Fan reaction to the WB’s decision was predictable and swift. An “official” petition (Petition Online) was up within hours of Whedon himself being told on 13 February and had accumulated over 5,000 signatures by the next day, although there were soon so many petitions that their impact was dissipating before the wider public found out. More impressive was the “Support Angel” – Support Angel – boasting a range of jpegs to add to protest emails. Less net-savvy fans, meanwhile, found out on 18 February and flocked to the official website – The WB – only to find no mention of the cancellation beyond the bulletin boards. Consequently, early postings were evenly split between disbelieving and dyspeptic.
“What can I do? Our whole family watches it together. It’s the best show on the WB and they’re going to sacrifice it? (EDHLizabeth)
“I’M NEVER WATCHING THE WB AGAIN. LEVIN CAN LET THE NETWORK CRASH AND BURN. ITS WHAT THE (expletive deleted) DESERVES.” (Wilster 93)
However, the following day, arguments were beginning to gather focus, with Raconteur Girl putting it more succinctly than most:
“AtS is a product. Joss has to sell it. A Network will only be interested in “buying” if they see that product is in high demand. So – demand it guys – demand!”
The conspiracy theories were rife as well. Many claimed Angel – a vampire show – was cancelled to make way for another vampire show coming to the WB, the remake of Dark Shadows. Others were of the opinion that the WB only ever intended Angel to have a fifth season, because that gave them the magic 100 episodes needed to sell the show as a package into syndication. The latter seems unlikely, as the “magic 100” isn’t an issue any more for syndication.
Angel’s axing clearly is the most unexpected series cancellation since Futurama; also an unwanted child of a prized parent (Matt Groening) that no amount of petitions could protect. And yet, this is also the truest test of online fan power so far. Angel has an older fanbase than Buffy, but it’s still a younger franchise than conventional sci-fi fodder. As such, it’s a serious challenge to the cyber-generation to ether put up or shut up.
Your Angel needs you! So what can you do to get Angel reinstated or picked up by another network? The consensus among career-campaigners is as follows:
1. Write to the studio head, in this case Jordan Levin, WB Entertainment, 4000 Warner Blvd Building, 34R, Burbank, CA 91505
2. Let the media know, especially if you have a well designed website to back up your argument. Even when studios ignore fans, they always notice bad PR guys.
3. Tell Joss – okay, so the guy’s a millionaire genius already but as Lorne might say, “Hey, who doesn’t need a hug?” Send your love to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, 10201 West Pico Blvd, Building 41, Rm100, LA, CA 90035.
NB: You are strongly advised against kidnapping the CEO of Warner Brothers, wiring his genitals to electrodes and asking him how he can live with himself, before randomly punching buttons – attractive though the idea sounds……
Reproduced with the blessing of Dave Golder, Editor of SFX Magazine
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