Good News about BoP

[Xenafan22]

Hi All: Just wanted to pass along this e-mail I received from a local
WB station.


Subj: Re: "Birds of Prey"
Date: 11/12/2002 9:41:49 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: wb18wkcf@w...
To: RebRid@a...
Sent from the Internet (Details)

Cathy,

We are happy to hear that you are a big fan of "Birds of Prey." The
show has really taken off! Just to let you know, the show has been
picked up by the WB for the entire season.
Just yesterday, the WB Guy interviewed the show's stars, Ashley Scott
and Shemar Moore, via satellite. They made for a very entertaining
interview. Be sure and look for the "Behind the Scenes with the WB
Guy - Birds of Prey" segment to air on WB18 soon!

Thanks,
Ashley Nasser
Promotion Department
WB18 - WKCF

[DinahFan4Ever]

yes! that is soooooooo good! woo hoo!

[QuestKnight]

I agree. Of course, when I heard that BoP would be featured on TV Guide in December, it kinda clinched the news for me. Of course, it helps that the show is doing well demographically, if not in the total ratings. Also, since the BoP property is owned by Warner Brothers (who own the DC comics line,) it makes sense that they would give this show every chance possible. And I agree the episodes are improving. :)

[Helena Kyle]

Just waiting for a friend to get back to me on this so that I can totally confirm it and then the party can begin :D

[gothamknight]

As soon is official i will hold my whooooooooooo hooooooooooooo

[LisaM]

I hope that this is true...I haven't seen any confirmation on any mainstream media sites yet so I am still holding my breath - and mailing my letters and postcards.

[Kea]

I agree. I hope this is true as well.
But I like what I am hearing about BoP getting the cover of TV guide in December!. Hope that's true as well. :)

At least you get a replay from your WB station. My WB station has never heard of answering an e-mail...yet! ;)

Well at least I feel good that I sent off my letters. Keep those letters coming LisaM! :)

[tvfanatic]

I really hope this is true and I have a lot of faith in this show. I'm happy to see any type of good news because it gives us some hope. But right now we all just need to keep hoping and not give up. Then when this news is confirmed I say we all throw a massive party.

[William]

I really hope it's true:)

The show really deserves a chance, especially when the stories each week are getting more better. All we now need is a Confirmation...

[Dark Phoenix II]

According to the BoPOL main page, it says it's pretty much been confirmed...Can Matt straighten us out a bit here? :)

[Helena Kyle]

LOL I will do my best. I got an email from a board member saying that a WB Affiliate station rep had emailed them to say that the show has been picked up. Also the show will be featured on the Dec 14th TV Guide cover (available in 4 different covers) which is another big sign.

I also have word from one of my contacts that more episodes have been ordered and they will know if the show is picked up today/tomorrow.

[Neptune's Rose]

I hope that this is true. But I would advise everyone to keep working hard and to get your friends to watch to bring the show even more success.

[Sxygrrl Huntress]

You are absolutely right Neptunekix. Renewed does not mean it can't be cancelled after one season. The more people we get hooked on the show, the more seasons we can enjoy it :)

It's the Birds Of Prey cult - and we are all the recruiters.... ;)

[Dark Phoenix II]

Thanks, Matt! :D

[darke2099]

hey, it sounds like some of the hard work the fans have been putting in may well have payed off! i'm donw her eint he ass end f the world adn i have only seen one actual aired show, in shitty Mpg format at that, but i am SO excited by the potential this show has, especially with upcoming episodes like fathers trust and Lady Shiva! man i can't wait to see more of this sucker.

i just watched possibly the stupidest episode of Smallville last nite (the one where the bees are attacking people, we're a bit behind down here of course) this show can do so much more than that i'm absolutely certain...

Long live the Birds of prey!!!! i just hope they lose that godawful alfred intro, it's very clunky (it reminds me of the old highlander the series intro...ugh.)

the darkeness is smiling and...

