CBS has canceled Three Rivers

Uh oh! CBS has canceled Three Rivers. Poor Alex! Unfortunately, he has been down this road before with our beloved Moonlight :(

CBS Pulls the Plug on Three Rivers
by Natalie Abrams

Once again, adoring fans must say farewell to Alex O'Loughlin: His new medical drama, Three Rivers, has been canceled, TVGuide.com has confirmed.

Effective immediately, the network will air repeats of Criminal Minds and NCIS: Los Angeles instead of the organ-donor drama.

Rivers will complete production on all 13 episodes from the show's original order, but no decisions have been made on whether they will air.

The cancelation news would be more of a blow to CBS if it hadn't had such a successful fall with NCIS: LA and The Good Wife. Rivers has been flatlining in the ratings, drawing an average of 7.5 million viewers, compared to Wife and LA's 13.7 million and 17.5 million respective averages.

What are you going to miss more: Alex O'Loughlin or Three Rivers?

http://www.tvguide.com/News/CBS-Pulls-Plug-1012644.aspx

Photograph ~ Dr Sophia Jordan (Alfre Woodard) and Dr Andy Yablonski (Alex O'Loughlin) from Three Rivers television series

Does CBS realize canceling Moonlight was a mistake?

Today, Parade Magazine featured an inquiry sent in by a Moonlight fan asking if CBS knows what a blunder they made in canceling our show. We all knew the reasoning behind the network signing Alex O'Loughlin to a talent holding deal so quickly.

Personality Parade Cancelled TV Series

Question ~ Does CBS realize that canceling its vampire series Moonlight with Alex O’Loughlin was a mistake?— Sandy Bleiss, Bartlett, Tenn.

Answer ~ Yes. Our sources tell us that the outcry was so great that CBS took steps to bring O’Loughlin back into the fold. CBS Films cast him opposite Jennifer Lopez in The Back-Up Plan, and this fall he’ll star as a doctor in a new medical series, Three Rivers. Is there a cancelled TV series you’d like to see revived?

http://www.parade.com/celebrity/2009/07/personality-parade-cancelled-series.html

Photograph ~ Alex O'Loughlin on the red carpet at TV Guide's Sexiest Stars party

Question : "Do you think CBS regrets the decision to cancel Moonlight after only ONE season?"

Matt Roush gives his opinion on the question Moonlight fans have been wrestling with for months now!

TV Guide ~ Ask Matt

Question : Now that the movie Twilight is so popular and the HBO show True Blood has generated much interest, do you think CBS regrets the decision to cancel Moonlight after only ONE season? I am so glad I TiVo'd the finale which enables me to get my Alex O'Loughlin and Sophia Myles fix. It was such an interesting love story. I was reminded of Beauty and the Beast. The finale also left the door open for more story, such as the list of vampires that the ADA mysteriously received! Shame on you, CBS, for poor decision making! —Twyla B.

Matt Roush : If CBS were doing as poorly as, say, NBC in prime time, my answer to this would be yes. As it is, CBS is doing so well most nights that it has little incentive to express public regret about much of anything. Still, I’m betting they look back at Moonlight as a lost opportunity, given the deep and passionate following shows of this sort tend to generate. That’s certainly how I regard it. One thing that isn’t in doubt is CBS’s desire to stay in business with Alex O’Loughlin. He’s appearing in a Criminal Minds episode in late April, and he’s been cast in a new medical pilot for CBS. One way or another, he’ll be back. Just minus fangs.

http://tinyurl.com/dxjetg

Vampires & Slayers new audio interview with Alex O'Loughlin

Another new audio interview with Alex O'Loughlin! YEA! Candid and thoughtful, as always. This time the talk is conducted by Ed Gross of Vampires and Slayers. In this one Alex talks extensively about Moonlight... its cancelation, fighting to save the show, being happy to have had the chance to play a Vampire, the difficulty of show runners coming & going, etc.

Ed also specifically brings up Nina Tassler's "actor-centric" comment. From Alex's reaction, it seemed to me that he had not heard her remark before this chat ~ and wasn't buyin' it.

I will say again that I'm excited & thankful for Alex getting a new contract allowing him to co-develop/produce & star in his next show, as well as pitch movie ideas. He deserves it!

