The Exit of 'Jezebel James' (and other shows you meant to watch)

bruno Wed, Mar 26, 2008 at 05:53 PM EST

is anyone really all that surprised? i'm not. it looked AWFUL. and it;s such a shame that FOX, and every other network for that matter, are willign to shell out all this money for crappy shows from mediocre writers who have ahad one successful run at it. it would be nice if the networks started giving some fresh faced writers a shot instead of going to the same well...

bruno Wed, Mar 26, 2008 at 05:52 PM EST

is anyone really all that surprised? i'm not. it looked AWFUL. and it;s such a shame that FOX, and every other network for that matter, are willign to shell out all this money for crappy shows from mediocre writers who have ahad one successful run at it. it would be nice if the networks started giving some fresh faced writers a shot instead of going to the same well...

Wed, Mar 26, 2008 at 04:36 PM EST

jezebel would have been better if not in front of audience. laugh track sucked ... it could have found it's legs

Lee Wed, Mar 26, 2008 at 03:10 PM EST

Meant to watch "Smith" with Ray Liotta, Amy Smart, and Virginia Madsen. Great cast but probably too expensive to make.

Julie Wed, Mar 26, 2008 at 01:34 PM EST

Yeah, I love New Amsterdam too! The lead guy played the gay tennis hitting partner to Paul Bettany's character in "Wimbledon". That's the only place I recognize him from. He's great on the show though, only a few accent slips.

Laurie Wed, Mar 26, 2008 at 01:12 PM EST

Touching Evil would be my pick, I think. It's kind of sad how many of those "shows you've loved, lost" I loved, lost, and am still bitter about (oh, Reunion, I'll always miss you.) Most of the ones I didn't watch, I tried but didn't like. Yes, even Covington Cross.
(Note: Now and Again with Eric Close, Margaret Colin, and Dennis Haysbert seriously should be on that list. That was a great, great show, canceled too soon. Oh, and The Nine, too.)
Other than the first golden year of GG, ASP has been TREMENDOUSLY overrated, especially as a showrunner. She clearly has no respect for the characters or the fans. All she seemed to care about was the quick, clever line, never mind if the latest plot twist, say, made sense for the show in the long run. Good riddance to Jezebel James. Maybe this will knock some sense into ASP, but I won't hold my breath. (But, hey, I guess this just means I'm too backward to appreciate her shows, right?)

Stephanie T. Wed, Mar 26, 2008 at 12:52 PM EST

I am looking forward to see Brooklyn South on DVD. I wanted to see whole show (even if it was only one season), but I only saw the pilot.

Kate Wed, Mar 26, 2008 at 11:12 AM EST

I just started watching Roswell after I saw it was offered on Yahoo's free TV episodes online. I can't believe I never watched it when it was on!

Gringo Wed, Mar 26, 2008 at 11:05 AM EST

I had the best intentions to watch 'Veronica Mars'; however, I just never got around to it. I think had I been downloading shows at the time it started that I would have easily been able to keep up. Thanks to downloads and other venues (i.e. - www.hulu.com), I rarely miss a show these days.

fredric Wed, Mar 26, 2008 at 10:53 AM EST

I meant to watch Viva Laughlin. (Well, I tried to say that with a straight face, but who am I kidding?)

Nee Nee Wed, Mar 26, 2008 at 07:54 AM EST

I watched the first episode of Veronica Mars, and it didn't hold my attention. Then I kept hearing how good of a show it was, and had every intention of catching up on it, but never got around to it. I also wanted to watch Freaks and Geeks, because it just sounded like a show I would love. Anyway...both are sitting in my Netflix queue, and I will eventually get to them. I'm notorious for watching shows on DVD after they've been cancelled, (i.e. My So Called Life, Alias, Felicity) and it's great to watch a good show and not have to wait a week to see the next one, but when the show is no longer on the air, there's nobody to talk about it with. I'm trying to do a better job of watching TV shows when they are actually on the air. Btw, to the person who wanted to watch The Nine...you didn't miss anything! Has Journeyman been cancelled? I actually watched every episode, and it got REALLY good. I hope it comes back!

ziggy Wed, Mar 26, 2008 at 02:51 AM EST

Jezebel James was awful, despite the amazing leads. The dialogue was forced and expected. Nothing truly funny or witty. And the style that these great actresses chose(or were told)to have was exaggerated and desperate. Very glad to see it gone........Always meant to watch Sports Night 'cause I LOVE felicity huffman and am from miami!

