Say what you will about The Cape—which is probably something along the lines of "That show is the suckiest suck of all things that are sucky"—but at least the show has some sort of identity. It's funtainment that's been bottled at the base of Mt. Funberg and funneled into fun bottles. Anyone who takes the show seriously needs to go back to college and retake Fun 101.
I could stand sit here for hours and talk about how The Cape has created its own world and tone and blah blah blah, but I don't want to because it's not worth it, and doing so won't change the show's destiny: It's going to get canceled. Correction, it probably will get canceled. This is NBC, after all. [UPDATE] NBC has cut the season order for episodes from 13 to 10. Not a good sign.
Ratings for The Cape are dropping faster than Charlie Sheen's pants at the AVN awards, with last night's episode drawing 5.3 million viewers (all of them card-carrying members of the Summer Glau fan club) and a 1.5 adult rating for a fourth-place finish. Those are the type of numbers that break through a studio exec's office wall, Kool-Aid Man-style—but instead of saying "Ohhh yeahhh!" and offering up a cool, sugary beverage, they take a dump on the boss's desk in the shape of the words, "Cancel Me!"
When The Cape was announced, I literally shuddered. It was like when Obi-Wan felt that disturbance in the force after Leia's homeworld exploded: Something just felt wrong. But curiosity got the best of me, and I admit the show got off to a charming, goofy start. Now it's just back to blowing up the Alderran in my heart.
Last night's episode can't be counted on to add viewers to the show's diminishing audience. "Dice" provided a solid hour of eye-rolling as we met a new, future-telling villain named Dice (Mena "How Am I a Celebrity?" Suvari) and watched Mr. Cape rudely and repeatedly interrupt her convoluted plans to assassinate Chess at the very last minute. Plus, Dice broke pretty much every rule in the book when it comes to rolling dice at the craps table. That's unacceptable.
However, the episode did feature one moment of completely ridiculous, over-styled charm. This assassination attempt should remind everyone of the complicated mousetraps from old Tom & Jerry cartoons:
Geez, Chess. Be a little more grateful next time. If The Cape had more silly scenes like that one, I'd watch every week. Because while I of course love great shows, I also love bad-shows-that-are-so-ridiculous-they're-actually-enjoyable-to-watch *ahem The Event*. But The Cape isn't really either. I'm ready to see it get canceled, are you?
Follow TV.com writer Tim Surette on Twitter: @TimAtTVDotCom
I admit that this show has its flaws, the lack of a consistent, coherent, long-term story line (besides that of Vince clearing his name) for one. However, the characters and week to week storylines are well-written. I will be watching this show every week!
Is it that hard for all of you to suspend reason and reality long enough to enjoy the "The Cape"? My expectations were set after I saw the first pilot. You people fawn over reality TV like it's manna from heaven, but can't give this TV series a chance?
Ratings mean nothing. Its an old system that doesn't work anymore. Because the whole viewing public isn't being counted. If they counted legal internet viewing of shows and the discussions of shows on social networking sites. Then they really know what needs to be cancelled and what doesn't need to be. The networks need to go to all the viewers through the internet and not just select viewer that are counted.
I don't get why people are so hyper-critical about this show I like it maybe it has some issues but it is not trying to be something its- people are trying to make it into a failure because their expectations are too high
Patflo, are you really suggesting that people watch sucky TV shows just to "give them a chance?" If a show sucks, but people watch it anyway, it's not going to go away.a
To all out there that do not give anything a chance.
If a show earns a first series we should have the grace to watch it.
At the end we can express not decide what it was like.
I am just saying that different shows need to get a chance so we will not end up seeing the same show camouflaged differently.
Cult shows were not all well accepted instantly and if I think about Glee
I see we are adapting or made to adapt to standards.
Please guys let us be free of all prejudice.
@MrDunham so true
Guys, don't blame NBC, blame the people who aren't watching the show.
I will personally castrate any one I ever meet who has ever used the term "Summer Glau effect". Just so you know.
Hero's was lame... Cape is actually pretty good. Haven't missed a show yet - just had a slow start and now, NBC is going to make it slower with less episodes.
You cancel Hero's, but put this crap on the air!!! Just another reminder of the lack of intelligence in the people green-lighting shows these days! I for one enjoy the superhero genre type show but I would enjoy a better version of one much better than this! It's almost as if we don't have a murder show, the one millionth version of a hospital drama, teen-sex-soap type nonsense or reality TV garbage we don't know how to entertain an audience? I for one would not be too upset if this show gets canceled!
