News > Cancellation and Euphemisms Go Hand in Hand

July 2, 2007

Written by Anthony Burch
 
Anyone who has ever had a douchebaggy, passive-aggressive boss will know what it feels like: you're getting reprimanded, but instead of actually coming out and saying what he wants to say, your boss tiptoes the issue, uses passive voice, shifts blame, and -- worst of all -- uses euphemisms.
 
The LA Times reports that the situation is exactly the same when TV shows get cancelled: instead of outright saying "cancelled," the network will use whatever vocabulary possible to avoid direct statements. Such euphemisms for "cancelled" include:
 
-Pulled indefinitely
-Permanent Hiatus
-Off the schedule
-Not renewed
 
There are reasons for this doublespeak, of course. Studio executives shy away from harsh, confrontational language to keep from offending writers and/or fans: oftentimes, studios attempt to follow up with a writer after his show has been cancelled, in an attempt to get something more out of him. Telling him his show has been "cancelled" because it "sucked balls" might understandably distance said writer. Not to mention the fact that strong words like "cancelled" draw a bit too much attention to what essentially amounts to a failure for the studio. Using words like "on hiatus" or "not renewed" allows low-rated shows to fade off quietly into the TV graveyard without attracting too much attention.
 
Still, this sort of language and attitude remains balls-out irritating for actual fans of the show: when hearing that Veronica Mars or Jericho are "not on the schedule" as opposed to outright "cancelled," it gives the rabid fan an unfair amount of hope. Maybe it'll be back! Maybe it's only on a temporary break!
 
Yeah. Maybe not. 
 
 
 

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