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August 14, 2007 12:18

I Am Cancelled, Butchie, Instead. More Deadwood, or Something Else?

Posted by James Poniewozik | Comments (13) | Permalink | Trackbacks (0) | Email This

You no longer need to keep 9/11/14 cleared on your calendar; HBO has cancelled John from Cincinnati.

The question, as asked in the comments here and elsewhere, is whether this now means we get those oft-promised two wrapup movies for Deadwood. (To anticipate: forget seeing the whole series again. People have moved on.) As of this summer, HBO and David Milch were hedging on the possibility, which they set at 50-50. This decision certainly frees him up in one sense, but, under his development deal with HBO, he already has other, unnamed projects in the works.

This is flame-bait, I know, but I'd rather see a new Milch series sooner than the Deadwood movies. I loved Deadwood; it was the best Western made for TV and one of the best dramas, period. But that horse has left the barn. I'd like to see the movies, all things being equal, but I doubt they'd be nearly as satisfying as a full season would have been. And all things rarely are equal, so given the choice, I want to see HBO, or someone like them, give writers like Milch as many swings at making new series as they'd like. Sometimes you'll get a Deadwood; sometimes you'll get JFC; and sometimes you'll get your heart broken. But Milch is a creator, creators create, and I don't want to wait to see what he creates next.

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Reader Comments (13)

Daniel:

I agree with you in theory, just not in practice. I'll take "Deadwood" in any shape or form I can get -- good or bad, I am willing to take the risk.

I also hope your advice goes for Aaron Sorkin. The world is a better place when we get to hear his words for an hour a week.

Posted by Daniel | August 14, 2007 1:21 PM

Donald:

I'd take a rough outline scribbled on a napkin. I just want some resolution to Deadwood.

Posted by Donald | August 14, 2007 1:35 PM

beerbaron:

You want resolution? The town of Deadwood burns to the ground and Al Swearengen ends up penniless. That much we know; what happens to the fictional characters is another story.

I agree that I'd rather see Milch get to work on another series instead of the Deadwood movies. I liked that every episode of the show took place over a single day, and that would be impossible with two two-hour movies and so much ground to cover.

I'm also glad HBO picked up True Blood, the vampire series from Six Feet Under creator Alan Ball. I can't wait for that one, and In Treatment looks interesting too.

Posted by beerbaron | August 14, 2007 1:42 PM

Rebecca:

I watch HBO because I like watching charismatic men trying to kill each other. These new shows (JFC, the show about couples therapy) leave me cold. With Rome, Deadwood, and the Sopranos gone, all I have left is The Wire.

A pox on you, HBO!

Posted by Rebecca | August 14, 2007 1:56 PM

Virginia:

Are you kidding me! How can they cancel John from Cincinnati? That is one of the most innovative shows around. It's a little wierd and hard to follow but I loved the setting....Imperial Beach, CA? I didn't know anyone even knew it existed! And that it revolved around surfing....that was brilliant! I have to know what happens to Shawnie, Butchie, Mitch and the rest of the gang. What will happen on 09/11/14. Where did Shawnie and John go? Where was Zippy?
Come on......

Posted by Virginia | August 14, 2007 2:54 PM

James Poniewozik:

@Virginia:

Variety has a postmortem interview with Milch:

http://weblogs.variety.com/on_the_air/2007/08/john-from-cin-2.html

and with Zack Whedon (Joss' brother) who wrote, or "wrote," the finale:

http://weblogs.variety.com/on_the_air/2007/08/john-from-cin-3.html

@Rebecca: Yeah, you will NOT care for Tell Me You Love Me. I'm a fan, but *no* killing in that baby.

Posted by James Poniewozik | August 14, 2007 3:06 PM

chris Larry:

worst of all possible worlds....they put deadwood on some slow death to greenlight JFC.....Instead of just cancelling DW they float the BS movies nonsense....JFC airs and dies....just sucks all around......

Posted by chris Larry | August 14, 2007 5:58 PM

Eric Eales:

This may have been mentioned in previous discussions, but I was struck by how similar was the cadence and delivery of dialog in JFC and Deadwood; an archaic tone, and formal even when laced with obscenities.

Posted by Eric Eales | August 14, 2007 9:47 PM

Sarah:

I miss Deadwood terribly. What a great show. John from Cinn was absolutely horrific.

Posted by Sarah | August 15, 2007 9:28 AM

John - Not From Cincinnati:

Whether it is Deadwood, NYPD Blue, or John From Cincinnati, David Milch is a genius whose insight into the human condition not only superb, but also beyond the mainstream of TV land USA. Many say of JFC "I can't figure it out" or "what's it about", but of course these are the same people that are watching repeats of Happy Days and wondering what we are doing in Irag, i.e. brain dead and loving it. JFC was sheer genius, and will be missed among those of us that want to think from time to time and not be spoon fed the latest tripe from the government and/or our major networks. At the very least, JFC went out like it was the last episode and David gave us some closure like Six Feet Under and unlike The Sopranos. Keep on working David, we need you!

Posted by John - Not From Cincinnati | August 15, 2007 1:26 PM

Keith:

JNFC,

I don't watch reruns of Happy Days and I'm far from brain dead, but I do wonder what the hell we are STILL doing in Iraq. Perhaps you could explain it without repeating the spoon fed tripe from the government.

Posted by Keith | August 15, 2007 1:56 PM

nadum:

I watch HBO because I like watching charismatic men trying to kill each other.

Best thing I've ever read.

Posted by nadum | August 16, 2007 9:29 AM

JC:

JESUS CHRIST JESUS CHRIST!!!

Posted by JC | August 17, 2007 1:09 PM

About Tuned In

James Poniewozik writes TIME magazine's Tuned In column, about pop culture and society. Tuned In, the blog version, is about the stuff we used to call "TV," whether it's in your living room, on your computer or--once the networks figure out the technology and line up the advertisers--in your dreams themselves.