The first two episodes were atrocious, it was as if 2 separate teams of writers&directors filmed two different origin stories and a demented editor spliced them together. Still, I couldn't stop watching it, it was like looking at a slowmotion trainwreck. Or maybe I have a soft spot for David Lyons, from when he was actually pretty good in E.R. (I don't think he had to screw somebody to get the part, I think he was screwed when he wast cast). The latest episode "Dice"was actually the best one yet! It finally gets the premise and tone right, the story makes sense (in the "Cape" universe, that is) and has a beginning, middle and end. We also get a glimpse of a greater scheme that apparently exists in the background of the story. It would be a shame if this show got cancelled before it's arc can be completed (as happened with Flash Forward and Carnivale) but I fear that's inevitable.moreless
The Cape has a ton of potential, its just not really being used the right way. The Event is the worst TV show that was put on this season and The Cape is close but not as terrible as The Event. BUT expectations of The Cape have been moderately low from NBC, so that doesn't mean its guaranteed to be cancelled. If it keeps up its ratings decline then for sure its a goner. I say cancel The Event first, which would be doing the world a favor
The Cape isn't getting better, and I predicted a cancellation after episode 8 would air, this was number 5 so by my count there are three more episodes left. The Cape is fun, but that's really all that the show is, I won't miss it, I did however enjoy it.
Cant stand this show BUT if 5.3 Million folks watch this.....then its probably unfair to just up and cancel it ,they could move this to a next time-slot. This begs the question these show they keep cancelling who the hell signed off on them in the first place ? Now they imho deserve to be outta the door!
Oh man even back then it was crappy and now they wanted a reboot?? Well guess what this reboot sucks too. OMG I actually love these kinda of show cuz they r so stupid but I didn\'t sit trough to watch this *** Anyways thank goodness they\'re canceling this show. XD
for the love of everything that's holy... stop the suffering and cancel The Cape already. The Event had 4 good simultaneous episodes, after that it was crap.
(@ ppfclark: Dancing with the Stars is on ABC not FOX.) The Cape is decent but It's not as good as Heroes was in it's first couple of years and it's nowhere near as good as Firefly. Summer Glau is an attractive girl but looks don't make an actress. Her acting is horrible. She was and still is my least favorite element of Firefly. I do enjoy The Cape, but I will be surprised if it lasts long. Their bound to run out of ideas sooner or later. For some reason no one seems to be able to do an original super hero story right for TV. Let's hope the Wonder Woman pickup does well next year. Especially since Smallville will be gone. No Ordinary Family may get picked up for next year but won't have a third season without some major changes.moreless
I love watching the cape and I find myself curious to see where they're going with this crap. It's like driving past a car crash, try as you might, you can't help but watch. BORING? It's not boring! When are FanBoys going to stop crapping and FOX and NBC. Network Execs have a responsibility to their shareholders and "Dancing with the Stars" is the only show keeping FOX from bankruptcy and major layoff. Stop hating on the networks and direct your anger towards the soccer moms and reality TV junkies that demand their fix of crap TV. "The Cape" is total crap, albiet charming and delightfully campy crap. It's not,however, mainstream crap. They've spent upwards 30 million producing this train wreck. Audiences, critics and most importantly sponsors are not impressed with the result.Unless the ratings spike or some Billionaire choses to fund the show out of his or her pocket, this show is gone, gone, gone. Summer Glau is hot but her aggent is not. She needs to do a few chick flicks or some Seth Rogen/Steve Carell comedy to expand her fan base. When "The Dark Knight" made a billion dollars and Smallville topped its time slot, we all new that the comic book wave would continue to role like a tsunami. Love comics and comic to film adaptations. I've seen Dolph Lundgren 1989 Punisher 3 times. I cheer for the Cape. Can't wait for next weeks episode. BUT PLEASE! EVERYONE! Let's not pretend it's good. The fact that NBC ordered 5 episodes after seeing the pilot, is as much charity any network will show in a recession.moreless
NBC (Network Broadcasting Cancellation)shows!
Fine, I agree with you but you're take on The Event is of course rediculous...
It seems like NBC is only good for cancellation. They never give the show a chance to grow. Sure the show has some bad pieces, but to me it has a decent amount of viewers. Whats the problem NBC?
I actually like The Cape. I think it's entertaining. I'll be sad to see the show go. It's different than all the cookie cutter shows out there...
Why is everybody talking about Summer Glau,she is pretty (no questionabout that) ...and that is it,her acting skills are ridiculous
Ah well, sad to see this show go. I liked it and I'm watching it till the end. Hopefully Summer Glau will be on something more long term.
