Janeane Garofalo series gets canned

[Talon]

Garofalo Series Canned, Conspiracy Theories Abound
Sun, Jun 8, 2003 10:39 AM PDT

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Less than a week after ABC pulled the plug on Janeane Garofalo's proposed midseason comedy, "Slice o' Life," speculation is already building that the comedian fell victim to her liberal political views.

In a column in the Chicago Sun-Times, Bill Zwecker cites an unnamed source close to Garofalo who remains convinced that the show's failure was an example ''of a network bowing to the perceived power of the Bush administration. Janeane is convinced her politics and all the hate mail the right-wing lobby stirred up during the war is what is behind all this.''

Certainly ABC would never cop to anything so nefarious and the Disney-owned company blamed the show's failure on the usual generalities like creative disagreements and script problems.

Garofalo was going to star in "Slice" playing a producer on a newsmagazine stuck handling human-interest stories.

In her own life, though, Garofalo hasn't been nearly so touchy-feely, coming out as one of the most outspoken critics of the war with Iraq. This show of political advocacy has earned the actress an unceasing string of taunting from the conservative puppets on the New York Post's "Page Six" and threats and catcalls from other voices on the right.

Answering the title of Zwecker's column, "Did liberal-bashers cost Garofalo her sitcom?" a poster on the gopusa.com message board responds simply, "I certainly hope so. If it didn't, we weren't trying hard enough."

I don't think the Bush administration had anything to do with this and it wasn't "Right wing whackos" either, just good ole God and country loving Americans who're tired of the extreme liberal leftist socialist propaganda coming out of Hollywood these days.

Miss Garafolo, you have the right to free speech but you can and will be held responsible for what you say by those who would be your "fans", "audience" or "viewers", it's the American way girl

 

[Jeratain]

That's a bit rediculous. If her show were cancelled due to right-wing groups asking for its cancellation or because the Disney/ABC network was "bowing down to the Bush Administration" then it's absolutely crap.

However I don't buy that excuse. Though it may have contributed and though it is possible it is the only reason the show got cancelled, I wouldn't be surprised if it would have failed anyhow. Though Janeane can be funny at times, she can also be extremely corny - and in a sitcom situation I don't see her being so great. She should stick to cameos and standup.

 

[Furry Spatula]

shows don't get cancelled because they suck an no one watches them, thus meaning that commercial time is worthless and the show just costs money ... right

 

[Toasty]

Originally posted by Furry Spatula
shows don't get cancelled because they suck an no one watches them, thus meaning that commercial time is worthless and the show just costs money ... right

Yeah, but "Slice o' Life" wasn't even on air yet.

All telivision networks do is market what's popular. If Jeaneane Garofalo is unpopular because she speaks out against the "Über-Patriotism" status of American society today, and ABC thinks its association with Ms. Garofalo is going to hurt its image with telivision viewers, then they are simply doing what's best for business by canning her proposed show.

Capitalism in action.

 

[Furry Spatula]

However, i see nothing wrong with that. If she wishes to make a TV show to prod into her political beliefes then go ahead and work on some documentaries. But if you are extremely unpopular and then want to be on TV, I'm sorry but TV shows cost money. I don't think its any conspiracy.

And by the way. I've never heard of this woman before. But regardless. Instead of complaining the Bush ended her carreer she should start blaming herself. It was her high profile anti-Iraq protesting which appears to have ended her career. That and the fact that I don't think many people outside of the US have a clue who she is.

 

[Greadius]

Maybe these conspiracy theorists forget that these producers are the same people that wanted Garofalo in the first place, the same way they hire any of the Hollywood crowd and environment which are almost invariable of similar pursuasion. Yet when she loses her show they all of a sudden become reactionaries.

