In a recent interview with the StarTribune’s CJ, Nate Berkus reflected on what went wrong with The Nate Berkus Show. The series was cancelled after two seasons on the air and the last episode aired on May 24th.
I think that for me it probably wasn’t the best decision to do a daytime, hourly talk show every single day. Design is something I think is elective. It’s something a lot of people feel is a luxury. It’s not must-see TV. For me, design is really important, but in order to do a show every day you have to talk about a lot of other things. You have to talk about cooking, fashion, style.
The truth is I’m very grateful that I had two full seasons — the show is on until September. It takes a long time for a show to gain traction and to find its viewership. I had a very loyal audience on Facebook, on Twitter, posting and tweeting about how they loved this recipe or the talented people my producers and I found and made a part of the show. The audience was very loyal from the beginning but the audience didn’t grow by leaps and bounds. That’s the goal with a daily syndicated show. The ratings for my show were decent. We had a lot of viewers, a lot of people who had seen my work on “Oprah” and I think they expected the same from a daily show.
Truthfully, I was on “Oprah” about every six weeks for 10 years. The production that went into every single time I was there took weeks and weeks and weeks to do. You can’t replicate that magnitude when you are doing something every day. Would I do it again? Probably not. I learned a lot from that experience. I think the most important thing that I took away were the relationships that I have now; the producers [with whom] I worked. It’s almost like being in summer camp together. You’re in sort of the trenches every single day and as soon as you finish a show you’ve got another one coming right up the pipeline. It’s like a column. It was definitely a wonderful experience for me, but I learned it’s probably not what I was meant to do and that’s OK.
What do you think? Do you agree with Berkus’ assessment? What do you think worked? What didn’t? Are you missing the program?
Nate – I miss your show – and you! – very much…….here in Israel we’re about two years behind USA. If I’m home I watch the Nate Berkus show every day – and enjoy it hugely. I understand YOUR reasoning for your show being cancelled: however, it is SO much better than most of TV nowadays!………..I am sure you are doing – and will continue so to do – great things. Many of us “Anglos” here in Israel miss you and wish only the best for you!
For the last few months, I have been able to watch “The Nate Berkus Show” on TV here in Israel….obviously, these shows are a couple of years old. I cannot understand why the show was cancelled: it is SO good…slick; entertaining & Nate has such a lovely, easy & natural TV personality. His show was better than around 80% – 90% of some of the rubbish on our screens. His ideas were always innovative and interesting – albeit slightly wacky at times! – but that’s OK. Very sad – I wish him the very best – but would love to… Read more »
MISS NATE!!! Come back to TV!!!!
Dicha corona con fondo azul se incorporó a la bandera por privilegio de Pedro IV de Aragón
( Pedro el Ceremonioso ) en 1377.
Nate:
You are a very special person, I miss your show and wish you come back only if it’s once a week. God Bless You. Have a wonderful holiday season.
Every morning I get up at 5:00 am to watch The Nate Berkus Show while riding my stationary bike. It was an uplifting program full of color and fresh ideas. Watching it sparked creativity and kept me engaged for an hour long bike ride. I don’t care if it’s reruns in syndication. I want to watch Nate Berkus. Listening to people whine to a therapist who responds with sarcastic remarks is not how I want to start my day. If I’d had any idea that the show was going to be cancelled, I would have been DVRing. Come back, Nate,… Read more »
I THINK IT’S TERRIBLE THAT THE SHOW WAS CANCELED. THEY HAVE STUPID SHOWS LIKE JEREMY KYLE, WHICH IS A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME & A GOOD SHOW LIKE NATE BERKUS GOES OFF. THEY HAD IT ON HERE IN LAS VEGAS AT 1:37 AM, WHICH I’M SURE WAS PART OF THE REASON. NATE IS A GREAT GUY & HIS SHOW WAS GREAT & THEY SHOULD BRING HIM BACK. GET RID OF THE GARBAGE & PUT HIM BACK ON.
DIANE CAPPOLLA,
LAS VEGAS, NV
I miss seeing the Nate Berkus Show!
I disagree with Nate. He had a large following – me included. I loved watching his shows and found them enlightening. We need his help in making our homes our sanctuary. He was down to earth and helped us, who may be on a budget, learn how to decorate and be proud to be an individual with our own taste. Could Nate compromise and perhaps a weekly show? I just love his work and the variety that went into his show.
I miss Nate sooooo much. After working as a Principal for 16 years and a teacher and counselor for 12 years I retired in May 2011. Nate helped me transition from 28 years of working full-time to being a stay at home mom. I looked forward to the show EVERYDAY!!!! Nate is such a sincere, special person and exceptional designer. I hope he’ll consider doing another show. Enjoyed seeing Nate on Rachael Ray today. Love you Nate!!!!
I loved your show and was disapointed to see it cancelled.Moreover, you are such a gentle soul, that it is a shame not to be able to see you on TV.
Wherever path you take from now on, I know you will be blessed. I wish you the very best always.
I still miss the show every day. My husband and I are about to build our dream house and I wish Nate could help us. It’s an overwhelming task, and I did get many good ideas from Nate’s show. I wish he were at least doing segments on some show. What’s he up to these days?
Dear Nate,
I am going to miss you so-o-o-o much! I am a 70 year old woman who has many, many aches and pains and I always cheered up when I watched your show and your beautiful smiles every day! There was nothing like a Nate smile to make my day! Now what???
Dear Nate, Every day I look forward to my “Nate Smiles.” I am 70 years old and with all my ill health I probably do not have much left in me physically to put into use all your creative ideas — but I enjoy your show so-o-o much and no matter how down I get throughout the day from pain, there is you for one hour smiling and cheerful and generous and delightful and caring and just so precious to my mental health! I was shocked to hear I was going to lose you! With all the misery in this… Read more »