Ausiello Scoop: NBC Cancels Bionic Woman - Ausiello Report

Bionic Woman by Carol Segal/NBC It's now official: The Commander in Chief award for the most spectacular freshman flame-out of the 07-08 TV season goes to... Bionic Woman! Although NBC isn't talking, I'm told by multiple sources that Bionic staffers were informed late last week that the troubled reboot has indeed been canceled. That means no spring relaunch under new show-runner Jason Cahill — which is too bad. Cahill's a talented guy (see: The Sopranos), and I was anxious to see what he would do with the show. But I guess it wasn't meant to be. At least now the first stage of grief can get under way. No, not shock — the snarky postmortem! What do you think felled Bionic Woman in the end? Was it the lackluster pilot? The absence of a clear, creative vision? Not enough Starbuck? Too much Isaiah Washington? All of the above? Sound off in the comments section below! Leave a Comment
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Posted by Michael Ausiello Feb 20, 2008 3:01 PM Report Abuse

Probably the least surprising TV news in a looong time. Thanks for finally putting this thing to bed, all the people in denial that it was cancelled after many many many stories saying it was 99% gone were getting pretty tiresome.
Posted by minderbinder Feb 20, 2008 3:47 PM Report Abuse

Probably too much "SUCK!"
Posted by MrHolley Feb 20, 2008 3:47 PM Report Abuse

I have nothing against the lead per se (is it Michelle Ryan? do I have her name right?) but she just wasn't dynamic enough in this role. She's a good actress (maybe the show should have let her keep her accent) but this just wasn't her part - she comes across as very girl-next-door, when this role needs a shade more sass. But I look forward to seeing her in something else in the future.

In addition, there wasn't enough conflict between her life with her sister and her bionic life. I never felt that she was struggling with the changes in her life - and that's mostly a script problem.

Posted by AfleetAlex

Feb 20, 2008 4:04 PM

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I agree with MrHolley -- too much suck, not enough rock. Come to think of it, no rock at all. Fortunately, this means Miguel Ferrer is now free to go join a good show.
Posted by texasannie Feb 20, 2008 4:12 PM Report Abuse

I don't blame the actors! To me, the writers never developed a character enough to really care about. If they would have explored Jaime Summers history a bit more, and given us more details into her and her sisters past then we might have given a damn!
Posted by Ranger99 Feb 20, 2008 4:15 PM Report Abuse

The characters were dull and inconsistent, the writing lackluster, etc. but what really killed the show was its pacing, atmosphere and sense of self-importance. The original was a light-hearted action show...the new version was a plodding, nihilistic, gloomy mess shrouded in a miasma of doom. The only "fun" came in the last episode or so, when it was far, far too late.
Posted by The72John Feb 20, 2008 4:20 PM Report Abuse

I read this in the UK's The Sun paper last week. The star was all sad because she worked hard to get the part. I didn't even know the lead was a British soapstar, that explains part of the suck right there.
Posted by RileyPGiles Feb 20, 2008 4:21 PM Report Abuse

Buy the DVD next month! I thought Bionic Woman was a rocking good show!
Posted by whennow Feb 20, 2008 4:21 PM Report Abuse

I am not surprised at the cancellation. I am disappointed, though; they could have done so much with this show and made it better and made it work. I saw every episode (yes, I loved the cheesey original, thank you), and was really hoping they could pull it off as well as the new BSG. I think it was a combination of things: bad producing, bad writing, and bad acting (and yes, bad casting - go AWAY, Isaiah W.). Definitely NOT enough Starbuck, but even that dynamic between her and Michelle Ryan cuold have been better. Mostly bad writing, however; Ryan didn't mesh with the character in a believable way, mostly due to the storylines. And changing production teams around from the get-go didn't help, either. Better luck next time on a remake, NBC; hopefully you execs will learn from your mistakes.

Posted by Athyn

Feb 20, 2008 4:23 PM

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What did Bionic Woman is was what everybody complained about. It was dark. I liked the darkness and stuff but it was not popular.
Posted by whennow Feb 20, 2008 4:24 PM Report Abuse

I think the main reason is no Lindsay Wagner.....tough shoes to fill! Oh, what a crush I had on her sigh
Posted by tvforever Feb 20, 2008 4:27 PM Report Abuse

Two words: Michelle Ryan. Total miscast. She has absolutely no charisma, no talent, and she cannot carry a show. As simple as that.
Posted by NorthernStar Feb 20, 2008 4:29 PM Report Abuse

I can't say I'm surprised. The show was really lacking any personality. It was kind of blah....
Posted by robinepowell Feb 20, 2008 4:30 PM Report Abuse

This show lacked direction. It never really decided what it was. Maybe the ever-changing showrunners had something to do with it, but Moonlight had the same problem and they didn't suffer the way this show did. I also think Jaime was a miscast. It looked like she had troubles maintaining a american accent at times. Let's hope knight Rider fare better.
Posted by melbye Feb 20, 2008 4:35 PM Report Abuse

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