Why IWH Was Canceled

[Steve M.]

"I'm With Her" was one of the funniest, smartest sitcoms to come along in years. So why did ABC kill it?

Here I offer a few theories as to why it happened. Some are serious, others less so. All have a kernel of creedence to them.

1. Hollywood elitism. A lot of movie stars must have been repelled at the idea of a sitcom about a movie star dating an average guy; in real life, such an notion is so beneath them. They wouldn't date an average person in real life, and the thought of a sitcom depicting such a thing must have nauseated them so much, they must have leaned on Michael Eisner or Robert Iger or someone to cancel it even before it had to go up against "American Idol."

2. Hollywood artifice revealed. The series showed scenes of all the artifice and trickery that goes into making a movie, which must have offended Hollywood insdiers who didn't want such company secrets revealed. They could have used their influence to get it canceled. Both of these theories suggest a, for lack of a better word, political reason for the cancellation.

3. Patrick was too nice and smart. You know what I mean here. Just about every other sitcom on TV today depicts heterosexual male characters as insufferable, immature louts with smart, attractive wives they should be glad to have. So Chris Henchy created Patrick Owen, a bookish, intelligent, sensitive fellow (who knows what he has in Alex) that Alex considers herself lucky to have. A nice guy on a sitcom - and one who finishes first at that? Can't have that. He's not a jerk? No, no, no - that breaks the rules of sitcom writing these days. So no more Mr. Nice Guy!

4. Andre Agassi. I'm still convinced Brooke Shields's ex-husband was a Fox mole and helped put "The Simple Life" and "American Idol" against this show. He wanted it off the air as much as the Hollywood insiders.

5. The "series killer" curse. Teri Polo and David Sutcliffe had starred in TV shows that got canceled pretty quickly, so "I'm With Her" was jinxed from the start. And if you believe this, you must think Paul McCartney is dead and Elvis Presley is alive.

6. Not enough critical support. Some critics liked "I'm With Her," but many didn't. Entertainment Weekly called it "gimmicky crap." These jerks are the folks ABC listened to?!?

Or it could just be this. . . .

7. Something Alan Alda once said. Alda once observed that the networks give up on shows too easily. "The networks cancel shows faster than the Post Office cancels stamps," he said in 1983.

Whatever the reason, ABC's decision sucks big time!

[Pavan]

They canceled it because of low ratings. Yes, it was expected because American Idol was against it. But for the most weeks it averaged under a 4 rating, which is very low for the top networs (CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX). It's lead-in, 8 Simple Rules, was in the 5's, which is average. However, of course, I'm With Her did well from Sept-Dec. So, I was expecting it to move to Fridays at 9:30, but ABC went with Less Than Perfect instead.

Email Warner Bros. and tell them to consider bringing the show back somewhere else, possibly on cable on ABC Family? It certainly fits there, or back on network television on the WB?

[Steve M.]

Pavanbadal: I like the way you think. I'm going to do that as soon as I can.

[gOoSe]

network tv does give up to easy, everyone who's SMART knows it takes more than 2-4 episodes to determine if a show is good, Unfort. neither the "powers to be" or the viewers seem to realize this

[Thor2000]

I can't believe they cancelled "Married to the Kellys" and "I'm With Her" for rotten shows like "Rodney" and "the Savages." These shows just ain't going to last!!!

[Steve M.]

I can't believe there's still a board for "IWH" fans, even though it's since been relegated to one-season wonderland! At least here we can share our fond memories of the show!

So what do you think will happen to the cast members? Teri Polo could become the movie star she only played on this sitcom, and we'll likely see David Sutcliffe in more movies like "Under the Tuscan Sun," but will we ever see Rhea Seehorn and Danny Comden again? Or are they destined to end up as the unknowns they were a year ago?

Regrading "Rodney" and "Savages": I haven't seen either of these shows, but based on what I've read about them, they only prove my point that ABC would rather draw viewers with male characters who are rhymes-with-glass-poles than with decent guys like Patrick! Very sad.

[justinkase8]

A little update since I've been reading the trade mags. Teri Polo: Doing the Meet The Parents Sequel. She also did a pilot that didn't go. She'll have her pick at whatever she wants. David Sutcliffe: Staring in two indie movies. 1) opposite Heather Graham called Cake and another from writer Don Roos. Also, going back to Gilmore Girls as well. Danny Comden: Starring in a movie called Pretty Persuation opposite Evan Rachel Wood and Ron Livingston. Also, a development deal Warners for him to write and star in a show. And apparently, writing a movie for Universal. Rhea: Will be on another show immediately. She's too funny not to. Good luck to all of them. They will be just fine.

[Steve M.]

Originally posted by justinkase8
A little update since I've been reading the trade mags. Teri Polo: Doing the Meet The Parents Sequel. She also did a pilot that didn't go. She'll have her pick at whatever she wants.

You got it, Justin!

Danny Comden: Starring in a movie called Pretty Persuation opposite Evan Rachel Wood and Ron Livingston. Also, a development deal Warners for him to write and star in a show. And apparently, writing a movie for Universal.

Go, Danny, go!

Rhea Seehorn: Will be on another show immediately. She's too funny not to. Good luck to all of them. They will be just fine.

You could be right. An unknown actress appeared in the cast of "Townies," a vehicle for Molly Ringwald that flopped. One television producer who noticed Ringwald's co-star liked her so much, she got the lead part in a sitcom he was producing. The unknown actress was Jenna Elfman; the sitcom was "Dharma and Greg." Lightning could strike twice in Rhea's case, too!

[ChambersVsMalone]

Maybe they needed more space in their line-up for yet another reality show.

[Steve M.]

Originally posted by ChambersVsMalone
Maybe they needed more space in their line-up for yet another reality show.

Which "I'm With Her," admittedly, was not. A teacher dating a movie star? But then, that's why I liked it!!

It would be sweet justice if the freshamn sitcom that got greenlighted in place of IWH's renewal got cnaceled before the 2004-05 seaaon is over. I'm still snickering over NBC's decision to replace "Freaks and Geeks" on Monday nights with inferior shows that began their runs in October 2000. . . and ended their runs by November 2000!

[robby76]

I'm on holiday in Malaysia and they're showing I'm With Her over here. I just watched the final episode with Nick Lachey guest starring.

I love this show and thought it was real funny. However, I really think they should've chosen someone better than Teri Polo. In my opinion she doesn't pull off a Hollywood A-list celebrity at all. She's the only down point on an otherwise second-season worthy sitcom.

ps: I'd definitely by the dvd if it ever comes out... though highly unlikely.

[Steve M.]

Teri Polo is a star on the rise, but no one in Hollywood seems to know that. Movie critics can't figure it out, either; the reviews of Meet the Fockers that I've read don't comment on her performance, and only mention her in passing - in parentheses!

[justinkase8]

Malaysia? Wow thats pretty funny. Maybe IWH is huge over there?

[Steve M.]

Originally posted by robby76
I'm on holiday in Malaysia and they're showing I'm With Her over here. I just watched the final episode with Nick Lachey guest starring.

Or, maybe the Malaysians just watch it for guest stars like Nick Lachey?