Peter Lenkov on the cancxelation

[Bobbi]

I probably shouldn't comment on this because I don't watch the reboot. I get there is a lot of people out there who like it and don't want to see it end, but here's my thoughts.

I don't have a problem with any of the cast, they're people. My problem is Lenkov: I don't think that man has had an original thought ever. It also doesn't surprise me he wanted another season. I have a feeling they knew the show was ending before they announced it and if that was certainly the case, it is a poor judgment call on Lenkov's part to spring the announcement on fans as late as he did.

I've been thinking about the reboot the last couple of days because I know Friday is it. 10 years is a pretty good run and part of me is surprised the series lasted the long. I've said it before and will say it again, the pilot didn't hook me in. I have read reviews and followed threads here, all the while watching the original series multiple times (that's another story, trust me). My biggest problem is that Lenkov, in his grand scheme of putting together this series, made Danno into an insufferable jerk (and I'm being kind). The few times I have watched, I've also been annoyed by Scott Caan's mush mouth (maybe he actually speaks clearly in the show and I haven't seen it).

Another factor: CBS is kind of in flux right now. As far as I know, they haven't permanently replaced Les Moonves who was one of the people who was really behind this show when it premiered a decade ago. Of course, he's been ousted because of sexual misconduct so one of the higher up backers has been gone for awhile (part of my surprise the show lasted until Friday). This could explain, at least partially, why the ax came down now. The network could be putting in someone else who could potentially gut the schedule but with all the Covid-19 stuff going on right now, that may not happen until next year for both the permanent replacement and the gutting. I've also read where there might be a writer's strike on the horizon too.

However, the bottom line is that Alex O'Loughlin is not physically able to continue: at least not at the pace he's been going (based what I've read). At some point, one has to make a choice and I believe he chose his health over continuing. I wish him well in the rest of his life and whatever future endeavors he undertakes. That goes for the rest of the cast as well.

I just hope the final episode is one that fans will like but I have a gut feeling it may be more along the lines of "Woe To Wo Fat": ending the show on a whimper rather than something more worthwhile.

[Will]

I probably shouldn't comment on this because I don't watch the reboot. I get there is a lot of people out there who like it and don't want to see it end, but here's my thoughts.

I don't have a problem with any of the cast, they're people. My problem is Lenkov: I don't think that man has had an original thought ever. It also doesn't surprise me he wanted another season. I have a feeling they knew the show was ending before they announced it and if that was certainly the case, it is a poor judgment call on Lenkov's part to spring the announcement on fans as late as he did.

I've been thinking about the reboot the last couple of days because I know Friday is it. 10 years is a pretty good run and part of me is surprised the series lasted the long. I've said it before and will say it again, the pilot didn't hook me in. I have read reviews and followed threads here, all the while watching the original series multiple times (that's another story, trust me). My biggest problem is that Lenkov, in his grand scheme of putting together this series, made Danno into an insufferable jerk (and I'm being kind). The few times I have watched, I've also been annoyed by Scott Caan's mush mouth (maybe he actually speaks clearly in the show and I haven't seen it).

Another factor: CBS is kind of in flux right now. As far as I know, they haven't permanently replaced Les Moonves who was one of the people who was really behind this show when it premiered a decade ago. Of course, he's been ousted because of sexual misconduct so one of the higher up backers has been gone for awhile (part of my surprise the show lasted until Friday). This could explain, at least partially, why the ax came down now. The network could be putting in someone else who could potentially gut the schedule but with all the Covid-19 stuff going on right now, that may not happen until next year for both the permanent replacement and the gutting. I've also read where there might be a writer's strike on the horizon too.

However, the bottom line is that Alex O'Loughlin is not physically able to continue: at least not at the pace he's been going (based what I've read). At some point, one has to make a choice and I believe he chose his health over continuing. I wish him well in the rest of his life and whatever future endeavors he undertakes. That goes for the rest of the cast as well.

I just hope the final episode is one that fans will like but I have a gut feeling it may be more along the lines of "Woe To Wo Fat": ending the show on a whimper rather than something more worthwhile.

I hope so, too.

I agree with your thoughts. This is an old show, the two leads would need new deals and the show is a holdover from the Moonves era. CBS undoubtedly saw this as opportunity to get some new stuff on the schedule. Kind of interesting that they didn't cancel Blue Bloods but I think that's doing better in syndication than Five-0.

[Bobbi]

. I agree with your thoughts. This is an old show, the two leads would need new deals and the show is a holdover from the Moonves era. CBS undoubtedly saw this as opportunity to get some new stuff on the schedule. Kind of interesting that they didn't cancel Blue Bloods but I think that's doing better in syndication than Five-0.

I know "Blue Bloods" has been running on Ion Television for a few years now and they were on late night on our NBC affiliate here in Anchorage, so you could be right on the syndication part. I think "Blue Bloods" will end when Selleck pulls the plug there and I actually expect that within a year or two.

An interesting note about the Five-0 finale: it will air two days shy of the 40th Anniversary of "Woe To Wo Fat" which aired April 5, 1980.

[Todd]

. I agree with your thoughts. This is an old show, the two leads would need new deals and the show is a holdover from the Moonves era. CBS undoubtedly saw this as opportunity to get some new stuff on the schedule. Kind of interesting that they didn't cancel Blue Bloods but I think that's doing better in syndication than Five-0.

I know "Blue Bloods" has been running on Ion Television for a few years now and they were on late night on our NBC affiliate here in Anchorage, so you could be right on the syndication part. I think "Blue Bloods" will end when Selleck pulls the plug there and I actually expect that within a year or two.

An interesting note about the Five-0 finale: it will air two days shy of the 40th Anniversary of "Woe To Wo Fat" which aired April 5, 1980.

Too bad they can't do it on the exact 40th, but that pushes it off of Friday, so that was a no-go.

Blue Bloods was probably indirectly keeping Five-Zero around for a few extra years. It attracted the same demographic -- older viewers. Blue Bloods actually has the oldest average audience on network TV (I heard 70!), but Five-Zero is up there, too.

That's why the series had a lot of patriotic and pro-military undertones. The older crowd doesn't want to watch a protest piece about America being bad and its military being evil (and to be honest, I don't want to see that, either).

This is also why Five-Zero didn't push the envelope with any of its main characters doing anything particularly edgy or controversial. For example, notice none of them had any kinds of gay flings or romances (well, unless you count McGarrett and Danno!) Again, they don't want to upset the old people.

I also fear that the finale will be mediocre. I'm afraid it will be too focused upon wrapping things up with everyone and everything, and not enough focused on actually sending off the series with a great final episode.

Lenkov's "I've had the idea for this for a long time" line scares me. Reminds me too much of a short-lived (one season) series I really enjoyed called "Life On Mars" (the US version). It was a fascinating series about a 2008 NY cop who woke up in 1973, and the series mixed in regular police procedural stuff with a sci-fi element, where the main character kept getting little clues as to why he was in in 1973 and how to get back "home" to his own time. Then the series went on hiatus and lost its momentum, so they had to hastily put together a series finale. It ended up terrible, and basically took a really lame "it was all just a dream" explanation for the whole thing. Lame!! I was so disappointed. In that series, the showrunner also claimed that this was his idea for resolution all along. I guess I'm glad they only took one season to get to that awfulness!

I guess we will see.