Last week, ABC cancelled Of Kings and Prophets after just two airings. Viewers who were enjoying the biblical drama are understandably upset that the network won’t be airing the remaining episodes. However, not everyone is sorry to see the TV series go.
Parents Television Council (PTC), a “non-partisan education organization advocating responsible entertainment”, had been pushing for the series to be cancelled even before it premiered. The group criticized the show for its sexual and violent content. In a statement, PTC president Tim Winter said the series “demonstrates a disconnect” between the entertainment industry and family audiences:
The real question here is, why wouldn’t ABC and the show’s producers want to reach the largest audience possible by making a series based on the Bible able to be viewed by families? Instead it appears that their primary objective was to be edgy and explicit, rather than to entertain with a biblical story. And in so doing, they’re carving away a large percentage of their potential market. This further demonstrates a disconnect between what the entertainment industry wants to produce and what family audiences want to consume.
Now that the series has been cancelled, due to low ratings, the PTC is claiming victory. From the organization’s website:
“The only reason networks cancel a show without burning off the remaining episodes is that there is no advertiser support. The dollars simply aren’t there, and it is more economical for them to air something else entirely – despite the fact that they’ve paid for those unaired episodes. And based on the conversations we’ve had over the past few days with several of the most premiere sponsors in the country – during which we questioned their underwriting such over-the-top graphic violence in Of Kings and Prophets, it was clear that advertiser support for the show was quickly evaporating. While we applaud ABC’s cancellation of the show, we can’t help but wonder why they would choose to air it in the first place,” said Parents Television Council President Tim Winter
What do you think? Do you think that Of Kings and Prophets should have been cancelled? Do you think PTC’s actions had any effect or was this just another case of a show being cancelled becasue not enough people watched?
I have been thoroughly enjoying this great series. Don’t have any children, so the sex and violence doesn’t perturb me, it’s all part of life at that time, so they couldn’t very well make a series without it. The sets are very authentic and the acting is superb. Wish they would bring it back and possibly put it on later so the kids are in bed or just don’t watch it if it upsets you so much.
You know I think it’s so sad. They’re promoting gay marriage in a childrens cartoon, but don’t want to show Of Kings and Prophets. They say it’s because of the sex and violence, I can’t turn on the TV now-a-days without seeing gays,violence,and sex. If that’s the case many shows need to be cancelled. I love my Lord and I have seen many shows and movies that we’re supposed to be biblical. Besides Passion of The Christ this is the best display of the Lord’s almighty power. I feel that the world should see this show. But the world is… Read more »
Am very annoyed right now from Zambia. This series is the best have ever watched. Game of thrones 10 zero!!!!!! From this one. Please anyone with infor on where I can get even a CD or DVD
Shameful …this was great show … More… This is the second Christian show that they have cancelled something is not right at least you can put the rest of the episodes out to be streamed or on demand come on…
Why is it that people who have an issue with content or have any other contempt for something feel the need to drag the rest of us into it ? PLEASE STOP THIS ! just turn your TV off ~ and learn to monitor your children so you can stop depriving the rest of us from something that we have a right to decide for ourselves
Don’t know who is more stupid, PTC or ABC. Homosexuality, male stupidity, glorification of Satan are apparently okay but an effort to tell biblical history isn’t acceptable! Once Castle ends I wont be watching any ABC shows.