NO SECOND SERIES
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a305309/rufus-sewells-zen-axed-by-bbc.html
Ratings decent, but not high enough.
Its a shame it did well in the ratings and almost matched Wallender's ratings and that has been greenlit for further episodes.
It looks like new BBC controller and he wants some of his own programmes.
Its that man again!!
Ratings decent, but not high enough.
I don't even think it's that - the BBC has just recommissioned a series that had much lower viewing figures than Zen. Cost is more likely.
The Accussed did not fare well but maybe they want to keep the writer of the series onside for future projects.
Zen had a lot of co-production partners and maybe that was an issue.
Its that man again!!
Zen had a lot of co-production partners and maybe that was an issue.
Maybe, but (destroying my own previous point here!) that would have meant the cost was distributed.
Which makes me think that it was deemed too middle-class and that the Accused is deemed more worthy of continuing. Pity the taxpayer-funded BBC doesn't listen to its viewers than try to impose its (or Cohen's, rather) own agenda.
Neither of the above.
The Italian government surely withdrew its cooperation after this episode aired and without it's cooperation the series could not be produced. Every institution of Italian society is defamed: the state, the Church, the police. Everyone either is an incompetent buffoon or thoroughly corrupt and hypocritical with one notable exception; the new Chief, Hueber, and look what happens to him!
I found Hueber's address to the staff in which he demands that all behave professionally both on and off duty especially **a propos** in light of the scandals in the US Secret Service in Cartagena, Colombia.
["We have all strength enough to bear the misfortunes of others./"]
--La Rochefoucault
I'm sorry to hear that but I'd rather see Sewell getting meaty roles in outstanding feature films.
shareThat's a lovely thought, but outstanding feature films are nearly extinct, as is the dear old Beeb. The quality of the BBC work just keeps plummeting. Nearly everything seems to be aimed at teens or sleazoids.
Put puppy mills out of business: never buy dogs from pet shops!
Do you mean, like the head vampire in 'Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter'?
Somehow, I don't see Sewell getting lead roles---handsome though he is.
Carpe Noctem!
Sucks to come on here to read this. Enjoyed tonight's episode. Rufus is so sexy and gentlemen like.
I watched two documentaries years ago. One was called "Too Good for Television" and the other was "Brilliant but Cancelled." A show can be too good so that people are busy talking about it instead of watching the commercials. See, television content is to capture eye balls to sell you stuff.
Brilliant But Cancelled showed many great shows that never got past the pilot stage. They talked too many actors, writers, directors, and producers. Some said there are a lot of petty paybacks at the networks. A new executive omes in and cancels shows because the producer once fired him or didn't invite him to a party. And sometimes because network executives are dumb as a box full of rocks.
Like the idiot that cancelled Foyle's War at the BBC. WWII may have ended up crime didn't automatically stop in England.
One unsold pilot was a tv verison of "L A Confidential" starring Keifer Sutherland. It looked really good. The excuse was that period costumes, cars and locations would have been too expensive. I think this is a pretty thin excuse for whatever the real reason was.
WOW, what a huge disappointment! I just saw Episode 1, and wondered if it was a one-off, but then came on here and saw there were more episodes....and now I read this. What a shame, I thought it was fantastic- different, slick, well acted, well shot.... top drawer stuff all around. It beats most of the "Masterpiece Mystery" shows by a mile.
Maybe someone with brains and money will pick it up and restore us to sanity. With CGI and what have you, there would be a way to make it cost effective. What a huge let-down.
share[deleted]
I totally agree, but we all have one shot of having more episodes of ZEN with Rufus Sewell: Sometimes the American exec produer of Masterpiece/Mystery can decide a program is popular enough in the States to warrant more episodes. Perhaps if enough of us get in touch with Rebecca Eaton we could save ZEN and get more installents made...
Rufus Sewell is razor sharp in this role, the lens work and locations were amazing, and his program had uncommonly good supporting actor roles - everyone was teriffic... I even liked the minimalist music & soundtrack.
Don't give up yet - get in touch with Ms. Eaton at PBS in New York instead!!!
B. Shaw
[email protected]
www.goldmountainfilms.com
google: Bhshaw blog
www.opera.com - F.I.L.M. interpretation blog
[deleted]
So, in other words, it's the Beeb that needs to be smacked upside the head -- and they have no reason to give a damn about American viewers who like the series and want to see more of it. Eaton said it all when she said the Beeb had had a change in management. Unless you're able to mount a huge hue and cry like the fans of Chuck did with NBC (or you can find PBS and Left Bank Pictures another partner with big pockets besides the BBC), you haven't a hope in hell of bringing back Zen with new seasons ... which is a real pity because it's wonderful, sly, and intelligent, as is Rufus Sewell, and he's really underappreciated and typecast in the movie business. He hasn't had a decent leading role in a film since Dangerous Beauty. But the Beeb alone isn't to blame: CBS botched it with The Eleventh Hour, which had an intriguing premise but poor writing and direction and didn't make the best use of Mr. Sewell, who is delightfully easy on the eyes.