Eli Wed, Mar 26, 2008 at 02:03 AM EST

Firefly, i was out of the country when it aired and when i came back it was GONE. to this day I still haven't added FOX to my rotation, even though i hear BONES is really good. I just don't support anything FOX does anymore.

Raven_Moon Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 11:03 PM EST

I had meant to watch "Jericho." I was so excited about it at first. I watched the pilot, but got busy & got behind in episodes & then gave up. I feel bad about it (even though I don't even have a Neilson's box or anything), especially now that it's gone. I also stopped watching "Friday Night Lights" (even though I liked it) after that first long hiatus.

Carrie Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 10:00 PM EST

Journeyman... watched first two eps, love Kevin McKidd, loved the show. Never watched another episode because I'm half-asleep by quarter of ten most nights and don't have a recording device.

Black Donnellys for the same reason. Meant to watch Firefly but never did until about 4 years ago on DVD and I'm sorry I don't get to call myself an original Browncoat.

irene Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 09:42 PM EST

I always meant to watch Karen Sisco but never did.

EP Sato Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 09:19 PM EST

I saw Jezebel James and felt the C- was justified. A shame, because Parker Posey is the bees knees.

I'd always meant to watch Space: Above and Beyond, but didn't bother to do so until nearly ten years after it had aired. The show was pretty good and made me feel bad for having missed out.

aj Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 09:12 PM EST

I liked it too! We found ourselves laughing throughout the entire episodes. I love Parker and Lauren-they made a good match for comedy tv. Its just too bad fox had to put it on Friday nights when most people have movies or other things going on. Its almost as if they assume it will fail. They can suck it.

Silv Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 09:01 PM EST

Totally meant to watch Firefly as I love Nathan Fillion, but life intruded. I also can't find the time to watch (or remember to dvr) Friday Night Lights (Kyle Chandler!).

Christine Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 08:22 PM EST

To this day I worry that the karma gods of pop culture will come to take one of my favourite shows because of my Dead Like Me negligence.

Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 08:16 PM EST

This show was beyond horrible. a fan of all the actors. once worked in publishing. LOVE Gilmore Girls. This was a nightmare to watch and I couldn't believe it even got made

t3hdow Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 07:28 PM EST

Aaron, The Nine lost its dramatic luster after the first episode. After the excellent pilot, all the show revealed was tepid post-robbery life. You didn't miss much.
I did mean to watch Kidnapped after viewing the second episode, but it interfered with The Nine. Then Kidnapped moved to Saturday nights (wtf? I heard of new/returning shows moving to Fridays but not Saturdays), which meant impending doom. Maybe I'll catch up on DVD.

nunya Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 07:28 PM EST

i meant to watch BOOMTOWN on NBC when it came out a few yrs ago b/c it was universally praised and had a great cast (which i believe included Vanessa Williams) but i never did.

Delon Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 07:08 PM EST

I've never watched a single episode of Gilmore Girls, so my main reason to watch Jezebel James was Parker Posey and you know what i didn't think it was that awful at all. The inexplicable laugh track aside, i thought it was a promising show. Diane Wiest's presence in the second episode got me really jazzed up, and i thought second episode was an improvement over the pilot. No need to shed a tear now, but as Scott K said earlier i was also rooting for Posey to have a hit show. Hopefully next time.

Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 06:43 PM EST

When Freaks and Geeks was on I watched some of the episodes, but because of the time slot I quit watching because I was in high school and had a social life on the weekends. Then in college a psych teacher I had played some of the eps in class and I remembered how much I liked them so I rented the whole season. God how I wish more people had watched that show (including myself). I really would have loved to see who Lindsay ended up with. Nick was annoying, but so freaking adorable. I am so happy that Jason Segel is going to be a lead in a movie!

