Farewell, Favorite Television Show!

Today NBC announced that they are cancelling “Go On”, or at least they’re not picking it up for a second year, which is the same thing.

I don’t watch a ton of television since I find most of it to be stupid, boring, stupid, annoying, formulaic  stupid, predictable, stupid, derivative, and oh yeah, stupid. (Well, at least not programmed network television – I do watch a fair amount of sports.) But that’s not to say that I don’t like to be entertained. I just prefer shows that don’t cater to the lowest common denominator and have some originality. Is it too much to ask that a comedy actually be funny?

“Go On” was my favorite new show of the year. It was witty, funny, intelligent, poignant, a bit different, had great writing and acting — and of course it was probably doomed from the outset because of it. I love shows that in one episode can have you laughing your ass off and five minutes later have you reaching for the tissues. “Go On” could do that almost every week.

But NBC, the network that’s currently ranked number five of the four major US television networks (nope, that’s NOT a typo, NBC’s not only behind CBS, ABC, and Fox, but also behind Telemundo in the ratings race), took this funny and intelligent show and put it on an erratic and irregular schedule. At times it was off the air completely for weeks and weeks at a time. Then they started moving it around the schedule, to different nights and times. Then they complained about the ratings. (Sound familiar “Serenity” fans?)

Despite that, “Go On” got respectable reviews from the critics and had a loyal following. Finally, let’s face it, on a network which is in freefall, where almost all of the shows have truly abysmal ratings, being “just so-so” should start to look pretty good in comparison. After all, back a couple of decades ago, a show called “M*A*S*H” didn’t get very good ratings at all the first two years (another smart, multi-dimensional show that could have you laughing and crying in the same episode), but it turned out OK in the end. Regardless of all of that logic,  since February “Go On” has been listed in the industry news as a “bubble” show for renewal.

Today the axe fell. Now “Go On” is history, thanks to the incomprehensible “logic” used by NBC programming executives. What will they replace this witty, smart, and unique show with next year? Another cop show that’s just like the dozens and dozens of identical cop shows out there? Another reality show that’s just like the dozens and dozens of identical reality shows out there? Another mindless sitcom with a wall-to-wall laugh track (and no real laughs) that’s just like the dozens and dozens of identical mindless sitcoms with wall-to-wall laugh tracks… You get the idea.

Freakin’ idiots! Keep up the good work, NBC! I’m sure if you keep on this track you’ll be #6 in the ratings soon, and the #7 position isn’t out of your reach!