I have to say I dig the new Nathan Fillion vehicle DRIVE. (see what I did there? Vehicle… ok nevermind) and though I was totally getting into it, Fox pulls a brilliant move of stupidity. And cancels it after only 3 Episodes.
Multiple sources confirm that Fox has axed the Tim Minear creation after less than three weeks on the air. I’ll go out on a limb and say the show’s crappy ratings were to blame. House encores will take over its Monday/8 pm time slot.
So the retards at FOX put this show on a timeslot RIGHT across from NBC’s blockbuster runnaway hit HEROES (even the reruns are getting good ratings) and air its third episode on a Heroes return to NEW episodes night, and then act all surprised that it gets poor ratings. I wonder how well this would have done if it was in a weaker timeslot on other channels?
So very typical.
Dumb Fox executives.
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Hardly surprising considering the Fox network’s track record with quality shows (i.e. they cancel them after a few episodes, or seasons for the lucky ones) and just the apparent lack of intelligence or any showbiz instincts at Fox.
You’ve got to be kidding me! I was just starting to get into it. How many more episodes are they going to show? Or are they just going to cut it off?
Well, this sucks….
MOTHER FUCKERS ! ! !
MAN THAT MAKES ME MAD
Boo!
Dammit. They didn’t even give it a chance. I was just starting to get really good. Not only did they put it against Heroes, but a 2 hour premiere? With another episode the next day? That’s 3 hours in 2 days (for those of use without Tivo). It is like they wanted it to fail.
I really had hopes for this show. I enjoyed the premise, I loved the actors, and I loved the potential. This was yet another show that had an opportunity to be smart and visceral all at the same time. You remember that scene in Bullit? I remember being at the Bovine Sex Club and on all four tv’s they were playing Bullit and when the big chase scene came on, the music cutout and all you heard was the “VROOOOOM!” and as you looked around the room all you saw were slack-jawed dudes with major envy.
At any rate, I hope they certainly change their minds as this show was NOT given a shot right out of the gate with dropping the premier vs. The Amazing Race (no parallel there) then plopping it down against the return of Heroes.
Not smart. But then again, is anyone surprised that FOX has ONCE AGAIN pulled a boner move?
DRVIE IS CANCELLED?!?!?!?!
How does Fillion keep getting work when almost all his stuff bombs either ratings wise or at the box office?
It’s like Alien Nation, Brimstone, John Doe, Kindred: The Embraced, and of course, Firefly, all over again, but I think this is the worst example yet (Drive only lasted four episodes before getting the shaft). Sometimes Fox really sucks.
@Umberhaven
Actually, it lasted only three…I have all three of them on my DVR…I don’t think I’ll ever erase them!
Fox Cancels Firefly… I give them a second chance.
Fox Cancels Drive…good-bye Fox.
I am so done with Fox.
American Idol Sucks…
24 is getting repetative…
Prison Break should have had only 1 season..
Familyguy has lost it’s touch…
Hello NBC, the home of Heroes
It almost seems to me like they expected it to blow the pants off of competing shows Heroes and Lost. After it aired they probably gathered sat around and waited for glowing reviews.
Once they realised that many were saying “Not bad, let’s see what happens” rather than “This was the most amazing show ever invented, it cured my AIDS and my Ferret is no longer dead although he is still stapled to that block of wood and won’t shutup” they said “Okay scratch that show, let’s focus on American Idol”
Apparently Fox has zero personnel who have any idea about ratings and competitiveness. Heroes is like an aircraft carrier while the fledgling Drive was a dingy that never got out of dry dock.
I’m a little confused Rodney are u saying that Drive and Heroes are on the same timeslot because where I live(California) they air Drive at 8pm and Heroes at 9pm.
On the East Coast NBC has Heroes at 8 and Fox had Drive at the same time.
im from new york, and they show heros at 9 and drive at 8
Rodney is referring to Canadian airtimes. If the US times are different then Heroes is not a factor in Drive’s ratings obviously.
Both of the networks that I am referring to are US Broadcasters.
