Black Friday

A statement from The WB:

For the last seven years Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer have been cornerstones of our network. The sum total of the work done on those shows has produced some of the proudest moments in our history. Like some of the great series that are leaving the air this year, including Frasier and Friends, the cast, crew, writers and producers of Angel deserve to be able to wrap up the series in a way befitting a classic television series and that is why we went to Joss to let him know that this would be the last year of the series on The WB. We have discussed continuing the Angel legacy with special movie events next year, which is still on the table. In a perfect world, all of these details would be completed before this information went to the press so that we could be definitive about the show's ongoing future. But in any case, we did not want to contemplate this being the last year of Angel without giving the show the option of crafting their own destiny for this character and for this series. David Boreanaz continues to be one of the finest, classiest and friendliest actors we have had the pleasure to work with and we hope that the relationship furthers from here. The same can be said for all the actors and producers on the show.

From: Joss Whedon, THE Senior Partner
To: Loyal Subjects at the Bronze Beta, Feb. 14, 2004

Some of you may have heard the hilarious news. I thought this would be a good time to weigh in. to answer some obvious questions:
No, we had no idea this was coming. Yes, we will finish out the season.
No, I don't think the WB is doing the right thing. Yes, I'm grateful they did it
early enough for my people to find other jobs.

Yes, my heart is breaking.

When Buffy ended, I was tapped out and ready to send it off. When Firefly got the axe, I went into a state of denial so huge it may very well cause a movie.
But Angel... we really were starting to feel like we were on top, hitting our stride -- and then we strode right into the Pit of Snakes 'n' Lava.
I'm so into these characters, these actors, the situations we're building... you wanna know how I feel? Watch the first act of "The Body."

As far as TV movies or whatever, I'm not thinking that far ahead. I actually hope my actors and writers are all too busy. We always planned this season finale to be a great capper to the season and the show in general. (And a great platform for a new season, of course.) We'll proceed ahead as planned.

I've never made mainstream TV very well. I like surprises, and TV isn't about surprises, unless the surprise is who gets voted off of something. I've been lucky to sneak this strange, strange show over the airwaves for as long as I have. I don't FEEL lucky, but I understand that I am.

Thanks all for your support, your community, and your perfectly sane devotion. It's meant a lot. I regret nothing (except the string of grisley murders in the 80's -- what was THAT all about?) Remember the words of the poet:

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the road less traveled by and
they CANCELLED MY FRIKKIN' SHOW. I totally shoulda took the road that
had all those people on it. Damn."

See you soon.

-j.

And what do the other fans think?
From the Bronze Beta...

I feel like the Beatles have broken up all over again...radioreverie

This confuses me...Charmed is renewed, but Angel is not?...Christopher Marlowe

Best to think things through and then throw a BIG HONKING TANTRUM...Mariposa

I'd right now like to personally kick that talentless hack Jordan Levin in the nuts!...You renew that piece of crap Charmed and then gut Angel? Smart move there boy...ArchAngel

and from TV Without Pity...

Jordan Levin is the real bastard here. He was just at the Angel 100th bash a couple of
months ago, and he was praising everyone and keeping hope alive, while holding the axe above
their heads all along...Soliel

I'm blaming the cancellation on Eve. Eve ruins everything...NeenerNeener

From Matt Roush at TV Guide...

I have come to expect a certain level of quality from WB, and I have also become accustomed to the network not making that many regrettable programming decisions. Losing Buffy to UPN was one, letting Angel go before its creative team was ready is another. I will miss this world terribly. I think WB will come to miss it as well.

And from Nick Nunziata from CHUD...

There are stupid decisions and there are stupid decisions. Then there's decisions that make the banjo kid from Deliverance look like Sigmund Freud the Sea Monster. Why in the name of all that is unholy was the plug pulled on Angel?...(It's) one of the very greatest genre shows on television....(much) more interesting than Smallville. Much less an affront to the psyche than anything sporting the grim visage of Jessica Simpson and her Lachey.

If the powers that be in TV Land don't get their heads out of the ass collective, it'll be the end of an era. It really will. Folks, this is a really special little show, one that I think BURIED Buffy right out of the gate. Fight for this little guy.

And this message from the prez of Mutant Enemy, Chris Buchanan...

Hi, Chris Buchanan here from Mutant Enemy. Long time lurker, first time poster.
Thought it was about time (OK, it's way past time), to give all of the ANGEL fans an enormous shout out/thank
you directly from Joss and all of us at Mutant Enemy.
Your kind words, support and efforts (flowers, beanie babies, postcards, mobile billboards, adverts, etc.,
etc.) in the weeks since the cancellation of ANGEL was announced, have been darn near overwhelming. We
really, really appreciate the love.
It goes without saying here at the Bronze Beta, but I also wanted to let you all know that the
Buffy/Angel-verse will never die.
While we consider the possibility of Season 6 of ANGEL as remote as the discovery of WMDs in Iraq, Mutant
Enemy already has plans for more tales from the world of ANGEL. I can't comment on exactly what form they'll
take, but rest assured, it's in the works.
Thanks again to all of the fans, the "Save Angel"organizations, and your efforts taken in our behalf.
You kids are the best! ...Buchanan

Still, Angel has lived on, along with many from the Buffyverse, through Dark Horse and our imaginations.