No Hope For Television

FOX dropped the ball again. “Raising Hope” was the best comedy on TV, and the most quirky fun I've had in a long time.

Burt and Virginia Chance (Garret Dillahunt and Martha Plimpton) were TV's best couple, and the show had the best supporting cast on TV: Gregg Binkley as Barney, Todd Giebenhain as Frank, Kate Micucci as Shelley, and of course Cloris Leachman's brilliant performance as Maw Maw.

Sure, Lucas Neff and Shannon Woodward were average at best as Jimmy and Sabrina, but the rest of the cast more than made up for it, and Burt and Virginia were the main focus of the show anyway, and rightfully so. Sure, they got away from the premise of Hope's upbringing, in favor of more quirky adventures, but that's what made the show so great. 

The show still had a lot left in the tank. It hadn't gotten stale at all. There was a lot more they could have done yet.

Once again, FOX had a great show, and once again, they failed to promote it, moved its time slot too many times, and gave up on it way too soon.

Poor Jeffrey Tambor (Virginia's father, Arnold) was on the wrong end of FOX's ineptness again (Arrested Development). Series Creator Greg Garcia once again had a quirky comedy with a loyal cult following canceled after 4 seasons (My Name Is Earl). His other current show, The Millers, just doesn't have the quirky feel of “Raising Hope” and “My Name Is Earl”. It comes off as normal TV fare, despite starring the brilliant Will Arnett.

I will miss tuning in to one of the few shows worth watching in these sad days for television. Pat yourselves on the back, America, as you corrode your brain with the mindless drivel, rehashed content, and staged reality shows which you have demanded the television landscape be littered with.

©2014 Denim McDemus