Question: 7th Heaven scoop, please. Anything!
Answer: Tragedy looms for one of the Camden kids as the 11th season opens. And a younger man is going to cause problems for Lucy and Kevin in Episode 2. Stephen Collins, meanwhile, will lampoon his do-gooder Heaven image in tomorrow's season finale of FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. All I'll say is that he has a surprising connection to Dennis and Dee, and it's one of two major twists in the episode.
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Question: As an outsider looking in (I've never seen an entire episode of either Everwood or 7th Heaven) can I attempt to defend [CW programming chief] Dawn Ostroff? I hardly think that she rose to the position of power she's in today by being a moron. Of course episodes advertised as "series finales" are going to have much higher ratings than any given episode, and of course that is to be expected. I think her only fault in handling this has been passing that off as the excuse for renewing 7th Heaven over Everwood. Had she been straightforward and said, "Look, we like both shows and we really like Everwood, but it doesn't get us the ratings that 7th Heaven has consistantly gotten us over the years and we're trying to launch a network here," she wouldn't be getting the lampooning that she so rightfully deserves now. I have no doubt that Everwood is an excellent series, much as I have no doubt that 7th Heaven is past its prime. (After all these years, how could it not be?) But the fact ...
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Question: I read that Charmed, along with What I Like About You, is on the fence as to whether or not it is coming back for another season. I realize that the actresses' contracts are up at the end of this season, and that it was a miracle that it was renewed for an eighth season this year, but their ratings are fairly good for the WB and extremely stable. They've been around a constant 4.3 million viewers each episode, and on the WB that's great. So, I guess what I'm wondering is, why is Charmed on the fence again this year?? Is it just because the ratings aren't quite as good as previous years and because the girls' contracts are up at the end of this season?
Answer: What, Charmed is still on?
Seriously, if that's even possible where this show is concerned, economics likely has everything to do with it being on the ropes. WB's 7th Heaven is far more popular and viable than Charmed, but it's signing off this spring for reasons more financial than creative — although I'd argue it's
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Question: What do you think about the cancellation of 7th Heaven at the end of this season? Personally, I think it should've been canceled several years ago. In the first half of its 10 seasons it was actually about family and morality and whatnot, but now it's completely different. The whole premise to every show is a couple of the characters talking, usually with one of the Camdens listening in and basically hearing what they want to hear, which is not the whole truth. After that, they spend the rest of the show talking behind each others' backs until someone finally says something. I don't know about you, but I like a show with more than just one story line. What ever happened to good, quality, family programming?
Answer: The family drama is an endangered species, no question, but I contend it's still alive and well on Everwood. I'll let your opinion stand, because I don't watch 7th Heaven consistently (although I will be doing some homework soon for an upcoming column). But taking
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Stephen Collins of 7th Heaven
After 10 years as the WB's unsung savior, 7th Heaven is being sent to, well, programming heaven. The network declared the show "too expensive" to keep running and announced that this season would be the family drama's last — though there is some talk of a spin-off. In a two-part interview, TVGuide.com spoke with Stephen Collins, who since Heaven's debut has played Rev. Eric Camden, the paterfamilias of seven kids — which some might call hell, but maybe that's just us — about the show's value, its abrupt cancellation and more.
TVGuide.com: When did you find out that Heaven was canceled?Stephen Collins: [Series creator] Brenda [Ham
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Question: Oh Matt, I'm crushed. I got my TV Guide today and saw that 7th Heaven is being canceled. Is WB's entertainment chief David Janollari crazy, nuts or just plain stupid? Yes, I understand salaries, but I guess good wholesome shows are beginning to be a thing of the past, which I think is sad. I was really looking forward to the twins growing up. Thanks for your time, Matt. Have a happy Thanksgiving.
Answer: Ditto and a big after-the-fact happy-Thanksgiving shout-out to everyone. I'm sure there are a lot of disappointed Heaven fans out there who wished the show would last until Lucy's baby was of childbearing age, but all good (and even good-for-you) things must come to an end eventually, and I'd rather see a show like this go out with some dignity. And there's a fine line between cancellation and the decision not to continue with a show after 10 seasons — not that it matters to fans, I suppose. Still, you wouldn't believe — or maybe you would — the mail I've gotten the last few
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7th Heaven
The Camdens of 7th Heaven have begun their slow march toward the pearly gates. WB has pulled the plug on the 10-year-old family drama, which will air its final episode in May. Although Heaven remains a solid performer for the network, averaging 5.1 million viewers a week, the show's sky-high budget made it too costly to continue. Must be all those pricey special effects.
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