A cracker attack for 'The Black Donnellys'

First everyone was nuts. Now they're crackers.

A small number of die-hard fans of NBC's recently canceled drama "The Black Donnellys" plans to ship nearly 300 pounds of Zesta crackers (about 45,000 crackers) to HBO executives beginning next week in hopes of persuading the premium cable outlet to pick up the moribund show.

Fans of "The Black Donnellys," a serialized drama about four Irish brothers and their involvement in organized crime in New York's infamous Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, were inspired by the recent success of "Jericho" fans and vow to keep sending crackers to HBO as long as donations hold out. In June, "Jericho" fans inundated CBS with tons of nuts, eventually persuading the network to exhume the post-apocalypse drama after it was dropped from its fall schedule.

"Donnellys" fans, whose website can be found at http://www.savetheblackdonnelys.net, said they chose HBO because the cable outlet is a better fit for the "Donnellys' " grittier themes. Also, they selected Zesta crackers because they are featured in a lounge sign belonging to  one of the show's main characters.

HBO offices were closed todayfor the holidays and officials were unavailable for comment.

-- Martin Miller

(Photo: Virginia Sherwood / NBC)

Comments

[Jane]

Thanks for the article! It's fantastic! Fans may be small in number now but those numbers will grow once word gets out & you've just done that. Thank you.

[Paige]

Thank you for the article! This is so exciting for us firecrackers! The story of The Black Donnellys deserves to be told! It is a tremendous show! The show only aired on NBC for 5 episodes so TBD didn't have time to draw the fan base that Jericho has. However, our fan base is large in comparison and we are passionate and dedicated to bring our boys back. TBD would be a great fit for HBO! Maybe primetime networks aren't ready for The Godfather meets The Sopranos.

Visit www.savetheblackdonnellys.net to see what we are doing to save the show!

Thanks again!!

[mrsstracey]

I think The Black Donnellys is an awesome show! I hope HBO picks it up....it would be a very smart idea. Sending crackers is awesome!! Oh to be a firecracker!!

[Tru M.]

Thanks for the article!!! We refuse to give up hope for The Black Donnellys. The firecracker numbers may be small now but we are completely devoted with our cause! thanks again!

The one minor correction that I have is the website address is: http://www.savetheblackdonnellys.net/

Also another devoted website is http://thefirecrackerlounge.com/

[Shaggy Haigh]

Tis the best show ever i see since the soprano, gotta tired of too much italian mobs movies eithers shows, nows tis irish's turns! I'm part scots and irish. Please save the shows, or there's gunna be a bad karma!

[stefanie]

Thanks so much for this article. I am apart of the TBD cracker campaign and am proud to say that I am willing to fight for this shows survival. It really is a remarkable show that deserves a second chance!

[Erin]

Thank you very much for mentioning our efforts. We may be small but we're a very passionate group and there are a whole lot more of us out there, so hopefully this article will bring us all together. Everyone is welcome at www.savetheblackdonnellys.net!

[Brendan Loy]

There's a typo in the URL linked in this article. It's http://www.savetheblackdonnellys.net/ -- two L's, not just one!

[megan]

TBD is such a great show. the characters, storylines, everything about it is just awesome.

long live the donnellys!
long live the firecrackers!

[Ruth]

Thanks so much Martin, for bringing our campaign to light.

We, The Firecrackers, do believe that this is a great series, that did not have a chance to thrive in its time slot or on NBC’s network. 5 episodes does not do the series justice. I encourage everyone to stream the episodes on NBC.com if they haven’t done so already. The show can be successful on HBO, if given the chance.

This series has a wealth of characters, plot and a cinematic feel to it. Once given the chance to invest their time, those who have not yet seen the series will become hooked to it. We, are done accepting cancellations, impulsive network decisions and reality shows.

We are also sending letters quarters, shamrocks and emails to HBO. Our efforts are diverse, so that all fans are able to participate.

Save The Black Donnellys!

[Eowyn I]

Thanks for the great article! The numbers may be small now but all it takes is getting the info out there to the public. Thanks so much for doing that! Any bit can help. I am a devoted Firecracker and am hoping that others who may not know what happened or don''t know what to do see articles like yours so they can get involved. I think HBO is a much better fit for The Black Donnellys. NBC clearly did not want the show to succeed since they censored anyone who mentioned saving the show on thier official show boards. Thanks for getting the word out!

[Summer Cunliffe]

What an AWESOME show. I'm addicted! It's now taken the place of Grey's anatomy as my number one show. HBO should most def pick this show up. It was not given a fair chance by NBC. Finally a show where I LOOK and talk like the characters and can relate it to my upbringing in a large Irish Family with five brothers and sister of my own, that at the end of the day it still always comes down to family! I don't subscribe to HBO, but I'd get the package in a heartbeat if they picked up TBD. I hope they consider making a second season...bringing the same characters back, especially Jonathan Tucker, whose green eyes and dark wavy hair had me hooked instantly.

[Bobby]

I am extremely disappointed that "The Black Donnelly's" has been cancelled. I just recently discovered the show through NBC.com and am caught up to the sixth episode in two days.

I think two things are to be addressed here:
1.) Serialized shows take a chance at telling a broader deeper story and I think it's worth it to put a proper marketing campaign behind it.

2.) Do not underestimate the NBC.com, ABC.com, or Adultswim.com to garner a larger audience than expected. Many of us have busy schedules and find it difficult to keep up with a show, especially one that requires you to watch every episode; which I happily do. I think money is to be made by having more shows available online, it's a sure thing that fans will grow and keep up when the show's schedule fits ours.

[ILoveTommy]

Thank you, Mr. Miller, for your kind words about our campaign to bring The Black Donnellys back to TV. We will not give up until there is a new home for Tommy, Jimmy, Kevin and Sean. We'd love a comment from HBO.

