Frankly, Longmire was a great series on A&E.
Though it acquired the best ratings of any show on A&E, the network abandoned the series because it attracted the demographic it didn’t want: older persons. A&E wants more “reality-based” programs that don’t require certain production values and can be assembled within minutes. That would not include production teams involving actual stories.
Despite the fact that it was the most highly watched series on A&E.
And despite the fact that it made the most money on A&E.
From WSJ.com:
Why TV Hit ‘Longmire’ Got Canceled: Fans Too Old
by Joe Flint
When a television show is consistently popular, its reward usually isn’t getting canceled.
But that is what happened to “Longmire” on the A&E cable channel, which was unceremoniously dumped after three seasons late last month. Now the show’s producer, Warner Bros. Television, is scrambling to find a new home for the crime drama.
Why did this occur?
Because A&E is looking for a cheaper, younger demographic. A&E wants a younger audience, and it wants to produce “reality-oriented” shows which, it turns out, are becoming more and more staged.
A&E, I thought you were better than this.
BZ
now, if Longmire was gay….
And people are still stupid enough to ask why I don’t watch or subscribe to TV.
Hopefully it will be picked up by another network… If not, well, there goes one of the best shows on TV today…
I completely agree with that analysis.
BZ
First it was Duck Dynasty, and now this… Stupidity doubled down…
Who’s running that network, the three stooges? “We’re making way too much money off this show; better cancel it,” said no successful network, ever.
I fear this to be the future of much of TV, to included terrestrial broadcasting as well as what people consider to be cable and internet: no or very few actual stories or dramatic presentations that have continuing story lines and plots that require an actual writer or writing team.
Reality TV is popular and costs much less that the above variety. We are also discovering that much of “Reality TV” isn’t real, and is instead staged, re-enacted or recreated.
BZ