Oddly enough, the writing for No Ordinary Family is much worse. Why has no one mentioned that anywhere. The cape is much more fun...
enough with the Summer Glau hating. She has just been unluky to be cast in shows that get cancelled. And lets face it, Terminator, Dollhouse and Firefly had a rabid fan base. They just also happened to be on Fox who is more willing to put on another dancing or singing show rather than something interesting. As for the Cape, I actually like it. it has created its own mythology so it can go anywhere as opposed to an established superhero property. Yes, the acting needs some work on some accounts but it is early days for it still. I say give the show a chance to find its footing. Give it a second season and pair it with the new Wonder Woman series to make a Superhero night. If Chuck survives, then all three shows could take one night. If that happens, move the Cape to a later time and make it darker. He is supposed to be a hero based in the real world, maybe have him face real types of criminals rather than supervillains like Scales and Dice. Think of it like Law and order but with Superheroes. I also think that he needs to have an ally other than Orwell and the Carnival. A Jim Gordon type of character to aid him in weeding out the corruption.moreless
The show isn't bad. Yes the dialogue is campy and the action and story are predictable but the biggest problem with the show is that its on at the wrong time and I don't just mean hourly. If this show came out in 1996 on Saturday or Sunday at 4pm in between Highlander and Mutant X (yes I know they were on different networks) this show would last at least 4 seasons.
Extra happy its being burried that show was a waste sorry to say good ideas but lacking in other areas
It's just the time slot. The Cape is AWESOME LIKE HEROES WAS. PEOPLE NEED TO GIVE IT A CHANCE!!
I think part of the problem is the villain feels miscast or miswritten. He needs to have more of a grittier yet charming feel, like Lex Luthor or Wilhelmina Slater from Ugly Betty. And the Mom/son thing feels tacked on and a bit over-sappy sometimes. I understand their loss but I just don't feel for them. About the only likable people are the circus people. Still, I'm not ready to see it canceled. I think a few rewrites would go a longer way to making it a better show.
@KevinG87 Strange, how can you call Firefly decent when it was dropped as well! It's the same with The Cape I think, come next year you'll be saying you were always behind the show and a big fan and didnt listen to the critics, when you really weren't.
Absolutely horrible. I love Summer Glau, but she really needs to fire her agent! She really is far too good to be in swill like this.
I think it could be better if they changed the writers and dumped the wife and kid. Blow them up or something! They're terrible and that whole "I can't go back to my family because it could put them in danger but I won't run away either" concept is sooo stupid. The acting isn't all that bad and no I'm not part of the Summer Glau fan club, but I do like her at times. Also make it less campy.
I watched the first two episodes because I love Summer Glau but it was way too boring to continue watching...
Yeah its a bit too corny. Not my type of show but some people like it. I know I'm going to anger at least 5.3million people here, but I don't get the big deal about Summer Glau...really. She was great in Sarah Connor but she did play a robot, which is perfect for her acting style.
"Those are the type of numbers that break through a studio exec's office wall, Kool-Aid Man-style." Brilliant. This show reminds me of the 1970s live action Spiderman TV show. I can't believe they unboxed Elliott Gould to guess star in the lattest episode. The first episode was directed by Simon West (Con-Air, Tomb Raider 1&2). I won't be going to see "The Mechanic" now, Simon the suck West. Why is David Lyons always wearing heavy eyeliner and who did he screw to get this role. TOTAL SHOCKER!! NBC, please don't cancel this show. Jazz up the soundtrack, hire William Dozier (Batman TV Series Narrator) and let the Dice role. "Is this the end for our caped crusader?" Golly Gosh No!!!!!
the worst piece of *** i have ever seen in my life...
I watched the 1st two episodes. Well...half of the second one....i fell asleep.
I only watched the first episode of this show, and it was just terrible.. So if it does happen, this might actually be one of those cancellations that I actually agree with.
I was one of those excited to see a superhero series but my excitement immediately waned come the 3rd episode. I have not watched it since. Can anyone come up with a super hero show better than the 1st season of heroes? I hope so...
what r u talking about,this show is still on,u r kidding me
The Cape SHOULD be cancelled, its the biggest Dark Knight rip-off i have ever seen!!
This guy sounds so confused, like his last article. Does he love it or hate it? I think he loves to hate ON it!
I like watching a show that is a little bit different, too. Besides there are plenty of shows on that are idiotic and overrated! Put the blame where it is due, not on an actor, but on the writers. They should be held accountable. Summer's fan club probably has more than 5.3 million members because not all of us are signed up.
its just a crappy show
i actually like it.well, i guess i only like David Lyons and how hes always wearing a tank top ;)
5.3 mill card-carrying members of the Summer Glau fan club - where can I sign up :)