When the previews started churning for NBC’s Kings, my interest was piqued instantly. In my past life I was a political junkie (unlike another blogger I know, who keeps me up to date these days), and the idea of seeing a modern day monarchy was intriguing.
At first I stayed away from any detailed information about the show. As the premier got closer, I lifted my personally imposed spoiler ban, and took a look a look at the Pilot script that had been floating around on the internets. Like the idiot that I am, this is the first that I learned about the Biblical allegory (Yeah, nothing gets by me … I am completely in tune with the universe). I knew the David and Goliath story, but read deeper into some of of the possible storylines we might get to see.
Ian McShane was the lead in a pretty good cast. I personally am a fan of Susanna Thompson from her NCIS days, and Eamonn Walker’s work history speaks for itself. And how can you not be a Dylan Baker fan when he went to such a cool college (I didn’t go there. I swear. Seriously, I didn’t). I wasn’t as familiar with the rest of the cast, but they turned out to be a very good group. The production value was phenomenal. The scenes on the front look incredible, and the computer generated skyline of Shiloh was surprisingly good for television. The writing was of a quality and type I hadn’t enjoyed in a long time.
The political intrigue played out in a family drama pulled me in. Apparently, though, I was one of the few. The show didn’t start out with the best numbers, and they slowly dwindled. The final episode aired before the hiatus didn’t even manage 2.5 million viewers. NBC shelved the remaining seven episodes until Summer, and moved the show to Saturdays (I mean, seriously, are they saying they don’t want anyone to see it?).
What went wrong? I honestly think the show was too smart for its own good. It certainly took itself a bit more seriously than it should have. And I also think that viewers had a hard time connecting with an alternative version of our political reality. Because our political, or socio-economic reality really, isn’t as grand as it once was. The last thing that people wanted to watch was someone else’s problems. We have enough of our own these days.
Its a damn shame, too. People should have watched this show. Its got the look of a grand epic, and a storyline to match. It, obviously, does not belong on network TV. HBO or Showtime would have made a lot more sense. It will probably be the last thing I give NBC credit for taking a chance on in a long time (Chuck was a no-brainer, in my eyes, so they don’t get points). The cancellation makes good business sense, but I think the property could be treated a little better than Saturday nights.
Clacked by Ivey West 
on Jun 05, 2009 @ 13:00 EST5EDT
Kings was too good for it’s own good. It is complex, thought provoking, and intelligent… so that is to say, a horrible fit for network tv.
As you say, it likely would have done well on HBO or Showtime, where quality is expected. By contrast… on network TV it seems people instead demand to watch D-list “celebrities” eating insects or otherwise humiliating themselves.
My feelings on this issue have been documented (see related posts).
This show was too artsy for NBC, or any network station. If it were on AMC,or a pay channel it would be a critical darling and nominated for a bunch of awards.
Yes, too bad there were not enough of us watching. Suspension of our own political reality might have been too much for people.
*POST AUTHOR*
I think its a valid point. I wonder if the show would have done better had it premiered last year, or three years prior.
I’m done with network TV, they suck, one of the idiots from NBC said Seinfeld would have failed if it was produced today!!! You get what you pay for, The networks seem to be run by same type of people that runs the US auto industry and by that I mean Bean Counters, they run them into ground. Looking for short term profits against long tern survival(https://www.autolinedetroit.tv/journal/?p=4245#more-4245). Seinfeld took two seasons before it became a hit. I’m sure in the long run Seinfeld made more money for NBC than any of these reality shows will ever make. Who will watch re-runs of reality shows or better yet buy DVD’s? As I said before, “I don’t know why people like Ron Moore & Joss Whedon wastes their own time & energy on free network TV.
All the networks care about is Reality TV & what their advertisers, standards & Practices department want. they should concentrate on HBO or Showtime, TNT FX???? Maybe Video on demand????”
Nothing is free the producers of Kings or any other type show like TSCC should bypass the networks make direct to DVD Movies. Make a pilot show for free or pay on Amazon,Hulu or Netflix and if people like the show they will have to pay to view additional episodes. I wonder how many people bought or rented the DVD Caprica or the two SG1 DVD’s? I’m sure it made a profit. OK I’m done complaining.
The show had a lot of buzz when it was announced at the upfronts and then the dipshits at NBC decided to make everyone wait until spring to watch it after everybody forgot about it. Fall premeires with a lot of buzz always fare better than when they decide to premeire them late in the season. And it also hurt that Ian McShane wasn’t allowed to call everybody motherfucker and cocksucker 3 times every sentence. It definitely belonged on HBO. McShane has got way too much talent to be wasted on network tv. I hope he can get a job on Boardwalk Empire on HBO.
*POST AUTHOR*
Ok, so this might get me in a bit of trouble, but I never really took to McShane’s Silas. He just didn’t work for me, and I thought he was pretty inconsistantly portrayed/written.
I never watched Deadwood (GASP!), so I am familiar with McShane but am not a huge fan. I don’t know who, however, I would cast in his place here.
No DEADWOOD? Dorv, I feel like I don’t even know you! McShane was brilliant as Al. I’m not kidding. Please, please watch it. Then get back to me.
*POST AUTHOR*
I’m sure one of these days I’ll get around to it. Not really my genre, which is probably why I didn’t give it a chance in the first place. That, and I don’t think I had HBO during its first season.
I’m sure its great, but its probably just not for me.
Yes it is for you. You just don’t know it yet. Brilliant fast dialogue, that I imagine you would enjoy, since you revere West Wing.
Here are some sample quotes:
“Al, if you’re not dead and already molderin’, I send news to revive you. A fish to rival the fabled Leviathon has swum into our waters. Get well and we’ll land the *expletive* together.”
————————————————————————–
“I’ve been drunk awhile, correct. What the *expletive* is that to you?”
“Question was well meant like, if you was a farmer I’d ask you how farming was going.”
There are so many more, I’m sure Merve can sell it better to you! The dialogue makes your brain chew! Chomp!
I know I’ve said it before, but its your post, and I wanted to say hi. ;-)
The previews never caught my interest. I didn’t get that it was a biblical allegory or even an alternate reality. I imagines it was going to be like Skin (which was an allegory of Romeo and Juliet, now that I think of it). Seemed like it was going to be about a crime family or something. Just didn’t catch my interest.
I have also admitted I never saw an episode of West Wing. I think my politics are such that the thought of listening to anyone that I think might try to preach to me in any way just turns me off.
I am happy that you at least get to see all of the episodes. Even in they’re on Saturdays, its good that someone is finally listening to us when we cry foul for a show being yanked before through. Maybe the Saturday wasteland will be good for something after all!
*POST AUTHOR*
Eh… I wouldn’t let politics, good or bad, stand in the way of me watching a great show, and trust me, West Wing was one of the best ever. You’re totally missing out. Track down the first season, and if you don’t get hooked, I’ll, I don’t know, watch a Tennis Match for CJ or something ;)
I watched it, I loved it and when they cancelled it I was devastated.
I’m Jewish, so maybe the biblical allegory was almost self explanatory. And I happen to think it’s also an allegory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a way.
I hope to see the rest on television, and if not I’ll certainly buy the DVD’s. I mean, I want to know how this thing plays out!
Why the poor ratings? Honestly, I think it was too sophisticated.