[LWR]

Fantastic show! I hope HBO picks it up, or NBC comes to their senses.

[kay]

Long live The Black Donnelly's!! An awesome show - NBC was too quick to cancel, and HBO (or any other interested network) would be crazy to pass it up. Episodes can be downloaded on nbc.com or itunes, and are aired on HDnet, too. Catch up with the boys and see what all the fuss is about!!

[dhebe]

TBD fans really appreciate you taking the time to notice our efforts! we are a group that knows great writing, directing, acting, music, etc., when we see it . . .
thank you again,

www.savetheblackdonnellys.net

[Kerry M]

Thank you soooo much for shedding some light on this AWESOME show that needs another chance. We can win out, if everyone does their part. And you did yours. Thanks again, on behalf of this Firecracker!

[Frank]

I lived in an Irish neighborhood and even though I wasn't of Irish descent I experienced the life.The Black Donnellys' is not a good representation of the Irish people.Many of the Irish that I knew were many wonderful, kind and proud of their heritage. I think we had enough of the typical cool ethnic movies, ie The Godfather, Scar Face, New Jack Swing, etc. Is's not cool to be dumb, uneducated and an ass.

[tvshow fanatic]

good Lord, this is sad. the "black donnellys" was a terrible show. bad acting, foolish plots (if you can call them that) and really, not worth watcing.

i find that most people who want this show back are foolish young women who like looking at the cute boys. whatever.

[mar san]

Crackers! Brilliant! Cheez-Whiz! Ooops. I guess I mean, Jee-whiz. Sorry about that.

[anso]

thanks for the article. The black Donnellys is one of the best shows ever and it deserves a second season

[lulafortune]

I'm obviously all for saving great shows, and The Black Donnellys is one that absolutely deserves new life, however, I'm not sure if hbo is the place to plead your case. Anyone remember Carnivale? Deadwood? Hbo can't even take care of their own original programming, much less take on foster shows.

Signed, a broken-hearted Carnivale fan

[Tammy]

I hope this show gets picked up by HBO!!

[Jack Nock]

The Black Donnellys is really an amazing show and deserves another chance. I really hope HBO picks this show up.

[tammy]

Nice Job!! Thanks for the article on The Black Donnellys. It's so important that fans know about the efforts being made to get a second season for the show.

[Joe Bua]

Enjoyed the show, but I can't save every show just by buying snacks and sending them off to people who probably aren't eating them.

Hopefully, my many blog posts about the Donnellys brought people to the show initially and they continue to soldier on. After all, I gotta watch all these other shows.

You can read my Black Donnelly's posts at this link:

http://iamatvjunkie.typepad.com/i_am_a_tv_junkie_a_blog_f/the_black_donnellys_tv_show/index.html

[Megh]

Thanks so much for the article, The Black Donnellys never got the chance it deserved and you're helping that much.

[Mary]

I watched The Black Donnellys religiously, both on tv and online. I think this was the best show on television and I hope the series can contimue on another network, like HBO. It should have been on cable in the first place. The Black Donnellys is the same genre as the Sopranos, but it is its own show and does not attempt to copy The Sopranos in any way. If you haven't watched The Black Donnellys yet, go to NBC.com, watch the episodes, and get drawn in by a story with a plot that thickens.

[Mike]

This show had a great first episode. It began with a good story and good characters. It wildly spun out of control by the second episode. Lets be real: An 18 year old whacks the Italian and Irish Mob bosses and becomes "King of the Neighborhood"? What a bunch of nonsense. This show was destined to be canceled after the second episode. Also, there was no real struggle. A bunch of poor, white, Irish screw ups in New York? That isn't entertaining. It was a rip-off of a Mafia movie, except with weak, boring characters.

[lisa laura]

This is one that some network should jump at-it already has everything you need in a quality show-- as much as I love it-HBO or some similar network would be a better place for it. It does have violence but also the storyline is pushing family first, the music is great and the actors seem to be made for playing these particular parts. NBC is a great network, but they dropped a big ball by letting this one go without a fair chance.

[don]

hell yeah dope article
the black donnellys is such a great show
please keep it alive

[Gabi]

I love The Black Donnellys. I so hope for a second season. NBC never gives new shows the chance. If Jericho can come back, maybe they can too. I need to see the brothers take back thier neighborhood.

[Deutsche]

Many thanks for the article.

The DVD's are now availible for pre orders at amazon!

Long live the Donnellys.
Remenber,
Family above All.

[snakelady]

Thank you for the article about the efforts to save this great show. Very dissapionting that it was cancelled and hopefully it will get brought back.

[Tygue]

Someone needs to recognize the brilliance of this show.

Slainte

[Johnny C.]

Bring it back...with all this reality crap on TV and shows about THE SAME THING (husband and wife have kids, get into fights, usually because the husband did something dumb, gets yelled at and the show ends...so another one just like it comes on.
This is gritty, intersting and unique TV...how does the Bachelor survive and not TBD? Let me guess, in the episode of the bachelor, girls argue over the guy, guy pretends to be torn, a girl cries, professes her love and then goes home...BLAND!

[Michal Domogala]

HAs there been any word on the Black Donnelly's back? I cannot find any additional information anywhere. THe are bring Jerico back which I liked as well. I anyone has info please email and post!!!

[Brandi]

Please HBO bring the Black Donnellys! This show is incredible and I can't believe it was cancelled. My husband and I are addicted to the Black Donnellys, love them! Give them a chance.

[Adam]

You know you want to bring the show back, its awesome. I already bought the DVD.

[Cultivated]

Save TBD!!!

[John]

This show is just as good as heroes, maybe better.