TBL: The Beautiful Letdown

Photo credit: The Live Feed

The CW's new television show, TBL: The Beautiful Life, has been canceled after just two episodes. Talk about cut. throat. Granted, the CW has reason to be so on edge, they have a long way to go to reach NBC/CBS status in terms of viewers, critical acclaim, etc. A baby network if you will - offspring of the WB and UPN born three years ago. The network can't waste time and money on shows that won't bring in a profit. The show premiered to an audience of 1.5 million and 1 million the second week. But surely great shows have had slow starts before? Very very slow turtle-speed starts...

It's fascinating that a show with such potential could bomb so badly. The show was executive produced by Ashton Kutcher, who has had plenty of great ideas before (Punk'd, Beauty and the Geek). The premise combined a look into the modeling industry, a la America's Next Top Model, and the glamor of of the wealthy like Gossip Girl or 90210. Even Mischa Barton cast as a jaded model veteran and the publicity she attracted with her recent stay at a psych rehab center could not bring viewers to flip to the CW at 9pm on Wednesdays. So it begs the question: do networks decide what is popular? Or do the viewers? Recent critics of the media have noted the power lies in the industry who determine what the public likes or dislikes. However, it seems in this case that the public does have an impact on what stays and what goes.

Regardless, it looks like the CW is going back to their safer options, shows known to be successful in recent years: 90s drama remakes and reality. Encores of Melrose Place will be airing during TBL's time slot until January when new reality shows Fly Girls and Tinsley Mortimer are ready.

The cancellation of The Beautiful Life is only the first of cuts to come this season. In the next few months we will see a lot more shifting around of schedules on all the networks. It becomes a Darwinian survival of the fittest; who will be the next 24 or House?

Source: http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/09/the-cw-cancels-beautiful-life-.html