In This Section
|
« Day Break
December 20, 2006: The State of the Show (and the blog)
I’m pretty sure that everyone reading this blog has heard by now, but just in case, I’m afraid I’m going to have to be the bearer of bad news: Day Break has been canceled, effective immediately. The remaining episodes have been yanked off ABC’s schedule (and replaced with sitcom reruns, no less), although there is a silver lining. ABC’s website will provide the remaining episodes of the show for online viewing. I’m not entirely clear on when new episodes will be made available, but it would appear that they’ll be sticking to the same schedule they would have had if the show had stayed on the air. If that’s the case, every Thursday morning there’ll be a new episode of Day Break.
I realize this is not what any of us wanted, although it’s worth pointing out that even just two or three years ago it’s doubtful ABC (or any other network, for that matter) would have been able to finish out a series by streaming its leftover episodes over the Internet. So while it’s hardly the best-case scenario, at least we do get to see the story in its entirety.
I’m also wondering, like a lot of you, how a show that’s been as entertaining as Day Break could have slipped through all the cracks and ended up with such dismal ratings. A part of me wants to point the finger at ABC, but the truth is that I saw commercials promoting the show nonstop during November, so it’s difficult to say that they didn’t do their best to help the show succeed — at first. I suppose the larger issue here is how long a network should be expected to stick by a show before pulling the plug. Day Break was promoted with the promise that its story would be fully explained in thirteen weeks, just in time for the return of Lost. Obviously by canceling it, that promise is going to go unfulfilled. Although NBC never made that claim in promoting Kidnapped, the same situation occurred: The show was canceled before it could even provide the amount of resolution offered by the number of episodes filmed. I can’t help but wonder if this could have repercussions for the networks down the line, since it’s difficult enough already to get people to watch serialized dramas. At least if people knew that the networks would definitely support a show long enough to tell one complete arc of a story, they might be more willing to tune in.
I’m also a bit surprised by the lack of critical praise Day Break has received — it doesn’t seem like anyone in the media is really mourning its demise. Matt Roush has made it clear that he didn’t really care for the show, and while I don’t agree with his opinion, I respect it and even understand it. The first two episodes of Day Break were interesting, but uneven, with some forced dialogue and awkward pacing that might have been a result of having to set up too much plot in such a short amount of time. But the fourth episode, which explored Brett’s fractured relationships with his sister and drug-addicted former partner, was a major step forward, and I completely loved last week’s adrenaline rush that brought some great plot twists to the conspiracy while further developing the characters. Maybe in today’s glut of shows it was too late for Day Break to show improvement, but that’s a bad sign when the public has made up its mind after two or three episodes. I’m not blaming Roush for his review because I realize there isn’t enough time in the day to keep up with every single TV show, and I think he gave the first few episodes a fair chance. It’s just a shame that by the time the show was firing on all cylinders, nobody was paying attention.
Anyway, I do have some good news: I’m really enjoying Day Break and I’ll be continuing to cover the online episodes on a regular basis until the series concludes. Assuming ABC delivers the episodes on time, the next article should be going up tomorrow. If anyone out there is still interested in the show, I’m still willing to write.
|
|
|
|
Dec 20, 2006 9:30 PM
|
|
Thanks for doing this. I'm very interested to know how the producers planned to resolve this Groundhog-Day-style thriller. I don't think it would have worked at all if Taye Diggs hadn't been cast as the lead. He grounded some of the more outlandish aspects of the plot and couldn't have been easier on the eyes. Wish it had worked out better for him because he deserves a hit show.
|
|
Dec 20, 2006 9:57 PM
|
|
Oh my god. I came home expecting Day Break in my VCR - what do I get? George Lopez???? These guys are insane. Network execs who go killing off great shows because the hillbillies are busy with their *cough* sheep instead of with their Nielsen boxes.... I don't believe it. I'm crushed. I'll never watch another new ABC show again, if this is what they do to people.
|
|
Dec 21, 2006 12:18 AM
|
I wish Walter Herz who covered Kidnapped had showed the same professionalism you do.
