FX President Explains, Laments Cancellation of Terriers
It was a depressing, albeit not surprising move: FX canceled Terriers today, following the show's dismal ratings throughout a critically-acclaimed first season.
But FX president John Landgraf's credit, he took part in a conference call after the decision was made and explained it to reporters, something we can't recall happening before in recent history.
While acknowledging Terriers could have bee marketed better, Landgraf cited its subtle tone and pacing as the basis for its failure. He said:
"People thought the show was compatible with the FX brand, but not similar to other FX shows. To the extent it was dissimilar, they found it to be a little less edgy, sexy and suspenseful, and I think the things that were wonderful about the show tended to be a little more subtle."
For many, yours truly very much included, such subtlety - highlighted by the banter between Britt and Hank - is what made the show stand out.
In the end, though, you can't argue with ratings or deny that FX gave Terriers every possible chance.
It averaged 509,000 viewers in the key 18-49 year-old demographic, less than half what other, quickly-canceled shows such as Dirt (1.6 million) and Over There (1.3 million) averaged.
"There's no question in my mind [Terriers] was a credit to our air," Landgraf said. "The question is whether it could find an audience and we couldn't find a large enough one on FX for it.... This isn’t the first really good show we've had to cancel and it won't be the last."
Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.
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September 26th, 2011 11:49 AM
PLEASE bring back Terriers Such a great show I really really miss it.
March 15th, 2011 8:31 AM
I'm so mad that Terriers was cancelled. It was a fantastic show and shame on FX for not promoting it more. Time magazine along with People magazine rated it one of the top ten shows of 2010. Someone PLEASE give it another chance. It's just too good to end.
February 3rd, 2011 2:53 PM
Now we will NEVER know if Britt went to jail or Mexico!Damn it! I hate ratings :(
Rank: New User
January 6th, 2011 2:27 PM
LET US NOT LOSE HOPE THAT ANOTHER NETWORK WILL SEE THE WISDOM OF PICKING UP TERRIERS THE ACTORS ARE GREAT but please add the dog from My Dog Skip to the cast
December 7th, 2010 10:31 PM
This news has truly ruined my day! I'm glad to have had these 13 episodes but I will always wonder what would have been. Sooo sad to see Terriers go.
December 7th, 2010 1:40 PM
One of the best on TV. Sorry to see it go. Ratings were just not good enough.
Rank: Extra
December 7th, 2010 11:52 AM
FX must have done something terribly wrong promoting this show. This was easily the best new show on TV and anyone who watched it once was immediately hooked. There had to be some way to boost ratings for a second season, this show was way too good to deserve to be canceled.
December 7th, 2010 8:35 AM
oh noooooooo!!!!!!!!! :( I really, really liked this show. :(
Rank: Staff Member
December 7th, 2010 6:47 AM
@Christine: You won't find a bigger Terriers fan on the planet than yours truly, but give Vampire Diaries a try. It's actually fantastic!
It's also just a question of ratings. It had nothing to do with Show X versus Show Y. Sadly, the only people we can blame for Terriers getting canceled are our fellow TV viewers. Ratings could have doubled and Terriers STILL would have been the lowest-rated show in FX history. It's a business at the end of the day and the network was losing money.
December 7th, 2010 12:15 AM
I am so darn depressed. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this show. How is it tht drivel like Vampire Diaries and Outsourced and many others can remain on television yet something clever and quirky that does not make me feel like I am losing brain cells just by watching it cannot? Depressing day.