By Heather Cee
We’ll leave the clever stake metaphors to everyone else. According to Variety, CBS has officially cancelled Moonlight, citing unhappiness with the show’s creative direction “and turnover behind the scenes among producers and scribes and tussling between the network and studio over budgetary issues. The final straw was the show’s sagging ratings perf during the past few weeks after its post-strike return.”
Moonlight‘s producers, Gabrielle Stanton and Harry Werksmen, confirmed the cancellation: “We are truly saddened by the news and are sorry that we won’t get the chance to live with our wonderful characters and follow them on their adventures for a second season.” (via Kristin on E!)
Meanwhile, Moonlight Detective is furiously updating and states firmly that “CBS has NOT officially canceled the show; they will announce their official 2008-2009 schedule tomorrow, Wednesday, May 14.” Fans are busy networking through Moonlight United and clogging CBS’s phones with pleas not to cancel the show.
Still, it seems the network that is close to draining the last drop of blood from the crime procedural has pulled the plug on Alex O’Loughlin’s nocturnal detective. And though the online rumor mill is rife with rumors that the CW may be interested in picking up the show, it seems unlikely that Mick St. John will see (non-)life beyond the last two episodes scheduled to air this month.
And it’s a shame. Moonlight was hardly groundbreaking television, but it had developed into a welcome guilty pleasure in a season that has seen one too many worthy shows (cough, Journeyman) fall through the cracks, and it was getting better. It’s particularly diabolical to deprive primetime of O’Loughlin’s easy charm. If there’s an exec with half a brain paying attention between their tee times, the O’Ell should not be lacking for work.
We’ll undoubtedly have more to say about this as the show draws to a close (unless there is a miraculous turn of events). Thanks to the lovely and accommodating Ms. Fary for covering my recapping duties as I concentrated on moving these past few weeks. I’ll be back on for the final two episodes – and that officially makes me 0-2 on new show reviews this season. Yikes.
In the meantime, if you’d like have your say about Moonlight’s cancellation, visit Moonlight Fans and Moonlight Detective, and join the fight to save the show at Moonlight United.
Never miss an update. Subscribe to Pink Raygun by Email or subscribe via RSS
Heather Cee has been writing for music sites for several years but genre media is her original fandom. She’s a History major dropout, loves music, Batman, and the color green, and thinks Laura Roslin is the most kick ass woman on television. She currently works as a website editor in Tucson, Arizona, where she lives with her husband and a ridiculous amount of CDs, records, books, and DVDs. One day she hopes to own grown-up furniture and pants other than jeans.
Related Stuff:
Lisa Fary's earliest influences are Princess Leia, Rainbow Bright, Astronaut Barbie, and her 6th grade teacher, Ms. Palmer. She's angry that it's 2011 and she still doesn't have a hovercraft, but will accept a jetpack as consolation. That jetpack had better be pink with a rhinestone monogram. 
That officially makes me 0-2 on new show reviews this season. Yikes.
Sounds like you’re the kiss of death for TV shows! Maybe we should put your abilities for the causes of good. . .
Is American's Funniest Home Videos still on?
Hold on, I think my dinner's coming back up.
*Mr. Burns fingers* Hmmm. Yesssss. Where shall we begin?
Let’s start with According to Jim, work our way through America’s Funniest Home Videos, and then hit anything involving the Pussycat Dolls.