Now this is just one die-hard fan’s opinion and I may be proven wrong in the long run by “Big Business” in TNT-land, but I wanted to share some thoughts on our favorite show, overnight ratings numbers and the prospects for the return of SouthLAnd for a new season.

First off, we need to understand what everyone is talking about when they talk about these ratings numbers. What are we really counting? Contrary to popular belief, we are not counting actual viewers in the United States. Excuse me for a moment, but I have to use a dirty word here. We are talking statistics. That’s right, just like in polls, the Nielsen company is using statistical projections to calculate those numbers that are presented as “fact” to everyone. The reality is, there are only something like 25,000 households actually being counted (I could be wrong) out of the entire population of the US. That is a very, very tiny statistical sampling. How widely distributed is that sampling? Over what geographic area? What races, incomes, household types, etc., etc.,? Nobody knows – it’s a “trade secret” that is closely held by the Nielsen group. So where was the “dirty word?” Remember what Mark Twain said? “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” (continue reading…)

A fan review by Davina Gantz aka @gingercara

When NBC made the very poor decision to cancel SouthLAnd two weeks before it’s season 2 premier I was crushed. Season 1 was so great, the last episode kept us hanging. Does Detective Russell live or die? That is one of many things I kept wondering about as I eagerly awaited October 23. Much to my disappoint NBC canceled the show with little warning or even a good reason for canceling. Thankfully TNT picked up the show.

On January 12 2010 SouthLAnd made it’s cable TV premier, uncensored and commercial free. 7 episodes later March 2nd finally arrives bringing us a brand new never before seen episode. I went to a friend’s house to watch the marathon of the previous 7 episodes to prepare for the brand new episode.  Ten o’clock finally arrived and the show began.

I was on the edge of my seat as I watched the riot scene unfold and then the show quickly goes to the story of the old man who gets kidnapped while working in his rose garden. Much to my relief we find out that Russell survived the shooting and is in the hospital recovering.  We are introduced to Lydia’s new partner. I didn’t like him at first, he was pompous, and trying to hard to be liked. By the end of the episode I kind of liked him. He had some redeeming qualities.

I loved seeing Officer Sherman driving the car and listening to Cooper tell him to slow down, kind of like a father teaching his child how to drive. The scene in the warehouse with the perp hanging from the ceiling was hysterical. The show then goes back to the riot scene where Chickie is forced to call for help because her partner Slug hid in the car like a frightened child. The scene is very intense and a little scary to watch. Cooper, Sherman, and Chickie did a great job getting the perp out of the mob while Slug sits in the car doing nothing. I love how the show can go from being borderline comedy with Cooper’s sarcastic comments to scary serious in a matter of seconds.

It was great seeing Sammy and Nate again, I love their chemistry but it gets tested when Nate’s former partner from another division shows up. Will this affect the chemistry and friendship between Sammy and Nate? Only time will tell. I cried when Lydia cried after her visit with Russell at the hospital. Will he return to work? Again, only time will tell. This episode shows once again why this ensemble cast works so well. This episode was well scripted and acted. I can’t wait until next weeks episode. And the episode after that and the next one after that.

I was a huge ER fan. For 15 years I faithfully watched every Thursday night. Through good times and bad storylines, I never abandoned the doctors and nurses at County.  

Then I heard that it was coming to an end and would be replaced by a cop show. I was upset. What was I going to watch on Thursday nights?   

But I watched a bit of the first episode of Southland and decided I didn’t hate it. It wasn’t ER, but John Wells was involved and that was a good thing. For reasons still unknown to me, I didn’t watch another episode Southland and I’m ashamed to admit I forgot about it until a month or so ago.  

I loved Michael Cudlitz in Band of Brothers. His portrayal of Sergeant Denver ‘Bull’ Randleman blew me away, so I went in search of more of his work. I Googled Mr. Cudlitz and discovered he had a Twitter page, as did I. So I began to follow him 2/20/10(after NBC had canceled Southland) and I have to say that’s one of the smartest things I’ve ever done. Not only am I privy to his wit and wisdom, but I am fortunate to have made several new friends as well.  

Southland is a rarity in television, in my opinion. A well-written drama with an ensemble cast that is far and away one of the best to come along since the days of MASH. For me, the fact that the cast isn’t riddled with 20 year old bleached-blondes with capped teeth and spray-on tans is a plus. Nothing against such creatures, but the cast of Southland is filled with ‘real’ people. People who could be your next door neighbor.  

I remember when NBC canceled Southland. And I also remember watching the first episode of Southland’s replacement and thinking that it was a bonehead move. Boy, was I spot on in that thought. But, like I said, I didn’t think anything else about the show. (I claim temporary insanity!!) 

While channel surfing one night, I stopped on TNT. I didn’t immediately recognize the program that was on, but it caught my attention and held it for the next hour. I had rediscovered the magic that is Southland and I was HOOKED! Finally! A police drama that didn’t disappoint! Far from it, in fact. It was damn good! Characters that you actually root for, plot lines that are believable and the good guys don’t always win. What a ride! 

I wasn’t around for the Save Southland campaign. Wish I had been. But I want to thank everyone who was a part for all their hard work and dedication to this magnificent show. And I want to thank the Cudlitz Army for taking me into their fold and making me feel like a member of the family. I love you all. 

I also want to thank Bob for all his hard work creating the Southland website and maintaining it in a most stellar manner.  

But most of all I want to thank all the actors, writers, directors, producers and crew for their part in giving us a quality program that I hope will be around for years to come.

As I sit here days before the Southland premier, I am wondering why am getting so emotional about a TV show airing. So I started thinking about the last few months and how I got to this point.
A coworker told me about Southland a cop show that was going into ER time slot. I love cop shows and decided to watch. I did and I was hooked. As the last of the 7 episodes ended, I started looking up the actors on the show to see what else they were in. I started with Michael Cudlitz since I loved his character Cooper. I found him on Twitter and started following just to see if there were any news about Southland. What I found were people like me who loved the show and he actually conversed with them about it and I couldn’t believe it. An actor who actually cares about fans – I was floored! So I started following a few more people who believed in the show.
When the show was suddenly cancelled, it was like a bomb hit me but it figures! I always follow the underdog and the teams I root for rarely win. What came about it still blows my mind. Phone numbers, websites, email addresses were posted – call, write let the network know you are upset! So I joined in never thinking it would ever come about, but power of the people! It happened – Southland was saved picked up by TNT. Some would say that it happened without any fans or ‘Cudlitz Army’ doing what we did, but that is fine. Everyone has a right to their opinion but you know what we did, it saved Southland!
Over the last few months, I have made some many wonderful friends through all of this from New York, Maryland, Kentucky, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and even Japan and Spain and everywhere in between. Yes, I do call you friends even though I probably will never meet any of you, but you really should never say never. Who knows what will happen in our future. But what I have discovered most is an actor who spoke out about a show that he believed in and cares about his fans. THANK YOU Michael Cudlitz, you inspired us to help save a show that we love. I wish you , the cast and everyone involved in Southland a very long and successful run on TNT.
To all the Twitters who follow Michael and Southland, thank you! Guys, we did it! We did it!