A fan campaign didn’t save ‘Magnum P.I.’ A business deal did.
NBC has saved “Magnum P.I” from cancellation, and the show’s supporters are patting by themselves on the back again for their attempts to revive the series following CBS canceled it.
I’m joyful for “Magnum” lovers. I really am. But the truth is that their campaign didn’t have anything at all to do with preserving the present. The cancellation was a organization choice. The pickup was a business conclusion.
When CBS axed “Magnum” in May possibly, it was a bit of a surprise. The sequence averaged 7.3 million viewers and a .7 ranking in the 18-49 demo in its fourth time — not fantastic, but not awful, even though down from the earlier time.
The quantities that truly mattered experienced greenback indications in front of them. “Magnum” is created by Common Tv, and CBS would not concur to fork out as much for the show as Universal required. And CBS did not have any incentive to select it up because it does not very own the exhibit, so it was not likely to make any revenue off “Magnum” when it is marketed in repeats.
NBC and Universal are — shock! — both element of NBCUniversal. So, in essence, the enterprise offered “Magnum, P.I.” to alone. For the reason that it does stand to benefit from promoting the episodes right after they air on the NBC broadcast network.
By the way, NBC requested two additional seasons, but every single will be only 10 episodes. Seasons 1, 2 and 4 had been each and every 20 episodes the pandemic-shortened period 3 was 16 episodes.
And I’m not telling you that “Magnum P.I.” viewers experienced absolutely nothing to do with the show staying snatched from the jaws of dying. But their contribution was viewing the clearly show, not emailing or heading on social media seeking to help save it.
(AP Image | Paramount) “Star Trek” cast members DeForest Kelley, Leonard Nimoy, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, William Shatner, George Takei and James Doohan, from remaining.
Acutely aware uncanceling
Pretty a handful of collection have been saved from cancellation about the many years — either transferring to new outlets or keeping put — and some of them have been productive, in one way or the other.
That list includes “My 3 Sons,” “Star Trek,” “Cagney & Lacey,” “Family Guy,” “Lucifer,” “Arrested Advancement,” “The Expanse,” “Brooklyn 9-9,” “The Mindy Challenge,” “Last Guy Standing,” “Nashville,” “Cougar Town,” “Futurama,” “Scrubs” and “Stargate SG-1.” Just to title a handful of.
There are exceptions, but a canceled present usually does not flip into a large strike when it’s saved. Often, it’s the opposite. There was a massive amount of sound and a effectively-orchestrated campaign that certain CBS to improve its head soon after it canceled “Jericho” in 2008, and the community introduced the sequence back for a 7-episode second period.
But irrespective of all the publicity, “Jericho” tanked in the ratings. The most-watched time 2 episode was noticed by less viewers than the least-viewed year 1 episode.
And it served as early evidence that, in the age of social media, a loud marketing campaign to help save a exhibit does not necessarily suggest anything.
(Bill Inoshita |CBS) “JAG” stars Catherine Bell and David James Elliott guest star in an episode of “NCIS: Los Angeles.”
Worst cancellation ever?
Way back again in 1996, NBC, using superior atop the scores, canceled “JAG” after a one period. It didn’t even air the past of 22 episodes it generated.
CBS, mired in 3rd location, saved “JAG” from cancellation. The scores rose, peaking at No. 15 in period 7, and CBS aired 9 seasons and 205 episodes, for a whole of 227.
But that’s not the conclude of the tale. In 2003, CBS launched a spinoff from “JAG” — a minimal display you might have heard of titled “NCIS.” It is even now airing on CBS today, 19 seasons and 435 episodes (and counting) later on. It’a been in the top rated 5 of the ratings for the past 14 seasons, hitting No. 1 in 2012-13
And “NCIS” spawned 3 spinoffs of its very own: “NCIS: Los Angeles” (2008-present), 13 seasons, 382 episodes (and counting) “NCIS: New Orleans” (2014-2021), 7 seasons 155 episodes and “NCIS: Hawaii” (2021-existing), just one time, 22 episodes (and counting).
That’s 1,199 episodes of “JAG,” its spinoff and its spinoff’s spinoffs, which have made CBS billions of dollars because NBC canceled “JAG” 26 a long time ago.
(Sonja Flemming/CBS) Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle and William Petersen as Gil Grissom in “CSI: Vegas.”
Worst programming selection at any time?
ABC didn’t cancel “CSI: Criminal offense Scene Investigation” since it hardly ever aired the present. But following Disney-owned Touchstone Studios designed it with producer Jerry Bruckheimer, Disney-owned ABC refused to air it. And each NBC and Fox also passed.
But CBS was interested. Execs at Disney/Touchstone pulled out of the collection, thinking that would eliminate the task, but CBS Studios stepped in as the production spouse.
“CSI” debuted in 2000 and was No. 10 in the ratings that season. It was No. 2 the subsequent year and No. 1 the season just after that, and remained in the leading four or 5 the future 6 seasons. It ran 15 seasons and 335 episodes, with a two-hour finale that aired in 2015.
It also spawned many spinoffs: “CSI: Miami” (2002-2012), 10 seasons, 232 episodes “CSI: New York” (2004-2013) 9 seasons, 197 episodes “CSI: Cyber” (2015-2016), two seasons, 31 episodes and “CSI: Vegas” (2021-current), just one season, 10 episodes (and counting).
That is 807 hrs of “CSI” and its spinoffs, which have produced CBS billions of dollars mainly because ABC programmers and studio execs didn’t understand what they had 22 yrs back.
Editor’s take note • This tale is obtainable to Salt Lake Tribune subscribers only. Thank you for supporting community journalism.