Note : You must be a member of the site in order to listen to Alex O'Loughlin's interview. If you don't mind, please let them know that I sent ya by putting my name ~ Kandyegirl (like you didn't know ~ ha!) ~ as the answer to "How did you find out about Vampires & Slayers?" Thanks :)

MOONLIGHT AUDIO INTERVIEW: ALEX O'LOUGHLIN SAYS GOODBYE
by Edward Gross ~ Vampires & Slayers

For Moonlight's countless fans -- and the people who labored on the show in front of the camera and behind -- it seemed like a no-brainer that vampire detective Mick St. John and the love of his life, Beth Turner, would be returning for a second season. After all, the series won its timeslot almost every week, had highly-coveted demographics, won the People's Choice Awards and was the recipient of a strong cult following. Yet despite all of this going for it, the show was cancelled and its talented cast and crew were forced to go their separate ways. But now, in an excerpt from an exclusive interview, V&S Editor Edward Gross talks to series star Alex O'Loughlin about that cancellation, and his feelings looking back at the series. Moonlight fans take note: there will be much more coverage of the series to come.

Use this link to listen to the chat ~
http://vampiresandslayers.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2235870%3ABlogPost%3A10103

Nina Tassler comments on canceling Moonlight

Hello all.... On Friday, I read comments Nina Tassler made regarding Moonlight. This was reported by several sources who attended the 2008 Television Critics Association Press Tour. I've posted three examples below. After reading what Tassler had to say, I had many thoughts streaming thru my head (I know you will also). I wanted to at least attempt to get those thoughts in order before posting this for you.

As you know, when I started my Moonlight blog I shared with you that I was already writing, emailing and calling CBS in support of our show. I was very aware of the fact that Moonlight was not the "normal" series and needed its fans to be heard. I asked you all to do that same. You joined the campaign with such wonderful enthusiasm. :) We continued communicating with the network right through the cancelation of Moonlight.

I can not begin to count the number of emails and comments I received from Moonlight fans who were contacting CBS. Lots of you even posted the messages you sent to them for all of us to read on the blog. The notes got our point across but were dignified, polite and gracious... even after we learned that our show had been canceled. Just like the messages we have seen and heard from Trevor Munson, Alex O'Loughlin, Jason Dohring, etc.

One thing Nina Tassler says is that the fan response to Moonlight is "actor-centric." We all know she is referring to Alex O'Loughlin. Of course, Alex is a huge draw! DUH! Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that a good thing? Don't you hire a leading man to do precisely that?

I was an Alex fan long before Moonlight. However, that is not the only reason that I am addicted. The vast majority of the messages I sent to CBS were about how fantastic the show is... the writers... the entire cast. You also shared with us that you did the same. We all know that MickBeth was the topic of innumerable letters, voicemails, emails and such.

Even if we were tuning in just to see Alex as Mick St John, since when is that a problem? Most television executives don't care WHY you are watching their show. They only care that your eyeballs are on their network and not some place else. It's about ratings leading to ad revenue.

In my opinion, the comments are simply an attempt at damage control. TPTB do not like to admit that they are wrong. I know you are shocked by that ~ *wink*

I'm happy to see that the entertainment reporters are still asking about Moonlight. Most canceled shows do not receive this kind of sustained attention in the media. That is because you have been doing an amazing job of keeping our show alive!

Sorry about the long winded post. I'm stopping myself now! I took the extra time to organize my thoughts so that I wouldn't ramble on. That didn't quite work out :)

XO ~
Kandye

Tube Talk ~ STLToday.com
Excerpts from TCA press tour: CBS party, only for the hardy
By Gail Pennington

The point of these events is to give visiting TV critics a chance to mingle with and interview actors, producers and network executives; people you either haven’t seen during the formal press conferences during the day or haven’t had a chance to talk to. The point isn’t really to have fun, although some of the parties can be fun.

...CBS partnered with the CW and Showtime and went all out, busing us to the club Boulevard3 in Hollywood...