He didn't even bother to announce ANYTHING (cancellation, online viewing, end of blog). It was very rude of him.
|
|
Dec 21, 2006 7:22 AM
|
Jack - thank you for saying exactly what is on every viewer's mind! And saying it so thoroughly and professionally, too.
Yes, please, keep writing about Daybreak - those of us who really enjoy this show (and right on about the 4th episode!) will continually log on to watch and discuss.
mediamaven - totally agree about Taye Diggs' casting! My husband and I were just saying last night (after I gave him the bad news about the show) that Taye is such a great actor so why can't he get a great show that lasts?! Kevin Hill was a good show and should not have been cancelled. Daybreak is a fun, fastpaced show that should not have been cancelled. So what gives?!
Going over to abc.com right now to watch Daybreak - back in a few!
|
|
Dec 21, 2006 9:06 AM
|
heyHeath30,
Did you find Day Break online today? I sure didn't.
Jack,
Is it going to be online? Has ABC reneged?
I was really looking forward to seeing the show today.
|
|
Dec 21, 2006 9:10 AM
|
HotMama - NOOOOOO!!!! I saw on this very website yesterday that episodes would be posted by 9 ET on Wednesdays, but it's still not there!
I hope it's there soon ...
|
|
Dec 21, 2006 9:30 AM
|
|
I was very bummed to hear the show has been cancelled, but please do not stop your commentary...I love reading it and will continue to watch the show on ABC.com. Merry Christmas and thanks.
|
|
Dec 21, 2006 10:13 AM
|
|
I just did what the rest of you did...went to abc.com to watch Day Break, and it wasn't there! So I figured I would go to tvguide.com to check out this blog to see if everyone else tried to watch it as well, and I see that is the case. I guess we'll all just have to keep checking back all day. Whoever finds it first, make sure to let the rest of us know!
|
|
Dec 21, 2006 10:21 AM
|
I too was very disappointed to see George Lopez when I was expecting Taye Diggs. I happen to have taped both Kevin Hill AND Day Break and have the comfort of being able to watch them over and over. Kevin Hill was just too nice for the critics and tv viewers except for us! It would have been nice to at least issue the "season" on a dvd...but it probably cost too much to produce.
We can just hope that Taye gets another chance...and that ABC does give us the rest of the episodes!
|
|
Dec 21, 2006 11:48 AM
|
|
Im like everyone else here...I was totally bummed to find it cancelled. I had to come online to find that out however. Still no episode posted on ABC...what's going on?
|
|
Dec 21, 2006 11:58 AM
|
|
It is nice to see at last one critic give Day Break the credit and praise it deserves, Your boy Matt Roush did give up on the show too quickly but then again he was not seemed to do likewise. I don't have a video player on my computer so I would very much appreciate a recapping of what happened. I'd love to see Day Break and other shows cancelled before their time released on DVD.
|
|
Dec 21, 2006 12:11 PM
|
|
I agree completely. I really liked this show and the acting was really good. I don't understand why the networks think all of us like the mindless cheaper produced reality format. I admit I do watch a couple of those type of shows but I still want my serialized dramas. I am very afraid someday all that the networks will offer will be reality programming 24/7. Thank you for following the blog. I plan to kick my 16 year old off the computer tonight so I can watch DayBreak online. Thanks again!
|
|
Dec 21, 2006 12:51 PM
|
I didn't know about the news until I read this blog yesterday. It really didn't surprise me. I thought it was going to happen at the beginning of the year.
The new episode isn't on there yet. I may check back on that site tomorrow.
|
|
Dec 21, 2006 1:42 PM
|
|
I thought this was a great show. I do admit it was a bit confusing in the first few episodes but after that, great stuff. I'm guessing since there is so much on TV, if something doesn't catch on quick, it's doomed, especially these serial type shows. Becasue I have two DVR's, I can tape up to 4 shows at one time. Yes, I watch alot of TV but if a show doesn't catch my interest quick (2 -3 episodes), I can it. Thank you ABC for at least affording us the ability to watch Day Break until it's conclusion.
|
|
Dec 21, 2006 2:49 PM
|
|
|
