Bethenny Frankel's Talk Show Canceled

[JamesG]

Bethenny Frankel’s Talk Show Canceled
by NELLIE ANDREEVA
February 14, 2014


There will be no second season for "Bethenny", Bethenny Frankel’s softly rated syndicated daytime talk show executive produced by Ellen DeGeneres.

The decision was made after producer Telepictures Prods. and its station partner, the Fox O&Os, which were open to renewing the show, tried hard to keep it around but ultimately "Bethenny" lost its affiliate clearances (which represented about 70% of the country), mostly to the new Meredith Vieira talker.





Besides "Katie", there haven’t been major talk show cancellations for "Bethenny" to pick up independent stations. Telepictures also explored a network run to help with the show’s economics.

Best of Bethenny had a test primetime run on Bravo where Frankel was a star with "Real Housewives of New York City" and her own spinoff series, but it didn’t get enough traction.

"Bethenny" will continue to air originals through May.





“We are incredibly proud of the creativity, passion and professionalism Bethenny and her staff brought to daytime each and every day and look forward to finishing out the season with more great original episodes,” Telepictures said.

“While we are disappointed not to be able to bring the series back for a second season, we remain convinced that she has a unique voice and that she will continue to be successful in the future.”





"Bethenny" launched in nationwide syndication last fall after a summer test in 2012. The show has averaged a 0.9 household rating this season, ranking No.14 among talkers above only "Arsenio", "The Test" and "Trisha". Its viewership average has been just over 1.1 million an episode, compared to fellow freshman "Queen Latifah’s" 1.5 million.

"Bethenny" has been doing better in Women 25-54 with a 0.7 rating average, tying as the #11 talk show. On the Fox O&Os, "Bethenny’s" 0.6/4 for the November sweep improved the time period by +50% but dropped -20% in share from its lead-in (mostly "Wendy Williams").



“I had a blast doing this show with Telepictures,” Frankel said. “My entire staff worked so hard and made everyday so much fun. I am thankful for the experience and for all my fans who tuned in every day.”

http://www.deadline.com/2014/02/beth...how-cancelled/

[JamesG]

Bethenny Frankel on the Cancellation of her Daytime Talk Show
by NELLIE ANDREEVA
February 25, 2014


Ten days after the cancellation of "Bethenny", host Bethenny Frankel has written an open letter to fans about her experience on the show. She says she “felt a bit diluted, filtered and somewhat constricted” and Warner Bros’ decision not to go forward with Season 2 came as a relief.

Well this is an open letter, so maybe you have heard the news. "Bethenny" won't be coming back for another season. People ask me how I feel about this, so I wanted to share it with you straight up.

What I love about doing my talk show is connecting to women. I love the opportunity to inspire, to be inspired and to be able to help women to be their best, succeed and feel better about themselves.

I also love working with such an incredibly talented and hard working staff and crew. Unlike working with my assistant, daughter and Cookie in my apartment, I interact with hundreds of people every day. I see a unique cast of characters and those days are filled with laughter.





The most difficult part of this departure was having to tell them that they were out of a job although they know it is part of the career path they have chosen. Even more amazing is how professional they are and how despite the cancellation, every day they come in wanting to produce the best shows they can.

I have heard horror stories about the end of a show run where the staff checks out completely. They take pride in this work and this show and they are finishing as strong as we started. That is inspiring to me.





My friend Robert Verdi described doing a talk show better than anyone. Before we started, he told me, "You are a traffic cop." What he meant was that to guide the amazing interviews, business segments and relationship talk, you are directing traffic. "Coming up," "When we come back," "Up next," and the list goes on and on.

In order to have the freedom to create a talk show, there are required elements that the job entails. This is the part that I didn't enjoy so much and that wasn't authentic to me. In addition, I tend to be quite inappropriate which may not be suitable for daytime television or for the suits that run network television nationwide.





Unlike my time on Bravo, I felt a bit diluted, filtered and somewhat constricted. I am a free spirit. My late father (a horse trainer) used to say "She is a mustang. You need to let her run." I am more comfortable in my natural surroundings and in a setting where I'm surrounded by crazy, where anything goes and where I can be authentically me.

When interviewed about the show, I always said that it could only work if I was true to myself and only if it was genuinely a good fit and marriage which it turned out not to be.





I am so grateful for the experience and to those of you who went on this journey with me. It was fun, exciting, scary and a great challenge.

As easy as people like Ellen, Oprah, Wendy, Rachael and Steve make it look, it is one of the hardest jobs I have ever done, and I have so much more respect for them having been through this experience. They are warriors and champions who make a very difficult job look effortless.





So to answer how I feel, I am relieved. What I really want right now is to be with my daughter, to do yoga, to focus on Skinnygirl and my writing, and to give myself a break. I have been striving and climbing and white-knuckling for so long that I need a rest from the grind. I'm a little over myself and wouldn't blame anyone else for being over me as well.

I love you all and we will be in touch as we always were. Thank you for always being there.


Love,
Bethenny

http://www.deadline.com/2014/02/beth...ime-talk-show/

[TMC]

http://www.thewrap.com/bethenny-fran...en-im-shackled

"I'm not really great when I'm shackled,” she tells Andy Cohen. "As you know, you have to kind of unleash the beast.”
Read more at http://www.hitfix.com/tv-tattle#m1eI1erPGirlVSLt.99