R.I.P., “The Unusuals”
The final episode of ABC’s “The Unusuals” airs at 9 tonight, though considering the show was canceled last month and the network has been burning off episodes with little fanfare ever since, few people would know. To say this series was “quirky” is to do it a disservice. To my eyes, “The Unusuals” played like “Barney Miller” dropped into “NYPD Blue” — eccentric cops dealing with the most peculiar crimes.
A great cast, including Harold Perrineau of “Lost,” Amber Tamblyn and Adam Goldberg, could not save this show, but ABC didn’t seem to feel like giving anything at 9 p.m. Wednesday a chance this year. “Life on Mars,” a great adaptation of the BBC series, was put on hiatus for nearly two months, then brought back cold after “Lost” returned and quickly canceled — fortunately, the series producers were able to resolve the central plot, and quite beautifully.
Then came “The Unusuals,” and ABC just dropped it in and let it sink or swim. I know people who watched every single episode, but I think we were the only ones, relatively speaking: only around 4 million viewers tuned into last week’s episode.
This is an old argument, I know, but the networks are simply not giving shows a chance to build audiences. By current standards, “M*A*S*H*” would have been killed off after four episodes, and it still amazes me that, as late as 1990, “Seinfeld” was given a reprieve after desultory numbers and given the opportunity to find its footing and its audience.
Like “Life on Mars,” “The Unusuals” deserved such an opportunity. Now, what are we to do with the current format of dramatic series television, in which serialized plots or recurring motifs carry the day in every hour-long drama other than the procedurals? Why should viewers have any allegiance to a new show this fall when most are not given a chance to flourish?
The networks continue to use reality series as a cheap crutch, and shows like “Dancing With the Stars” are certainly inexpensive cash cows. But an investment of time and promotion could result in something far more durable, and reality TV is an ephemeral entertainment — each installment is only worth watching once. Losing “The Unusuals” is just another epic fail on the part of the networks, and I’ll be carefully choosing which shows I dare to follow this fall. You never know if the bottom will fall out of your time investment.
Watch the series here.
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Comments
Right now, I’m thinking of pulling the plug on TV forever if things don’t change. I just don’t care anymore.
It also probably cost big to produce ‘The Unusuals’ – just like ‘Studio 60′ …but I really believe another network (i.e. USA, TNT, et al.) will pick this gem up.
I watched every episode and loved it. Shame on ABC for not giving this show a real chance. It was smart, warm, funny and interesting.The real reason this show failed was a lack of promotion, confidence and the fact it is not a crass, one trick pony of a reality show. Nowadays, one is scared to follow a tv show as you never know when it will be cancelled!
Are you kidding me? I loved this show…this really sucks? They can cancel quality shows like Life on Mars and The Unusuals, yet keep on crap like The Bachelor!!! Unbelievable. Pretty soon, I am going to cancel watching ABC. If it were not for Dancing with the stars, I would not even watch the network. Then, I was presently surprised when they created “THE UNUSUALS”. Great cast, great show- just not given the right chance to grow. Can we do anything?
UNUSUAL FAN in Florida
I agree with your points and I watched every episode too. In the beginning, I did really have a hard time believing Amber Tamblyn as a detective (too much General Hospital and Joan of Arcadia I suppose). Alvarez was really cheezy in the beginning too and all the guys look like they belong in a porn except Banks and Cole. Cole’s storyline was great Banks’ paranoia was unique and funny. I could have done with more Beaumont stories and less Schraeger, but given time I’m sure they would have done that. I think this show had the wrong marketing – what little I did see implied that it was going to be sci fi (“unusual cases”?) A better show name and a better leading man could have gone a long way.
Just wanted to agree with you about not giving shows a time to develop an audience. I only found this show 2 weeks ago… I 1) couldn’t wait to tell a few people about it, 2) was already anticipating a new fall season (I had assumed I had missed the first run of the series), 3) am saddened to hear that it’s been canceled. augh… I kept thinking that this would be the perfect answer to the Leno-a-thon next season. abc has missed on this…
Its a shame that this show is done, it is not the greatest show on tv, but with their quirky story lines and characters it does entertain a great bit. Its sad to see the unusuals get the boot when there is still all this reality tv crap on every channel every night.
i agree with everything you siad, I love this show and i was so upset to hear it was being cancelled.i also miss life on mars this just makes me want to give up on tv all together they get you hooked on a story then stop it in the middle, what kinda crap is that.
I’m a huge fan of the Unusuals & wish that ABC would bring it back. It was really entertaining & more interesting than the typical crime shows out there right now. I agree with this article – networks don’t give shows enough time to build a fan base. We’re so busy with our lives it’s hard to know when anything is on, especially now with using DVRs, Tivo, on-demand, etc. I would never expect to see a huge audience watching during the original air time – noone has time for that.
ABC bring back the Unusuals – much more interesting than Lost.
