Only Jesus Comes Back from the Dead

Thanks for all the e-mails about Joan of Arcadia.  I've been forwarding them to Barbara.

There is no hope for the show to return, but it doesn't hurt to complain. But CBS is not the devil.  The show was canceled because the ratings were bad.  There's no other reason.

Someone suggested the possibility of a two-hour movie to wrap things up, and that has been done before, so that wouldn't be a waste of time as a request.

I'm sure Barbara will be very grateful for all wailing and gnashing of teeth.  She has a deal at Paramount and will work on developing a new show.

Comments

[Lisa Wiljanen]

PLEASE keep Joan of arcadia on the air! It has a faithful following! Why was a DVD made if the show was going to be cut? Its a wonderful show with wonderful characters! We don't want to constantly be bombarded with "fake" families where everyone is perfect! PLEASE SAVE THIS SHOW!

[Dave Herron]

Well that frees up my Fridays. It was the only show on any tv(Cable/network)outlet that I made sure I watched. I guess my Fridays are open now. Major bummer.... I really felt for the characters.

[Kayla Hart]

Yes, the ratings were bad, but they have no one to blame but themselves for putting a show that they want a teen audience for on Friday nights up against Dateline (which was often the only thing beating it in the ratings), which is aimed at an adult audience, and will win, because more adults stay in on Friday's than teens.

Their logical solution would be (even just as a trial) switching nights between Joan of Arcadia and the 60 minutes that they cancelled. Joan of Arcadia would most likely do better during the week, and 60 minutes would most likely be better for a Friday night.

If you have any way of getting that point clearly across to CBS, they might reconsider...or maybe I'm just wishful thinking. I wrote a large letter to them last night saying that if a show about a girl who talks to God will not get Friday night ratings, a girl talking to ghosts probably won't either. They had the teen audience, with a pretty solid second place in the ratings.

I personally will not watch its replacement, as it is unoriginal, and much like Medium or Tru Calling. Joan of Arcadia was different, and I don't understand why they couldn't see that.

I am very outraged in case you can't tell. I said a LOT more, but CBS knows how I feel, and I will keep telling them over and over.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this, but I don't expect you to respond.

Kayla Hart
Cranbrook, BC, Canada

[Dan]

I wonder if regional ratings might reveal a different story than national.

[angela]

hi you don't know me but my name is angela c. i am and aways will be a big fan of joan. i took off work on fridays to see it I would like to tell you sister thank you for puting joan on. i have Cerebral Palsy so to get to see someone like kevin with a disability on tv mean's a lot to me for that thank you. i hope joan comes back! and i going to call cbs on my day off tomrrow and try to help Barbara get it back on i wish Barbara could have a place like this so we could have feedback for her. thank you angela

[Nick]

Hi...

I was a late bloomer to the whole Joan phenomenon, and then the very week where we purchased the Season 1 DVD to catch up, this happens. All in all, is there a chance that the WB or some cable network would pick it up? Or is that too small for Joe Mantegna and Mary Steenburgen (not to mention rising star Amber Tamblyn?)

[Julie]

AAAAAH! First Friends, now Joan? If I ever come home, what will i watch? My two favorite shows are gone!!! And I was in love with Kevin..now who do i love??? AAAAH!!! anyway, mommy, call the school because you missed my phone call. And write me. Second Phase sucks more than Level 4 did at earning!!!!
Your 11th grader
Julie

[Tim]

Thank-you for sending the feedback on to Barbara. I'm sure everything creative people [...like you and your sister...] create occupies a "special" place in your heart, but it seemed to me from the clips I've heard from Barbara, that Joan is the flowering of a seed she'd been pondering for a long time, and that perhaps it was just a little more "special". But then, my opinion is nowhere near objective; and I wouldn't wish it so. A truly wonderful creation. I don't know about most others, but for us, the "special" appeal was directly tied to our own personal struggles with spirituality, faith, God-stuff, over these last few years. It just seemed every episode, when filtered through our own personal trial, had that much more meaning for us. It has been, bar none, the most incredible TV experience of my lifetime.

Thanks again,
Tim

[Kara]

Thanks for taking the time to pass these notes along to your sister.

Please let her know that her show was much loved by a lot of people. It was the only show that really stuck in my head after it was over. Most tv shows leave my brain the minute I change the channel. "Joan" was thought-provoking and honest. I really admired the way they refused to sugarcoat the hard things in life, that we are faced with hard decisions and sometimes we make the wrong choices. I loved that she showed how complicated our relationship with God and with each other can be, but also how important. It is really a shame that such a wonderful program gets cut short because it pulls in the wrong demographics.