...I again tried to get into the club and this time succeeded. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, in a strapless dress, was just outside the door; her publicist was rotating interviewers through on a 90-second time limit. Uh … no. Somebody handed me a glass of champagne (good) and a cone of french fries with rosemary mayonnaise (very good), but it was hard to walk without spilling on myself. After the crowd outside, the club was almost empty. That gave me a chance to talk to Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment, who told me the “Moonlight” supporters had sent her red wine, and that she actually tried a bottle, but it was terrible. Although she had to cancel “Moonlight,” she said, she wouldn’t rule out another project for its star, Alex O’Loughlin.

http://tinyurl.com/623xng

iF Magazine

Television : Breaking News : THE FINAL WORD ON 'MOONLIGHT' FROM CBS
By Carl Cortez

The stake in the heart of the show has been there for some time, but at least we now know why it was cancelled

LOCATION: The underworld

THE SKINNY: While MOONLIGHT has faded into the darkness, it was still important to check in with CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler at today’s TCA press tour about any final words on the series which starred Alex O’Laughlin as vamp Mick St. John.

“Everybody knows I love vampires, witches, werewolves, warlocks – I love them all,” says Tassler. “The response to MOONLIGHT was actually more actor-centric. So I think it certainly measures our decision on the show. Like I said, I don’t question the choice we made. I’m not getting as much mail and most of those comments were actor-centric.

So does that mean CBS would hire O’Loughlin in a heartbeat?

“Sure,” says Tassler. “We’d love to.”

http://ifmagazine.com/new.asp?article=6556

Entertainment Weekly ~ The Ausiello Files
by Michael Ausiello
Live Press Tour : CBS Day One

Executive Session
The Player: Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment. Or as she's more commonly referred, the evil woman who killed Moonlight.

9:30 am: Cover your eyes, Moonlight fans. Tassler downplays the fan outcry in the wake of the show's cancellation, maintaining that most of the feedback was "actor-centric." (Huh?) She also says she's not getting a lot of mail and doesn't regret the decision.

http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2008/07/live-press-to-3.html

Daemon's TV writer not impressed by preview of The Ex-List

Sandie, from Daemon's TV, has written an article about the incredibly lame show (The Ex-List) that CBS is planning to air in place of the canceled Moonlight. In the piece, she says basically the same thing we did upon seeing a preview video of the usurper.

What were they thinking?!?!? As I ranted in a previous blog post... CBS executives stated they want to attract more female viewers. However, they axe Moonlight & Mick St John/Alex O'Loughlin in favor of this rubbish. URGH!

First Look: CBS’ THE EX-LIST

By Sandie

Now that we have learned a little more about CBS’ new primetime schedule, it’s time to take a closer look at all of their new shows, next up THE EX-LIST.

So this is what they are replacing Moonlight with…well I’m not going to lie, it doesn’t look even half as good as Moonlight. Then again, it’s a totally different genre, which begs the question why would they put it after Ghost Whisperer?

I’m not sure if I am convinced yet, I would really need to take a look at the full pilot to make a decision, but let’s just say it’s going to have to be REALLY good for me to get over the fact that it replaced Moonlight (which we all know I loved).

http://www.daemonstv.com/2008/07/06/first-look-cbs-the-ex-list-picture-video/

Vote for Alex O'Loughlin and Moonlight on Zap2it Website

Hey guys.... TV Gal, from Zap2it, is hosting her "Amy Awards." We have until 5:00 pm EST on Friday, June 27th, 2008 to vote for Alex and Moonlight.

Our categories ~
3. You Never Know What You've Got Until It's Gone or Best Cancelled Show : Moonlight

8. I Know You're Fictional But Would You Marry Me Anyway (male) Or Hottest Actor : Alex O'Loughlin as Mick St. John on Moonlight

http://www.zap2it.com/zap-tvgal-form,0,2017270.htmlstory

Thank you to Terri for making sure I knew about the polls :)

Poll ~ What was the most heart wrenching cancellation of the season?

Rachel Thomas reports on TV dramas for About.com. She has created a poll to ask "What was the most heart wrenching cancellation of the season?" Of course, Moonlight is included. Our show's treatment is the definition of heart wrenching!

You can also leave your comments on the page.

http://tvdramas.about.com/b/2008/06/04/what-was-the-most-heart-wrenching-cancellation-of-the-season.htm

Photo ~ Mick St John ( Alex O'Loughlin ) and Beth Turner ( Sophia Myles ) in Moonlight's pilot episode ~ No Such Thing as Vampires (#1x01)

MSNBC Article ~ Moonlight on list of "canceled shows we loved"

MSNBC published an article about canceled tv programs that they will miss. Of course, Moonlight is on the list! They heap more praise on the fans for the amazing Moonlight Blood Drive. And, they single out Alex O'Loughlin as a highlight from our show :)

So, add MSNBC to the list of media entertainment outlets & tv gurus who have come out in support of Moonlight. YEA! Surely, other networks must see all these positive comments from very reputable sources. We can include quotes in our letters & emails.

