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Shark

James Woods as Sebastian Stark in Shark
  • Posted at 5:20pm
  • 19 June 2008
  • by AlisonGraham-RT
  • 8 comments

I was unfeasibly annoyed when I learnt that Shark (Fridays, 10:00pm, Five) had been cancelled by its American network. Not that it's a masterpiece of popular drama, you understand - it's fairly formulaic and frequently very silly. But at least every week it has a decent enough story arc that makes some kind of sense, with a beginning, a middle and an end. It's not meandering, self-indulgent twaddle like, say, Heroes, or soapy pap like Brothers and Sisters and Dirty Sexy Money.

And daft though it is, Shark, which stars James Woods as a straight-talking LA special prosecutor, is rarely boring, thanks to a breathless pace and dialogue that isn't so much spoken as spat out, on the run, by the well-coiffured cast. Shark is so good it's even helped me get over my lifelong aversion to James Woods. I've never liked him, and I don't know why.

But Shark fits him well and the fact that I find Woods resistible is useful as you don't actually have to like him or his character, Sebastian Stark. In much the same way as you don't have to like Gregory House in House to find the show interesting. (Though having said that, the current season of House has been, by and large, abysmal.)

There's one particular reason why Shark's cancellation caused me more anguish than I'd expected. Apparently it was canned partly because it failed to attract younger viewers. Yes, depressing, isn't it? Television, or US television at least, seems to be at the mercy of the whims of mewling teens. Who cares that they don't like it? Shouldn't they be sulking in their rooms playing endless computer games and posting their ungrammatical, stupid thoughts on idiot-boards like Facebook or MySpace, or filming themselves farting for YouTube?

But then, why would any teen watch Shark? They wouldn't be able to understand it, as characters talk in complete sentences. People over a certain age will doubtless remember those golden days when we communicated with one another using words, expressions and even emotions, rather than teen grunts and that singular written language of the lobotomised fool, text-speak. But, heigh-ho.

So Shark is no more. Once this current season (truncated to 16 episodes by the US writers' strike) on Five finishes, that's it. Shame. Mind you, some cancellation decisions are entirely understandable. I think I am possibly the only person in the world who's attempted to sit through an episode of Six Degrees, inexplicably bought by ITV1 and shown in the graveyard post-News at Ten slot on Wednesdays. It's tortuous, tormented rubbish, justifiably shot down after a measly handful of episodes.

**

Alison Graham is TV editor of Radio Times - read her column in the latest issue of Radio Times magazine, out now.

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Comments

  • Posted on 21 July 2008
  • at 8:22pm
  • by Buck

The term 'story arc' refers to a plot line that runs through a number of episodes in a series (or an entire series). Surely, even a mewling teen would know that.

  • Posted on 23 June 2008
  • at 8:41pm
  • by Minkiesmum

I'd no idea it had been cancelled. That's really disappointing as it's a great show. So was Raines and that was axed after only one series !!

  • Posted on 23 June 2008
  • at 8:41pm
  • by Minkiesmum

I'd no idea it had been cancelled. That's really disappointing as it's a great show. So was Raines and that was axed after only one series !!

  • Posted on 22 June 2008
  • at 12:18pm
  • by Luke

The comment above describes me as well. This blog is just "young people today" again.

  • Posted on 21 June 2008
  • at 7:40pm
  • by Tee

I agree, John. I'm not much of a Shark fan and watch about 10 minutes of the end sometimes just when House is following and it reminds me of Perry Mason but in HD. I usually love reading your thoughts but this one's got on my nerves. Try not to generalise teenagedom to appeal to your age group, don't think it's going to do you any favours.

  • Posted on 21 June 2008
  • at 9:20am
  • by Roz

Yes, belittle an entire group why not? After all every teenager is unable to communicate in full sentences and all use chat-speak, aprat from all those who don't but ignore them because they don't conform to your ideal and it's not teenagers who the show missed out on its 20-25, and knowing America, white males. And really, isn't this just your idiot-board?

  • Posted on 21 June 2008
  • at 9:20am
  • by Roz

Yes, belittle an entire group why not? After all every teenager is unable to communicate in full sentences and all use chat-speak, aprat from all those who don't but ignore them because they don't conform to your ideal and it's not teenagers who the show missed out on its 20-25, and knowing America, white males. And really, isn't this just your idiot-board?

  • Posted on 20 June 2008
  • at 6:20pm
  • by John

I'm 19. I use Facebook. I enjoy computer games. I also love Shark (and House.) Why do the article on this blog consistently belittle a section of TV viewership? You raise some valid points here but find it necessary to fill your article with a mindless off-topic rant.

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