Oh Matt, I'm crushed. I got ...
Question: Oh Matt, I'm crushed. I got my TV Guide today and saw that
7th Heaven is being canceled. Is WB's entertainment chief
David Janollari crazy, nuts or just plain stupid? Yes, I understand salaries, but I guess good wholesome shows are beginning to be a thing of the past, which I think is sad. I was really looking forward to the twins growing up. Thanks for your time, Matt. Have a happy Thanksgiving.
Answer: Ditto and a big after-the-fact happy-Thanksgiving shout-out to everyone. I'm sure there are a lot of disappointed
Heaven fans out there who wished the show would last until Lucy's baby was of childbearing age, but all good (and even good-for-you) things must come to an end eventually, and I'd rather see a show like this go out with some dignity. And there's a fine line between cancellation and the decision not to continue with a show after 10 seasons — not that it matters to fans, I suppose. Still, you wouldn't believe — or maybe you would — the mail I've gotten the last few seasons from former fans who felt the show had lost much of its initial charm. That tends to happen when a family drama "matures," although for
Heaven to make it to that groundbreaking 10th season exceeded almost everyone's expectations. There is spin-off talk, because WB is wary of losing for good a franchise with this much viewer loyalty. We'll see. My hope, as I've stated before, is that
Everwood will now take the spotlight as WB's (and TV's) finest family drama. It isn't as "wholesome" as
Heaven — what could be? — but it is a very moving show about families and relationships in which actions always have consequences, and its acting and writing runs circles around
Heaven.