Nationally syndicated talk show host, Democrat, and outspoken pro-war individual Phil Hendrie also had his show axed in production. Yet, there seems to be an absence of theorists who state that being pro-war in Hollywood hurts your career. His show was of course trash, while Garofalo's was a victim of politics

 

[dannyevilcat]

Originally posted by Greadius
Maybe these conspiracy theorists forget that these producers are the same people that wanted Garofalo in the first place, the same way they hire any of the Hollywood crowd and environment which are almost invariable of similar pursuasion. Yet when she loses her show they all of a sudden become reactionaries.

Unfortunately, that's not generally how it works.
What happens is producers pitch the concept to get funding. Most likely, the studio heads grudgingly gave it the go-ahead (she's a big name, and it was being filmed in Vancouver where it's cheap, etc.)

It was also almost definitely filmed before the war.

On the other hand, do I really care about Garofolo? Not particularily, and I doubt I'd have watched the show anyway.

 

[Greadius]

It was in production before it was ever shot.

The producers and network are involved in every step of the process, but you're right, it usually takes about a year to go from offer to network.

What you have here is a circumstance where two people's shows were axed, both of them on the opposite side of the contentious issue. One of the claims it was politics and gets columns written for her, the other claims it was politics (before either of their shows were cut Hendrie SAID he wasn't going to get it because of his politics) and doesn't make it off the internet.

I suppose the right-wing media only has time for one story

 

[Johann MacLeod]

it reminds me of what happened to Bill Mahrer(sp?)

 

[Furry Spatula]

Well guys look at it this way. The show, My Big Fat Greek Life was canned. And that didn't have anything to do with political beliefs. It just had something to do with the show sucking. I don't think this can simply be chalked up to political conspiracy. You can find many shows that have been canceled. It doesn't just have to do with political views of the people in the show.

 

[Greadius]

Tell that to Bill Zwecker.

I guess they fall in love with the all too popular martyr complex. What would it have meant for her career if it'd just have been caned because it stunk.

Bill Maher's ratings were in the toilet and had been for at least two years. The show was called Politically Incorrect, yet some people maintain his lack of PC is what got the show cancelled. What a great irony that would be.

Now the Smothers Brothers... THERE is an example of that.

And for the record, I not only find Janeane funny, but I think she's pretty hot too. Just like I enjoy Coldplay, Pearl Jam, ect.'s music. However, they should just keep their mouth shut on issues using their fame to promote their views because they don't have a clue what they're talking about.

 

[Rodgers]

Shame really, I always liked the look of her - especially her character in the Larry Sanders Show (bored cynical secretary, love life bound to be going nowhere....)

 

[stormbind]

I dunno anything about this specific series.

Every year, each network considers almost 500 pitches for new shows. The ideas are whittled down to 50 or 60 concepts that writers then produce into scripts. Only 10 to 20 will be filmed as pilots. Only a few pilots become series.

So why should this Janeane Geofalo series an exception to the rule? Odds were it was never going to be a series anyway.

Wouldn't you be sick and tired if people published conspiracy theories for the thousands of shows that are discarded each year?

 

[MrPresident]

If the show was funny then it would have aired. Nothing gets in the way of profit, especially politics.

 

[Dell19]

Originally posted by MrPresident
Nothing gets in the way of profit

Thats a little unfair, some businesses to act ethically there are plenty of legislation etc to get in the way of profits.

 

[amadeus]

She wasn't funny anyways.

 

[napoleon526]

Originally posted by rmsharpe
She wasn't funny anyways.

I have to agree with you, Sharpie. Her entire act can be summed up by her appearence on 'The Simpsons'. She goes up on stage and says "Well, I got my period today."

 

[Immortal]

Woman comics who rely on shock and awe comedy bring down the real woman comedic talent (rita perlman, ooooh yeah!)

 

[Double Barrel]

I was surprised when Janeane Garofalo got her own show when it was first announced. So it comes as no surprise that it has been axed. She is kinda' funny, at times...but nothing I would watch on a regular basis.

I doubt it was her politics, but her mouth sure didn't help her situation.

 

[Lefty Scaevola]

The prepoderating majority of proposed shows get canned before they get on the air, and almost every one that gets on the air is later canceled at some point, and this paranoid wacko imagines there is a conspiracy?