Bad News for "Over There" Fans
Posted November 1st, 2005 by RD Heldenfels
2006 UPDATE: Yes, "Over There" is still canceled. And thank you to all the readers who have posted comments about the show. You may also want to look at the January posts on this blog, which include one about where "Over There" could have gone if it had been picked up for a second season, and who might have killed Lt. Underpants.
In announcing the end of "Over There," its acclaimed Iraq war drama, FX went to some lengths to explain its decision. Here's how it went:
FX will not renew Over There for a second season based on the series' ratings performance over its 13-epsiode run. (Please see ratings information below).
Statement from John Landgraf, President and General Manager of FX Networks
"I'm deeply proud of Over There, which was beautifully produced, acted, written and directed. The series was arguably the most critically acclaimed new television show of the year, a fact which made the decision not to renew it all the more difficult. That decision was motivated entirely by Over There's ratings performance and our belief that the numbers were reflective of what the show is about, rather than its quality or entertainment value. While are passionately committed to fostering great television, we are an advertiser supported network and the size of our audience is vital to our bottom line.
"It was a deeply gratifying experience for everyone at FX to work with Steven Bochco, Chris Gerolmo and their immensely talented and dedicated team of collaborators, whose artistry was reflected in each episode."
RATINGS INFORMATION
- For its 13-week run (Wednesdays, 10 PM ET/PT), Over There averaged 2.1 million total viewers and 1.3 million Adults 18-49.
- Over There enjoyed a very strong premiere with 4.1 million total viewers and 2.4 million Adults 18-49.
- Over There leveled off to an average of 2.1 million viewers and 1.3 million Adults 18-49 for episodes 2-9.
- Over There then began a steady decline, eventually bottoming out at 1.35 million viewers and 882,000 for the season finale.
- Over its final four episodes, Over There averaged 1.6 million total viewers and 990,000 Adults 18-49.
- In comparison to FX's other drama series (most recent/current season):
Nip/Tuck is averaging 4.1 million total viewers and 2.9 million Adults 18-49 (#1 in basic cable on A18-49)
The Shield averaged 3.2 million total viewers and 2.0 million Adults 18-49
Rescue Me averaged 2.8 million total viewers and 1.8 million Adults 18-49
(End FX material)
That's a very long way of saying it wasn't politics that killed the show, it was a lack of audience enthusiasm. And I feel a little guilty about not paying closer attention; I don't have a Nielsen box, but if I had watched more, I might have written more about "Over There," and maybe someone with a Nielsen box would have tuned in.
And I very much liked "Over There" in the early going; the first episode had problems but by the third, you could see a show that was worth the time and effort. Still, somewhere along the way, I stopped watching.I would DVR it, and set aside the review discs that came in. My wife was watching every episode, and loving them, and insisting to me that "you really should be watching this." But somehow there was always something else to fill my time.
In that way, "Over There" was my "Carnivale," another high-quality show that many people just decided not to watch. When the days and nights are full of obligations, including TV shows, sometimes a really good one gets lost.
But my wife is going to be really ticked.
November 1st, 2005 at 3:44 pm
Huge disappointment, first time FX has let me down.
November 1st, 2005 at 7:42 pm
I didn't make time to watch Over There either, but every time I came across it I found myself watching it for 15-20 minutes. Maybe the general populations desire to avoid thinking about Iraq contributed to the low ratings.
November 2nd, 2005 at 9:31 am
You may be right, Henri, but I'm not sure. As I said in a column when the show premiered, "American culture is laced with attempts by popular artists to portray an
ongoing conflict — novels about Vietnam, say, or combat movies during World
War II. However explicitly M*A*S*H was set in Korea, its dramatic arcs
reflected the nation's preoccupation with Vietnam."
I understand your disappointment, Daniel. But FX first let me down when it declined to renew "Lucky."
November 9th, 2005 at 5:43 pm
Man, When I finally found a show suited for me after the first season gets it cancelled! I watched it every week. This was one of the best shows on television.
November 20th, 2005 at 3:59 am
BUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSY!!!!!!1!!11!!
November 22nd, 2005 at 1:31 pm
This was an excellent show that needed time to develop. One season is never long enough for a drama to take hold. You maybe able to tell a comedy is a dog in the first year but not a good drama. It takes some time for people to talk about the show and for new watchers to find it in their schedules. Great, maybe they can squeeze some other reality based garbage it that time slot.
November 25th, 2005 at 12:09 pm
Unfortunately, I didn't catch the show until about a month or so before it went off the air. I love the series, at least what I've seen and am disappointed that I wont be seeing more of it. Aside from being a quality show with great acting, it gave me a better understanding and perspective of what my boyfriend is going through while he is in Iraq. Admittedly, I also felt that it wasn't right to have a show about a current ongoing war and there were times I thought it better for my peace of mind not to watch this kind of show, but I also felt compelled to watch it and somehow closer to my boyfriend. Sorry to see it go.
