Emerson Phillips
When CBS canceled Magnum P.I. last week, it was reported that it was a business decision – and not a creative decision – by CBS.
This coming, according to Deadline, after CBS and the studio that produces the show could not come to an agreement on the license fee as lower overall linear ratings have been pushing down on what networks are willing to spend on shows. The problem is most pronounced when a series comes from an outside studio as is the case with Magnum P.I.
Deadline asked CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl if negotiations over the license fee were contentious.
“Whoever’s got leverage tries to use it and if you have good partners you work together to find a win win for everybody,” Kahl said. “You have some tough decisions to make and you have lots of factors — and I’m not going to rule [the licensing fee] out as one of them. It was a great team to work with, and one of the tougher decisions we had to make.”
Up until the show was canceled, USA Today had been running a national “Save Our Shows” poll, allowing readers to vote for the television shows they’d like to see renewed for another season – Magnum P.I. was the top vote getter this year. But it was not enough to save the show.
Kahl literally had a tough call to make when he phoned CBS’ top comedy producer, Chuck Lorre, to inform him that two of his four series on the network, B Positive and United States Of Al, are being canceled.
“I’m not going to pretend and tell you he was happy. He was disappointed with the news but he’s the single most talented comedy producer I’ve certainly ever worked with,” Kahl told Deadline.
Kahl added that the network already is in talks with Lorre about potential new projects.
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three shows that I like. Although United States of Al I get tired of the one guy and his Afghan ways all the time. Can’t have it both ways. B Positive, the guy was annoying, but she was good. Magnum? I wonder if they would have cancelled it if Tom Sellek were still Magnum. Jay Fernandez does a good job, the plots are good, Higgens is gorgeous, and the rest of the cast does very well. So, of course, they would want to cancel it? Duh!
We loved Magnum!! Don’t worry want watch new shoes!
This was one of my favorite shows and you canceled it! Please put it back!!
You’re making a big mistake by cancelling this great show with such a great cast. Sorry to see it go 😢
I am VERY unhappy to see this great show canceled. What are you thinking? Oh, let’s put another “reality” show on with a bunch of half clad “contestants “ with no morals 😡
Yes, BIG mistake!! It’s my favorite show
Big mistake cancelling Magnum such a great show
Magnum is a great show. My family watch this show faithfully. Don’t cancel this show. It really is a great show and great entertainment for the whole family.
I love this show, such a stupid reason to cancel a top rated show like this. Get your acts together and bring it back in the fall!!!!!!!!
One of the only shows I watch on network TV. I loved this show.
It is all about ratings and commercial prices, the more a show costs to produce the less the networks keep of the advertising revenue. production cost has canceled many a show.
Dumb move cancelling Magnum PI. Just plain dumb.
It was really a BIG BIG BIG MISTAKE canceling Magnum, one of the best shows on TV.