I could not agree more! I really enjoyed this show. I can’t stand reality television! If this trend continues that is all that will be on tv. It is cheaper for the networks to do the reality shows and these drones out there just eat them up. I don’t get it. I am very disappointed that this show has been canceled.
The Unusuals is a great show! And in terms of gratification, it’s easier to watch than Lost! I can’t believe ABC pulled a plug on this show but gave that much leeway to shows like Lost and even The Bachelor. The characters have such great chemistry and after watching every episode I just feel like I’ve watched something good and worthwhile. Oh well. I do hope it gets picked up by a different network! Btw, a really good season ender.
I also really loved The Unusuals, it was fresh and fun. It’s totally unfair that the networks abuse us like this over and over. ABC is the main perpetrator of this shameful practice. It seems that every season they have at least 2 shows that they treat in this manor. I’ve started calling it “drive by programming”!
“Drive-By Programming” — good term for the practice. Not every hit makes its mark in a flash. In fact, most of the really great shows had to cultivate an audience. Honestly, I don’t know if this is going to sink in with the networks.
Part of the problem is that every single one of the networks is conglomerated now, and back in the days of “MASH” and “All in the Family” — two shows that were not immediate hits in the ’70s — the networks were not beholden to parent companies looking at the margins. They had time for audiences to warm up to shows, and they had a monopoly on the eyeballs.
These days, the networks are losing those eyeballs to the 500 other channels on digital cable or satellite. And if the number aren’t quite where they want them to be straight out of the gate, the programmers immediate second-guess their decision and replace their expensive scripted show with “I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here.”
You can blame this on “cheap TV” – game shows and reality shows that don’t cost a buck to make and can be churned out without risk to the networks.
Truly smart, entertaining shows never had a chance against pap like that…
Seems like ABC never gave it a chance with it’s timeslot and lack of promotion.
Can the creator that the show elsewhere? I need to know what happens to Delahoy (hope I spelt tht right).
ABC = Another Bad Choice! This network really gives up on shows way too soon and relies on crappy “reality” shows.
I enjoyed every episode of the Unusuals and I find it sad that it has been cancelled. It seems like every time there is a smart and funny show put on the air it somehow get’s the ax. With the amount of horrible television these days you are forced to sift through it all to find anything redeeming and I get tired of finding “good” tv and it disappearing. How could you ever expect a show to do well if you don’t give it a chance and if you don’t advertise it properly???? I will say that Adam Goldberg and his partner Harold perrineau made an outstanding team and should find themselves back on tv VERY soon!!! Their characters were funny and fascinating!!!
I do agree with everything written so far, although I guess viewers who did not like the show would not even be on the site. Besides LOST it is the only show on ABC that was worth watching. Some of the best characters on any show.
My teenage sons and I love “The Unusuals” as we did “Studio 60″. We have enjoyed every episode and wanted to see more next Fall – What’s going on? Great actors, unusual stories as the title suggests.
First Life On Mars, then The Unusuals. If only Lost were on a different network I would boycott ABC.
I just heard about it being cancelled! Of course it is, it was actually a good show. Ugh! Why do they keep doing this? What to make room for another stupid reality show or CSI Boise. So disappointing!
I agree this was a GREAT show. It seems like every show we like, they cancel. The world is tired of reality shows that are all scripted anyway. What ever happened to a thinking person’s entertainment? Today’s reality shows are just people bashing everyone else. If I wanted to watch that, I’d stay at work.
I really like “The Unusuals.” I’m very disappointed in ABC and how they make these decisions. That really is a decent show.. and there’s so few shows worth watching. I hope USA or some other station picks them up. I also loved Life on Mars… I didn’t vote for Obama, so I’m sure my tastes don’t match ABC’s anyway.
I have to agree – on all points. I am very disappointed to learn of the cancelation – I thought they had just stopped it for a couple of weeks as they do with some shows and bring it back, but wouldn’t have dreamed they had canceled it! I think it was a bad time slot for them too that may have slowed the ratings and watchers too. That is “News” time for many and not a “Show” time – maybe if they moved it up an hour or two it may have gotten more viewers attention – a lot of folks go to sleep at 10 pm and that could have affected it’s rating too! Unfortunately, they won’t bring it back though – they never listen to viewers and bring shows back once they decide to cancel.
Yet another show that we are not allowed to watch due to poor programing on the part of yet another channel searching for instant gratification. This series grew in the short time that it was allowed to run. Given more time, a better market, and some sort of promotion by ABC, it could have been a winner! Reminds me of another “quirky” cop show that died way too soon. Anyone remember a show called “Life” ?? Check it out if you haven’t seen it. It only had two seasons before the TV idiots pulled it. I thought it was one of the best shows to come along in years. Oh well, I guess the hunt for good tv continues. Not to mention a channel that has the guts to run with it !!!!
I agree. I really enjoy “The Unusuals.” It’s fresh, interesting and entertaining. With a policy of “instant gratification,” networks no longer allow shows to develop. So the downside – viewers will be pushed to cable and premier channels for interesting and compelling programming.