Unfortunately, their anger at seeing their favorite vampire-themed CBS show from the 2007 – 2008 TV season being canceled after only one season clearly has some of them a little rattled. How else to explain this thoroughly random E-mail that was received by Bullz-Eye’s resident publicists at Michael J. Media?

Subject: Why does good shows die and stupid shows live

What is wrong with Moonlight? It is clear there is a following. What is that not good enough? Does it have to be so obscene that I’m embarrassed to show my kids like Family Guy? Does it have to be outrageously stupid like sucking up demon in a vacuum cleaner like Reaper does? I mean what does it have to do? Can’t say the strike killed it when crap like Reaper comes back. Moonlight is to me and probably everyone else the greatest show to premier this year and for you to pull the plug is stupid and as all these fans are letting you know a big mistake. So do us a favor let the people with their obscene sense of humor who live shows like Family Guy and Reaper have their show and let us have ours.

Let’s tackle the E-mail bit by bit, shall we? And to be polite, I won’t even pick apart the grammar and spelling.

What is wrong with Moonlight? It is clear there is a following. What is that not good enough?

It’s only good enough if that following results in decent ratings. “Jericho” had a following, too, but if CBS learned anything from resurrecting that series for a second season, it’s that cult shows with rabid fan bases don’t equal big ratings. There was much talk about how “Moonlight” was coming back post-strike on the bubble of possible cancellation, and to be fair, the network offered more press and promotion for its return than they’d normally offer one of their Friday night shows, but in the end, the new episodes just didn’t inspire enough new viewers to tune in, and once they saw the ratings, there was never any real chance that CBS was going to renew “Moonlight.” It’s unfortunate timing that the network was still smarting from having been burned ratings-wise by their good-will gesture of giving “Jericho” a second season, but them’s the breaks.

Does it have to be so obscene that I’m embarrassed to show my kids like Family Guy?

You know someone’s bitter when they start holding up their favorite canceled show as the industry standard for quality and talk shit about other series that are still on the air, but, wow, what a total “apples and oranges” comparison. Actually, my 2-year-old thinks “Family Guy” is a stitch…but as soon as she quotes me back a line from it, it’s back to “Super Why.” Still, I think I’d rather her listen to jokes she doesn’t get than let her watch the undead as they fight, bite, and suck (not necessarily in that order).

Does it have to be outrageously stupid like sucking up demon in a vacuum cleaner like Reaper does? I mean what does it have to do? Can’t say the strike killed it when crap like Reaper comes back.

Oh, come on, that’s just mean. If you’re going to complain about a freshman series on The CW making it into a sophomore year, at least make it “Gossip Girl.” (I’ve been on my as-a-parent rant about this show before, but, seriously, I can’t believe they’re actually using the acronym “OMFG” as part of the advertising campaign.) Besides, are you really going to act all high and mighty about the supposed stupidity of a series about Satan’s minions when the show you’re defending is about vampires?

Moonlight is to me and probably everyone else the greatest show to premier this year

It might be to you, and that’s totally your right, but it’s a little presumptuous to think that everyone else agrees with you. Personally, I thought the greatest show to premiere this year was “Reaper.” Oh, sweet irony, how I love you so…

and for you to pull the plug is stupid and as all these fans are letting you know a big mistake.

Unless the Farleys have developed more power in the TV industry as a result of Mike’s “American Idol” and “Hell’s Kitchen” blogs than I’ve realized, I’m pretty sure they aren’t directly responsible for what shows live and die. (Well, maybe on Fox, but definitely not on CBS.)

So do us a favor let the people with their obscene sense of humor who live shows like Family Guy and Reaper have their show and let us have ours.

And, wow, wouldn’t the world be a better place if TV networks actually did work this way? But they don’t.

The reality is this: your show is gone. It might’ve been nice if it had stuck around, and God love you “Moonlight” nuts (and I mean that 90% lovingly and only a sparing 10% as an actual description of your state of mind), but CBS has canceled it, and as of this writing, no-one else is jumping into the fray to pick it up. Maybe it will be revisited at some future juncture the way “Firefly” was, but right now, you should probably just calm down, accept the situation, and focus on the thoughtful, reasonable words of the show’s star, Alex O’Loughlin:

Dear Friends, Family and wonderful, wonderful Fans of MOONLIGHT.

Well, where to start….?

The decision to cancel MOONLIGHT… my MOONLIGHT… our MOONLIGHT, is as much of a shock and gut wrenching surprise to me as it is to all of you.

Really, I don’t even know where to begin.

I sit here at my computer, still slack jawed even 24 hours after receiving the news that my services are no longer required on the set of this show. A show we have all come to know and love deeply, and it hurts more than I can possibly tell you.

Since i got THE CALL I have not read anything online or otherwise, I have not been following blogs or forums, I have not been reading the trades or opinion polls and I have not been calling around to get information. “Why are you not fighting for your show?!” I hear you all scream!! The truth is my friends, I never STOPPED fighting for it. From the very beginning when I was told time and again that i wasn’t the man for the job, having to prove myself to everyone with tests and screen tests, to a complete re-casting of the show, through 5 different show runners at the helm with 5 different artistic visions, to a Writer’s strike that took 5 episodes away from us…… oh how the list goes on. But through all of that, i am proud to say that not once did I bow down and allow someone else to come in and do with MOONLIGHT as they
please. And along the way, if I needed a break and wanted to do that, I don’t think I could have anyway because, well, I suppose it’s just not in my nature! 😉

This is all still so fresh for me and I am going to need a little time to process this whole thing before i can digest what has actually happened, let alone move on.

Honestly. I really feel lost for words.

I will say however, that never, never in my life have I experienced first hand a level of support from a group of people like that of you all who are reading this now, and who ‘loved this show to life’ alongside me. It has been overwhelming to say the least.

I am grateful to you all.
I am extremely proud to be associated with this piece of television.
And I am so, so sorry to my very core, to lose MOONLIGHT.

All my love,

Alex O’Loughlin x