Political Animals Cancelled-A Show Cancelled too Early, or Just on Time?

A few days ago USA Network announced some major cancellations, which included Fairly Legal, Common Law, and Political Animals.  While I do not watch the first two, I was a fan of Political Animals, the show had potential.  Although the term cancelled was not used rather "the network is not moving forward."  I am not sure if the show is gone forever, but I am guessing the answer is yes, although they left a major cliffhanger out there, and many of the stories appeared to amp up for another go around.  With no closure the "limited series" fells like a disappointment.  However it could have continued to grow given more time, and place in a better time slot.

I often think networks have to let go an allow for certain shows to exist.  While I understand money talks, networks often kill shows that have huge cult followings with fans more loyal than any other show.  Political Animals will probably join the list below, but here are the shows (I watched) that were not given their due, and cancelled too soon.

Arrested Development-The show is the reason NBC has kept, The Office, 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation etc., for so many years.  Arrested Development's quirky humor paved the way for off brand television humor, and FOX was widely criticized for canceling this show (a winner for Outstanding Comedy Series) in the third season.  The show is being reborn in 2013, with everyone on board, namely because this show has proved to become a bigger hit than anyone could imagine.

Family Guy-That's right folks, FOX cancelled this show too, many moons ago, but after amazing DVD  sales, and great ratings on Adult Swim they brought show back and Seth MacFarlene is a brand now.  MacFarlene's power is so great he has a loyal fan base following him into films with Ted, and he is going to host to Oscars this year.  FOX made a smart decision here (although the show needs to end), but bringing this show back was the right call to make.

Freaks and Geeks-NBC's only entry on the list.  This show about the 80s was equal parts comedy and drama, and was the most under appreciated show on the air.  If you look at the cast you will see a whose who of Hollywood A-Listers came from this show, and thats namely because Judd Apatow recycles the same actors.  The show could work a little better now with nostalgia being as popular, but I would also like to see them do a reunion special, that would give me the closure I need.

My So-Called Life-Claire Danes is one of the most talented actresses, but ABC let her slip through their fingers with this show.  At the time everyone was all about cops and doctors with the high paced tense shows like NYPD Blue, ER, and Law & Order taking over.  This was an honest representation of what it meant to be a teen in the 90s, and I would have liked to see Angela as she aged at least a few years more.

Pushing Daisies-I blame the writer's strike on this show's cancellation.  This is possibly one of the most fun/clever shows I have ever watched on television.  With a great cast, and a creative premise the show about the pie maker who brought people back to life to solve crimes was just too darn cute.  The end provided some closure, but I could have used one or two more seasons.

The same could be said for many shows within the sci-fi genre like Firefly, Star Trek, Terminator: The Sarah Connors Chronicles, or quirky dramas like Deadwood, Dead Like Me, Wonderfalls, and Veronica Mars.  Shows within specific niche genres always have had a hard time sticking around.  There have been shows like Lost, and The X-Files, which have helped other shows like Fringe have a fighting chance (although the only reason Fringe lasted was because its big wig's favorite show).

Do these shows end too early though, or does their shortened run make them creatively better and more like able?  I think if many of these shows lasted longer then they did fans would soon become bitter as they often do, and grow angry.  Maybe ending early is blessing that makes these shows better than the ones that last 10 or 12 years.  A good friend said to me today "things are better in small doses" and I think this is true within the world of television.

Political Animals starts out Uneven but Finishes Strong in the end

Political Animals starts out a bit cheesy with the introduction of Elaine Hammond who is running for President, my initial thought was I hope this does not delve too much into the "soap opera" stratosphere.  Elaine is the former first lady to the former President Bud Hammond, the most popular democrat since JFK took a bullet to the head, those are Bud's words.  Elaine is running against a young idealistic Paul Garcetti, but in the opening gives a concession speech.  After the speech Elaine and Bud talk about the loss, Bud's ego forces him to blame himself for her loss, forcing her to see Bud always makes things about him; she walks away telling him she wants a divorce.  Cut to two years later and the show focusing on the now Elaine Barrish as Secretary of State.  Sound familiar?

Political Animals appears to be similar to a "what if" version of "what if Hillary left Bill Clinton?"  Many people will compare this show and Elaine or Sigourney Weaver to a Hillary Clinton like figure.  The main reason for this is because when it comes to female politicians, people cling to the familiar, and can never see other singular women (in office) for who they are, something different.  Hillary's story, and reach for power was also a harrowing journey; she worked hard to separate her own legacy from her husbands, and is the only first lady to hold an elected office, ever. Creator and EP Greg Berlanti (Brothers & Sisters) makes sure to create a line that divides the differences within Elaine, her family, and creates an interesting world around them.  Weaver is the flue that holds the show together and her terrific acting, which evolves throughout the first episode, helps sustain the the episode.

In this series Elaine has divorced her husband but is surrounded by a quirky family.  Elaine's mother played by the amazing Ellen Burstyn is a pistol who spits out hilarious comments the way Maggie Smith does in Downton Abbey.  I hope they give her more screen time because I can see great character development within her.  James Wolk plays Elaine's more "stable son" he is her chief of staff, about to get engaged, but I feel a few secrets will force this Kennedy like character perfection to be cracked.  Elaine's other son T. J. played by episode stand out Sebastian Stan is a terrific character.  Stan deals with being the first openly gay son of the first family, this strain along with a drug addiction proves to be a challenge for both T. J. and his mother's career.  Then of course there is the complicated relationship between Elaine and her ex husband Bud (Ciaran Hinds) who hits out the charm in an incredibly Clintonesque way.  After dealing with all of her family, her job, namely the President (Adrian Pasadar), Elaine also has to deal with a reporter obsessed with her family.  Susan Berg played by Carla Guigino is the reporter who covered Bud's infidelities during the White House days; she is back and her connection with Elaine is more similar than the the two realize.

Together all of these element prove strained but fascinating within the first episode of this "limited series."  Berlanti is great at deconstructing the family drama behind it all; he did this beautifully on Brothers & Sisters, and I think this will be an incredibly strong part of the series.  One of the weaker parts of the show was the writing itself.  Berlanti who wrote and directed the first episode does not have the political charge to make this West Wing like, and while I know the show is meant to be different the characters speak the dialogue (often times) as though they are void of intellect.  The first episode took on too much too soon, and much like Newsroom with its hour an a half tried to cram too much in at once.  Berlanti closed out the episode well, and made up for poor start to make this one show I will tune in week after week for.