Dear Fox Broadcasting Network,
It has come to my grim attention that my favorite show, Rosewood, may not be renewed for a third season. I don’t want to – (hyperventilates into paper bag) – be melodramatic or anything, I know we’re all getting exhausted by hyperbole these days, but cancelling Rosewood would be like taking a beautiful lotus flower and rubbing it into the dirt with a pair of creepy Vibram “shoes”. You’ve created a crime-based show (a huge demographic) that’s well written, beautifully cast, superbly acted, and engaging as hell. The only reason you could possibly consider cancelling this show is that you wish the ratings were higher. I get it, the reason you’re successful is that you brutally cut out anything that doesn’t get the highest ratings. Are you sure you’ve done all you can to promote this gem? I don’t think so because with a show this solid the only way it doesn’t get the best ratings is that you haven’t done enough work to get the word out. I’ve told everyone I know how great it is. I do this for free out of love but obviously I haven’t got the reach you have. Or the money. If you give us a season 3, I promise to work harder to promote Rosewood. In fact, I will write a smashing appeal to potential viewers today to tune in to the rest of this season. But you can do better, I know you can!
Some shows take more time to catch on. Especially if you’re doing something fresh like writing for a truly diverse cast with story lines that might challenge some people (gorgeous bi-racial scientist lesbian relationship – yo!) and, let’s face it, Morris Chestnut just might be too beautiful for some people to handle. But some things need that extra time, that extra push, for everyone to become as invested as I am. This may be one of those shows.
In the last few months I have struggled hard to keep my spirits up. Rosewood is one of the shows I look forward to seeing every week. When I watch it I see a more hopeful reality. One in which most crimes are solved, science applied to dead bodies is cutting edge and cool, where community is a wonderful melange of race, age, and background in which people deal with their problems with grace and wit. And maybe some occasional (totally understandable) violence. Sometimes when I’ve had a particularly rough week I sit down and watch some earlier episodes just to be in a place I like with characters I find inspiring and engaging. This show makes all the bad news in the world just a little (lot) more bearable.
I feel I should at this point make a full disclosure: I hate sunshine, especially Florida sunshine, and cheerfulness. But even I, confirmed fan of winter weather and a permanent curmudgeon, find the beautiful colors on your show and Rosie’s cheerful demeanor endearing. This is almost certainly because the creator of the show (and writers) were smart enough to pair Rosie with Detective Villa, no less beautiful but way less annoyingly sunny. I love Villa so much.
Please give us a season 3 of Rosewood. You don’t owe it to me or anyone else, but it’s probably the most civic-minded decision you could possibly make this year to keep America hopeful, smart, and beautiful.
Sincerely,
Angelina Williamson
Feral kitten tamer and unknown writer.