NBC Brings Back KINGS Tonight, But Why Did It Fail?

June 13, 2009  |   Filed under: News,Preview  |   Posted by:

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For the past couple weeks, many eyes have been watching NBC. With the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, and the reality-show/train-wreck “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here”. The network that’s been in fourth place all season is performing pretty well this summer.

So they are taking advantage of this to promote their new shows. We see previews of the upcoming summer shows The Philanthropist and Merlin, and we also been seeing promos for next season shows, especially The Jay Leno Show.

But the one thing we haven’t seen this summer was any promotion for the return of the NBC drama Kings.

Did you hear, Kings was coming back tonight? If you did hear, it certainly wasn’t from the network! And that’s been the main reason why this series failed.

The concept was original when its premiere. A modern day monarchy set in the fictional city of Shiloh. Add to that the biblical story of David and Goliath. Plus a great cast, lead by Ian McShane as King Silas.

It had all the ingredients for a hit. So what went wrong?

After its premiere, the network just seemed to give up on the drama right away. The promos came less frequent, and the ratings dropped. The marketing for the show was never good, but as the series went along, it became painfully obvious that NBC had no intention to keep this show alive.

Just four weeks in, the show was exiled to Saturday nights. A week later, it was announced that the show would be on hiatus until the summer.

Here we are now. June 13th, 2009, and NBC brings back Kings. Tonight will be episode 7, and they will be airing the rest of the episode until its Series Finale on July 25th.

I guess fans of the show should be thankful that we’ll get closure. But it’s just too bad that a great original show like Kings failed, not because of the quality, but because of the network.

But then again, this is the same network that’s giving one show a primetime slot five times per week. NBC, no wonder you’re fourth.

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Posted by on June 13, 2009. Filed under News, Preview. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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  • Clayton Giovanni

    My biggest peeve with NBC..it’s a GREAT DRAMA..love the fiction..and the AWESOME characters! Love the King..Hate the King..Cry for the King…CURSE at the King!

    Who couldn’t love the Princess? Oh the Queen..I understand her burden.

    And Shepherd, is he who I would be in the show? Innocent, naive to politics of the crown?

    NBC…I am mesmerized each episode. I am truely grateful for such a wonderful story.

    I am sorry that your staff didn’t want to promote more of Kings.

    Sincerely,
    Clay

  • Beverly

    PLEASE DON’T TAKE KINGS OFF THE AIR – THIS IS THE VERY BEST SHOW NBC HAS HAD SINCE IT LOST FRIENDS!

  • MK

    If only HBO or Showtime would see the promise and pick this up. It was too good for NBC.

  • Neena

    MK – i agree with you. If only eh…

    I will definitely watch the rest of the episodes. This programme is so good…what a shame that NBC just gave up on it.

    Note to producers…if you have an original idea…just give it to cable. This show would most likely have suceeded on cable. Sigh…:(

    BTW – the DVD is i believe available on pre-order from Amazon.com; it comes out on DVD in September.

  • coastergirl501

    Kings is getting better and has much potential I am sad that NBC isn’t going to keep it around.

  • Shelley

    Why are you canceling such a wonderful drama series? It was such a joy to get lost into this bibical story with a twist. I’m so tired of reality show and I really welcomed this new fresh concept. Please bring Kings back.

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  • James-PHX

    Another casualty of cheap reality TV programming. Networks don’t want to pony up the cash it requires to get a good production, cast, and storyline off the ground. Wish they would have thought of this before they got me hooked on the show! Assholes! LOL

  • Adam-Cincy

    Kings was the best show since the West Wing. NBC, you SUCK!! HBO please pick this up!! I promise I will get cable.