# Can fans save a cancelled TV show? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 7, 2003, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115 "2003-01-07T06:30:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![1812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/c2a13f/32.png) [@1812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1812)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115/1 "2003-01-07T06:30:39Z")
There is a fan campaign to save Farscape at [www.watchfarscape.com](http://www.watchfarscape.com) . I know there have been plenty of campaigns to save shows in the past, but I didn’t know which ones have been successful or why. Does anyone know the reasons why the successful ones succeeded and why did the unsuccessful ones failed? What do those reasons say about their chances to save Farscape? ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115/2 "2003-01-07T06:42:14Z")
One obvious answer is Star Trek, which was threatened with cancellation after the first season and was saved by a massive fan campaign orchestrated by Bjo Trimble, who knew which buttons to push where at Paramount and the network and proceeded to give them adequate evidence to keep producing the show. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115/3 "2003-01-07T07:01:12Z")
I wrote a postcard to ABC TV to protest the cancellation of “Homefront” years ago. It helped. I happened to meet one of the castmembers of the show, and told her that I’d written my one and only letter to a network to protest a cancellation. She thanked me, and said that every letter helped. (It got a reprieve for a short time.) ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115/4 "2003-01-07T07:26:57Z")
It has made a difference in the past, but I’m afraid _Farscape_ is almost certainly beyond help. According to their schedule, the sets were dismantled or destroyed months ago. That, I reckon, was the point of no return. The Sci-Fi Channel’s FAQ about the cancellation is [here](http://www.muppetcentral.com/news/2002/091802.shtml). Bummer. I really liked _Farscape_, too. Still, it does work sometimes. I seem to recall that Lucas wasn’t gonna put any _Star Wars_ movies on DVD until they were all complete, until the fans started really raisin’ a ruckus. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115/5 "2003-01-07T07:28:35Z")
“Designing Women” was rescued by avid viewers. ---
**Author:** ![superfreakicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@superfreakicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/superfreakicus)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115/6 "2003-01-07T08:58:49Z")
I think sliders was cancelled because of an unprecedented letter campaign ---- does that count? ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115/7 "2003-01-07T10:31:11Z")
Star Wars still has fans? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115/8 "2003-01-07T17:52:43Z")
_Cagney and Lacey_ is another well-known example of a show that was resurrected after a letter-writing campaign from fans. I don’t think it lasted too long after it came back however. The ratings didn’t improve, so it was soon cancelled again. ---
**Author:** ![SC\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115/9 "2003-01-07T19:05:10Z")
La Femme Nikita was also rescued by letter campaign. And I agree with Zagadka, I think the only ‘fans’ who had an influence on the Star Wars prequels being released on DVD were the accountants at 20th Century Fox. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115/10 "2003-01-07T19:09:59Z")
The TV business has changed since Star Trek, and even since Cagney and Lacey. Most TV shows are produced by independent producers in rented studios, with casts and crews that are contracted only for that show. Once a show is conceled and production ends, the entire production company breaks up. To resurrect a show, a network would have to pay the producers to reassemble everything, and it could cost almost as much as starting from scratch. Since the reason the show was canceled in the first place was (presumably) low ratings, why would a network make that investment on something that had already failed? Now a letter campaign from viewers MIGHT make a difference if a show were “on the bubble.” But network TV is a bottom-line business. ---
**Author:** ![1812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/c2a13f/32.png) [@1812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1812)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115/11 "2003-01-07T21:59:46Z")
> [@](#): > > The Sci-Fi Channel’s FAQ about the cancellation is here. Bummer. I really liked Farscape, too. I saw a refutation to that FAQ here… [http://www.farscapeweekly.com/spin.htm](http://www.farscapeweekly.com/spin.htm) I don’t know if they have valid points or not though because I don’t know much about that kind of stuff. What do you think? > [@](#): > > Since the reason the show was canceled in the first place was (presumably) low ratings, why would a network make that investment on something that had already failed? Well, there are 11 episodes left that the Sci-Fi Channel will be showing Fridays at 8:00. I heard some fans say if the Nielsen ratings went up to a 2, then the show would be saved. Do you think they are right or are they deluding themselves? ---
