As EW reported last night, Southland has been canceled by NBC. A combination of so-so ratings and, more significantly, the lack of the 10 p.m. time-slot a grown-up cop drama a series such as Southland requires are undoubtedly the chief reasons.
This is a cryin’ shame. Southland had all the makings of what used to be considered a classic NBC show: Good serialized stories, a fine ensemble cast, and that comfy workplace-drama feel that ER and Homicide: Life On The Street used to have.
Oh, but NBC doesn’t care that Southland‘s Regina King was probably well on her way to an Emmy nomination if her cop character had remained as strong as it did last season, or that Ben McKenzie had found a fine post-O.C. role to grow into. Naw, the network just wants a couple million people to yuk it up while Jay Leno is stuck in that hour, making jokes with Gerard Butler about being naked in the latter’s film roles, as Leno did last night.
Give us all a break. Where can producer John Wells and creator Ann Biderman take Southland? I wouldn’t trust its chances on the already-crammed ABC, CBS, and Fox networks. It won’t fit on pay-cable — not edgy enough. Yet it’s too edgy for a basic-cable channel such as USA. But why not TNT? If it’s Saving Grace, why can’t it save Southland?
Are you irritated that Southland was cancelled? What NBC show will get the axe next? Maybe they’ll decide that one of the Law and Orders isn’t pulling in enough viewers at 8 or 9 p.m., when it should be on at 10 anyway?
Beyond that, where do you think a wounded Southland could resurface, and thrive, on TV?
No way is Southland too edgy for TNT. The reason it won’t go there is Dark Blue (edgier than Southland and superior) is too good and fills the cop show category for that network.
Dark Blue is completely over-acted, I actually had to turn it off because Dylan was sooo over the top.
Boo on NBC, BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
I totally agree, wish there was a way to knock some sense into NBC, the reality shows on their channel and Leno Show should go before Southland. JMO
Yes boo on NBC, they’ve been on an absolute garbage stretch in terms of managing their network.
I hope another network picks it up and saves Southland. I’d even go out on a limb and say even HBO would be smart to pick up the pieces.
But USA would be better, they could use some edge.
Dark Blue is the best show on TNT. I can’t wait for the next season.
As a sad commentary on most of the corporate decisions made about what goes on the air, mostly inane predictable sitcoms and absurd “reality” shows, the cancelation of this! excelent “gritty” series has to rank as one of the clearest symptoms of the refusal to run programing that is actually intelectually stimulating for anyone with an I.Q.over 110. The networks need to be willing to loose a little income and throw a bone to those of us who enjoy thought provoking stimuli rather than mind numbing drivel
Dark Blue is nothing compared to Southland..I lost interest the second show and my husband who usually loes those types made it to 4 shows in before he gave up do to bad acting and no empathy for characters.
I totally agree. “Dark Blue” is written as if it is the first effort of someone who might come up with something good someday. And McDermott can’t seem to lift that character above a “grizzled detective” cliche. “Southland” is way, way better.
NBC UR A FOOL!!!!!!!!
BRING BACK SOUTHLAND!!
DARN IT BEEN WAITING ALL FRICKING SUMMER FOR THIS TO COME BACK ON AFTER ONLY 7 EPISODES BACK IN LATE SPRING. NBC UR DRIVING ME MAADDDDD!!!
I feel your anger. I have been waiting all summer for the return of southland
I also waited all summer for the new season of Southland! Hopefully a better network will pick it up.
how do we register all these comments with NBC? Is there a link? I would like to vent where the PTB will see it.
Bring it back!!!!
Leno is awful!
i am shocked! southland was a brilliant human drama, not just a cop show…strong writing, excellent characters and pitch perfect acting. i would also like to know where i can register my support for southland. this show must be saved, hopefully by someone other than nbc; hopefully by someone who has a better grasp of what of the viewing public.
Southland, 30 Rock, Criminal Intent are the ONLY good shows on NBC and they cancelled one. This is beyond stupid, they saved room for crap like Mercy (wow, a supermodel nurse who can do it all AND better than anyone else and she has attitude!)- Please stop shows with all of these super-people who look like they are barely out of college. Besides if she was so great, would she really be in nursing?
Whoa…hold of on the nurse bashing there. If she was so great- she would DEFINITELY be a nurse. Nurses save lives EVERY DAY.
Just sayin’.
Yes, nurses DO save lives every day, but the idiots on Mercy are making nurses look bad… which is just one small part of why this travesty of a show should be cancelled immediately!
