Steven Spielberg once said thatSouthland, a show with a 90% onRotten Tomatoesthat was unceremoniously canceled, was genius for its writing.Steven Spielberg has been directing moviessince the 1970s. He’s seen it all in Hollywood. Spielberg has worked with countless writers, producers, and other creatives, and not just in film. His early career was marked by directing stints onColumbo,The Name of the Game, andNight Gallery. His executive producing credits on television are even more impressive, with credits in everything fromThe PacifictoUnder the Dome.
If there’s anyone who knows quality, it’s Steven Spielberg. One of the admirable parts about him is thathe has always been willing to support the arts and voice his appreciation for works and people he thinks deserve it. Unlike a director like Quentin Tarantino, who is famously unapologetic about his opinions on film and television, Spielberg is a bit more of the kind, grandpa type. When it comes to writing for TV shows, it can be hard to maintain consistency and excellence for long, butSouthlandwas able to, and Spielberg noticed.
Steven Spielberg Once Called Southland A “Genius” TV Show With Great Writing
Spielberg Said That The Best Writing Was Happening On Television
In May 2009, Steven Spielberg received an honorary doctorate from Boston University, and in the lead-up to the ceremony, he did an interview withBU Today. Spielberg starts off bytalking about how good TV is as a training ground for filmmakersand that some of the best modern writing is happening in television. When asked what shows he’d been watching, Spielberg answered, “I watch the new show Southland that John Wells does, which I think is genius.” That was the first season of the series that Spielberg was talking about.
Spielberg Is Right About The 5-Season Procedural
Southland Is A Tightly Written And Focused Series
Steven Spielberg was on to something when he saidSouthlandwas genius. The five-seasonpolice procedural drama seriespremiered in 2009 and lasted until 2013. The series has a 90% onRotten Tomatoesand follows the lives of the members of the Los Angeles Police Department. Starring rookie officer Ben Sherman (Ben McKenzie) and his veteran training officer, John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz),Southlandis even more focused on the personal lives of the officers than most police procedurals. Operating with fewer serialized storylines,Southlandkept a tight focus.
Though it had a large cast,Southlandmostly focused on a tight group of individuals, including Cooper, Sherman, Lydia Adams (Regina King), and Sammy Bryant (Shawn Hatosy). This focus meant each character was given their due and fleshed out in a way characters in most procedurals are not always. It’s a realistic look at police work, with each drive to a crime scene, enough to put your heart in your throat as you wonder what the LAPD will need to deal with this time. It’s fast-paced and gripping, andthe straightforward plots show a real confidence in the writing.
The Reason Southland Was Canceled Despite Its Great Quality
Some Of The Actors Were Starring In Upcoming Pilots
Despite its strong critical ratings,Southlandwas canceled in May 2013, just a month after theSouthlandseason 5 finale (viaDeadline).Southlandoriginally premiered on NBC, but when the network dropped it, TNT picked it up for the next four seasons, making it something of a point of pride for the network. However, TNT had to make the difficult decision to cancel, with a rep from the network saying, “TNT has made the difficult decision not to renew Southland for another season. We are enormously proud of Southland, which stands as one of the best police dramas ever made.”
Executive producer ofSouthland, John Wells, has also producedER,Shameless, andThe Pitt.
While no official reason was given, the fact that three of the stars had roles on pilots that year that were in contention to be picked up may have had something to do with it. Hatosy appeared in CBS’sReckless, King in ABC’sDivorce: A Love Story, and McKenzie in CBS’sThe Advocates. It’s a bummer that the show was canceled while it was in its prime, but at least viewers, like Steven Spielberg, have five seasons ofSouthlandto return to.
Cast
WHERE TO WATCH
Southland is a gritty, realistic portrayal of the lives of Los Angeles police officers and detectives, emphasizing the personal and professional challenges they face while patrolling one of the nation’s most volatile cities.