Rest in peace, canceled shows we loved
‘Moonlight,’ ‘Men in Trees,’ ‘Jericho’ will be missed
By Jeff Hidek

“Moonlight”

Why it should have been renewed: It might have been the lowest-rated of CBS’s Friday night dramas, but "Moonlight" still consistently won its time slot against ABC and NBC offerings. That’s impressive, considering all of the tinkering that went on at this series about a blood-sucking private investigator. After multiple show-runner changes and a few shaky scripts, “Moonlight” seemed to just be settling into a charming routine in its post-strike episodes.

Series highlight: As brooding vampire Mick St. John, Alex O’Loughlin injected equal parts hot and cool into his leading-man role. A flash of his smile could make even an undead pulse quicken.

Silver lining: Fans should congratulate themselves on the most charitable “save our show” campaign ever. A well-orchestrated blood drive organized through YouChoose.net might not have been able to save the series, but it did help save lives. Mick would be proud.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24780304/

Have you ever boycotted a network?

Mandi, from Entertainment Weekly's Pop Watch Blog, wants our comments. She did a post allowing fans to mourn canceled shows, including Moonlight. While reading the replies, she noticed that a lot of people are planning to boycott CBS. Now, she wants to hear more about it from the fans.

Ooooooo..... and Mandi also mentions the Hollywood Reporter stating that Moonlight is still being shopped :)

PopWatch Blog
Ever boycott a show or a network (and for how long)?

After reading the comments on my post mourning CBS' cancellation of Moonlight (pictured), in which some viewers vow to boycott the network, and those on Abby West's Bones season finale preview and postmortem, in which a handful of fans threaten to abandon the Fox drama after its rushed resolution to the Gormogon case, I'm wondering how often people actually follow through on such promises.

So, tell me: Have you ever boycotted an entire network? Or gone cold turkey on a show because you felt it did you wrong? And how long did you hold out? I'm fascinated.

P.S. While I'm the "obsessed colleague" who wouldn't stop complaining to Abby about Booth's beer helmet — (a) he had a tub caddy that could've held his cans and (b) I know he's a "dude," but he still shops at Spencer's? — I'll be back.

P.P.S. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Moonlight is still being shopped to cable networks, including TNT. Hmmm. While TNT has Angel repeats in the morning, I'm not sure I see vamps fitting into its primetime lineup. Angel alums on the other hand, yes: I went to the Turner upfronts last week, and saw that J. August Richards (Gunn) has a role in Steven Bochco's upcoming TNT legal drama, Raising the Bar, while Christian Kane (Lindsey) will be seen opposite Timothy Hutton in the net's Leverage. Of course, TNT already has a double dose of Boreanaz, with Tuesday night Bones repeats.

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/05/moonlight-boyco.html

Photo ~ Alex O'Loughlin as Mick St John

Kristin Dos Santos speaks to Nina Tassler

Kristin Dos Santos, from E!, spoke to Nina Tassler about canceling Moonlight. For someone who says, "I personally love the show. I love working with Alex O'Loughlin and Joel Silver" she sure has a funny way of showing it, doesn't she?

Lindsay in Atlanta :

I am a little miffed at you, Mrs. Dos Santos. When it comes to TV watching, you are my go-to girl. If you tell me to watch it, I do. So, I'm miffed that now that Moonlight is gone, and I'm hooked. You have given us nothing to sooth our broken hearts. Where is your gritty (but always polite) interview with those evil CBS bosses? Give us something please!

Kristin Dos Santos :

I did talk to CBS president Nina Tassler last week at the CBS upfront about the cancellation of Moonlight, a show so many fans loved passionately, and she defended the decision, saying, "Once we got back up on the air it was about the numbers and the ratings, and we were just struggling a little bit. I loved the show. I personally love the show. I love working with Alex O'Loughlin and Joel Silver, and I just think we had to make some very tough decisions. It was hard." Not half as hard as it is for the fans who went to great lengths to save this series, Nina! Just sayin'! I'm also working on getting an exit interview with one of the stars or producers for later this week, so stand by.

http://tinyurl.com/6xb7ma

Send messages to Alex O'Loughlin on his MySpace page

Tons of you have asked where you can send messages of thanks and support to Alex O'Loughlin regarding Moonlight's cancelation. He is fortunate to have such concerned and wonderful fans! If you have a MySpace account, send him a friend request. Once you are accepted, you can write to him & leave comments on his page :)

www.myspace.com/alexoloughlin

The fight for Moonlight continues!