[darke2099]

BTW, has anyone looked at the official WB site today? man they have just gone birds crazy...more fuel to the fire!

[AJ2002]

I hope this turns out to be true. I am still waiting for an official word from the network.

We're not out of the woods yet, I am afraid.

[Larry]

I hope the news is true, too. I'd really like to see Birds Of Prey continuing so that we can all get on with really enjoying the show.

[TheWraith]

Sorry, but the reality is that BoP has NOT been renewed at all. Here's the truth from the Comics Continuum:

According to a representative of The WB, Birds of Prey - as of Tuesday -- has not picked up a full-season pick-up. The show will be featured on the cover of TV Guide next month.

Sorry.

[Helena Kyle]

Just because Comics Continuum states that it hasn't been it doesn't mean they are right. For all we know its been picked up but the info currently is not for public knowledge...

[TheWraith]

Comics Continuum talked with WB, who told them it has not been renewed as yet, if it will at all. This is fact, not rumour.

[Helena Kyle]

I didn't say it was a rumor, I said that the person they spoke to may a) Have not been allowed to give the information out or b) Not really known.

Either way, we shall have to wait and see.

[TheWraith]

What the Comics Continuum has said is the truth. That's not to say it won't be renewed, just that it hasn't yet, which is 100% true. Rob Allsteter is a highly respected, and well known, journalist, he has connections that almost nobody else has. When he talks to a studio, they respond.

[AJ2002]

That WB affiliate are pretty reliable, so is CC. This means that we have conflicting information. As I said before, we'll have to wait until the WB makes an official announcement.

We should find out soon enough.

[Sxygrrl Huntress]

Lots of journalists have lots of connections. A studio won't respond if they don't want to but I guess we'll find out the truth soon enough.

Most shows that are cancelled don't get featured on the cover of tv guide or get new pages featured on the official network website so there is still hope.

Truth be told, NO ONE on this forum knows for sure, one way or another what will happen. Unless you work for the WB, everything else is hearsay, including what Rob Allsteter says. So until an *official announcement* is made, lets try to keep our hopes up and not listen to hearsay from journalists.

[TheWraith]

I take what Rob Alstetter says above any other source of information. Those who doubt him or downgrade his intel do so because of ignorance of who he is and his standing in the industry.

Like I said, CC never says the show has been cancelled, just that it has not been renewed as of the time he reported this... and that is 100% true, whether anyone here chooses to believe it or not.

[Ted]

But you have to allow and respect for other people's opinions and their non-trusting of trust Rob above any other source of information - or else that's ignorance of people's basic right to their own opinions. Whether anyone chooses to believe what Rob says is their own choice, but just because you do does not make it written fact. Simply your own belief in what he writes.

[TheWraith]

What WB has said to him is the truth... that is not a matter of opinion, that is fact! In this instance, opinion plays no part in what is the truth, neither does what people think of what ROb has reported, nothing will change the truth, it exists irrespective of whether people believe it or not!!

[darke2099]

whoa the battle of the semantics begins... all we have to do it keep workign to make it happen unitl it is official. we can celebrate any time we hear good news, but we'll celebrate all the more when the hard and fast facts have been established.

until then take hope where you find it and keep the flame burning for the birds...

[Sxygrrl Huntress]

I didn't say I didn't trust or not trust anyone but I am a little frustrated with first being called a "disillusioned fan", being talked down to and now being said that my comment is out of "ignorance".

I have not really heard any positive comments from you Wraith and although you are entitled to your opinion and views, I see a continuing lack of respect here in your posts over the last week. It has been directed to everyone, not just myself.

You *don't* know me. You *don't* know who I am or anything about me. Yes, I do see things "as a fan" but that doesn't mean I see only what I want. There are many people on this forum who are old enough and smart enough to see a situation for what it is, fan or not. But I've read other posts where you will talk down to someone, saying they are disillusioned. Comments like this are not fair, nor respectful.

You are entitled to your opinion and I have listened to what you have been writing but am tired of being talked down to. You may or not be intentionally doing it, but it's happening all the same. And after week of this, it's a little insulting.

