I love this TV show called Angel. Damn good production values, acting and humor. And even though the show is going great, they cancelled it. Curious, I went to the Nielsen ratings, and found:

"ANGEL outpaced "The West Wing" on NBC, and "King of Queens" and "Becker" on CBS in the time period to rank #3 among persons 12-34 (2.3/7), women12-34 (2.6/7), men 12-34 (1.9/6), adults 18-34 (2.2/7) and men 18-34 (1.8/6). The series topped both NBC and UPN among women 18-34 (2.6/7). The program scored outstanding year-to-year gains in all key demos, including a +36% improvement in total viewers (4.3 million) and a +37% increase in females 12-34."

Angel is WB's #2 show and is beating West Wing. WB is renewing Charmed, but cancelling a show with a cult following. Now WHY would any network executive cancel one of its most popular shows... and what's more, something that might end up as a billion dollar franchise? Well, snooping a bit more, I found a religious right movement on the web that is trying to get Angel cancelled. Their petition reads:

"After the events of September, 11, America has been thrown into the realm of prophecy fore Jesus Christ, king of kings and son of God, will soon walk the Earth again. Because of this we ,who have created this petition, believe that "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and its spin-off "Angel" must be cancelled immediately or it will draw the wrath of Jesus upon us with the show’s endorsement of the use of magic and its philosophy of demon worship. From the very depths of our hearts and souls, we beg the staff of Mutant Enemy Productions and the WB and UPN networks to stop the show for the sake of posterity before our Lord scorches the land with plagues like the Land of Egypt."

I suspect that the WB is bowing to the religious right in its decision to cancel one of its most popular shows. All I can say is that I hope UPN picks it up!

--

Anyway, I found a forum where Joss Whedon logged in. This is what he had to say:

"joss says:
(Sat Feb 14 22:31:16 2004)

Some of you may have heard the hilarious news. I thought this would be a good time to weigh in. to answer some obvious questions: No, we had no idea this was coming. Yes, we will finish out the season. No, I don't think the WB is doing the right thing. Yes, I'm grateful they did it early enough for my people to find other jobs.

Yes, my heart is breaking.

When Buffy ended, I was tapped out and ready to send it off. When Firefly got the axe, I went into a state of denial so huge it may very well cause a movie. But Angel... we really were starting to feel like we were on top, hitting our stride -- and then we strode right into the Pit of Snakes 'n' Lava. I'm so into these characters, these actors, the situations we're building... you wanna know how I feel? Watch the first act of "The Body."

As far as TV movies or whatever, I'm not thinking that far ahead. I actually hope my actors and writers are all too busy. We always planned this season finale to be a great capper to the season and the show in general. (And a great platform for a new season, of course.) We'll proceed ahead as planned.

I've never made mainstream TV very well. I like surprises, and TV isn't about surprises, unless the surprise is who gets voted off of something. I've been lucky to sneak this strange, strange show over the airwaves for as long as I have. I don't FEEL lucky, but I understand that I am.

Thanks all for your support, your community, and your perfectly sane devotion. It's meant a lot. I regret nothing (except the string of grisley murders in the 80's -- what was THAT all about?) Remember the words of the poet:

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the road less traveled by and they CANCELLED MY FRIKKIN' SHOW. I totally shoulda took the road that had all those people on it. Damn."

See you soon."