An open letter to FOX:
Congratulations FOX, you’ve done it again. You’ve ruined another great opportunity. Cancelling “Drive” after just 4 hours of programming is asinine. I’m not saying was the best show on television, but it had LOTS of potential that could have been fleshed out in future episodes. I was actually surprised you guys got Nathan Fillion to sign a deal with your pitiful network after the “Firefly” debacle, I guess you guys really taught him a thing or two about trust.
Your network is perpetuating the toxic cycle that is all to prevelant in today’s entertainment scene. If something is not an immediate runaway ratings bonanza it gets pulled and swept under the rug without being given room to breathe. This is a poisonous environment for creative writers and directors and will ultimately result in all network show pandering to the lowest common denomonator and following the same proven formula, ensuring that all shows look and feel the same. Sure, you’ll keep “American Idol” around since it’s a cash cow, but let’s drop the ruse that its purpose is to find new talent, it is nothing more than product placement and advertising tie-ins, shameless self-promotion, and flash-in-the-pan “artist” discovery.
I imagine you have heard of the sitcom “Cheers”. In its initial seasons, the ratings for “Cheers” were in the toilet, I imagine the only reason the series survived was because it received critical acclaim. It was only into the third or fourth season that ratings for “Cheers” picked up and it went on to become one of the great classic shows that we all love. Future series of the likes of “Cheers” will never exist if networks continue to conduct their business in the instant gratification manner.
I work at a FOX affilliate station, and everyone I work with was disappointed when they heard of the demise of “Drive”. But yet you keep other ridiculous shows around such as “‘Til Death”, “American Dad”, and “So You Think you Can Dance”. None of these shows are worth watching. I can see why you would green-light “American Dad,” hoping to catch lightning in a bottle with another McFarland series, but it’s not funny. CANCEL THAT SHOW INSTEAD. Maybe you’re thinking if you cancel it, there will be a fan outcry like with “Family Guy”, trust me there won’t be. “‘Til Death” is an unoriginal piece of garbage, and kills any hope of success. I digress.
In closing, I would like to reiterate that I don’t think “Drive” was a perfect show, but it’s potential was astounding, and your sorry excuse for a network has drawn the ire, yet again, of many potential fans and viewers (eyeballs that you sell to your advertisers).
Sorry “Drive”, you’ve been FOX’ed.
I didn’t catch the premier but caught up for the second week online. I went to tune in to the show on Monday and House was on. Never saw Firefly until after the movie came out… and after watching the dvd was shocked they didn’t find a home for it on SciFi… it was great tv.
Hopefully they’ll find another home for Drive for it’s a show that WAS pretty damn good. I had hopes for it.
Fox does this all the time. The did it with Firefly, Family guy and countless other good shows. Surprise surprise.
I tried to watch Drive. I only got as far as thirty seconds in. Drive was, in a word, UNCOMPELLING. I wasn’t driven to watch Drive. They drove, they argued with each other, then drove some more. It got old real quick.
Serial-series storytelling only works when it’s a compelling show that gets to the point. Cool cars can’t help a show whose stories are cold. Shows like 24 tell the story week to week and give you a reason to watch each segment of every show, shows like Drive that get too wrapped up in themselves die and good riddance.
In this case, Fox made the right choice.
Jay, you are entitled to watch whatever show you would like, however I feel you lose all credibility when you say you only watched 30 seconds of it and judged it as un-compelling. NOTHING can grab you in 30 seconds.
This show didn’t have a chance to be un-compelling.
Even the first three episodes of 24 were still in the “establishing the concept” phase, but that show brings you back every week.
Drive was being compared to shows like Heroes and Lost with its mysterious backgrounds and slowly unraveling storyline, which was barely introduced before they walked away.
On a side-note, 24 is getting repetative…and its a shame too.
HAh. I knew this was coming. The show looked horrible to begin with. I figured it was only a matter of time.
DEAR MR FOX EXECUTIVE,
I have had enough, you keep that lame ass american idol on
that requires an IQ of ten to watch and understand but cancel
a show that entertains you and requires you to follow a plot!!!
and don’t talk to me about idols ratings because all fox airs
now are brain dead reality shows.Here’s a great fox plan let’s
bring back temptation island and joe millionare and fox would
have their complete brain dead line up.God you people piss me
off.