Friday, June 14, 2013

Goodwin Games and TV Cancellation Heartbreak

Dear People on the Internet,

Can you all please watch The Goodwin Games? It's only been on for four episodes, but I love it already. It has a fresh, albeit totally implausible if one's disbelief isn't properly suspended, premise of three estranged siblings brought back together to compete for their recently deceased genius father's fortune which they didn't previously know he'd amassed. It stars Noel from Felicity, Barney's stripper girlfriend from HIMYM, and a dude I found mildly annoying in the first episode but already now find completely endearing. There's wit mixed with childish humor mixed with unexpectedly sweet moments - a combination very similar to Go On, may it rest in peace.

And shows like Go On are why I'm writing to you today, Internet. I've experienced too many cancellation heartaches recently. I won't dwell long, but let me tell you about a few fallen heroes:

Bent. This was a long while ago. I think it was about a type-A girl who hires a hot contractor who is not dependable. Antics and sexual tension ensued. 

Emily Owens, MD. COME ON. How do you cancel Meryl Streep's daughter's show?! Shouldn't there be a law against that? There should be a law against that. This show was like Grey's Anatomy: Lite, and isn't that what we're all really searching for in this world?

Ben and Kate. Sure, the premise wasn't original, but I liked Ben and I liked Kate. Ben was a lovable loser. Kate was mega awkward and an imperfect perfectionist, a hard combination to live out but one with which I related. 
 Go On. I think all the major TV networks are just playing a joke on Matthew Perry at this point. This is his third failed venture since Friends. Go On was at times too wacky for me (I loathe the word wacky and I loathe wackiness), but for the most part it was witty and completely sweet. It did remind me of Community at times - a group of people who should never be friends become a ragtag family - but I wouldn't think that's grounds for show murder. 

Smash. Just kidding. I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did. That show took itself way too seriously. Good music though. (Pats Megan Hilty and Katharine McPhee on the heads condescendingly.)

Up All Night. The biggest heartbreak. So many times while watching this show, Jeff and I felt like we were watching our relationship. And we find ourselves vastly entertaining, so of course we wanted it to continue. But then LORNE wanted to switch to multi-cam and he ruined everything. Freaking Lorne. (Lorne, if you're reading this, I'm just joking. Please let me be on SNL just once. Please.) Anyway, Up All Night was hilarious, sweet, and honest. Winner. Except, you know...loser. 

I suppose one could draw the conclusion that I have poor taste in television since all of these got canceled, and to that one who is drawing that conclusion I say this: Dancing with the Stars has been one of the top rated TV Shows in the recent past. That's bad ballroom dancing starring, at best, C-list "actors." So maybe good taste has little to do with keeping a show around.

In conclusion, watch The Goodwin Games. Let's keep this one alive!

Thanks,
Emily

Meet the Goodwins!



3 comments:

  1. Comments on your last three posts: Wow, Wowzer, Wowzest. Babycakes, you need to write for a living. XOXO

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  2. Actually, I'm pretty sure that was the SECOND show with Meryl Streep's daughter that got cancelled. She was on another one about doctors but they were in the jungle or something...

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  3. Oh yeah, off the map! Poor Mamie. As if having a name like Mamie Gummer wasn't bad enough.

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