MovieChat Forums > Witchblade (2001) Discussion > show cancellation question

show cancellation question

posted 21 years ago by glyphs
28 replies | jump to latest

Hey guys,
Just had a quick question about the reason of the show being cancelled. I've heard a couple different things. I read an interview somewhere with the show creator who said that TNT just didn't want the series anymore and they were pitching it to other networks now but I also heard somewhere (no clue where, it was quite awhile ago) that it was cancelled 'cause Yancy Butler had a drinking problem. Anyone know if there's substance to that? I find it hard to believe it was shut down 'cause it didn't do well with viewers. All you have to do is look around some and you'll find tons of fansites with people wanting the show back. I know I really miss it. At any rate, I was just wondering if anyone knew anything about that or if it was just a rumor going around. Catch ya later.

[–] lanthar 21 years ago

I don't know why the show was cancelled, but I do know that Yancy Butler had/has a drinking problem. Last I read about it she was going into rehab.

[–] frodolives11 21 years ago

I also heard it was because of her drinking, i heard for a little bit they wanted to bring in a replacement for Yancy so the show could continue, but that never happened i guess. Now we just have to hope the will eventually come out on DVD (HINT...HINT)
PS. My best friend told me after she went to a free showing of 2 Fast 2 Furious that Nottingham is in it, she said it was the best part of the movie, that is so totally sad! still Nottingham rocks!

[–] bookwyrm50 21 years ago

I also would like to see this series come out on DVD. I mean, if "Dark Angel" can come out on DVD, then "Witchblade" should too. Am I just being premature on this...how long after a show has aired does the series come out on DVD for movie buffs like me to obtain them???

[–] wishingonasta60 21 years ago

this was posted at the dephi fourm..

This is from the site http://tvshowsondvd.com and were the votes stand right now as thanks from another fan who found out.
Currently, Witchblade is ranked 66th on the website. Only 547 people have voted since 2001. We need more voters!!! Let's spread the word across more WB related websites

[–] Autumnchild753 19 years ago

Damn Straight!

So many people feel the same way. It's rediculous that any and every other series that ever was is now being converted to D.V.D; but a fan favorite like Witchblade is still lingering in limbo.

As a matter of fact....
If you want to or if you haven't already. There's a new Petition going around for the WB to release Witchblade on D.V.D.
You can drop in and sign if you like. The more the merrier!

Here's the address-

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/bladelov/

Tell a friend. Later.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] wishingonasta60 21 years ago

It was cancel for a number of reasons mainly creative one. to get so good info about the show check out the Witchblade Forum on the Warner Brothers page.

Wilhelmina

[–] gina-66 21 years ago

Does anyone know where the director/creator/executive producer, Ralph Hemmecker can be reached?

[–] Evil_Flip 20 years ago

I think it was canceled because the serie sucked.

but that's just me rambling.
the comic was awsome but the series come on: bad acting, bad storyline and crappy directing.

greetings,

[–] kok_warlock 20 years ago

damn right, and add those crappy action scenes, where she just jumped to the left and all bullets hit only her "witchb.itch" thing, she didn't even move her hand.

Not to mention that because it was based on a comic books, obviously it had a lot of fan sites, but the ratings just keep lowering I heard, so they only finish their episodes and it was canned.

[–] cadetduke 19 years ago

The movie was decent (until the end), but the series was horrible.

After watching the movie I was really looking forward to the series but once the series was around I couldn't even stomach watching it.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] WhoLead 19 years ago

I agree. I really enjoyed this series. I've never read the comics, so I don't have a reference like some of you, but the writing was actually excellent. This show reminded me a lot of The Pretender, where as the series went on you learned a little bit more about the different characters and grew in depth and scope. I fully anticipated a third season, and have been completely baffled as to why. To me, though I can't say, the people who hated the show didn't watch it all the way through. I recommend you give that a shot, from the beginning. Nina's right - they explained things more as the series went on, and didn't start doing it right away.

Granted, some of the action scenes were odd, but then I don't know enough about the Witchblade to say anything about it's capabilities. I would have to read the comic from the start. Definitely, the season finale for season two was just a jaw dropper. WTF!?

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] ichigo_chan_ssj5 17 years ago

I also did like the writing. Some of the things they talked about were actually pretty smart.

Though I do note there was some cheesiness due in part to some of the acting... (Sorry Eric fans but he wasn't that great hehe... he was chuckle worthy). But I still loved it.

I liked Yancy's acting expecially in Periculum when she had to be both someone else and herself. Lols I really loved her repeated denials of Ian... hilarious. Just how I'm always like "freakk..." hahaha... (Supposedly I'm a 'magnert' as my friend calls me... a 'pervert magnet' so I frequently have to fend off wierdos.)... I was like... "so me..." lol.