Agree completely, Mercy is just a poor imitation of Nurse Jackie. Now she was a REAL person you could relate to.
I’m can’t beleive this I feel Robbed!
Honestly I never watched Southland so I can’t really comment on the quality of the show. What I can say is that the lack of air time for scripted shows due to NBC’s idiotic decision to put Leno on five nights a week is a real shame. How far NBC has fallen from its once mighty spot. Its now a joke of a network and once Chuck returns that will be the only show worth watching on it.
This is a dumb move by NBC. Southland is a great show, and it definitely had enormous potential.
Hopefully it finds a new home.
SOUTHLAND was one of the best new shows last season. Why not get rid of one Law and Order? Hope it finds a new life on another channel
Southland is a great show–lose one night of Jay Leno–I mean, c’mon why do they have him on anymore–didn’t he retire?!!
I think that stinks! I thought that show had real potential. I enjoyed it last season and was looking forward to this season.
I loved Southland and felt that NBC was trying to make shows for adults. I had thought that maybe they would take some of the edge out of the show to accomdate the earlier hour but I did not expect them to cancel it. Argh!
“that NBC was trying to make shows for adults” see that’s your problem. You think NBC is interested in making shows for adults. They’re only interested in making pablum and comic book stories. I will admit I still watch Heroes, but I’m not sure why.
I am an adult and I want a show that treats me like one instead of bringing my IQ down. Southland would flourish on a cable network and I’d love to see it happen. It might even eclipse the fallout that’s happening now over NBC’s decision to cancel the program in the first place.
Are you kidding me? NBC deserves to be the lowest rated network. It’s decisions like this that make NBC look like it’s being run by untrained monkeys.
With its “this could happen to you” immediacy, Southland’s superb cast drew me into a sort of parallel universe. Can’t believe it’s gone…someone pick it up!
stupid stupid NBC.
Wow, just wow. I did not expect this. I mean when they cancelled Life, which was one of my favorites I expected it. I thought Southland did ok last season. I don’t get all the Leno love by the network.
I’m still upset about LIFE too!!
ditto….even though the writing in season 2 seemed to take a bit of a turn. not quite as sharp and witty, almost a bit slap-sticky at times, but it was still awesome. i just watched band of brothers…i hope damian lewis will be back soon.
put Southland on Monday at 10pm.. and start Jay on Tuesdays, for 4 nights.. problem solved.
Actually, it would be kinda cool if they pitched Southland to HBO or Showtime and ratcheted up the edginess.
yea, when i found out last night about this that is what one of my friends said. they should talk to HBO and make it a little bit more darker
Yes, whether they keep Southland on NBC or move it to cable (HBO), it has to be picked up! I have waited too long to find it cancelled. I thought the show very realistic and one of the best written and directed shows, then they drop it? Yes, shame on you NBC.
Is this a British website? If not, then the word “canceled” is spelled incorrectly.
Yes, Barb it’s British. Seriously?
I’m not even an annoying grammatique and I noticed this. Give Barb a break-
I’m really bummed by this, Southland had potential to become the best cop show in a long time. Hopefully it will find a new network. Who cares about grammatical errors? this is an ew comment board not Honors English
Actually, the world “cancelled” can be spelled CORRECTLY with either one or two ‘L’s…that is according to the dictonary.
Wow. Truly disappointing. Seriously, do we really need to Leno to be on EVERY DAY?!! I agree, NBC deserves to be last. This is beyond stupid. Here they had the potential to be #1 on Thursdays again, and they screwed it up!! Where can I write, call, protest?!!!
Are you serious NBC? ARE YOU SERIOUS? God I am so ticked right now. I loved, LOVED that show last year and was already annoyed it was being delayed 1 month. You greenlight “Mercy” and “Trauma”, bring back “Heroes” and cancel this AND “Life”?
No wonder your network blows. If it wasn’t for the office, I wouldn’t watch it anymore (and I probably won’t from now on)…
Oh and they also turned “Day One”, which actually looked promising into a freaking mini-series to see if it will do well.
Goodbye NBC. I’m done.
I second that! So many had already predicted that “Trauma” would be the 1st show to get the axe. The idea that “Southland”, which by nearly unanimous acclaim was a damn good show, was terminated before the first show of the season aired, is absolutely ludicrous! I sincerely hope TNT or FX picks it up. This is another nail in the coffin of NBC and network television.