November 29th, 2005 at 9:07 am
I am extremely disappointed that this series has been cancelled. I was a junior enlisted soldier who served in Iraq, and "Over There" is the only honest attempt to portraying the actual, non-politicized picture, of what's happening there from the soldier's perspective, the only honest attempt at truth, I've seen in the two years I've been home. That's actually probably why the ratings plumetted; my wife couldn't stand to watch the show because it IS so real. People who have such ready opinions on the conflict, on both sides, don't want to see the naked truth — Americans, real people, are serving, fighting and dying, as best and as bravely as they can, in a confusing, frightening world. This show was the best tribute anyone's given the average soldier yet.
December 1st, 2005 at 6:13 pm
This is another instance of a great show being dropped way too early in its development. It shows how narrow-minded and short-sighted network executives are. I'm a Canadian, I don't support the war in Iraq, but I still love intelligent drama. That is something that is politics-proof! This show was riveting.
December 2nd, 2005 at 5:01 pm
This is such a disappointment, I loved this show and think a lot more people would have watched if it wasn't on a specialty channel. I watched it every week. It was a show that wasn't dependent on action and the war but what it is like to be a human being and be in the middle of a war. Like James I agree that it was a realistic depiction of war, including the true brutality of it. I think I may write the creators and suggest they re-air this masterful drama at 10pm on a basic cable channel up here in Canada. The show itself is politically unbiased but i feel if it was shown as I suggest it will have huge ratings.
December 2nd, 2005 at 8:09 pm
I'm super upset this show was cancelled. I finally found something on TV that I wanted to watch each week and they pull the plug. Over There was a wonderfully insightful show that forced the viewer to make their own conclusions about the War in Iraq. I appreciated that they left each episode open to interpretation. I have seen every episode of Tour of Duty and I would choose Over There over Tour of Duty. I will miss this show. What a shame!
December 6th, 2005 at 3:44 pm
I agree that a show of this caliber takes time to develop it's audience. I am saddened that fx didn't give this show the chance it deserved. I used to consider them a bold network. Any truth to the rumors that another network will be picking this show up? If so they would have my wholehearted support.
December 7th, 2005 at 8:17 am
I am truly dissappointed in the cancellation of OVER THERE. I loved the show. As a Nam vet, this was truly a show with the right stuff. It was more than a blood and guts war show. It dealt with the issues of war. It's a sad day for me.
December 7th, 2005 at 9:33 am
I am VERY PISSED at FX for not deciding to pick up on this show. Only one season? It wasn't advertised much, and most people I know, didn't know about the show until they watched it at my place. They all love it, and are disappointed about this terrible decision. Sure the ratings declined, it wasn't advertised enough, and came on at an odd time. I hope another channel picks up the show so it can continue, and we can all enjoy such a masterpiece.
January 11th, 2006 at 5:36 pm
The cancelation to me is a super………. disapointment. I had been a loyal fan to Over There and yet was stupid enough to believe Over There showing stopped playing because of a Holiday break. Now that I know fx cancled it I am verry pissed off. Over There is about the only show that has had the guts to show whats going on in Iraq or atleast almost exactly whats going on. I finnaly find the main show I like and stick with it than fx cancled it. I believe that if Over There was given another season it would have brought its viewing numbers sky high…..!!!!!!!!!
January 14th, 2006 at 6:11 pm
Man, my wife and I watched Over There all the time. What a disappointment that it isn't being renewed. This sucks.
January 16th, 2006 at 3:58 pm
Well, this was a huge dissapointment to me. Over There wasn't given a chance every show needs more than one season to get started. This is an example of a good show that may never be seen agian. I hope another channel picks it up. If Over There was given another season it would of brought its viewing numbers sky high. Rerunds are not the same………….. I hope the show is picked up some how or I may never watch any thing on fx because of it.
January 20th, 2006 at 9:00 am
I agree with what everyone's saying…great show, very real, and something worth watching(as opposed to reality-TV schlock!). Just wondering if all the reasons for Over There's demise weren't really ways to cause the show to do poorly. It WASN'T advertised enough, the network did NOT give it a chance to do better, and it was playing in a timeslot very different than those other shows that do so well with the same demographic. My husband and I both like Rescue Me, and we're practically obsessed with The Shield…but there were times when I figured those shows would get the boot first, simply because they lost appeal. I didn't know how they would make The Shield watchable at one point, b/c they had lost some of the 'wow' factor. Over There never did that, to me, and I believe if the show was based on anything but the war, then FX would have fought harder to keep it on the air.
