The BIG Goof - #LongLiveLongmire
A few weeks ago, word filtered through that the
superb Western, Longmire, had been cancelled at the end of three seasons.
I was
shocked! So were a lot of other folks.
I began watching this superb show because it wasn’t
about Housewives, or chef cook-off, or a badly behaving bridezilla. Nope,
Longmire was about a sheriff, his staff, family, and friends who lived in a
small Wyoming town. The series is based on the books written by Craig Johnson.
The show averaged 5.6 million viewers. Isn’t that a lot of people? More viewers
than “Mad Men” and “Justified” according to a Wall Street Journal article. Wall Street Journal
Yes, but it seems the viewer-ship is primarily older viewers—the average age of 60 versus
48. According to the Wall Street Journal article, “Longmire’s fate is
reflective of two growing trends in the television industry-the obsession of
advertisers with younger viewers and the desire of TV networks to own as much
of their content as possible.” An executive at the network said, “...we
genuinely loved the show, but the audiences in the key demographics just weren’t
there.”
Someone told me the advertisers target young
people who spend more. Really?
Because I remodeled a house and bought furniture recently. Purchased a new car.
Acquired two dogs and their accouterments. I buy groceries. I eat at
restaurants. I go to a movie every week. I buy books, magazines and newspapers.
Probably do more than the youngsters in my family.
*Am frustrated*. Guess I’ll check in on “Dancing
with the Stars” and “Survivor.”
Feel free to tweet: #LongLiveLongmire
Join the Longmore FB posse at: https://www.facebook.com/LongmirePosse
Are advertisers only interested in youngsters and not the large population of baby boomers?
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28 comments:
Doesn't this all seem kind of ridiculous. When I was young, we didn't have money for extras. The older generation is the one who has money to spend, not younger people. But then again...why didn't the producers go after the pharmaceutical companies. They certainly like to push the drugs to us...you know that little blue pill. The people sitting in bathtubs.
I didn't watch Longmire, but I wouldn't be surprised if another network doesn't pick up this show. It was very popular. I enjoy westerns and was hoping this was resurgence of its popularity.
I watch all kinds of television and reality shows are my favorite though I have to admit some of them are quit stupid...Dating Naked. I've watched this show twice and all I can say is that maybe there's a reason these people are still single.
Sad to see this show go... we need all kinds of shows.
Hi, Sylvia! I agree that we need all kinds of programs. Yeah, why didn't they do after different sponsors? Too much work? Geez.
I'm hoping it will be picked up too.
Yesterday, I read an article about the Tweetathon on Tuesday. It gave the Longmire posse the greatest compliment-they are nice. And I add, dedicated.
Whoda thunk it? I certainly thought the younger generation was busy with kids,mortgages and first or second jobs while the older generation is the one with time to spare and cash to spend in many cases. And, in any event, isn't there advertising AIMED at the older generation?
I LOVE Longmire...and Justified, also canceled, but for different reasons. That reason (excuse) is a bunch of bunk. It was canceled b/c A&E wants to own all it's shows and they want low-cost reality shows instead. Count me out. And, I do spend some money, A&E. Just not with you anymore.
Hi, Andrea! I certainly didn't have cash to spare with kids, mortgages, and etc. I agree, there is advertising aimed at the older generation. But if 60 is the new 40.... just saying. They dropped the ball bigtime.
Hi, D'Ann! A & E wanted not to have to buy shows from someone else and so we get to see reality shows. Like their new one I saw a promo for was Prison Love. Seriously? *am backing away from TV*
I don't usually get on my soap box, but this was such a ridiculous decision by A&E. They'd rather have reality shows than a good quality series?
It's a shame and I hope another network scoops up this show.
Thanks for telling it like it is, Vicki!
Hi, Jerrie! I try to stay neutral too, usually blabbing to my girlfriends. This cancellation just bothered me a lot because of the "average age" thing. I was totally bummed over what happened. Thanks for posting.
I admit, I watched the show when Hubby watched, but I HATE the trend of cancellations of shows that I love and I'm so tired of it.
I don't even watch Dancing with the Stars anymore. I stopped watching years ago. You know when Max leaves and Cheryl is talking about leaving next season, the show has run it's course. Don't get me started on ALL reality shows...
Hi, Phyllis: I can understand cancelling if the show has run its course or has no viewers. Longmire has 5.6 MILLION viewers. More than Mad Men according to WSJ.
I'm not too worried about DWTS. Max and Cheryl have put tons of work and energy in that show.
Phyllis,
Love DWTS, but dancers wear out very quickly. Max and Cheryl have been there for 19 seasons - Max a little less, but they're aging. If you notice they have a new crop of dancers and some of them are fabulous. I like reality TV, but I think they're starting to get ridiculous. Dating Naked? Prison love? Yuck! Really? But hubby and are addicted to the Airplane Repo guys show. Would you repo a millionaire's airplane?
I really hope Longmire gets picked up by another network. A&E is starting not to look to classy.
Sylvia
Hi, Sylvia! Handsome and I have watched the airplane repo show. Sometimes, the tension is overscripted. But not so bad.
I'm embarrassed to say I don't watch much television, and don't know the show, Longmire.
