* ABC’s top PR guy Kevin Brockman trotted out a huge stuffed pink elephant and quickly acknowledged the other “elephant in room”—last week’s abrupt resignation of ABC president Stephen McPherson. He then warned the assembled press that newly-installed prez, ex ABC Family boss Paul Lee, would not be commenting on his predecessor’s controversial departure. “Tuesday’s statement still holds,” he said. “We have nothing new to add.”
* “I’m super unprepared,” Lee admitted at the start. “I’ve been in the job 36 hours. I apologize if I don’t have the answers to your questions. I do know one thing: Modern Family should win the Emmy for best comedy this year.” (Lee went on to name-check Family at least seven more times; I think he’s a fan!)
* The worst part of his job as network honcho? Canceling shows that have small but extremely loyal followings. “We are all slaves to ratings,” he said. “I had a show called The Middleman [on ABC Family] that I loved. I adored that show. [But] it was the wrong show for the network. I’m still getting letters about The Middleman.”
* Lee has no plans to tinker with the network’s fall schedule ahead of premiere week. “We’re locked and loaded,” he said. “We are literally weeks away. These are rockets. They have to be built, fueled, and launched.”
ugly betty?
Its ok i accept the departure.
I’m expecting a whole bunch of Middleman fans to run in here screaming.
Count me as one of those. I ADORE that show and its awesome cast. I’m still waiting for somebody to give Matt Keeslar his next great role.
He’s absolutely right. The Middleman was totally wasted on ABC Family. I keep hoping it somehow gets resurrected by Syfy or TNT or something, even though the cast have now moved on to other things.
I loved Middleman too – although I came to it late. It would have done great on Comedy Central or even MTV (if they had be doing scripted TV at that time. It could have even done well as a Sunday night addition to FOX.
Poor ABC they are like NBC in the 90′s only less successful. You have a couple of good shows with good ratings and you couldn’t get shows to replace them with. Just like NBC with Friends and Will and Grace, Fraiser… only NBC was number 1, while ABC is number 3. So next year it won’t be that far of a drop to the bottom, because that is where they will be next year.
ABC has been #1 before and with the right slate it can be again. Same with NBC. now that Silverman and Zucker are gone, they can rebuild.
At least ABC tries new stuff. Not like CBS who has gazillion criminal procedurals (and has great ratings).
THE MIDDLEMAN!!!
Two words, Mr. Lee.
PUSHING. DAISIES.
Three words, Mr. Lee.
BETTER OFF TED.
Two words again:
Ugly Betty
In Latin America, ‘Ugly Betty’ was meant to only last one season, a Telenovela.
Isn’t 4 seasons enough? Not every show can be ‘Gunsmoke’, ‘Knots Landing’, or ‘Law & Order’, on the air for decades.
If ‘Ug’ was renewed with her all glam now and no braces, people would complain that ‘she isn’t the same’ and a ‘sell out’. So move on.
@Ruth…AGREED. PD was a fantastic show that earned acting, directing, and writing Emmy noms in its first season and then won in its second season! It was terrible of ABC to cancel this show. Thankfully, I have the DVDs (though, the rushed ending makes me sad).
ugh PUSHING DAISIES. I’m still bitter–such an amazing show, the was really nothing else like it.
As long he does not mess up with Castle..usually big honchos keep making the same mistakes..just watch-same time next year?
Art Crawl!!!
Art Crawl!!!
Art Crawl!!!!
Bring back KyleXY and finish the storyline, please.
I know–the season finale was heartbreaking! It just ended in the freakin’ MIDDLE of a scene. Kyle was holding whatshisface against the wall, who was claiming to be Kyle’s brother-or-something, and then it’s suddenly all over. What is that?!?!? Has anyone seen the ending on the DVD? Please tell me it offers some resolution.
The showrunner did an interview in which she described where all of the plotlines would have gone (who would have ended up with whom, et cetera). You might still be able to find it online somewhere.
Bring back “Dirty Sexy Money” or something like “Dynasty” !!!
Or at least show us the damn ending!!
Man, I loved Middleman. Just recently got the complete series DVD and looking to get the graphic novel of last episode never filmed.
And while you’re bingeing on Middlestuff, remember to watch the cast table read from last year’s ComicCon!
Yes! The table read was AWESOME… and heartbreaking in a what-could-have-been way. I have the DVD, but I haven’t seen the last-episode GN (although I DO have the Collected Series Indispensability). Where can I find that.
If Paul Lee is stepping down as pres. of ABC Family, then whow will be running that network now?
DUB DUB
The Middleman, brilliant but cancelled. It should have been on SyFy.
Please bring Dubby back! The Middleman didn’t fit on ABCFamily, but there’s definitely an audience for that show on another cable channel.