR, but most often on HULU, where I actually sit through the ads (As opposed to DVR where I fast forward and live TV where I get up and make a sandwich or turn to another channel).
The only thing that would be a legitimate viewership kill for this series is it’s sporadic airing by NBC. Even a fan like myself, loses track of it’s airing schedule, and it’s plot line and character archs and subsequently loses interest in the entire show and gives up.
The Nielsen system is even more irrelevant now than it has ever been, which is certainly not saying much as it never really was any kind of accurate sample of actual viewership.
NBC, I hope you’re listening….Do not give up on this show solely based on “low ratings” … do a little research and find out how many folks are actually watching.
I absolutely love this show. It’s a shame it was such a bomb, but really, I don’t think it ever had a chance. And frankly the premise always struck me as a better mini-series than a long running one.
I love this show! Viewers are so dumb, they don’t watch anything with quality. It’s just reality shows and stupid singing or dancing contests for morons and has-been losers. And networks no longer give shows a chance to build an audience — if you’re not an instant smash hit, they pull the plug. Shame on you, NBC. (But thanks for airing these episodes now, at least.)
I love this show. I watched it from the beginning. I read on a website that it was originally set to play in the Thursday time slot that ER was vacating, but then NBC prolonged ER by two or three episodes, so they stuck it on Sunday at 7p. They really weren’t behind this show from the beginning. What kind of time slot is Sunday at 7p? Instead of just waiting a couple of weeks, they stuck the new show Southland in the great Thursday time slot. Don’t get me wrong. I like Southland too, but Kings is way better. The characters are so great. There really isn’t a weak link in the bunch and there is so many things that they could do and places that they could have gone with this show. I was hoping someone like HBO or Showtime would pick it up and run with it to show how truly great it was, but I guess not. RIP Kings.
Great show! Great acting and a real story line. Not much to watch on tv and everything of substance is canceled. My daughter and I watch the show and draw the similarties to scripture, thinking what a concept!
KIMGS was the best new show of the season by far. Great writing, fantastic acting (McShane for EMMY!), great story.
NBC screwed this show. I wrote about it last week.
http://tvdonewright.com/2009/06/13/nbc-brings-back-kings-tonight-but-why-did-it-fail/
Absolutely love the show! It really never got a chance. NBC never promoted it right, and viewers don’t want to watch anything intelligent that makes them think I guess. The writing is great, and it’s a shame it was canceled so soon.
Still watching, but last week was the first episode that left me saying “huh?
Like this show, but last week was the first time I saw a weakness.
I liked the show but since it was getting axed I decided not to invest any more time in it.
Kings was fantastic! But I think it was better suited to the scifi channel…NBC, you hear that?? The SCIFI CHANNEL!!
I love Kings and hope it goes no where.
It’s back! YESSSS! Off to Hulu!
I caught about 15 minutes of it before me and my sweetie went out for our date night and it was really good. If we don’t go out tonight, we’ll cozy up on the couch to watch it.
I love this show! I am one of the few who has tuned in for every episode! I don’t watch it because of the biblical undertones…I watch it because it is interesting to me and it does have great acting! I wish it had more viewers and could continue on to another season!! Although it’s not, I am glad that it was made and that I was able to view it.
I love Kings!! I watched it from te beginning! It is a great show and more people should watch it. I am sad that it got cancelled! NBC never gave it a chance from the beginning, but I like that they are airing new episodes now for me to watch! I hope NBC changes it’s mind about this exciting phenomenal tv show! It’s the best of the year along with CBS’s Harper’s Island!
I’ve never thought Kings was Biblical so much as it was Shakespearian. And I enjoyed its references to Shakespeare. It’s not much fun watching a show just being burned off. It really is moving way to slowly. Even Shakespeare knew to pick up the pace to keep his audience interested. NBC blew it.
kings, pushing daisies, eli stone… seems one thing is dead in hollywood: original ideas. what do these shows have in common? all killed by networks who can’t figure out how to get an audience. (here’s a clue, don’t put an original show up against 2 or 3 other top rated shows and expect them to get a great audience.) i wish they could at least move these shows to one of the cable networks instead of outright killing them.
Amazing series. Biggest bomb? Yeah. But bigger crime that it wasn’t a hit.
Acting, writing, parallels, everything… excellent all around.
Looking forward to tonight’s episode. I always have the sinking feeling NBC is going to yank the series off the air before airing all the episodes and we’ll have to wait until the DVD.
I hope by some miracle or Rev. Samuels’ direct line to God, Ian McShane finds a way to get nominated for an Emmy.
1% chance, but it would be awesome and well deserved.
I’m still watching. Will be here till the end.
Love this show. It is smart and interesting and you never quite know what is going to happen next because although they follow a skeleton outline biblically for the plot they change it up a bit from time to time to keep us on our toes. Please, please. please keep it coming….
The acting, the chemistry, the well crafted complexities of each character – all amazing. I still bemoan the fact that we’re just getting the last six episodes and then this wonderful show will disappear.
I do think the Bible is full of stories that should be retold and enjoy making comparisons as well. For me its a win win – great characters and acting, great to see some history unfurled in such am interesting way.
Still watching, Kings is seriously the best thing on TV right now. Unforunately, it was too intelligent for the average viewer to follow. I’ll watch it until the end, then I’ll buy the DVD.
I love this show. I think it’s one of the best on TV. Someone please make sure it stays around. Ian McShane is the Man. I would watch that dude in anything.
I love this show. Ian McShane is the best. No one is better.
I personally think the show is one of the best on television. I haven’t seen a show in years with as much depth and “smarts” as this one has. I’m very happy it’s coming back on!
I love this show! Don’t care about the biblical references, just like the acting! Ian McShane.. Swoon!