Vicki, I'm a TV junkie, but I've never seen Longmire. However, I heard it was very good. There were a few other shows that got the ax for the same reason. I guess those of us of a certain age have nothing to offer anymore and we're brushed aside. We have more leisure time and disposable income than younger people. Those TV execs are delusional. Many shows I've loved have been cancelled through the years for silly reasons. Yet, the Kardashians are still one. Yuck! The dumbing down of our society. Off my soapbox now.
Hi, Angela! We unwind around here with TV. I read or do needlepoint, play with the poos. There are shows I really liked--Fargo, Homicide, and Longmire. We planned our lives around them and made sure they were DVR'd.
Hi, Cara! I have never watched that family implode. I do watch a lot of TCM and HGTV, although HGTV is the same ol' stuff and needs some new designer shows. You would probably like Longmire. Thanks for stopping by.
I've never watched Longmire (or heard of it) but if they are cancelling a show b/c of the age of viewers being too old, then that's ridiculous! The older generation is important and usually has more $$ and time to spend than the younger one. Crazy. I hope another station picks it up and you can continue to watch!
Hi, Karilyn! You are so right. If you like contemporary Westerns, you should check this one out. Seems like the young 'uns are getting tons of phone ads. I buy new phones.
This is crazy. I find that in today's society the older age group actually lives better than the younger group. They worked hard and had a home before the crash. They really should be considered a new demographic. Certainly they have disposable income... :) I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!
Sylvia -
Hubby loves all these shows like Survivor ( and Naked Survivor???Really???) and the Amazing Race. He's watch the Pawn shows, but I hate to see people getting ripped off by Pawn brokers, so if he watches them, I'm either totally preoccupied or make him turn the channel. Oh don't worry about Hubby...the remote is clued to his hand I think and he wins out more than I.
Me like the good old fashioned type of shows like Castle, NCIS, Rizzoli and Isles, and my two newest shows: Agents of Shield and The Last Ship. Now that is TV to me!
I sure hope you all understand that last line of my last post.
How about: Me? I like...
Hi, Melissa! It is crazy! And I'm out of words to even say more about this. So tweet #LongLiveLongmire and hopefully, someone in TV land will have sense.
Hi, Phyllis! I didn't like the pawn show either. I DO like Velocity channel, especially the show Wheeler Dealers. But then, I love old stylin' cars. Hugs!
I tried posting on my phone but I don't think it worked. Just in case you see a similar post twice. :D
I only watch a few television shows faithfully: Masterpiece Mystery/Theater, Reckless (mainly because it's set in my hometown), and Longmire.
I have watched Longmire from the very first show. I tell my husband (and he laughs because he does not see the similarities) that it reminds me of Gunsmoke.
Walt = Matt
Ferg = Festus
Branch = Chester
Vic = Kitty
Henry = Doc
I am saddened A&E has chosen not to renew and I'm certain someone else will air the show. They must!
Does the A in A&E now stand for Asshats? :D
I have a friend who LOVES Longmire too. She's younger than me, so not really baby boomer material. She's very upset about the cancelation too.
I'm with Angela, where I don't watch too much TV. But of the shows I watch I LOVE them, so I understand about being loyal. It's very upsetting that Longmire was canceled because it supposedly wasn't appealing to a younger audience. I don't understand why the TV people are thinking--which is why I don't watch a lot of TV.
Hi, Robin! Okay, I didn't think of your idea about Longmire resembling Gunsmoke. But there are some. And it is more contemporary. I too am wondering what A&E stands for. Sad, isn't it?
Hi, Lani!The younger audience thing is silly--right? I have a little more moola than them. The WSJ article really hit the nuts and bolts of the $$. So why didn't the network try harder? The $64,000 question.
Vicky, I think it ight be the numbers thing - with them wanting younger viewers or maybe it's because the show costs more to make than the cheap crap they normally have on A&E. I mean how much does it cost to get grown men to behave like teenage girls in front of a camera?
The fact is that ever since reality TV became big in the nineties the quality of television has gone down the tubes and young people don't know the difference.
Hi, Marlow! The WSJ said Longmire had more viewers than Mad Men. *shaking head* Maybe Mad Men has more appeal. I thought a little on the whinny side. And yes, they wanted the money by producing and not buying their shows. So we get silly reality shows instead. Thanks for posting.
I've watched Longmire on Netflix and liked it a lot.
Why was it cancelled? Maybe because it showed off values that the entertainment execs find "old-fashioned." I don't watch it with the kids around. That's how not old-fashioned the show is. But the characters, even when they mess up, are either trying to do right, or suffering from doing wrong.
Reality TV--cheap hooch, nothing more. Most of the "critically acclaimed" shows are built on a cynical, misanthropic foundation.
I disconnected from TV about a dozen years ago, but will go on Netflix to look for good shows: Foyle's War, Longmire, and dear old favorites like Miss Marple and Poirot.
I just hope nobody unpublishes the novels the shows are based on!
FYI: Reality TV is a response to the WGAw (screenwriters' union) strike of 1988 or 1989. It was a long, hard, destructive strike. Producers came out of it with a mind to make sure writers never again could have the power to postpone a TV season.
Cheap, cheap hooch.
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