KIDNAPPED Cancelled

[mikey mo]

I searched for the answer to this, but can't find the answer I seek. I read in USA TODAY that Kidnapped couldn't even survive a move to Saturday evening and has been cancelled. I have all of the early episodes stored unwatched on my TIVO fearing that the series would be cancelled (having learned my lesson with the abrupt cancellation of Reunion last year).

It was my understanding that the network told the producers of Kidnapped to shorten the series run and get to the climax. Does the cancellation of Kidnapped mean that the concluding episodes will not air, assuming that they are in the can?

I need to know if I should continue to store the episodes so I can watch the full series (albeit shortened) or should I go ahead and delete as I want the space.

What should I do?

[Bill Shakespeare]

Hold those episodes for ransom

[dohcmark8]

The remaining episodes will be made available (or already are) online. not sure where... check NBC's website.

[fredfa]

mikey -- check the second post in the "Hot Off The Press" thread.

There is always an updated list of renewed, cancelled, and in trouble shows at the top of that post.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&&#post4265637

Kidnapped was axed several weeks ago, and was switched as you know to Saturdays. When it failed to draw ratings there, NBC pulled it from the schedule and will make the remaining episodes available on NBC.com at the rate of one each week.

(posted Nov. 2)

After burying it in the Saturday 9 p.m. time period and seeing minimal results (just 3.71 million viewers tuned in on Oct. 28, with a 1.2 rating/ 4 share among adults 18-49 according to Nielsen Media Research data), the network has pulled freshman drama Kidnapped from the schedule.

Still, NBC will film all 13 episodes, and effective this week, the remaining shows will air on NBC.com, with a new episode slated for Friday.

[danc8379]

I can't believe that they're actually filming new episodes just to be shown online. It would be one thing to air episodes online that had already been shot, but to continue shooting new ones that will only air online? Seems crazy. And expensive. It's also got to be quite a slap to the ego of the actors, knowing that they're filming a show that practically nobody will watch.

[HDTVFanAtic]

God forbid they would pay for it and put it on say, UHD, instead of Online.

Not that I watched one episode - but then again, I think it might find more viewers than the 312th showing this year of The Hitcher 2

[fredfa]

Originally Posted by danc8379

I can't believe that they're actually filming new episodes just to be shown online. It would be one thing to air episodes online that had already been shot, but to continue shooting new ones that will only air online? Seems crazy. And expensive. It's also got to be quite a slap to the ego of the actors, knowing that they're filming a show that practically nobody will watch.

The nets were pretty adamant this year in saying they would not quickly yank serialized shows off the air without giving viewers a way to get some resolution.

This is NBC's way of paying off the show's few viewers without sinking the network's ratings any more.

Since the network has already agreed to pay for the 13 episodes, the production company (NBC Universal) might as shoot the episodes. Maybe some of the money can be made back in DVD sales. Actors have faced worse fates: like being paid for shows that nobody watches and that don't even get produced.

[mikey mo]

Thanks for the info FredFa. I'm not sure I am up to watching half of the series on a computer screen if I watch the initial episodes on my HD big screen. You would think the die hard fans who stayed around this long would deserve better. I have to think these diehard fans would improve NBC's ratings over the fare now served on some of NBC's "auxiliary" (secondary?) networks.

[bphisig]

I actually have to hand it to NBC for putting the remaining episodes online. I thought the series had a pretty big "so what factor" and gave up on it after about 3 episodes, but I'm glad to see that anyone who liked it can see it through to the end.

The show really had some potential, especially with the Knapp character, but they stumbled out of the gate, so it didn't really matter if it could recover later.

[danc8379]

I liked the show, but don't think I can sit and watch it on my computer. It's just not the same.....

[archiguy]

I like it and will watch the rest of the eps online. Reluctantly. Because if I want to see the drama play out, there's now no other choice. Well, I guess I could wait for the "inevitable" DVD set...

Besides, any Dana Delaney is better than no Dana Delaney.

[HDTVFanAtic]

Originally Posted by danc8379

I liked the show, but don't think I can sit and watch it on my computer. It's just not the same.....

Don't worry, UHD will let you continue to air the same 19 30 minute episodes of Complete Savages 461 times over the next 2 years and all 20 episodes of Medical Investigation 4x monthly - but god forbid they would put another washed up cancel show on to take the place of the other washed up cancelled shows they have on UHD.

[tkmedia2]

I have been watching and recording on a DVR for a bit, But found out after 2 weeks on Sat, it was gonna be online only. I watched the previous 2 epsiodes online. I thought it was a new episode a week online replacing the previous weeks episode. Are they going to show the previous episodes again online?

[tkmedia2]

Originally Posted by HDTVFanAtic

Don't worry, UHD will let you continue to air...

I thought they only did that for NBC UNIVERSAL TV shows? KIDNAPPED is Sony I think.

[archiguy]

Originally Posted by tkmedia2

I have been watching and recording on a DVR for a bit, But found out after 2 weeks on Sat, it was gonna be online only. I watched the previous 2 epsiodes online. I thought it was a new episode a week online replacing the previous weeks episode. Are they going to show the previous episodes again online?

I was under the impression they would load them up, perhaps one each week, but leave them up for a period of time. I can't see them taking them down so soon. But I haven't been there to check it out yet....

[tkmedia2]

When I was watching epsiode 7 there was no option to see episode 6 or any of the previous episodes. That was how it was online since the beginning of the season. One episode per week, no previous episodes. Unless this has changed recently that I'm unaware of.