On a brighter note, I wish Barbara and everyone else involved in the show great success in their future endeavors. And to Karen - congrats on your new gig. I will definitely have to check that show out this fall.

Thanks again,

Kara

[christin wendt aka crazychrizzy]

Hi Karen, thank you so very much for passing these postings on to your sister!!

I would like to thank you Barbara Hall, for the greates show I've ever seen 'Joan of Arcadia!' Never has a tv show ever changed my life before! Joan of Arcadia has given me inspiration, self-confidence and has brought forth sides of me, that I didn't even know or dreamed existed!! Barbara you and your show has made me a better person, thank you so very much for the time and effort you put into it!! Joan of Arcadia did make a difference in a lot of peoples lives in different countries, I myself am 34 and living in The Netherlands.

[Tapati McDaniels]

I'd also like to thank you for passing these comments on.

If not a tv movie wrapping things up (feature film would be great too!) how about shopping it around? Is it available to be sold to another interested network? Sci Fi/Fantasy fans consider it to be part of their genre, and as such it gets far better ratings than most such shows, so certainly there would be interest in acquiring it. SciFi channel, USA, NBC seems to be doing such shows right now (make a great pairing with Medium), WB...someone would want it.

We are all anxious as well about whether Season 2 will be released on DVD as well. We are all doing our part to buy up Season 1 in order to make that happen.

Last, if nothing else materializes, might she write a series of books about Joan? Or allow others to write such books? Star Trek stayed alive for many years from books alone.

I started watching Joan while recovering from the impact of heart disease and bypass surgery on my life. It was almost eerie how each week the show would mirror a particular issue I myself was working on. I am so sad to see it go, just as it was turning a particularly interesting corner.

Blessings to your sister for her vision--as a Wiccan I didn't feel that her vision of God/Goddess excluded me and that was a miraculous thing all by itself!

Blessed be--

Tapati McDaniels

[Denise Henderson]

I would love for Barbara and everyone associated with "Joan of Arcadia" to know how much the show meant to me and to my family. My husband and I watched it with our now fifteen- and eleven-year-old sons, and it was such a positive influence on our lives! It was intellent and provoked so many interesting discussions for us. How fantastic to watch characters who seemed so real work their way through problems just like we have! It showed how sometimes, even in the very worst of times, God is working for us and with us. I am so disappointed in CBS for not sticking with "Joan." But I am very grateful for the two wonderful years. Thanks!

[Scott Herr]

Thanks so much, Karen, for passing these comments onto your sister. I'm sure it does her heart good to know that so many people are sad to see what is probably her best show go off the air.

I had the privilege of hearing Barbara speak at the Inter-Mission meeting when I was in LA last September and developed a real love for the show. I especially liked the theme of staying true to your true nature as well as the fact that it seemed to be the only show on television that actually challenged its viewers to become better people.

I also loved all the references to science, philosophy, and poetry. The truths that were imparted were so subtle and profound that I'm sure it must have given everyone pause to think. I know of so many people that grew because of the show.

I felt that this Season brought much more depth and insight to the show. I especially loved the fact that evil had been introduced in a very real and personal way. I do hope the show will be able to continue in some capacity whether on CBS or on cable somewhere. It really worth the effort.

I am sorry for you, Barbara, but I thank you for the work you did over the last two years. I know that it wasn't in vain since I am enjoying the DVD very much. I do hope you'll consider selling the show to a cable network. I would definitely watch.

God bless,
Scott Herr

[Tim]

KAREN:

There's no chance for the show to be resurrected. Okay, I can deal with that.

What about the concept, though? Will it live again? Perhaps from your sister and/or you?

Thank-you for hosting the blog. Its really neat to be able to communicate semi-directly with a known and reputable "insider".

Share some brief thoughts about the birth of the concept of Joan. You were certainly involved in it, right?

Tim

[Jaime Lynne]

Hi Karen:
Please tell your sister that I am truly sorry that they have cancelled her show Joan of Arcadia. I just realized that it was cancelled today (I guess being up here in Canada I might be out of the loop of things like this). I think it was one of the most original shows on television. It's a tragedy that we will no longer be available to watch and realize each show how helping someone, or doing a few selfless things can cause a chain reaction of goodness. I think a 'movie' to wrap up the show would be a good idea too. I'm looking forward to the 2nd season being released sometime in the near future ( I hope!!).