If I post my view, I don't expect to be told I'm ignorant because I choose not to believe a journalist, credible or not. I don't believe anyone at this moment as everything is hearsay. Unless WB has spoken to YOU directly Wraith, then you are in the same position as the others on this forum. We are all waiting for an official comment from the source, simple as that. Everything else is fans spreading hope, which is fine with me. We can live in reality, but still have hope.

Thank you Oracle for your respect on my post. Your last 2 sentences sum it up perfectly. We are all entitled to our opinion and no one has the facts as of yet. Rob can make his report. Fine. But bottom line is, WB has not made any official statements.

Wraith, I do respect your right to your opinion but I do have a problem with how you've been talking down to us. You are on a level playing field with everyone on this forum, please remember that.

Some people out there do have information but can't speak up until WB gives official comments. You don't know who is on this forum and what they know so I would appreciate a level of maturity and respect and not insult our intelligence on this forum.

Smallville is a WB program. Smallville is filmed in Vancouver. You can see on my stats that I *live* in Vancouver. As I said, you don't know *who* is lurking on this list, who they work for and who has confidential information so I would like to ask that the "talking down" to everyone stops. If you would like to be our source for accurate information, then please be ready to prove what you know. Reading what a journalist says is not fact. Having the WB issue a press release saying "Birds Of Prey will be renewed" would be a fact. Maybe they have already renewed, maybe not. Media can report all they want. If you want to believe what you read, that is completely fine with me and your right to do so.

But please show a bit more respect to the people you are talking to because you really don't know who we are and who we work for. Thank you.

I realize that this is not the appropriate place on this forum for this discussion and I apologize to everyone for that. I've ignored the comments for a week but being 31 years old, I really am not interested in some stranger on a forum insulting my intelligence, as well as all of yours.

[TheWraith]

I know Rob Allstetter, and I stand by every word I said and what he said. As I have said several times now, Rob never said the show won't be renewed, he simply said it hasn't been renewed as of right now... there is a difference, and he is correct in his reporting. Don't insult my intelligence or claim I said something I didn't - I have never, ever called someone disillusioned on this board. If you are going to talk about me or to me, make sure you get right what I have said. I have never talked down to anyone. Remember, you don't know me either, so next time, perhaps take your own advice when talking to me.

Thank you.

[AJ2002]

Calm down, everyone. We shouldn't be fighting over who's right, and who's wrong. This is getting out of hand.

CC is a very reliable source, so are any WB affiliates. The affiliates usually find out whats going to happen, before its announced by a network. Over a year ago, one WB affiliate said that Buffy was going to get cancelled, before the WB made any official announcement. Well later on, we find out from the network itself, that the show's getting the axe.

I know a little about television, and I definately know that the networks usually inform the affiliates what they are going to do with its shows, before it happens.

With that said, I think that both sources have credibility, and I wouldn't but one over the other. It just means that we have conflicting information, thats all.

We are still in the dark, whether we like it, or not. We're going to have to wait until the WB makes an official annoucnement, before coming to any conclusions.

In the meantime, the fans of the show should continue watching, continue with the campaign, and showing support of the show. Thats the most important thing, right now.

[LisaM]

KEEP WRITING LETTERS! The ratings for Primal Scream were not good.

[AJ2002]

What were the ratings?

[LisaM]

Check out the front page of the Main Website. I posted numbers there courtesy of the Futon Critic.

[gothamknight]

Wednsday is the thoughest night of the week. We got to remember that BOP has tough competitors. And i have to say i'm not surprise about 3.7/5 in rating. I suspected that with the airing of "The Bachelor: the woman tell all" special i knew they might be an impact in the ratings. I just hope those banana heads sorry i mean the executives at The WB don't do anything stupid.

[AJ2002]

Thats not good, but I am not surprised that it happened.

News doesn't bode well for the show at all.