(I would say the best acting was by Yancy, Anth., Will, and Hensley... Tho I thought David was funny)

Also I think 1/2 of the cheesiness was also due to cheap sets/effects and quality of stock footage (although it was used well; the latter was used well).

For me the writing was good enough to pardon the cheesiness. I really really again must profess my love for the writing/dialogue.

Also I hope TNT/WB releases those DVDs soon... Don't make me resort to Piracy! We've been waiting like 5+ years. Shi_ttier shows I would never watch have already been put on DVD for Chrissake... like that old La Femme Nikita show... UGH I dunno why people like that one... See the original French film with Anne Parillaud... sooo much betters. I hate when Hollywood remakes foreign films... just bring them here... (i.e. Infernal Affairs being made into The Departed).

I <3 Lestat!

[–] roomsixproductions 17 years ago

I disagree. I think the series started to suck once they started "explaining" things. They didn't handle the explanations too well, IMHO.

First of all, as soon as they started talking about Ian and Pez being brother and sister, I was disappointed. They'd always had such great chemistry whenever in scenes together. I thought something romantic was going to jump off between them.

Second, it was very cool the way Ian would sort of come out of the darkness, help/scare Pez, then disappear back into the darkness. When he started coming around all the time, it ruined it for me.

They started giving Ian too much dialogue. He was so much more interesting when he was a dark, mysterious figure that we didn't know much about, who made short, cryptic statements that we were left trying to figure out. As soon as he started giving long-winded "speeches", I got bored.

Finally, they jumped the shark like hell when they rewound everything and suddenly her partner wasn't dead and none of it had really happened.

It's a damn shame. They had a great lead role in Pez, and great supporting roles in Ian Nottingham and her two partners. This show had such potential to be something great, but the writers *beep* it up. They didn't know what to do with it.

http://youtube.com/user/roomsixproductions

[–] reept 19 years ago

It was cancelled because it totally sucked. This show made me sick, just watching it. The worst show ever.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] jnor 19 years ago

I didnt think it was that bad. Yancy Butler is a good actress...and come on compared to the non-stop camp of Buffy this was oscar material.

This is what you should fear: you are what you should fear.- marilyn manson

[–] ianrashidone1 18 years ago

It is a shame that the show got cancelled. It was well done. They wanted to end the show when it had high ratings only problem is that the ratings would have continued to increase in the third season. But they will never know that.
It is also a shame that they refuse to do re-runs of the show. And yet they aird the show in Europe and re-ran both seasons over there. What sense do that make? To compare the comic to the TV show doesn't make sense as there is no way to do on TV what can be done in comics there is the physical limitation to consider. I wish that they would bring Witchblade back if for no other reason but to tie up the questions that they left at the end of season 2.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] Hyperzone 17 years ago

she did the tv movie, and it was rather well recieved. personally, i loved her as the wielder of the witchblade, was sad to see this get cancelled.

[–] mabui 17 years ago

It was cancelled because it sucked, ergo, had low rates.

[–] garbhan 17 years ago

i still liked it but u know wat pisses me off how does a crap show like dark angel get released on dvd and witchblade doesnt. dark angel was awful

[–] drkjedi1-2 17 years ago

While it sucked to some, and seems to be the origianl comic book fans, it obviously did not suck to a great deal many others.
I did not read the comic it just looked like another big breasted boob shot comic that was more about the gratuitous sexual imagery than actual plotlines.

I did however watch the show and enjoyed it emmensely as Yancy was quiet believable.
Folks are welcome to there opinions whether they liked it or not but I personally enjoyed it a lot.

[–] thr728 17 years ago

I know what was the worst show ever... Black Scorpion on the SciFi Channel that aired approximately around the same time as this show. Now that REALLY sucked. They used the same car crash footage in every single episode!!! Witchblade is NOT the worst show ever made. I actually liked Witchblade and was curious as to why TNT never released it on DVD. I've seen some doozy shows in my time... Try "The Charmings" from the late 80s or early 90s (it's been many years since I've seen that campy crap). But still, I say Black Scorpion was the WORST SHOW EVER.

There's no such thing as sanity... Only levels of InSaNiTy!!!

[–] evalina06 7 years ago

Unfortunately the show was cancelled due to Yancy and her alcoholism/personal problems severely impairing production. It's a shame that so many people had to lose their jobs and great characters and potentially great future storylines killed because of the lead. There was a thought to recast which I personally think they should have done but it was considered not a good idea ultimately. The show had ratings and critics and fans on its side. It was not cancelled due to any of those other factors. It was not cancelled because it "sucked", however I do think there should have been more focus on Ian Nottingham and less on the cops because that's one factor that did indeed kill Tarzan. Also more nods to the comics would have been nice.

[–] 7 years ago

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