Updated with new info!

We are still fighting for Moonlight! After all, our cast, crew & writers deserve it. None of us would be satisfied if we didn't try everything in our power to save Moonlight.

Please, continue urging Warner Bros to shop our show around to other networks. We also want to write the networks.... CW, SciFi & USA in particular.... letting them know what a goldmine they could have if they pick up Moonlight. Tell them all that we will follow our show!

Moonlight United has asked us all to join in the Perpetually Cool Postcard Campaign. Here are the details ~

With today’s news that CBS has opted not to pick up Moonlight for next season, Moonlight fans have been asking what we can do next. The idea of a postcard campaign, in addition to calling and emailing, seems to be the most popular and viable option for requesting that another network pick up our show.

To make this as easy as possible for fans, and to provide a united front, we’ve created a simple .pdf file with two postcards that you can print on cardstock and mail in. We encourage fans to write their own “perpetually cool” message on the front, and write the address on the blank side.

Right now we are targeting Warner Bros. (the studio that produces the show) to ask them to find a new home for Moonlight, and the CW, which is rumored to be interested.

Time is of the essence so these cards need to get to Warner Bros. and the CW within the next 24-48 hours. Overnight delivery is your friend!

http://moonlight-united.com/images/perpetuallycoolpostcard.pdf


Please, spread the word! You know how important it is... and, as always, I know that I can count on you :)

Contact info again.........

Warner Bros Studio
4000 Warner Blvd
Burbank, CA 91522-0002
Phone Number ( 818 ) 954-6000

President of WB Television
Peter Roth
peter.roth@warnerbros.com

WB feed back form ~
http://www.warnerbros.com/main/help/customer_service.html

CW Network
feedback@CWTV.com
Paul.McGuire@cwtv.com
Comment Line ( 818 ) 977-6878

CW Entertainment President
Dawn Ostroff
3300 W Olive Ave #3
Burbank, CA 91505
Dawn.ostroff@cwtv.com
( 818 ) 977-2500

CW Chief Operating Officer

john.maatta@cwtv.com

USA & Sci-Fi Network President
Bonnie Hammer
30 Rockefeller Plaza
21st Floor
New York, NY 10112
bonnie.hammer@unistudios.com
( 212 ) 413-5000

Sci-Fi Channel
30 Rockefeller Plaza

21st Floor

New York, NY 10112

feedback@scifi.com

President

David Howe

Senior VP of Programming

Tom Vitale

USA Network Viewer Hotline

( 212 ) 664-4444

This is the NBC switchboard number. Ask for the USA viewer hotline.

Sci-Fi is also part of NBC. You can call this number again & leave a message for SciFi too.

USA

30 Rockefeller Plaza

21st Floor

New York, NY 10112

You can use this same address for the Sci-Fi channel.

http://www.usanetwork.com/feedback/#Contact

Petition ~

http://www.youchoose.net/campaign/move_moonlight_to_another_network

Photo ~ Mick St John (Alex O'Loughlin) Save Our Vampire wallpaper! Just click on the picture above for a larger image to use as a background for your computer desktop, MySpace page, website, Facebook, etc.

CBS wants more female fans?!?! HELLO!

Something has been bothering me ever since I read it in Variety.........

"This year, CBS Entertainment prexy Nina Tassler said her mandate was less flashy: Focus on growing the Eye's laffers, soften up its procedurals and bring more women to the network."

and

"Tassler said the network even talked with creators about taking male roles and reconceiving them for women."

You want more female viewers, but you cancel Moonlight?!??! How in the world does that make sense? Have they seen Alex? So frustrating! *sigh*

I think the photo of Mick St John's (Alex O'loughlin) famous eyebrow raise and quizzical expression is very fitting. It is from Moonlight's Arrested Development episode (#1x05).

Alex O'Loughlin still tied to CBS?

Nikki has posted this update to Moonlight's ongoing story. Is Alex still tied to CBS?!?

