Very Bad News

[dippyponge]

Thanks for all your thoughts hugs, it was hard for us, he had been unwell for a few weeks on antibiotics but it seems that they didn't work. He started to have fits and then he died. Bless him, he will be missed but we are feeling better. Washing machine still leaking though...Arrggh!

[GreenEyesToo]

Sorry, Dippy, I missed this news before. Pets are as much a part of a family as the humans, and I know how upset you must all be, especially your little ones. {{{hugs}}} Hope you get the washing machine fixed soon!

[nell]

I send a big hug to you too dippy - sorry to hear your bad news. Bad stuff always seems to happen all at once doesn't it ? Thanks for my hug too KMK. Are we having a bad week or what ? My car's gone wrong and my flight had to make an emergency landing. I thought my number was up for a mo there.

However - we must now surely be due some good news so I am now convinced another channel will pick Zen up. I feel it in my bones.

[kissmekate]

Whoa ... emergency landing sounds frightening, Nell!

Hope your bones are correct - I also think that we all deserve some GOOD news for a change.

[tipou]

you know, the other day, before we got this "very bad news" here, i saw on tv a short documentary about the promising rise, and the brutal demise, of Paul Haggis' series EZ Street (another CBS misderected treatment of a project).
after the documentary listed the critics' raves, the network's weird scheduling decisions, and the general cowardly handling of the situation, someone from the production team had a very simple and correct final word.
he said: the morale of this story is, when you want to kill a good project, for whatever reason that will not always be revealed, there always are ways to do it.

[GreenEyesToo]

Strange response from someone at the BBC when this person rang them:

@ianwylie Hi, rang the BBC about cancellation of #Zen. Was told Zen's production team don't want any more. You know if this is true? Cheers

twitter.com/DelectionPie/statuses/41570716767879168

Seems maybe the BBC is so embarrassed at its obvious HUGE mistake, it's resorting to lying about why it was cancelled! Why would Andy Harries be talking to other broadcasters if he didn't want to make any more? Why would he have been praising it, and Rufus, to the heavens if he didn't want to make any more? The BBC is losing the plot!

[stama]

This whole situation is a nightmare and all statements from the leadership of the BBC reminds me very ridiculous statement from our government in times of the previous regime. But, anything is possible, perhaps, will be another beautiful work to Rufus soo.

Thank you very much, Rai, for letting us know how Rufus is. It´s very good news.

Dippy and Lindragon, {{{hugs}}}

[francesca]

just read BBC's bland e-mail reply to my letter of complaint.
I cannot believe their "could care less about your view" attitude.
Did they really believe that anyone wants to see yet another cheap re-make of Great Expectations (only 3 episodes !!) when there are already superb films of it in existence.
The Arrogance of the Corporation which is funded by public money is unbelievable.

[vmaciv]

Tipou I believe you are correct because I believe there are two points here. First The BBC thought they could make more money putting on more inexpensive shows and filling up their time slots. Some one is bound to watch and as long as they cover the spread they are okay and second I think that some of these cancellations have to do with "culture" "blue collar" shows mean that they are so "simple" even a 2 year old can understand them and the early comments by some of the viewers may have given the broadcaster the wrong impression so they might really have been surprised by the reaction. they are still morons because reading their own site should have told them people's attitude had changed and the reception Rufus awards should have provided a clue.
2. I do not think the "Zen's production team don't want any more" did not mean they did not want any more shows. It meant that they wanted the noised surrounding the show to stop so that they could maintain relationships with the network. Left Bank probably still needs to do business with the BBC.

I do love vaudeville and unfortunately for the BBC they are the main players in this comedy. I hope Rufus Sewell is enjoying watching them squirm. All's fair in love and war my dearies.

[lindragon]

Robela, Thank you, Poppy is rather better. Up and hobbling on three legs. Fourth used to prop her up. I took a cup of tea and all the dogs, and had a hug on the sofa.
GE2, thank you.
Tipou, Walt, and Stama, thank you for the lovely hugs.
Dippy, so sorry to hear about your poor bunny. Big hug to you in return. Each one is special.
Blimey, Nell....
Seems a lot of machines are going wrong!
And a pat on the shoulder to everyone who's had a bad week.

[dippyponge]

Bigs hugs to everyone who has had a bad week and thank you everyone from me.

[nell]

Yes - I echo Dippy's sentiments. <<<big hugs>> to all. There seems to be alot of sh1t flying about at the moment doesn't there ? I also include a big hug for our Rufus. I know he's probably used to all this kind of thing and putting a brave face on it right now. He must be as p1ssed as we are though.

[robela]

I think he must be bitterly disappointed because he was obviously proud (quite rightly) of Zen and enjoying the part and looking forward to doing more. He so deserved to be on t.v. in a long term GOOD series. I know he must, as an experienced actor, be used to such disappointments but lets be honest, this is a MEGA disappointment for him and I hope he gets to know how much we are all rooting for him.

When do you think it likely we will hear more on the possibities of Andy Harries finding another company to take Zen on board.

[rueful]

I hope today is the start of a much better week for everyone (especially Rufus)!

I don't know how big or influential the Sunday Mercury is in the UK, but I like what their columnist has to say:

Why the BBC is wrong to axe top dramas and mean not to give us more episodes
Feb 27 2011 by Roz Laws, Sunday Mercury

BBC bashing is, of course, a national sport but not one I like to indulge in for the sake of it.

We shouldn’t forget that the Beeb has given us brilliant dramas over the years, and continues to do so with South Riding and Silk. But lately I’ve been getting increasingly annoyed with its decisions.

First they brought us great series, but frustratingly not nearly enough of them. They whetted our appetites with just three episodes of Sherlock but we’ll have to wait more than a year for more Benedict Cumberbatch.

Garrow’s Law had just four episodes and Upstairs Downstairs only three.

Lark Rise to Candleford used to spoil us with a dozen episodes per series. But the last one had just six and then the axe fell.

Also cancelled is the wonderful Just William adaptation, which was very well-received despite it being buried in the schedules over Christmas.

I can just about put up with all of this, but one thing I can never forgive is the decision not to make any more episodes of the wonderful Zen.

They teased us with just three feature-length dramas, starring sexy Rufus Sewell (pictured) as the Italian detective. I loved it, but apparently nearly six million viewers are not enough.

I can only hope that another channel has more sense and picks Zen up. It really would be a crime if we never got to see Rufus smouldering in Rome.

www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/tv-news/2011/02/27/why-the-bbc-is-wrong-to-axe-top-dramas-and-mean-not-to-give-us-more-episodes-66331-28237349/

[GreenEyesToo]

Thanks for that, Rueful.

Feb 27, 2011 14:29:40 GMT rueful said:

I don't know how big or influential the Sunday Mercury is in the UK,

Um...not very and not very!

Did you see the reply from the BBC that I quoted above, blaming LeftBank?!