I'd give much to have him back as Aurelio Zen. Clearly, however, BBC doesn't care. More's the pity.
Well, as the Guardian article back in February noted (and was synopsized in the DigitalSpy article cited in this thread), Left Bank are in discussions with other TV networks. So there's still hope!
Actually Zen did get favorable ratings and the BBC received many complaints when it was "decommissioned". There was a change at BBC and the "BBC1 controller Danny Cohen starts to impose imprint on channel...BBC Drama has a lot of very exciting projects in development and going forward we have taken the decision to look at some of these new titles, rather than commission a second series of Zen. We've recently announced five new commissions including One Night - a four part drama from Paul Smith, Call The Midwife - a six part adaptation by Heidi Thomas of Jennifer Worth's best selling memoir, and a three part adaptation of Great Expectations by Sarah Phelps to mark Charles Dickens' bicentenary."
There is some hope - "Left Bank, the independent producer founded by former ITV comedy and drama executive Andy Harries, is now in talks with other broadcasters about continuing the series [Zen] on a new channel."
A US show I loved, called 'Doctor, Doctor', starring Matt Frewer, had poor ratings. However, Jeff Sagansky, then head of CBS, loved it, too, so it was renewed. Then, Sagansky resigned & went elsewhere. 'Dr, Dr' was soon cancelled. Similar story.
Carpe Noctem!
I think they think American audiences will like different series - period pieces and Austen movies. But some of their (UK) detective or courtoom drama series are really superb. I just recently watched Silk and it was fantastic. But by far the best was The Hour - better than most of the things on US TV, and they had two seasons and BBC canceled it. I hope somebody picks that one up - DirecTV and Netflix have been assisting "dying" but great shows. But this one was unbelievable. Zen was fun - filmed in Rome - and was just a delight, but The Hour was Emmy worthy.
share"Zen" was a remarkable series. The whole feel and vibe of it reminded me of European movies made in the late 1950's/early 1960's. As others have posted, I'm also sad to hear it won't be renewed. I liked that it was a cop/crime story without the ubiquitous DNA, cliched computer geek, etc.; it offered a sophisticated and intriguing plot. Hope the series is reconsidered.
shareI doubt this will be shown on another channel. Its not really an ITV programme or Channel 5.
Unless the BBC change their minds its history.
Its that man again!!
You totally summed up this very short series MelCooley. Very sophisticated plot & not along the lines of the slick American rubbish being constantly presented on TV nowadays.
Yes, my husband normally isn't interested in anything Masterpiece Mystery presents. Zen actually got my husband interested, anticipating and watching.
Rufus Sewell was nuanced and skillful. The stories were engaging. The production was excellent, the clothes were nice, the action was great -fun all around.
It's a shame the show isn't coming back.
===================================
They got them hoppy legs and twitchy little noses.
I totally agree! A magnificent 3 episodes.
This is awful news. I, too, was hoping for future episodes.
Loved the look, the acting.
Like everyone else, I am very disappointed. I loved the two episodes of ZEN that I have seen so far. ZEN is totally different from the nonsense we get here in the US. I was really looking forward to many more episodes.
shareSherlock had only three shows last season and will have only three shows this season. Wallander had only three shows last season and I imagine if it is on again this season, there will be only three shows. Maybe Zen will be the same. I have really enjoyed the series thus far. I hope there will be another season.
The low-episode count isn't the reason people are saying the show has been cancelled; the official BBC press-release from January is the source of it!
shareAww man. We just got this in the US and now to find out it is a cancelled series? WTH?
This show was brilliant, sadly the past tense must be used. WHY in the world would someone cancel this series in its infancy when it's literally a wholly superb production?! I love so many of the BBC's series, as another user added thanks to Netflix and Masterpiece, so I am left stateside scratching my head and wondering why (along with a larger American audience for Zen, I'm sure).
I hope someone reconsiders. Even a three-four episode per season run (ala Sherlock) would be better than nothing.
Bring back Zen in 2012!
I have to admit that this comes as a surprise because once I made peace with the fact that Italians were speaking in English, I really enjoyed this show. I found this article; I don't know is there is any real hope, but maybe interest in the US will help revive Zen:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/mar/02/zen-bbc-axed-second-series