[AJ2002]

The sad thing is, Wednesday night as a whole didn't do well. NBC and CBS did well as usual, but ABC didn't do that great, neither did Fox.

Enterprise's ratings were down this week, and they usually get descent ratings.

I am beginning to think that Wednesday nights as a whole, just isn't a good night for ABC, Fox, the WB, and UPN. CBS and NBC always cleans house on Wednesdays, and thats disturbing.

If BoP does stay, than I am all for moving it to a different night. The WB hasn't done well on Wednesdays as a whole (an entire season), for a while. They do even worse on Thursdays and Fridays, which isn't good.

[merlin9943]

one of the reasons a lot of people thought WB wouldnt cancel
BOP is that it was doing better then felicity in the same timeslot
well as of last night that is no longer the case
and now i dont doubt there are affiliates who heard the show was picked up but i think everyone should recognize this show is in REAL trouble
take nothing for granted
keep the campaign going
because right now
the birds need all the help they can get

[AJ2002]

Actually, it did do better than Felicity did at this point last year. Its only by 8%, which isn't much.

[Kea]

My only question is if the show 'was' going to be canceled then why put it on the cover of TV guide?

I hope that with Angel going on hiatus for December that they might try BoP in its time slot!

[Larry]

I think having Birds Of Prey positioned in the Wednesday time slot was not a great or brilliant move on the banana headed WB executives' part.
Hey, if you're gonna call a dummy a dummy, just do it, I'd say.

In fact, they have intentionally sealed the show's fate by doing this. The show has stiff competition from other networks to deal with and so far, they haven't done as well as they should have.

[gothamknight]

What else can we expect from the frog network or is it dumb network.

[Larry]

LOL. The Dumb Network isn't far from the truth. You know, it is actually very hilarious that The WB believed Birds Of Prey would do well on Wednesdays.
Did those bubble heads up in those expensive executive suites even bother to check what would be the best night to broadcast the show?

[AJ2002]

I agree. When you are up against the likes of West Wing and those famous reality TV shows, its going to be difficult.

Another fatal mistake, was putting it after Dawson's Creek. They know that DC's fanbase has diminished over the past couple years, and is on its last leg. The WB should've known better than that.

[TheWraith]

Yes, but Felicity cost significantly less, so it's irrelevant comparing it to Felicity's figures last year, because WB aren't. For a show with a much higher outlay than Fel, ratings must also be significantly higher to warrant such an outlay.

I agree, the timeslot for BoP isn't helping. However, it has been shown in the past that people lose interest when new shows are switched around to different timeslots. And, with BoP already receiving low numbers, it would be a hell of a risk switching once, or perhaps more than once (if the first switch didn't work), it would possibly alienate what little audience there currently is. There's a lot for WB to measure up here. They may wsh to simply cut their losses, which wouldn't surprise me, considering we're talking about WB here.

[Gothic Knight]

How do you expect to get higher number if The WB won't do a better job Promoting the show. It's all about advertising; Good advertising good numbers, Bad advertising we'll be lucky if the show survive.

[TheWraith]

Exactly, it needs to be better promoted, but the product they're promoting needs to be better as well. There are far more negative reviews coming through now then there were at the beginning of the season, so people are starting to turn off and become disillusioned with it.

The show needs good advertising, but the show needs to vastly improve as well, and so far, it hasn't!

[Gothic Knight]

If Given the right oportunity it will. Just like on Smallville, the second has a more improve story line than the first and as you can see the ratings on the second is higher because the producers learn from the mistakes they did on the first season and they got the chance to improve Smallville. If The WB is willing to give BoP the same chance they gave Smallville it will get better.

[TheWraith]

Smallville was a far better show right from the start. The pilot was excellent and directed by a director of class and experience - David Nutter. No comparison.

[Sxygrrl Huntress]

Point is they can learn from mistakes and improve on things. I love the show right now as do many others but there is always room for improvement.

