Summary
- Jared Padalecki discusses Walker's cancellation and CW's strategic changes.
- Padalecki believes Nexstar is taking the CW in a different direction with more unscripted content.
- The CW's shift may lead to a loss of devoted viewers, as established shows like Walker are cancelled.
Actor Jared Padalecki opens up about Walker’s cancellation and the recent changes to the CW network’s strategy. Padalecki plays the titular character on the CW series, which began its run in 2021. Last month, it was announced that Walker was cancelled and would be ending its run after season 4.
Speaking with Variety, Padalecki discusses his reaction to Walker’s cancellation and the CW’s resultant changes. When asked if he knew anything about the details of Walker’s cancellation, Padelecki explains he thinks it was a “multivariate kind of issue” and that “Nexstar is going in a different direction with the CW.” Padalecki cites the network’s upcoming airing of Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble as examples. He also mentioned that the CW of today looks vastly different from the network he joined almost 20 years back. Check out the full quote from Padalecki below:
Yeah. I talked with the head of CBS and the head of Nexstar/CW, I talked with the other [executive producers] on “Walker,” and I think it was a multivariate kind of issue. My understanding is — and again, this is just what I’m told — that Nexstar is going in a different direction with The CW. I mean, they have an hour of “Trivial Pursuit” and an hour of “Scrabble” coming up. I don’t know why you wouldn’t just download the app or grab a board game and play with your friends, but they’re clearly just — what’s that great quote? It’s like, “If somebody tells you who they are, ask questions. If somebody shows you who they are, believe them.”
I feel like The CW that I was a part of last year is not The CW that I was a part of under [former chairman and CEO] Mark Pedowitz for that entire, almost 20-year stretch. They’re just changing the network around, where it’s not really going to be a TV network as much as it’s going to be, “Here’s something fun for an hour that you’ll never watch again, but hopefully you watch it. And it’s cheap!” And I hate to say that, but I’m just being honest. I mean, f*ck it. They can’t fire me again. I’m just being brutally honest. I think it felt to me like they were looking for really easy, cheap content that they could fill up time with.
The CW’s Recent Changes Explained
The nixing of these scripted television series has reportedly been a part of a move by the CW to move further into sports and unscripted content rather than their usual scripted series.
Walker’s cancellation after season 4 was upsetting enough for viewers. After Supernatural’s 15-season run closed out in 2020, Sam Winchester fans were hungry for more Padalecki-based content. Walker filled that void, giving audiences another glimpse at the actor in the leading role. Upon its release, Walker was generally well-liked. Season 3 got a staggering 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes, making the mid-season 4 cancellation announcement particularly upsetting.
Walker was not the only show to be cancelled by the network in recent times. This year, the network also cancelled the series The Spencer Sisters, Run the Burbs, and Everybody Burns. The cancellation of all of these shows was upsetting to some viewers, though Walker is certainly what hurt the most. The nixing of these scripted television series has reportedly been a part of a move by the CW to move further into sports and unscripted content rather than their usual scripted series.
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Padalecki’s quote highlights that there may be flaws with this plan. Nexstar and CW’s shifting is not merely a change in approach but it might alienate viewers. Padalecki summarizes this perspective well in saying that the network wants to give audiences “something fun for an hour that [they’ll] never watch again, but hopefully [they] do.” This kind of behavior may keep the audience’s eyes on the platform for the short term, but it means that the CW has still ultimately lost devoted viewers of its established shows like Walker.
Source: Variety
Walker
Drama
Crime
Action
Walker is The CW’s 2021 reboot of the ‘90s popular western Walker, Texas Ranger. The drama series was developed by Anna Fricke and stars Jared Padalecki as Cordell Walker, the titular Texas Ranger. Alongside Padalecki stars Molly Hagan, Keegan Allen, Violet Brinson, and Kale Kulley. Jared Padalecki’s wife, Genevieve, also appears in the series as Walker’s wife, Emily.
- Cast
- Mitch Pileggi , Molly Hagan , Chris Labadie , Jared Padalecki , Lindsey Morgan , Violet Brinson , Rebekah Graf , Keegan Allen , Odette Annable , Jeff Pierre , Gabriela Flores , Genevieve Padalecki , Coby Bell , Alex Landi , Kale Culley
- Release Date
- January 21, 2021
- Seasons
- 3
- Network
- The CW
- Streaming Service(s)
- HBO Max , Apple TV+
- Writers
- Mitch Pileggi
- Directors
- Anna Fricke
- Showrunner
- Anna Fricke
