How One Fan Is Coping With The Loss - Lathered Without Soap
By Suzanne Lafrance
In 1991, I was melancholic when Twin Peaks ended its brilliant, two-season run on ABC. Then further saddened in 1995 when My So-Called Life was euthanised in its first-season infancy. No surprise, really—quality is always recognised too late, or never at all.
When PBS stations nationwide began dropping EastEnders from their rosters, it could be seen coming miles down the pike every time. With the genesis of BBC America, hordes of fans began making the switch. Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to fast-forward several years to present-day episodes, to be on par with our British comrades?
EE fans have always been threatened annually, then biannually, then every three months, that (enter name of your local PBS affiliate) would shut EE down if the bucks didn’t come a-rolling. I have been supporting public television since I was 19, and made sure that WHYY (my local affiliate) knew that it was for EE. Such strong-arm tactics worked at first—but how many times can one cry wolf before the villagers tell one to sod off?
When WHYY announced they were cancelling EE, I was sad, yes. But viewers in the Philadelphia area are doubly blessed—WLVT also carries EE in our area. Although I was devastated that WHYY cancelled EE, it merely meant that I’d have to back-pedal about 10 months until they caught up to where WHYY left off, then catch up to BBC America. I also prophesied that WLVT would probably drop EE sometime in the future, but I’d be okay, since BBC America obviously wasn’t going anywhere.
And the reason for such a cavalier attitude? Because there it was BBC America, toasting itself as the new Kid on the Block, the Real Business, an anglophile’s panacea. I mean, how could a satellite sister of the Big Bad Beeb possibly ever let us down, ever cancel its shining king? Like the Pied Piper it beckoned, and like very trusting little mice we followed. Then, somewhat like the tale goes, BBCA turned the mice to muppets.
Now thousands of fans across the country have been cut off at the knees. We gave up on PBS, BBCA gave up on us, it all goes around. With a mere 16 PBS stations in the country still carrying EastEnders, the odds say that most Gazette readers are going through a force-fed cold turkey right now. BBCA led multitudes down the garden path, causing dozens of PBS stations to lose a grievous number of viewers, thus forcing them to drop EE. No one sponsors a show that hemorrhages audience members, especially when they know that the tide will never turn back due to the competition. I’d bet the farm that had BBCA never existed, a lot more than 16 stations would still be carrying EE.
When WHYY made the announcement that they would no longer be carrying EE, the station didn’t say it was a definitive “never again.” It was intimated that if enough fans rallied (aka pledged money for the show), then there was a chance.
At press time, WHYY’s programming director was not available for comment.
However, I did catch up with Rebecca Walz, vice president of programming at WLVT. I asked her about the general atmosphere of abandonment regarding EE.
“It’s always a difficult decision to pull a programme. I’m sure both WHYY and BBC America struggled with it,” Walz commented. “Quite often it comes down to economics and the budget. Program directors have to decide the best use of their limited programming funds and quite often, if the audience numbers are not there, it’s hard to justify the expense of any show.”
When I inquired if EE had a future on WLVT, she responded with a hearty “Absolutely!” WLVT has no intention of pulling the show. “EastEnders has had a long history on WLVT and seems to have a very loyal following.”
Walz said she will be signing with the BBC a new EastEnders contract for the ’04-’05 season in the next few weeks, “which will guarantee the program through February ’05.”
I suggest that everyone call or e-mail their local PBS stations and do so today. Let active stations know that you’ll do anything to secure EE’s future.
According to Walz, related fan mail was decidedly increased after both WHYY’s and BBCA’s cancellations. For those viewers whose stations have already dropped EE—call or e-mail them as well. The public TV stations may change their minds, especially if they know that EE viewership will increase exponentially. Judging by Walz’s comments, fan mail is read and regarded.
Most importantly, put your money where your mouth is—make a donation, as much as is affordable. WLVT will be fund-raising at the end of November (and will be keeping EE on the schedule November 29, instead of the standard pre-emption).
Just because they’ve signed on for the following year doesn’t mean it will be there forever. “Although we have no plans to pull the programme, the more financial support we gain for a show, the better the position we are in to keep it for many years to come,” Walz added.
For any TV station—like any business—money always talks. And if you know any extraordinarily wealthy people and/or companies, throw yourself on their mercy—beg them to sponsor EastEnders. It’ll be tax-deductible.
It’s all about action and staying power. Remember the urban legend about Designing Women being brought back from cancellation due to fan mail? It’s all true. Fans can do wondrous things. Also bear in mind that fans of Women went up against one of the Big Three networks. We’re talking about BBC America here, people, a channel still in its relative infancy (five years). And if there’s any question about that, think about how many times you haven’t seen Christian music collections advertised during CSI: Miami. Seen any ads containing Tammy Wynette during Will and Grace lately? Exactly. Advertising is a tell-all. It’s like UHF circa 1975 all over again, regardless of which BBCA programme is being shown. Which brings me to my next point or, should I say, the point on the head of why BBC America is telling us EE is gone. Michael McDonald’s soulful phone commercial runs during Changing Rooms as many times as it ever did during EE. If any exec at BBCA can prove to me that Vonage Broadband phone irritated viewers any less during Homefront in the Garden than during EE, I’ll be a monkey’s mug.
Speaking of mugs, let’s hear a round of applause for yet another show axed due to the always active, on the cutting-edge-of-everything, Nielsen ratings system. I can personally assure BBCA that there are about as many EE fans chosen to be a “Nielsen Family” as there are chosen for the NASA shuttle program.
The Nielsen system, founded probably circa 1644, chooses households that contain two adults and two or more children, preferably of varying age groups. How do I know? I asked because I wanted to be a Nielsener.
According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, Nielsen admitted that it is not able to accurately monitor demographic data for digital and satellite channels because their audiences are so small. So how, then, can a digital channel make their programming decision based solely on Nielsen?
Meanwhile, BBCA’s darling home-improvement shows, which get most of the channel’s promotional time, effort and resources, in the near future may not pull the audiences they currently get.
Writes Lisa O’Carroll of MediaGuardian.co.uk, “TV bosses have been aware for some time that viewers will ultimately tire of [Ground Force] along with other make-over shows such as Changing Rooms.”
So the BBCA brain trust is throwing out a main dish for the soup du jour? Reeks of Americanisation to me.
Stateside, if a show doesn’t pull in a majority share in its time slot within the first four episodes, the production umbilical is cut and the show disappears. Must BBCA follow the Big Three (excuse me, Big Four, now that Fox has slapped ABC into fourth place) with the same arcane approach to television?
It sounds ludicrous, perhaps, to so utterly mourn a TV show. But, like a favourite record album or movie it was ever-present, during the good and bad times for the past decade and a half.
EastEnders was a constant, a touchstone always there. It was comfort and escapism rolled into the best elixir. I almost lost my life this year due to illness. And for all those months during which I was bedridden, EE eased my mind, a source of entertainment upon which I could rely. It was, is, and will always be the chicken soup for my soul. And I’ll always keep an abundant supply of videos, for whenever I need a bowl of my favourite soup.
Without EE there can be no soap. I never thought I’d have a latherless life but now, thanks to Mr Bernath and others who wield the swords at BBCA, there will be no more Easties.
To the cast, the crew, and public TV thank you for brightening and enriching my life for over 15 years. It’s been an incomparable ride.
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