Scott K Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 06:38 PM EST

I know people are going to be mad, but the reason Jezebel was horrible had nothing to do with Parker Posey (who was Not trying to be Lauren Graham) or Lauren Ambrose (I love them both). It was Amy Sherman-p's fault for not writing a good or funny script. And why are laugh tracks still being used? I don't need a show to tell me when something is funny, I'll laugh when it actually is, thanks. I was really rooting for Parker to have a hit show, thanks Amy for ruining that chance.

Cory Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 06:33 PM EST

I always intended to watch Tru Calling, with Eliza Dushku, but I never did. I am a big fan of Buffy, and I loved Dushku's portrayal of Faith, so I planned on watching her in her new show. For some reason I never watched a single episode, and I don't really know why. I think it might have something to do with being bitter about Eliza choosing Tru over a Buffy spinoff. Still, I wish I would have watched the show when it was on.

t-bone Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 05:48 PM EST

arrested development! i began renting the dvds during the 3-week time period between when i moved into my new place and when the cable guy was actually able to come and do an installation. i put off watching the last episode for almost a week because i didn't want it to be over!

Jane Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 05:29 PM EST

I liked all the talent involved with Jezebel James, but that show was embarrassing. And I don't mean for the actors- I felt embarrassment for them. The delivery was off (I remember Parker Posey making a joke in the doctor's office and she had to wait something like 5 seconds for the laugh track to kick in and end so she could say her next line). Just weird and awful. The Palladinos have proven they could do better, so why didn't they?

NineDaves Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 05:14 PM EST

i missed sports night. just totally missed it. i have a feeling i'm not the only one!

mike Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 04:33 PM EST

I watched all three episodes and guess what- I liked it. I may be the only one, but oh well. I am a huge fan of both actresses. Lauren
Ambrose is an underrated actress(her turn on the 6 ft Under finale deserved an emmy), as is Parker Posey.
I guess know I'll have to survive on Miss Guided and ...Old Christine.

Allan Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 04:27 PM EST

This show reeked. I made a special effort to record the premiere episodes because I like the actresses and I couldn't believe how heinous it was, finally deep-sixed after a few minutes of the second half hour.

Ryan Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 04:12 PM EST

I also tried to watch it. I wanted to like it. I really like and respect everyone involved. It just wasn't good. As for a show I wish I'd watched that was canceled, I'll go with FIREFLY. I'm actually one of those people who falls in love with a show and stays bitter for years after its cancellation (Veronica, Arrested, Jack and Bobby). It seems like all my favorite shows get canceled. Let that FNL deal with DirecTV go through!

Aaron Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 03:49 PM EST

I meant to watch The Nine--even caught the pilot on ABC.com--but then never did see another episode. Yes, there were little pangs of disappointment when it was axed.

paige Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 03:46 PM EST

yea this show was bad and parker posey and lauren ambrose were just wasted. FOX knew they had a bad show cause it was on fridays death slot. adios- please put them on cable!

J from VA Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 03:43 PM EST

I keep meaning to watch Battlestar Gallactica but don't ever remember to. I also meant to watch Keen Eddie but only saw it on DVD. Now I wish I had been there when it was on. I always get mad at the people who discover Arrested Development or Newsradio after they're gone so I imagine the fans of Keen and BG feel the same way about me.

Jennifer Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 03:34 PM EST

Phil, don't waste your $1.99!!

Jennifer Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 03:33 PM EST

I didn't mean to watch Jezebel James at all. I accidently left the TV on that station and it came on. I tried watching, I really did, but it was SO bad. It seemed like a really horrible pilot that should have never been picked up, and this was just last week, so if that was episode #3 I don't even know what to say other than how did the TV execs let it get that far?

Mike Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 03:30 PM EST

I wasn't going to watch Jezabel Jones because it just sounded like a bad imitaion of Gilmore Girls.
A couple of years ago, I started watching about 10 new series. All of them and about five other older shows I was watching were cancelled that year. So I don't invest in a show anymore unless I know for sure it's going to be around for awhile. I was lucky with Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money this year. I'll go back and catch the first two seasons of Friday Night Lights because there will be a third season.

Cara Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 03:21 PM EST

I always meant to pick up "Veronica Mars" while it was still on the air, but it was gone before I remembered my good intentions. Ah, well...there's always the DVDs.