The comparison is; both shows started slow. Smallville was allowed to continue and now it's great. Birds Of Prey can become something great too if given the chance. And I think they will be giving it that chance or else TV Guide wouldn't waste its time with BOP on the cover in the near future as was mentioned in an interview. Plus there's talk of BOP t-shirts....

As for improvements, all the episodes have already been filmed for the first part of the season, not allowing the writers to make improvements. Now they are hearing fan/media/network feedback and have the ability to make changes that people want to see. If renewed, they will see what needs work and apply that knowledge.

The power of positive thinking: The show WILLL be renewed, if not already. I don't need reasons why they shouldn't renew... I would rather focus my energy on the positives. I like to save all my negative energy for my boss who makes my days miserable. At least BOP makes me happy.

Birds Of Prey WILL be renewed. I bet if we say it enough, it will come true :)

[Gothic Knight]

I hear you sxygrrl

[LisaM]

I like your optimism. One other piece of optimism: the WB as a network is doing extremely well during sweeps- as good as or better than all of the others in terms of increases. Perhaps this will allow them to ride it out for awhile with BOP.

[Gothic Knight]

Hopefully BoP will Be here for the long run. And i'm sure the ratings will increase for the next episode.

[Neptune's Rose]

don't be so sure about a ratings increase though isn't Victoria's Secret having a show during BoP's time slot?

[Gothic Knight]

Hope for the best, expect the worst

[birdsofpreyfan]

I was kinda worried about the fashion show too. Hopefully the Powers That Be will take this into consideration, whatever happens with the ratings. This episode looks really awesome though, so, who knows.

[Kea]

And I think they will be giving it that chance or else TV Guide wouldn't waste its time with BOP on the cover in the near future as was mentioned in an interview. Plus there's talk of BOP t-shirts....-sxygrrl
That's what I am wondering about as well. Why would TV Guide waste its time and cover (for Dec 14th) if the show was canceled? 4 different covers mind you!
And why bring out merchandise now?

I think the one (of many) problems is that they should be airing the eps that would probably pull in more views such as Lady Shiva or even Gladiatrix.

[Gothic Knight]

Good point

[Sxygrrl Huntress]

I'm trying to keep optimistic but I do get frustrated at times. Like today, thanks to that Washington Post article. So here is my promise, everyone say it with me:
---------------------------
(holding up my right hand) I, (insert your name here,) Angie from Vancouver, hereby swear to join the maximum allowable mailing groups in one day to spread the word on Birds Of Prey. yahoogroups.com

I will join *any* group with lots of members and let them know about this amazing show and to watch on Wed. night.
---------------------------

Tell them to videotape Victoria's Secret instead - it will be more fun to watch just before bed anyway for... ahem... pleasant dreams...

Come on everyone, the Birds are counting on you. And I don't want to hear anyone saying, "but it won't make a difference, we can't reach that many people..." Wanna bet? If everyone on this forum joins 10 lists tonight, 10 more tomorrow, that's ALOT of promotion! But it only works if everyone does it. So..... have I encouraged you enough? You don't want me to resort to begging, it isn't pretty :) But I've been known to do it... gotta keep Huntress on the air!

[Gothic Knight]

We got until Wendsday to make a lot of noise

[LisaM]

Agreed...post a message in all of the newsgroups you visit telling people that the show will be cancelled unless the ratings go up this Wednesday.

[Frostbite]

How do they get these ratings anyway? Is there something hooked up to our TVs or something?

[TheWraith]

Agreed, though I think, in reality, WB have already decided to cancel.

[Gothic Knight]

Is not over until is official.

[Sxygrrl Huntress]

I am still going to fight and make noise regardless of today's news reports. Maybe ratings will go up on Wednesday and they might change their minds and buy a few more episodes. "stuff" happens.

What I'm not going to do is sit back and and tell everyone that what they are doing will not make a difference no matter how hard they try. Or tell them "good effort, just not good enough."

I choose to fight and encourage everyone. Not dash hopes. I know the realities and understand the longshots but this is one fight I'm in 'til the very end.