**Author:** ![raz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@raz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raz)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115/12 "2003-01-07T22:43:10Z")
Anyone want to help me get back _Dukes of Hazzard_? no I’m not joking ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115/13 "2003-01-07T23:34:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 1812 \* > \*\*Well, there are 11 episodes left that the Sci-Fi Channel will be showing Fridays at 8:00. I heard some fans say if the Nielsen ratings went up to a 2, then the show would be saved. Do you think they are right or are they deluding themselves? \*\* The Sci-Fi Channel speaks [http://www.tvguide.com/newsgossip/insider/](http://www.tvguide.com/newsgossip/insider/) ---
**Author:** ![Bob55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bob55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob55)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115/14 "2003-01-08T00:17:04Z")
Futurama was not saved by a huge online petition. How come all the shows I love are cancelled? Futurama, that one Matrix-like show on Fox, Undeclared… ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115/15 "2003-01-08T00:38:04Z")
I think Mystery Science Theater 3000 was saved after Comedy Central dumped 'em and SciFi picked 'em up. I would think that that was due to the fans. ---
**Author:** ![1812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/c2a13f/32.png) [@1812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1812)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115/16 "2003-01-08T16:46:46Z")
> [@](#): > > I think sliders was cancelled because of an unprecedented letter campaign ---- does that count? Why would they do that? You would think they want to hear from the fans. Okay, you guys mentioned Mystery Science Theater 3000, La Femme Nikita, Designing Women, and a few other shows as ones that were saved because of the fans. Does this mean all these shows must have been “on the bubble”, as Kunilou said? If this is true and TV is a “bottom-line business” like Kunilou says, then the show could be saved by high ratings for the last 11 episodes, right? > [@](#): > > The Sci-Fi Channel speaks > [http://www.tvguide.com/newsgossip/insider/](http://www.tvguide.com/newsgossip/insider/) I saw a response from a fan to that article here: [http://www.watchfarscape.com/news/article.php?newsid=210](http://www.watchfarscape.com/news/article.php?newsid=210) ---
**Author:** ![bcullman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bcullman/32/8207_2.png) [@bcullman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bcullman)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115/17 "2003-01-08T17:18:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kunilou \* > \*\*The TV business has changed since Star Trek, and even since Cagney and Lacey. Most TV shows are produced by independent producers in rented studios \*\* That’s odd… I was just watching a show on bravo or trio (narrated by Andy Richter) that mentioned that these days, most shows are produced by the Networks and thier subsidiaries, pushing out most of the independants. What is your source? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115/18 "2003-01-08T18:06:07Z")
The letters nowadays have minimal effect. And TV shows (other than news programs) always were produced by independent producers; the networks rarely had a hand in them (mostly because they didn’t used to be allowed). The networks may ask a producer to do a show, but don’t get involved in the actual production. As far as Farscape is concerned, much as I liked the show, it deserved a mercy killing. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115/19 "2003-01-08T18:12:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bcullman \* > \*\*That’s odd… I was just watching a show on bravo or trio (narrated by Andy Richter) that mentioned that these days, most shows are produced by the Networks and thier subsidiaries, pushing out most of the independants. What is your source? \*\* I didn’t explain myself clearly. In the old days, an independent producer (someone like MTM Productions or Aaron Spelling) would go around town and pitch an idea until one of the networks bought it. If the show was a big hit, the producer would have enough leverage to negotiate for another show. These days, Fox and WB especially (less so ABC/CBS/NBC) sign a contract that essentially binds the producer to that network. So the network “owns the show” but only from an intellectual property standpoint. It’s still the independent producer who’s responsible for putting the show together and delivering the finished product to the network. The producer is still taking the brunt of the financial risk if the show flops, however. I hope that makes the distinction more clear. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115/20 "2003-01-08T18:49:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bcullman \* > \*\*That’s odd… I was just watching a show on bravo or trio (narrated by Andy Richter) that mentioned that these days, most shows are produced by the Networks and thier subsidiaries, pushing out most of the independants. What is your source? \*\* I think you’re mentioning the “Brilliant But Cancelled” show on Trio, it had brought back some great shows like FOX’s Action and The Critic. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fans-save-a-cancelled-tv-show/147115.md?page=2)