January 20th, 2006 at 10:05 am
I hear you, Alli. But there was a lot of publicity before the show premiered, so viewers were aware of it then. And Fox may well have looked at the numbers after a week or so, concluded that the audience wasn't going to get any bigger and pulled back on promotion. (I have heard many times from actors and producers how frustrated they get when a show isn't promoted very well, and how much they consider that a sign of non-support from a network.) So was it FX's lack of faith, or viewers? Same thing on the war question. Was FX worried about the war (even though it did go to the trouble to put the show on the air), or did viewers just not want to watch a war drama? When I talked to "Over There" co-creator Chris Gerolmo awhile back, he did concede that the show might have been just a little bit ahead of its time — that it might have done better now, with the increased disenchantment about the war.
As for "Rescue Me," I thought a lot of the second season was really good, although I had problems with the season finale. "The Shield" did hit bumps, especially in the third season, but I liked the fourth season and the episodes I have seen from the fifth season. So a creative rebound is possible.
January 31st, 2006 at 10:33 pm
I would have to agree. I am extremely dissapointed that it has been cancelled. I also neglected to watch it due to my busy schedule, though I tried to take it in every chance that I got. I am hoping that the DVD will bring the fans out of the woodwork and sales will revive this show.
February 2nd, 2006 at 1:05 pm
Hello
wow i cant beleave that its over. I myself am getting ready to go overthere and help Iraq become a better place (I hope). The show gave so much Like it gave just how real it is over there and just how quick things can go from good to bad. If i had the money to send i WOULD! F/X just dont know what they have lost. If there is a will there is a way please KEEP TRYING.
Ill send anouther responce after bootcamp.
Thank You JESTER - U.S ARMY
February 11th, 2006 at 9:25 pm
My whole family is very upset that Over There was cancelled. My husband is in the military and we have been dealng with the war in Iraq since the start. Over There show truth and is good for our kids to see reality and what our husbands, dads, & sons go thru OVER THERE. I think that another network should pick it up. It will do good. I know of plenty military familys who watched every episode. Its an honor to serve this country and Over There showed it.
February 13th, 2006 at 10:41 am
This is the 1st time I heard Over There was cancelled and that really sucks… It was one of my fav. shows. I didn't really have time to watch but thank God for the DVR, I never missed one show.
This is all prez Bush's doing!!!
If any of you are in the military and have to goto iraq, I just want to say be safe and watch your ass!
My love to all you men and women out there!!! Come home to us safe and sound!
February 16th, 2006 at 11:25 am
Over There was a show completely dedicated to telling the truth about war, no matter how poorly it depicted the US in the eyes of our enemies. It was a drama that was brilliantly written, directed and acted. The topics that were picked were directly out off the front lines and showed the delicate balance between a soldier, an officer, and the politicians. I dearly hope that one of the other stations, perhaps HBO, will have the foresight to pick up the show and give it a couple of years to develop. So in saying goodbye for now, I will announce to my friends and relatives that the Over There Season One DVD would make an excellent present for me.
February 17th, 2006 at 11:03 am
I knew it was to good to be true anything I take a intrest in doesnt last long. Darn it I really liked that show.
February 18th, 2006 at 1:11 pm
The show being a good one was set at a wrong time when the news being at that time it made it difficult to see and stay there if the show was moved to a better time such as 9:00 I guarantee there would be more viewers and it would compete with other shows on other networks.
We need it back.
February 28th, 2006 at 1:11 pm
Just my point of view from the bleachers at Camp Pendleton, but the show was too often about Army soldiers who more often than not wanted the hell out of Over There. Or, it depicted the “brass” that just didn't measure up. The people who would like to watch a show with this type of content want to see more heroes. Yeah, even if it isn’t always true. I can watch the news for a “downer” on the war. Conversely, I see heroes every day, from PFC to Full Bird Colonels. I like that. I’d watch that…..
Dan
Therapist
Counseling Services Branch
USMCB Camp Pendleton
February 28th, 2006 at 5:39 pm
I really loved "Over There". It was exciting and always wishing to see the next episode. Im only 15 years old and i thought it was very very enjoyable.
What a time to end it. I really wanted to know who killed "Underpants". Its a real disipointment that it had to be cancelled.
They should have another season.
March 6th, 2006 at 11:34 pm
While the prospect of a second season of Over There seems highly unlikely now, the most we can do is buy the box set and relive the 13 adventures of the fireteam that we've grown to love. I got a friend of mine into the show, after the first episode she was hooked. And the odd thing is, she hates wars and armies but could not stop watching it. What I liked about Over There is that it is the only depiction of the US led invasion in Iraq apart from the growing pessismistic media. Simply a tribute to the average soldier, with no death or glory war heroes, just a simple tribute to the average soldier doing his job because thats what he volunteered to do.