Rosie Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 03:19 PM EST

I watched Jezebel too and it was AWFUL, but mostly because of Parker Posey trying to be a second-rate Lorelai Gilmore. Sorry, there's one Lauren Graham, and you're not even an 890,028th her. Posey was SO bad on that show, and Ambrose barely made a sound. The dialog wasn't that great but I can imagine Graham, Kelly Bishop, Alexis Bledel and Ed Herrmann could do anything with any script, so I am not sure what happened with the Palladinos, but I do know the cast reeked. I did like "Max Medina" on there; he's always welcome. Bad show, though.

donner Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 03:19 PM EST

I think you're making assumptions that aren't true...i had NO intention of watching Jezebel James...the previews for it were terrible...Ausiello at TV Guide (a huge Amy Sheridan-P fan) said it was mediocre at best...I'm glad its off the air...let AS-P go back and try something new/better...

Why can't they just kill According to Jim, Two and a Half Men and Caveman...I don't watch those shows either - axe them!!!

Snarf Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 03:18 PM EST

Gilmore Girls.

Adam S Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 03:17 PM EST

I like everyone in this case, but this show was SO BAD I had to shut it off, and I will watch *anything*. It was so horrible it made my ears and eyes physically hurt. The script was pathetic and the laughs were... well... let's just say they weren't "laughs".

Dtom Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 03:10 PM EST

I agree with Arrested Development. I actually TRIED to watch that when it was on, but they kept changing the time and I couldn't keep up.

I thought "Kidnapped" sounded like an interesting show, but lo and behold, it was canceled before I had a chance to catch it.

Also, I try NOT to watch American Idol, but I can't stop. I wish they would cancel it so I can stop watching it (but they won't, so I can't).

Scut Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 03:05 PM EST

I watched it! I wanted to give it a chance, and now Fox isn't going to let me.
I also meant to watch 12 Miles of Bad Road, but now no one is going to let me do that either.

Ceballos Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 02:59 PM EST

Phil-

I read that Canterbury's has been moved to Fridays...which is practically just as good as being canceled.

The show that I meant to watch, but didn't was "Arrested Development". Totally blind bought it, and fell in love with it on DVD.

As far as "Jezebel James", I know thaf Fox gets a lot of grief for their quick trigger finger on their scripted series (ala "Arrested Development"), but I actually want to commend them for canceling "Jezebel James" so quickly. It was AWFUL. I saw the two-episode, hour-long premiere and the acting and writing were like middle-school play level. You didn't miss ANYTHING Mandi.

Thankfully, Parker Posey and Lauren Ambrose (two actresses who I absolutely lurve!) can now stop wasting their time with this show and move on to something worth their time.

T-Rex Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 02:56 PM EST

I tried to watch Jericho and I meant to watch Friday night lights. Oh well.

Nancy Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 02:52 PM EST

Oh, I did mean to watch Jezebel James because of Lauren Ambrose. Whoops. And I looooooooooved Newsradio back in the day. Just thinking of the episode where they're reading the Dilbert comics.... If it were possible to bring someone back from the dead (Phil Hartman) and forget everything Andy Dick has done since then, I would love to see Newsradio back. Looooved that show. Wish I had watched Arrested Development when it was on.

Stephanie T. Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 02:52 PM EST

Judging by the previews alone, it looked very much like a flat-tired version of the 80's comedy classic, "My Sister Sam". It's a shame. Posey is a pretty good actress.

brandi Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 02:38 PM EST

Jericho.
I really meant to watch it, but didn't get around to it. Then when it was renewed this season I had intentions of watching it, but still didn't. Now I feel bad that it's cancelled for real this time.

Phil Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 02:33 PM EST

Oh and you can purchase the RETURN OF JEZEBEL JAMES episodes on iTunes for $1.99 each....

Phil Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 02:32 PM EST

CANTERBURY'S LAW was conspicuously absent from last night's line up on FOX but was in the TV guide...have they axed Ms. Marguilles show after 2 episodes? And since no one at EW seems to be talking about it, I kinda like NEW AMSTERDAM, and the lead actor is quite handsome. Has he been in anything else?

nay-lo Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 02:32 PM EST

Wow - that's too bad. I did mean to watch it but didn't realize it had started. I recently started watching King of Queens in syndication and love it. Too bad I never caught it when it was on primetime...