I guess I’ll never understand how networks make their decisions, and God only knows what goes on behind the doors of the highest executives, but still.
ABC has shelved the last three episodes of it’s hit show Commander in Chief, starring Geena Davis. I’m talking about the new hit drama of this past season, which unfortunately underwent a series of makeovers that clearly spelled its fate.
First, the show was put on hiatus and its creator was replaced when accused of handing in his scripts too late. His replacement was, inexplicably, replaced again after a second hiatus of several weeks. And all this after Geena Davis even won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of the first female President of the United States.
Now the last three episodes will be show after May sweeps and the show will probably never come back after the summer break.
Why? I can’t even begin to guess. To make a parallel, it’s as if ABC had shelved Desperate Housewives after a few episodes, than brought it back, then shelved it again, then brought it back, and shelved it again. It’s ridiculous. People loose interest (and faith) in a show that gets shuffled around in the weekly schedule and put on hold for long periods of time (even a show like The Sopranos suffered from its 18 months break between seasons, but at least the breaks didn’t come in the middle of a season, twice).
Certainly, Commander in Chief never commanded the ratings of shows like Desperate Housewives, but it was the highest rated new drama, and that usually insures a show will be around for a while. Especially with the imminent end of The West Wing (the series finale is this coming Sunday), Chief could have easily taken over all of Wing’s fans as the new political drama to watch.
But uncertainty a fan base does not breed. And the results are in plain view.
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