UPDATE: I hear MRC now has been asked to consider Moonlight for mid-season. This is such a shot in the dark it's barely worth posting. But I'm posting nonetheless. I've also been told that CBS continues to hold an option on the star of the show, Alex O"Loughlin, and that he's in demand for other projects.

http://deadlinehollywooddaily.com/

Message from Alex O'Loughlin to Moonlight fans about the cancelation

Alex O'Loughlin has sent this heartfelt message out to Moonlight fans. He is such a thoughtful person. We are fortunate to have had him leading our show!

Family and Friends

Current mood: Shocked and sad

Dear Friends, Family and wonderful, wonderful Fans of MOONLIGHT.

Well, where to start....?

The decision to cancel MOONLIGHT... my MOONLIGHT... our MOONLIGHT, is as much of a shock and gut wrenching surprise to me as it is to all of you.

Really, I don't even know where to begin.

I sit here at my computer, still slack jawed even 24 hours after receiving the news that my services are no longer required on the set of this show. A show we have all come to know and love deeply, and it hurts more than I can possibly tell you.

Since i got THE CALL I have not read anything online or otherwise, I have not been following blogs or forums, I have not been reading the trades or opinion polls and I have not been calling around to get information.

"Why are you not fighting for your show?!" I hear you all scream!!

The truth is my friends, I never STOPPED fighting for it.

From the very beginning when I was told time and again that i wasn't the man for the job, having to prove myself to everyone with tests and screen tests, to a complete re-casting of the show, through 5 different show runners at the helm with 5 different artistic visions, to a Writer's strike that took 5 episodes away from us...... oh how the list goes on.

But through all of that, i am proud to say that not once did I bow down and allow someone else to come in and do with MOONLIGHT as they please. And along the way, if I needed a break and wanted to do that, I don't think I could have anyway because, well, I suppose it's just not in my nature! ;)

This is all still so fresh for me and I am going to need a little time to process this whole thing before i can digest what has actually happened, let alone move on.

Honestly. I really feel lost for words.

I will say however, that never, never in my life have I experienced first hand a level of support from a group of people like that of you all who are reading this now, and who 'loved this show to life' alongside me. It has been overwhelming to say the least.

I am grateful to you all.

I am extremely proud to be associated with this piece of television.

And I am so, so sorry to my very core, to lose MOONLIGHT.

All my love,

Alex O'Loughlin x

Matt Roush on Moonlight's cancelation

TV Guide's Matt Roush writes about Moonlight's cancelation.... and how it surprised even himself. Unfortunately, he feels that it is unlikely another network will pick up our show. But ~ you never know!

The Moonlight Goes Out

I’ll admit it. I’m floored. I was wrong. I was naïve. I drank the bloody Kool-Aid and started thinking like a fan (even though I always had my critical reservations). Up until last weekend, when the prognostications started turning sour, I truly thought CBS would give its cult romantic-mystery vampire drama Moonlight a long leash and a chance to work out its kinks—the narrative ones, that is; the kinkiness of the vampire romance was actually working—with a second-season renewal, or even a midseason backup order.

But no, they went and put a stake in Mick St. John, who as played by the charismatic Alex O’Loughlin had arguably the greatest potential for breakout buzz of any freshman-series character this season (and yes, I’m including the nubile fleshpots of Gossip Girl in this statement). My initial reaction, beyond despair at the thought of the unforgivingly bitter and relentlessly anguished mail that’s starting to arrive in my mailbag, was: Did CBS learn nothing from Jericho? And then I pondered: Well, maybe they did. They brought Jericho back, and despite massive media hype over that nearly unprecedented resurrection, it was a dud.

The circumstances are a bit different here, but the shows shared a few crucial roadblocks to success. Both Jericho and Moonlight were disrupted midway through their first seasons: Jericho by a misguided programming strategy that took the show off the air from November to February, stalling its momentum; Moonlight by the writers’ strike, which damaged network TV across the board. They aired in tough time periods: Jericho in the challenging lead-off Wednesday position, and in its comeback, in the Tuesday at 10 pm/ET death slot, while Moonlight struggled on Fridays as most shows do on the night. Both are what’s known as “off-brand,” experiments in serialized and genre formats for a network that finds its greatest success in traditional crime dramas and classic-style sitcoms.

