WB Stakes Angel Right Through the Heart

Posted on February 18, 2004

It was not a happy Friday the 13th for Joss Whedon and the cast of Angel. On Thursday, WB co-chairman Jordan Levin dropped the bomb on Joss -- that despite good ratings, a growing fan base and being the WB's top show in terms of drawing the coveted 24-35 male demographic, the show was being cancelled at the end of this season. Whedon broke the news to a stunned cast and crew on Friday.

Whedon shared his thoughts on the situation by posting at the VIP Bronze Beta, saying:

"I thought this would be a good time to weigh in. to answer some obvious questions: No, we had no idea this was coming. Yes, we will finish out the season. No, I don't think the WB is doing the right thing. Yes, I'm grateful they did it early enough for my people to find other jobs.

Yes, my heart is breaking.

When Buffy ended, I was tapped out and ready to send it off. When Firefly got the axe, I went into a state of denial so huge it may very well cause a movie. But Angel... we really were starting to feel like we were on top, hitting our stride -- and then we strode right into the Pit of Snakes 'n' Lava. I'm so into these characters, these actors, the situations we're building... you wanna know how I feel? Watch the first act of "The Body."

Ouch. And to add insult to injury we now find out the real reason for the cancellation: Levin is bringing back yet a third version of the supernatural vampire soap, Dark Shadows next Fall and didn't want to have two vampire shows on the air. This version is said to be sort of a Gilmore Girls/Dawson's Creek/vampire thing.

Joss Whedon helped make the WB a real network -- not the joke it was when it started. The network was built on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the spinoff Angel. Angel is far and away one of the best shows on television today: it's funny, it's witty and it's different from anything else out there. The changes made this season, including the addition to the cast of James Marsters as Spike and Mercedes McNab as Harmony have only added to the show's appeal.

This is a disgrace.