Cancelled Shows: Clearing the Slate

The entertainment news got worse the more I read my feed yesterday. In an apparent effort to clean house, ABC and Fox cancelled a number of shows ahead of next week's upfronts (the time the networks reveal upcoming schedules, pilots, renewals, and other good stuff-hopefully). 

I linked to Deadline Hollywood's brief about yesterday's slew of cancellations, so you can read what's cut and a few reactions. 

The biggest, not biggest, surprise seems to be ABC's Castle. But since the original writers left, and maybe even a little before then, it's been circling the drain. While we will miss the fun-loving, and occasionally suspenseful detective show, it's probably time to move on. Besides, our time here would be better spent working. Yes, I said working. I may as well get back to night writing, since I've got a new book coming this year. Plus, it's just not a good time for me and TV right now, I've already canceled several shows from the DVR. Shows that let us down, or went in such strange directions we scratched our heads for a week or two, then dropped them altogether. If it works, maybe I can complete the next Harper and Mackenzie manuscript before the kids are out of school, and Suits comes back on USA this summer. All we ask is the writers don't mess with Mike, Harvey, and the gang too much, mmkay?

OMG Shake-Up for ABC's Castle

I've been dreading this would happen since last year, or maybe even before. As the ratings for ABC's Castle have been rocky, it looks as though Beckett and Lanie are out for next season. (Stan Katic and Tamala Jones will not be returning for season 9. Boo!) Plus, the next season of Castle may not actually be the same kind of Castle we've followed these past 8 seasons, which is tough to think about.  

Fans have been in suspense as the show has been on the bubble a few times, and rumors went rampant last year near contract time that Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic might leave. The long pause in Castle and Beckett's relationship after the departure of long-time  writers didn't help either. If there wasn't going to be a Castle and Beckett, I wasn't sure it would be worth watching. Now, if they decide to get back to basics with Castle bringing Alexis up through the ranks, it might work. Especially, if the writers tear our hearts out with a big-time exit for Beckett and show us the impact on Castle, and how he eventually copes by way of laser tag and crime solving. Who knows? Maybe they'll send Beckett under deep cover and we can see them reunited sometime in the future. Either way, fans better buckle up and prepare for a bumpy ride. It's been nice knowing you Beckett, you were an amazing Captain. 

Here's a brief clip from a Yahoo! TV report: 

How might Beckett be written out? In a new interview with TVLine, co-showrunner Alexi Hawley said that with both Katic’s and Nathan Fillion’s contracts up, “We are trying to leave [the May 16 season finale] in a very dynamic way which leaves open the possibility that maybe the show won’t come back in the same form next season.”