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?
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!