Fans upset about Black Harbour
Friday, January 15, 1999
Viewers voice opinions on Web site about show's cancellation. By PAT LEE -- Halifax Herald
The crying towels came out this week for fans of the CBC drama Black Harbour, with the network's announcement it was pulling the plug on the show.
News that the three-year-old series would not be back next season was certainly not unexpected, given the show's ever dwindling ratings.
But, as the show's producers will be only too happy to tell you, Black Harbour did have a loyal core of viewers. Just too small a core, it seems.
Not surprisingly, many of those dedicated viewers have been expressing their outrage over CBC's action via Black Harbour's Web site.
While many fans admit the show got off track this season - with melodramatic plots like Katherine getting dragged into an armed robbery or Len having visions and crawling off to a monastery - they place most of the blame for the poor ratings on the network's decision to move the show from Wednesdays to a dead-zone Friday night slot.
"I must admit, the third season had some bizarre storylines and moving it to Friday nights was a definite mistake," Darlene said in her message posted to the Web.
"But I kept hoping that they would listen to their fans and get back to the old days of seasons one and two. The acting in this show was incredible ..."
A viewer signing a message Angry, Sad and Really PO'd!!, said they were "saddened" to learn the show had been cancelled and also took the CBC to task for the terrible time slot. "I feel that maybe instead of making more unemployment in the Maritimes you could have tried a different time slot. Let's face it, Friday night at 9 p.m. is the worst time slot for any show."
Sheena was also "extremely disappointed about the cancellation of Black Harbour" and blamed the CBC for not promoting the show enough.
"I for one hardly ever saw it previewed most weeks. It seems like CBC picks certain shows and promotes the heck out of them, such as Emily of New Moon, and golly gee, they become hits."
Someone calling themselves Smellie Ellie also didn't mince words about the cancellation. "Since Black Harbour was the only show I watched on CBC ... it's goodbye to you too, CBC. It was nice while it lasted, and I wonder ... if enough of us tune out, what this will do to your ratings?"
Ditto for Krista: "Good grief! Has CBC gone mad? They run a lot more shows than BH that are BS. Why not cancel one of them and leave a good show on the air?"
Some Web posters, like Spider, tried to rally the troops to express their outrage to the network.
"I have e-mailed (the CBC) to voice my frustration with their crummy decision and encourage others to as well. It's not likely to bring the show back, but it's better than griping about it and doing nothing. Be heard!"
While most of the Net correspondents were shocked and appalled by Black Harbour's demise, a few said the show got what it deserved.
"Right from the first episode of its 3rd season, I knew it was doomed!," wrote one unsurprised viewer. "If one wants to watch garbage like that, just watch American TV."
Maggie also felt the show had run its course.
"My family have been loyal fans from the start, but have been very disappointed in this season. It is unfortunate that Black Harbour was cancelled, but it may save us from having to abandon the show as it gets even more absurd."
Although viewer outrage at cancellation of a series - even a low-rated one - is not unusual, a network's decision is usually final.
So three weeks from now it's bye, bye Black Harbour.
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Friday, January 15, 1999
Viewers voice opinions on Web site about show's cancellation. By PAT LEE -- Halifax Herald
The crying towels came out this week for fans of the CBC drama Black Harbour, with the network's announcement it was pulling the plug on the show.
News that the three-year-old series would not be back next season was certainly not unexpected, given the show's ever dwindling ratings.
But, as the show's producers will be only too happy to tell you, Black Harbour did have a loyal core of viewers. Just too small a core, it seems.
Not surprisingly, many of those dedicated viewers have been expressing their outrage over CBC's action via Black Harbour's Web site.
While many fans admit the show got off track this season - with melodramatic plots like Katherine getting dragged into an armed robbery or Len having visions and crawling off to a monastery - they place most of the blame for the poor ratings on the network's decision to move the show from Wednesdays to a dead-zone Friday night slot.
"I must admit, the third season had some bizarre storylines and moving it to Friday nights was a definite mistake," Darlene said in her message posted to the Web.
"But I kept hoping that they would listen to their fans and get back to the old days of seasons one and two. The acting in this show was incredible ..."
A viewer signing a message Angry, Sad and Really PO'd!!, said they were "saddened" to learn the show had been cancelled and also took the CBC to task for the terrible time slot. "I feel that maybe instead of making more unemployment in the Maritimes you could have tried a different time slot. Let's face it, Friday night at 9 p.m. is the worst time slot for any show."
Sheena was also "extremely disappointed about the cancellation of Black Harbour" and blamed the CBC for not promoting the show enough.
"I for one hardly ever saw it previewed most weeks. It seems like CBC picks certain shows and promotes the heck out of them, such as Emily of New Moon, and golly gee, they become hits."
Someone calling themselves Smellie Ellie also didn't mince words about the cancellation. "Since Black Harbour was the only show I watched on CBC ... it's goodbye to you too, CBC. It was nice while it lasted, and I wonder ... if enough of us tune out, what this will do to your ratings?"
Ditto for Krista: "Good grief! Has CBC gone mad? They run a lot more shows than BH that are BS. Why not cancel one of them and leave a good show on the air?"
Some Web posters, like Spider, tried to rally the troops to express their outrage to the network.
"I have e-mailed (the CBC) to voice my frustration with their crummy decision and encourage others to as well. It's not likely to bring the show back, but it's better than griping about it and doing nothing. Be heard!"
While most of the Net correspondents were shocked and appalled by Black Harbour's demise, a few said the show got what it deserved.
"Right from the first episode of its 3rd season, I knew it was doomed!," wrote one unsurprised viewer. "If one wants to watch garbage like that, just watch American TV."
Maggie also felt the show had run its course.
"My family have been loyal fans from the start, but have been very disappointed in this season. It is unfortunate that Black Harbour was cancelled, but it may save us from having to abandon the show as it gets even more absurd."
Although viewer outrage at cancellation of a series - even a low-rated one - is not unusual, a network's decision is usually final.
So three weeks from now it's bye, bye Black Harbour.
Back to articles