With the absence of a second season, or even closure, it leaves me feeling uneased, because we are uncertain of the future for our favorite fireteam on TV, as we are uncertain of the future for the country of Iraq.
Hopefully some US Soldiers that are currently serving in Iraq can write a letter to the FX Network to commence a second season of Over There.
March 9th, 2006 at 11:41 am
I hate that this show was cancelled. It was my favorite. Its so hard to find a good show. They keep taking them off replacing them with reality shows, well what better reality show than Over There. My brother has been to Iraq and is going back in June and he said that thats exactly how it was there. What in the hell was F/X thinking? Well they have lost another viwer, now I dont want to watch any of there programs!!!!
March 9th, 2006 at 8:57 pm
On Wednesday nights, I had early dinner and did not answer the telephone during the "Over There" episodes …… the cancellation of this program was a huge disappointment.
I feel that, although it wasn't on a "major" network, word-of-mouth would have increased the number of viewers. Sincerely hope that someone is far-sighted enough to try it again!
Can't believe some of the garbage that keeps returning season after season!
March 12th, 2006 at 9:44 pm
Wow.. this is a major blow to everybody that liked "Overthere" as a iraqi war vet i really enjoyed watching the show. I know alot of iraqi war vets enjoyed watching it also. Its a shame that finally i find something that i really enjoy watchin and it doesnt comeback for season 2. Lots of shows should be off the air after its 1st season but ohh well. I enjoyed it while it was on.
March 24th, 2006 at 9:32 am
I have just purchased the DVD set and watched the whole season. It was just great, my wife loved it and she hates war shows. I am just amazed that they did not carry the show on normal cable, it would have been a winner. I would love for this show to come back as a mini series or a couple of two hour movies.
April 9th, 2006 at 9:04 pm
I recently bought Over There on DVD and was completely amazed! What a great show! To bad I don't get cable, I would've tuned in every week. Maybe that the problem. Maybe FX should sell the rights to ABC or something. Then the ratings would go through the roof!
To bad it was cancelled. FX, you should give it one more season!
May 8th, 2006 at 6:52 pm
Man…I can't believe this. I was truely looking forward to another season. I was riveted to my chair that first season and got it on DVD to re watch it before season 2. What a complete let down. FX….you suck. I hope this show does get picked up by another network and pounds FX into the dirt in ratings.
May 10th, 2006 at 11:02 am
I am also disappointed to find out Overthere is cancelled. I always Tivoed it so I could breeze past the soap opera parts & back home parts and just watch the war parts. I thought the pilot was anti war biased but the show got better (fair & balanced) as it went on. Many of the episodes were VERY good. The checkpoint one, the interogation one, the spotter one. Maybe someone else will pick it up. We can only hope.
May 22nd, 2006 at 8:15 pm
IM SO UPSET THAT THE SHOW IS CANCELLED. I DIDNT GET TO WATCH IT UNTIL IT WAS ALMOST OVER. I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE SERIES. I PUT IT ON MY DVR. I KEEP IT SO I CAN WATCH IT ANY TIME I WANT. BUT I REALLY WISH THAT THEY COULD RENEW IT.IM SO PROUD OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN "OVER THERE" FIGHTING FOR US EVERY DAY,THE SHOW MAKES YOU REALIZE WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH.AND HOW HARD IT IS TO AWAY FROM THERE FAMILY. MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE REAL PEOPLE. WE REALLY DO CARE.
June 11th, 2006 at 5:31 pm
I am really bummed "Over There" got cancelled, it was the one show I actually cared to see. I was hoping it developed in the second season to address even more of the day-to-day realities of our troops. I think the contrast against the evening news provided a real human look into the conflict. It truly focused on the fact our soldiers are doing a job regardless of the politics involved. I hope the producers read some of these comments and realize they have a diamond in the rough.
July 9th, 2006 at 6:19 pm
I know I'm slow but I just realized that OVER THERE was canceled. Not enough veiwers-then get it on a regular channel. My daughter told me about it and would record it for me. She has satellite tv and all I have is an outside antenna. The show was not capable of reaching enough viewers on these "off" stations. I too fell in love with these characters. In looking for the new season I realized it wasn't renewed. Can't someone help us. Can't another network renew this series? Sgt. Scream is my hero-never to see him again. I cry. I did buy the dvd set.
August 15th, 2006 at 9:32 pm
I for one think that the cancellation of OverThere was a crime. In the past we have had war programs that lasted for years, and i think that this was not given a chance. tour of duty lasted at least a few seasons as an example. Maybe people just weren't ready for a "war" program that depicts a war that is still ongoing…Bring it back!!!!!