The 'Nancy Drew' Pilot Was 'Too Female' for CBS? Twitter Reacts
Girls have cooties anyway, right? According to "Person of Interest"), because the wrong half of the population was into it. Here's how Deadline's Nellie Andreeva described the rejection:
"'Drew' is not going forward at CBS but is being shopped to other outlets by CBS TV Studios. I hear the pilot tested well but skewed too female for CBS' schedule. In the end of the day, I hear the network had no 8 PM or 9 PM slot available.
Written/executive produced by [Joan] Rater and [Tony] Phelan, 'Drew' stars Sarah Shahi as Nancy — now in her 30s — a detective for the NYPD where she investigates and solves crimes using her uncanny observational skills, all while navigating the complexities of life in a modern world. Anthony Edwards, Felix Solis and Rob McClure co-star in the project, also executive produced by Dan Jinks."
Sounds like there were a lot of dudes involved, despite the project skewing "too female." Bustle had a good response to the decision:
"But instead of giving Drew a chance and providing a rare female-centric show, CBS didn't pick it up. It did manage, however, to find room on its schedule for a Training Day reboot, a MacGyver reboot, a show about a young Dr. Phil, and three male-centric sitcoms, so I guess being 'too male' is not a thing. It should be noted that CBS also shipped Supergirl over to The CW and cancelled the Patricia Arquette-led CSI: Cyber. Add that to the fact that The Good Wife was also cancelled in the 2015-2016 season, leaving Madam Secretary, Mom, and 2 Broke Girls as the only returning CBS shows that focus on female leads, this is hugely frustrating. [...] Even more, calling a show "too female" is that it suggests men will not watch a show about women, that it's too much of a stretch to ask them to relate to a female character."
Twitter picked up the "too female" reference and got it trending on Twitter Sunday:
LoL @CBS realizing there are roughly 3.5 BILLION women on this planet. "Omg, Earth is #TooFemale!"
— Kristen Zimmer (@kristen_zimmer) May 15, 2016
#TooFemale shows that execs could learn from old Hollywood—which valued women moviegoers & women-centric narratives. pic.twitter.com/I8YLPk2uA4
— The Nitrate Diva (@NitrateDiva) May 15, 2016
Looks like @netflix ain't afraid to be #toofemale. I hear #NancyDrew is looking for a home. pic.twitter.com/s2GBeJa4os
— Scott Wooledge (@Clarknt67) May 15, 2016
Remember me, @CBS? I played an investigator on a runaway hit show. You even did a knockoff! #toofemale cc: @GillianApic.twitter.com/hBFRZbN8SZ
— Memeographs (@memeographs) May 15, 2016
It is 2016, and we still have people who think telling a woman's story is too much of a risk. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? #toofemale
— Kathleen Smith (@fangirltherapy) May 15, 2016
This is getting ridiculous! Some crazy network exec just busted into my room saying my nightstand is #toofemalepic.twitter.com/gFxqUOyJp7
— Jen Kirkman (@JenKirkman) May 15, 2016
Raise your hand if you're #toofemale to watch @CBS!
— Jackie #TalkNerdy (@JackieTalkNerdy) May 15, 2016
My response to all those who believe in #toofemalepic.twitter.com/90L3JZ1t5p
— Justine Juel Gillmer (@JusJuel) May 15, 2016
Deadline did say the show was being shopped to other networks -- and it sounds like just about any other network would be better at this point -- and would-be star Sarah Shahi thanked fans for their support:
Wow! The outpour of love from women AND MEN is incredible. But all good! Something amazing is around the corner. #toofemale
— Sarah Shahi (@onlysarahshahi) May 15, 2016
Many cable channels aim for specific demographics, but it's troubling to hear that one of The Big Three TV networks was reportedly willing to pass on a primetime program for threatening to appeal to more women than men, especially when "women" as a group represent more than half of the population of the U.S. and the larger world. Wouldn't a network want to appeal to both genders and maybe even pick up some new viewers?
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