With the upfronts coming next month, there’s a lot of speculation as to what shows will be back next season. It seems that almost every show is on the bubble — nothing’s safe, yet nothing’s definitively canceled either.
I’m going out on a limb here and stating that Castle‘s safe. Why?
1. Nathan Fillion’s finally got a hot gig and the fans have followed him.
2. It fits the new trend of procedurals, with the “consultant” added to the mix of cops for a quirky interest point.
3. Procedurals don’t get canceled; the longevous CSI and Law and Order franchises prove this.
4. Fillion and Katic have chemistry, what with the sparkling banter and lingering looks and all.
5. The fast pace and plot twists keeps even the Ritalin-takers interested.
6. ABC wants to give CBS a run for their money, since NBC’s deal with Leno leaves them out.
7. The writers know how to write three-dimensional main characters with personality.
What do you think?
Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Apr 23, 2009 @ 15:39 EST5EDT
This is probably the worst list ever.
There is only one reason why the show won’t get canceled, ABC already canceled everything else.
That’s it, that’s all. The ratings aren’t that great, but they really don’t have anything else to fill in their schedule with. it will get at least a 13 episodes for mid-season.
WOW, worst list “ever”?! Being harsh, no?
OK, only one of the worst. Sorry, truth hurts. If we are going by this logic than “The Unusuals” will also be fine because cop shows are never canceled. Nevermind the show has less than 5 million viewers.
*POST AUTHOR*
It’s the combination of the items on the list that will keep Castle from getting canceled, Oreo, not each one taken in isolation. Open your mind, let the good energy flow in! ;-)
Deb, you fill me with hope that maybe one of my favorite new shows will be back next season!
Personally, I think it’s a pretty good list. Oreo, hyperbole isn’t often the best way to make a point. Do you *really* think it’s the worst list ever?
This is one of my favorite new shows. I love the relationship between Castle and his daughter. The mother is growing on me too. I especially look forward to the bantering between Castle and Becket. Becket is a very strong, tough with the bad guys character, yet we see the softer side of Kate when appropriate. Hope it is renewed, but if not I will continue to enjoy it while we have it.
Castle is definitely my new favorite show, and I would hate to see it canceled! One of the reasons why I’m tuning in every week, of course, aside from Fillion’s brilliant facial expressions.
Well, it’s more of a list of why fans love the show than anything to do with ratings or ABC. Hopefully, the Fillion curse has been lifted.
Off topic but I care more about “Life” and Dollhouse.
I have one good reason – it’s not on Fox. Castle is as good as Standoff. Go figure
weren’t there two different versions of law and order that got cancelled?
*POST AUTHOR*
Oh, details, details! Yeah, there probably were, but in general, L&O has been on the airwaves a loooooong time!
You had me at “Procedurals Don’t Get Canceled” because, as a general rule, that’s pretty much the case. Proof positive is that Life got an extra year (at least, I hope for more) where as Journeyman did not.
Sebastian: Even though I’m not 100% sold on Castle yet (I’ll elaborate in a second), I don’t necessarily think that Standoff was better. I liked Standoff, but I think it had a limited premise, even though the chemistry between between DeWitt and Livingston was great.
Speaking of chemistry, I’ve been incredibly surprised at what Fillion and Katic have. I had the opportunity to read the script before she was cast, and I really diagreed with her getting the part. But since the pilot, they’ve changed her characterization quite a bit, making her a bit of softer hardass if you will, and it works.
At the end of the day, though, I think Castle is missing something. More interesting minor characters, I think. I don’t like his mother, she’s a caricature. I think we need more from the other cops. Castle’s daughter is the only secondary character I care about.
I would rather keep The Unusuals.
First, they need to announce that the mother falls down an elevator shaft or moves to Brazil or something. I haven’t read anything anywhere where someone liked the character, nor have they actually done anything with her (at least not in the episodes that I’ve seen).
Second, you left off a very important item in your list: Both Moonlighting and Murder She Wrote had good, long runs, and this show is obviously a mash-up of those two concepts. If ABC can get some of the CBS audience to become aware of this show, their numbers can go up a bit. They need to repeat the show in the summer and let people find it once the CBS procedurals are in re-runs too. Then if it doesn’t grow, cancel it. But this one has some potential.
I have enjoyed The Unusuals, but it is more forced. Castle seems to flow very naturally as what it is: a light, character focused mystery show (it’s not really a cop/procedural show as we’ve come to recognize them).
*POST AUTHOR*
You’re right, that would have been a great addition to the list! It is definitely a shout-out to both of those shows, which were great.
Bear with the mother; I think we’re going to see some depth in her as she takes Beckett under her wing. I like where they’re going with this connection.
My wife and I agree this show (“Murder, She Moonlighted?”) has only gotten stronger. I think it will be back.
Tuned in for Fillion, stayed for the awesome show.
This is definitely my new favorite show of the season. ABC really needs to renew because, quite frankly, I’m still not over NBC canceling Journeyman and if Castle gets canceled it could push me over the edge.
Guys, I watch this show and it’s a guarantee that that alone will get it canceled. Sorry!
But seriously now, ABC isn’t as hardcore about saving the quirky fun procedurals. If it was another sloggy show it’d be safe for life.
I’m a huge Castle fan, but unfortunately, this list does not infuse me with confidence.
Police procedurals get canceled all the time. The big ones- Law & Order, CSI, NCIS (I still don’t understand why NCIS is so popular, it’s terrible) – have staying power because they hooked a big audience from the start and managed to hang onto them. But just this season we’ve seen Life on Mars canceled, The Unusuals seems doomed, and several more are on the bubble.
There are several new(ish) cop shows on right now that I’m enjoying and worried about. Castle, Life, The Unusuals, and Southland (Well, I love Fringe too, but it’s in no danger of cancellation). If even one of them survives to the next season, I’ll be grateful.
Nathan Fillion is an amazing actor who deserves to have a long-running show on television. This show will only get better with time. The show continues to get better every single week.
Also, I have to say it, Stana Katic is a FOX!!!!!
I would be incredibly disappointed if ABC cancels Castle. Castle, LOST, Dexter, and Mythbusters are the only reasons i keep paying my cable bill.