[Hughmc]

Not trying to be a troll, but the reason I didn't watch it at all was it seemed to be a made for tv version of the movie Ransom with Mel Gibson and I thought, what's the point.

[archiguy]

Originally Posted by tkmedia2

When I was watching epsiode 7 there was no option to see episode 6 or any of the previous episodes. That was how it was online since the beginning of the season. One episode per week, no previous episodes. Unless this has changed recently that I'm unaware of.

Uh oh. If that's the case, I'm screwed.

[tkmedia2]

drat, I was searching to see if others mention it here. I didnt see it, I was too busy and forgot. I thought this was known, but have not been reading the programming forum as much. I should have posted about this a week and a half ago. sorry faithful viewers

[HDTVFanAtic]

Originally Posted by tkmedia2

I thought they only did that for NBC UNIVERSAL TV shows? KIDNAPPED is Sony I think.

If NBC already paid for them and can put them on the web - you don't think they could put them on UHD?

Personally I could care less - but as UHD is such a wasteland - and you are not going to get HD online for the show - I am only pointing out a viable option as opposed to the 925th showing of DC Sniper - 23 Days of Fear.

[NetworkTV]

Originally Posted by Hughmc

Not trying to be a troll, but the reason I didn't watch it at all was it seemed to be a made for tv version of the movie Ransom with Mel Gibson and I thought, what's the point.

Badmouthing a show you haven't watched is actually one of the definitions of being a troll.

And, no, other than a kidnapping, it had little to due with the movie Ransom (which in itself was a remake of an older version).

[savannah142]

Kidnapped producer Jason Smilovic actually was inspired by Kurosawa's High and Low which is about a businessman whose chauffer's son is mistakenly kidnapped. The only connection to Ransom so far has been Delroy Lindo was in the film of the same name and that's basically it.

The show received zero promotion when NBC moved it from Wed to Saturday nights -I know because I had to sit through endless episodes of their programming during the week and half hiatus watching for promotion of the new day and time. NBC's failure to back this program is a sad comment on the type of audience they are trying to cultivate with a proliferation of reality and game shows.

New episodes are up each Friday on nbc site, but so far unless you the software, there is no way to download the episode and they have not made it available as a video podcast. A lot of fans in the UK and Canada, and those with dial-up are unable to watch on NBC, and a Kidnapped fan has started capturing and posting the episodes and online episodes on youtube.

Kidnapped board at nbc site is filled with disappointed and confused fans. I don't watch network television, haven't in years, this is the show that brought me back. It's smart, original and every single episode has been purely amazing. It's actually shocking - I didn't realize anyone could create this quality of a show on network TV anymore.

Anyway, two cents from a devoted Kidnapped fan.

[Hughmc]

Originally Posted by NetworkTV

Badmouthing a show you haven't watched is actually one of the definitions of being a troll.

And, no, other than a kidnapping, it had little to due with the movie Ransom (which in itself was a remake of an older version).

The previews made it seem like it was similar to Ransom. It even had Delroy Lindo.

I wasn't badmouthing the show, I said I didn't see the point as the previews made it seem similar.

[mikey mo]

As I said above I had the first 5 episodes on TIVO, but I deleted them last night. I wasn't willing to watch the final episodes on a computer screen. The deal breaker was that episode 6 was not available and I refuse to start with episode 7 which is the one now available.

Oh well I have plenty to watch including some good series on BBC America, although not HD.

[askanison]

I think many of you are failing to realize that this definitely qualifies as "something is better than nothing".

After I invested time in watching the first 5 episodes of Kidnapped (it really seemed like more), I'm not happy about the remaining episodes being aired on NBC either. But my memory isn't short enough to forget being completely left in a lurch when Reunion was cancelled before even half of the mystery was revealed.

At least those who would like to see how Kidnapped ends, have an option. It may not be the best option, maybe it's not even a good option - but it's something, AND.... something is better than nothing.

The one true fault of NBC is in only offering one episode at a time. I, like most of you, only found out about the online option this week, so episode 6 is long gone.

Now, having said all of this, I'm probably not going to watch the show online either. But that's because I only watched Kidnapped out of the corner of my eye, while I was also on the computer. With the episodes airing on the computer, I would now have to make the decision to either give the show my complete attention, or not watch at all. And I'm leaning much closer to the latter.

The reality is, it was cancelled because it wasn't a very good show. Good actors, good premise and good production values don't necessarily equal good show. I continued to "watch" the show, because I was invested, not because I loved it. There are a lot of better shows out there. Shows that I anticipate each week, and watch intently, with both eyes, on the TV, because they haven't been cancelled.

[Windom Earle]

Kidnapped: The Complete Series to be released on DVD April 24.

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=6913

[Brian81]

I was scared by this post...that the DVD release of Kidnapped (by Mario Bava) was cancelled. Whew.

[SpaceCadet]

Remaining episodes of Kidnapped will air starting late tonight, check your local listings (mine airs early Monday).

[Jiffylush]

Originally Posted by SpaceCadet

Remaining episodes of Kidnapped will air starting late tonight, check your local listings (mine airs early Monday).

WHAT! How on earth did I miss that!

[mcaldero]

Have been thrilled that NBC brought back Kidnapped to show the remaining episodes. Is anyone's local affiliate airing them in HD? WMAQ in Chicago is not, which is disappointing. If they're in HD elsewhere, it might be worth my time to call and complain.