'Deadwood' dead?! Star says HBO is 'packing up the ranch'
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- October
- 1
News of “Deadwood” star Ian McShane declaring the series and its concluding movies dead yesterday makes me feel like running into a muddy thoroughfare and wrestling anyone responsible for its demise until an eye is unceremoniously dislodged.
McShane (pictured), who deserved his Golden Globe and far better fates for his portrayal of lead Al Swearengen, told Cinematical’s Ryan Stewart the following:
“I just got a call (Sept. 28) from … a dear friend of mine, who told me that they’re packing up the ranch. They’re dismantling the ranch and taking the stuff out. That ship is gonna sail. Bonsoir, Deadwood. … We all (feel cheated). It was one of those one-off jobs that you do which has got an extraordinary creative brain behind it, and it kept getting better, and the actors were great. … But everything has to come to an end, babe.”
Anger doesn’t encapsulate the swirling emotion I’m feeling; it’s closer to fury. I also feel disappointed, hurt, sad and betrayed by the way this situation was handled. And, perhaps most alarmingly, I feel a level of acceptance—as if I knew all along that HBO and anyone else responsible for the death of “Deadwood” would disappoint me as a viewer, fan and paying subscriber.
The series lasted three seasons. Even the wildest fans were realistic enough to hope for just one more to tie up the loose ends. After all, “Six Feet Under” got that privilege the year before it went off the air. Most “Deadwood” fans begrudgingly accepted when HBO pledged two, two-hour movies to achieve that goal. A single spray of Pledge has made more progress on dead wood.
I guess I should be pleased about the rare instances in which TV execs make the right decisions about quality shows on the bubble. Despite early struggles, the folks at NBC recognized how brilliant “Seinfeld,” “The Office” and “30 Rock” were, in the same way that Fox—to a certain degree—extended its leash for “Arrested Development” until it could no longer justify its ratings. Even “Jericho” got a final-hour reprieve on CBS.
While it’s understandable that network TV, whose profits are advertising-driven and thus far more reliant on ratings success, is more likely to can critical series with limited viewership, HBO, whose profits depend on subscribers’ monthly payments, never has alienated so many with one premature cancellation. (Sorry, “Carnivà le” fans. “Deadwood’s” viewers are louder, are more devout and have more support among TV critics.)
Despite a unique approach, flashes of clever writing and the engrossing Ed O’Neill, “John from Cincinnati” was comparatively a disaster, especially among “Deadwood” fans who knew—no matter how HBO brass or David Milch tried to spin it—that it was hogging time, money and no fewer than eight brilliant actors better applied to “Deadwood”: Dayton Callie (Steady Freddy Lopez on “John”/Charlie Utter on “Deadwood”), Garrett Dillahunt (Dr. Michael Smith/Francis Wolcott and Jack McCall), Jim Beaver (Vietnam Joe/Ellsworth), Paula Malcomson (Jerri/Trixie), Stephen Tobolowsky (Mark Lewinsky/Hugo Jarry), Peter Jason (Car Salesman/Con Stapleton… ha!), Keone Young (The Chinaman/Mr. Wu) and Austin Nichols (John Monad/Morgan Earp).
Salt in the wound: Milch once said in so many words that he envisioned “Deadwood” lasting four seasons; with the resources spent on the one-season-and-out “John,” HBO could have put a capper on the most brilliant dramatic series of the 21st century and few would have complained. Glass in the wound: Production continues on Milch’s next H-B-Opus, which will only alienate bitter “Deadwood” fans further due to their disdain for “John” and pretty much anything lacking the Gem Saloon.
While “Flight of the Conchords,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Entourage” help maintain HBO’s comedic identity, no longer is the pay-network a beacon of water-cooler conversation for the best dramas (plural) on television, as recent successes “The Sopranos,” “Six Feet Under” and “Rome” have all come and gone; only “The Wire” gives the network that kind of dramatic cred these days. Its poor ratings have been comparable to those of “Deadwood,” yet “The Wire” remains on the air.
If McShane’s statements are true, the death of “Deadwood” hereby negates one of HBO’s proudest slogans: “It’s not TV. It’s HBO.” HBO has become the very “TV” over which it claimed superiority.
Not just because “Deadwood” is finished, but because of the way it was finished.
(Photo by AP/Reed Saxon)
This entry was posted
on Monday, October 1st, 2007 at 5:36 pm by Chris Serico.
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Well, all I have to say is with that to, goes down HBO! This is finally the one thing to me that signifies the dimise of a Once Great Network. They are finally putiing there retarded plan in to action- to ruin there own network by matching there NOW shity shows with the actual actions of tearing down the sets of great shows.
The tearing down of the Deadwood set is clearly PHASE 3 of the HBO "retard plan" to KILL any plan to bring back a great show, that could have saved their network. It was the only 1 solid gem that could have saved them after The sopranos ended.
We need not worry though, because while the boys at HBO clearly have their head's up each others asses, Showtime is clearly on Phase 3 of it's plan to masacare HBO!
While those idiots at HBO have been busy running their network to the ground , Showtime is clearly making some great shows- DEXTER, Californication, WEEDs, THE TUDORS, BRotherhood, are all top notch. The ratings speak for themselves. Almost all of these shows have have a 9.0 rating or more.
It almost seems as though the "It's not tv, It's HBO" has moved over to showtime. The show Dexter alone has a higher rating than The Sopranos.
I am trully sad to see hbo self distruct, I have been a huge fan of Rome, The SOpranos, Deadwood,& Entourage, but for me it's not been a huge loss, I have discovered Showtime and at the same time realized that it has balls to start a multiple great shows, FINISH them , and take a risk.
Something HBO use to do.
Anyways, I feel like a weight has been lifted I finally can move on. Now that I now it's trully over, for Deadwood and HBO life can go on. Darn, what a shame.
I think HBO sucks and I am cancelling any further ado with them. I am sure they will miss my money.
HBO blows.
It is with shock, dismay and disgust that I write this. I've just learned that DEADWOOD has been pulled. DEADWOOD was an epic, brought to life through stunning scenery and scintillating acting of a superb cast.
I have ended my subscription to anything HBO, I have instructed my agents to sell all stock I hold with HBO, I will not be associated with such a dumb ass company.
The Muppet's, no disrespect to Kurmit and Co., in control are placed by and under the influence of a moral minority who advised these gutless idiots to dump the show because "It Shows the US in a bad light"; cant have government officials appearing corrupt now can we.
HBO is dieing and these rats will soon be jumping ship (keep an eye on the press, particularly the money press). Wherever they go, shift your investments because their task is to control and not to provide what we view. To any other stockholders in HBO, read the money press and you'll see what I mean. My message to you is to get out now, HBO stock is falsely high and will soon be falling sharply so help kill them off sooner than later, cancel all HBO subscription and sell, sell, sell while you can, you dont have long.
LONG LIVE SHOWTIME who are the new HBO.
Deadwood dead? I can not believe it. Have the common sense to at least give it some sort of ending. I am finished with HBO. My parents have had HBO since the start, and I have been a paying customers for almost 20 years. Not anymore.
I am canceling HBO because they have lost it. Leaving customers out in the cold like this is the last straw. Goodbye HBO, I hope you learn from this mistake.