Jean Smart Says 'Samantha Who's' Cancellation Was One of Her Biggest Disappointments

[Brian Damage]

Jean: First, those were two of my favorite jobs. And ["Samantha's" cancelation] was a great disappointment. You think, "what do you have to do to stay on the air?" It could not have gotten better reviews or awards. You realize that a lot of it has to do with business and nothing to do with the show or the actors. You have to let go. It’s hard. Especially when you come from the theater like I did. You find out something as simple as the fate of your show is completely dependent on the time slot.

PW: When did you learn that?
Jean: I remember the first show I did was called "Teachers Only," and it was great fun. I remember we were all sitting somewhere when they told us what our timeslot would be. And it was Saturday night at 8:30. Which meant nothing to me. I had done nothing but theater at that point, and [co-star] Norman Fell turns to all of us and says, “well it’s been nice working with you.” [laughs] I thought, why did Norman say that? And boy was he right.

http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/popwrap/jean_smart_2sVUhHzxtmPB2hHDd6DpuJ

[TV Knowledge Fan]

...simply because (as in the case of NBC's 'TEACHERS ONLY", of which Jean joined the cast in its abbreviated second season, in early 1983) ABC could never find the right place to schedule it, or find a "compatible" show to pair it with on their schedule. See, a few years ago, ABC had virtually NO comedies on their prime-time schedule- and, worst of all, they didn't know how to successfully develop one that would last. They tried scheduling it after "DANCING WITH THE STARS" in an effort to lure its viewers into watching it [and it worked, to a degree]. But finding a place for "SAMANTHA WHO?" elsewhere, in order to "build" an audience of its own, the network just didn't know how to do it. Quite frankly, they "lucked out" with the current "Comedy Wednesday" schedule this season; they finally got it right by scheduling three good sitcoms in a row. But it was too late for "SAMANTHA WHO?"...and Jean Smart. She was damn good in it!

Network executives are of two kinds: the ones who KNOW how to schedule and maintain certain shows, moulding them into successful ones.....and those who don't know what the hell they're doing, and try to maintain the illusion they DO.



:tv:

[DVDAddict]

Samantha Who was a great show! I need to buy the DVDs! :)