# Why did the WB get rid of Buffy and Angel?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-wb-get-rid-of-buffy-and-angel/434233>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [January 20, 2008, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-wb-get-rid-of-buffy-and-angel/434233 "2008-01-20T06:12:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-wb-get-rid-of-buffy-and-angel/434233/1 "2008-01-20T06:12:54Z")

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I recall reading somewhere that Angel was second on the ratings chart for the WB when it was canceled. I imagine that Buffy was doing just as well when it moved to UPN.

Anyone know what was going through their heads? I can’t seem to find an explanation.

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**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-wb-get-rid-of-buffy-and-angel/434233/2 "2008-01-20T06:56:29Z")

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[QUOTE=Lakai]  
I recall reading somewhere that Angel was second on the ratings chart for the WB when it was canceled. I imagine that Buffy was doing just as well when it moved to UPN.

Anyone know what was going through their heads? I can’t seem to find an explanation.  
[/QUOTE]

Money. Buffy and Angel were expensive shows to produce and neither really broke out beyond the core group of people that watched from the beginning.

Sure that was a pretty decent number, but I think The WB was thinking if they’re spending that much money they should be getting a few more viewers out of it.

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**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-wb-get-rid-of-buffy-and-angel/434233/3 "2008-01-20T16:50:17Z")

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[QUOTE=Lakai]  
I recall reading somewhere that Angel was second on the ratings chart for the WB when it was canceled. I imagine that Buffy was doing just as well when it moved to UPN.

Anyone know what was going through their heads? I can’t seem to find an explanation.  
[/QUOTE]

MONEY.

It’s very often all about the money, as it was here.

A great deal of good shows get the axe because the network doesn’t think the numbers add up right. Especially true for moderately successful long-running shows, because the costs go up, the actors want to be paid more and all that stuff.

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**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-wb-get-rid-of-buffy-and-angel/434233/4 "2008-01-20T17:42:57Z")

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It’s always about the money, and it should be. We’ve eliminated slavery, and nobody’s gonna work for free.