Fartknockers. In an unfortunate turn of events, word came down Tuesday that Reaper has been canceled. The news did cast a bit of a pall over the proceedings as we headed into what will now be knows as the next to last installment of the quirky little show. It sucks, but we can’t say it wasn’t expected.
Reaper was already a tough sell for the young-women demo coveted by the CW, so staying on the network would have required extraordinary ratings. Having more viewers than 90210 on a number of occasions, despite facing the Idol juggernaut, just wasn’t enough. But that’s done, and we do have an episode to talk about.
The first thing on my list this week is a question. Did you watch The Loop? For those of you that answered no, and ratings suggest your numbers are mighty, The Loop was Bret Harrison’s pre-Reaper gig. I bring it up because a good chunk of “Business Casualty” played like a bizarro world episode of The Loop. Much like his doppleganger, Sam Sullivan, we found our Sam Oliver looking rather out of place in the corporate world. Being caught off guard and unprepared during a meeting, yet still managing to stumble ass-backwards out of the jam, was a regular staple for The Loop. Mr. Randall lacked the borderline insanity of Philip Baker Hall’s Russ, but it was a fun bit for fans of both shows.
Getting back to the big picture story, we continued to see Jerry grooming Sam to be his right hand. As he put it, what better way to instruct Sam in the ways of evil than corporate America. Of course, all the while, we’re racing toward the eventual showdown between the two of them. Nina’s hint that Mr. Oliver sent instructions on how to get Sam into a competition with Jerry, combined with next week’s episode title, “The Devil And Sam Oliver,” give a pretty strong suggestion as to where we’re headed. The bigger question is, “Will there be time for a resolution?” Not knowing the fate of the show when it was filmed, did the writers plan the finale to be able to wrap up the series? I hope so, but we’ll have to wait and see.
Elsewhere, it was a fun week for both Sock and Ben. I really liked the entire Maggie story, even if there were no real surprises. If we’ve learned nothing else from Reaper, we know that when things seem too good to be true around Sock, they certainly are. And the other shoe will drop, sooner rather than later. I didn’t expect Maggie to go through with the plan, any more than I expected Sock to actually learn his lesson, but it was fun watching it all play out. Nobody wants to see Sock grow.
Ben and Nina are just the creepiest, oddball, romance on television. And I mean that in the good way. His goodbye speech at the portal to Hell, with the bathing rules, and the showering overshare, was just full of “Ewwww” moments. Yet, somehow, it all seems to make sense for the two of them. I count the introduction of Nina as one of the high points for season two.
So, we head into the big series finale next week knowing it will be the last we see of Reaper. It’s unfortunate, but it has been a good run. I’ll clear a place for the forthcoming DVD set on my shelf for those shows that were taken away too early.
Clacked by Brett Love 
on May 20, 2009 @ 15:00 EST5EDT
it’s a very sad day for Reaper fans..I loved this show! I imagine that the finale was filmed sometime ago, so I hope they wrap enough things up.
And his pre-The Loop gig, don’t forget, was Grounded For Life.
Absolutely, Grounded For Life is another underrated comedy.
Loved The Loop (I wish they’d release Season 2 on DVD). But what about the interest in ABC Studios continuing the show in syndication when the CW ax fell? Is that still in the works?
I suppose that if you really want to keep your glass half full, the possibility of the show continuing in syndication is out there, but other than the original rumor I haven’t seen anything that suggests that deal is actually going through. I would be very happy to learn differently, but I’m pretty confidant that next week will be a wrap for the series.
I’d like to see a season 2 Loop DVD as well, although I still think the first season was the best. And, getting off topic, if you are a fan of The Loop, did you ever see Off Centre?
A bullshit decision by a bullshit network. No girls watch 90210 either! The CW will be dead within 3 years because they don’t care about 50% of the population!
Very sad, though not surprising. Reaper really kicked it into high gear in the second half of this season…I wonder if they’d had this momentum starting out (in season 2), would they still be canceled (I’m leaning toward yes, CW really wasn’t interested in seeing Reaper through)?
Nice review, and ITA about Ben and Nina.
Although the CW is not picking up Reaper, we not giving up yet. ABC Studios is still trying to move the show into syndication or cable. We’re advocating all Reaper fans to write their CW affiliates. All links and info here: https://community.livejournal.com/reaperdmv/44208.html And don’t forget to contact ABC Studios and thank them for not giving up on Reaper.
What do you think of this strategy, Brett, can it work?
*POST AUTHOR*
I’d never rule anything out completely Cathy, because strange things do occasionally happen. Roswell, Jericho, Family Guy, JAG, and Baywatch, to name a few, all have odd stories to tell. So, Reaper moving to syndication is certainly still a possibility, although a very unlikely one.
Unfortunately, there are a number of things working against the show here. First, the creators have already moved on to other projects, which doesn’t mean it can’t happen, but doesn’t help. Also, moving to syndication, as opposed to another network, is a tougher sell. And we can’t forget the disaster that was the CW Sunday night last fall. My best guess is that the show is done, but there is that small glimmer of hope. I’ll be sure to send a message along to my local CW affiliate, KSTW.
I watch 1,000,000 shows on the CW and I have to say Reaper was my favorite! It’s been cancled!? That’s why it wasn’t on today? DAMN!
*POST AUTHOR*
Michael, it wasn’t on today because the season ended last week, but it has been cancelled by The CW. Apparently, there is still hope for the show to live on somewhere else though. Have a look at Keith’s latest update.