It doesn’t help that CBS isn’t a producer of Moonlight (a Warner Bros production) the way it was for Jericho (from CBS/Paramount). The business side of the equation was no doubt also affected by all of the backstage turbulence on a show that bled show-runners as if an actual curse was in place. (Explains a recent Variety article: “It's understood that Eye execs were not impressed with the show's creative development, and there was much drama and turnover behind the scenes among producers and scribes and tussling between the network and studio over budgetary issues. The final straw was the show's sagging ratings perf during the past few weeks after its post-strike return.”)

Whatever the reasons—and why argue them; a show like this is always a crapshoot for a mainstream network—this goes down in my book as the most disappointing cancellation of the season. And again, for the record, I’m not even completely sold on the show, though as I recently argued in my Review column, it had plenty of potential and a star who’s an absolute keeper. (Not to mention a passionate fan base that literally gave blood to raise Moonlight awareness.)

So what are the odds that Mick will rise from the dead, in classic vamp fashion? Pretty steep, I’d think. No other broadcast network is likely to step in to save it—not even the CW, which at least has a corporate connection. (The CW being already satiated with genre programming like Smallville, Supernatural and the just-renewed Reaper.) Cable? Probably too expensive, even for Sci Fi—and fans are still smarting over that channel’s handling of The Dresden Files. But I’d be foolish to ever say never. Look what happened to Jericho, at least for a while.

http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Roush-Dispatch/Moonlight/800039595

Nina Tassler bracing for onslaught of Moonlight supporters

Nina Tassler talks about Moonlight fans after officially announcing that our show has been cancelled by CBS. Per Variety, she said......

Gone are "Cane," "Jericho," "Kid Nation," "Moonlight," "Shark," "Viva Laughlin" and "Welcome to the Captain."

Tassler said she’s bracing for the onslaught of “Moonlight” supporters, but added she learned a lot from her recent “Jericho” experience: Bringing back a show because of a rabid fan campaign doesn’t necessarily mean the ratings will follow.

Message to Moonlight fans from show producers

Moonlight's producers, Harry Werksman & Gabrielle Stanton, have sent the following message to Moonlight fans.

Exclusive: Moonlight Producers Confirm Cancellation
Kristin Dos Santos, Watch With Kristin

This just might be the most depressing news yet coming out of the New York upfronts.

I've just received word from Gabrielle Stanton and Harry Werksman, bosses of Moonlight, that the series has been canceled.

They sent me this message to pass along to you fans:



It's true. We found out about an hour ago that Moonlight has been officially canceled.

We are truly saddened by the news and are sorry that we won't get the chance to live with our wonderful characters and follow them on their adventures for a second season.

We really want to thank all our loyal fans for their undying love and support of the show. We never would have made it this far without them.

In vampire solidarity...rah, rah!

Gabrielle Stanton & Harry Werksman



This series has one of the most dedicated, passionate audiences I've ever seen in the many years in this job. And to all of you I extend a heartfelt hug.

http://tinyurl.com/6dtdwb

More news from TV Guide

As we know, Alex O'Loughlin is currently on vacation. He said he was taking the summer off ~ having turned down several film roles because of the unknown future of Moonlight. Thanks for making him miss out on other work CBS! Grrrrrrr...... Sorry, I was distracted there for a moment. It just makes me angry that the network treated our amazing cast the way they did. Anyway.... Matt Mitovich mentions Alex being on holiday in this article also. I hope Alex, Sophia, Jason, Shannyn, Brian and Eric are all surrounded by their family & friends now!

Fall TV: Moonlight Has Drawn its Last Blood

It's the news no one here wanted to report, but alas, it must be shared. CBS — which earlier today renewed to Old Christine, How I Met Your Mother and The Unit — has opted not to bring back Moonlight for a second season.

Though the vampire-detective drama boasted a fantastically passionate and wonderfully generous (they held a blood drive, people!) fan base, the buzz is that the Eye simply was not happy with Moonlight's retention of its Ghost Whisperer lead-in. At last tally, Mick & Co. were letting slip some 13 percent of Melinda's audience.

For what little it is worth, I'm on a mission to secure for fans some parting words of appreciation from the cult hit's producers. (Alas, Alex himself is currently on holiday.) — MWM

http://tinyurl.com/48xasm

Photograph ~ Mick St John (Alex O'Loughlin) and Beth Turner (Sophia Myles) dancing in Moonlight's season finale, Sonata (episode #1x16)