Upfronts: James Woods says goodbye to TV

They say it helps to have friends in high places, but sometimes, not so much.

When CBS announces its lineup Wednesday, "Shark" will not be on it. It doesn't matter, apparently, that actor James Woods and CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves have been friends for many years. Woods' first TV series is gone. (An earlier version of this post said Moonves was CBS' chairman. He is the network's chief executive.)

But the highly energetic actor isn't taking it too hard, though he admits he'd like a better understanding of why CBS broke up with him.

"We're a little baffled by the decision but we’re very supportive," Woods said Tuesday. "None of us can figure out quite why.  But we have no bad feelings. This show did an enormous amount for me personally. We all won doing the show."

Woods said he and the cast and crew were "very saddened" that the show didn't continue but they were trying to be positive.

"I think probably the strike was as devastating to our future as it was to many other shows," he said.  "It seems, in retrospect, not to be a very fruitful endeavor for a lot of people to be on strike. But particularly on us because our time slot had been moved against football for the first half of the season. And then we should have emerged and shown our strength in the second half of the season when the strike happened, some never got a chance to prove our mettle."

As in all breakups, the key is acceptance and moving on. Woods is ready.

"I've been offered a couple of movies and I'm very excited about that," he said.

-- Maria Elena Fernandez

Comments

[Amy]

He's not angry?! Well that's one of us I guess, I for one am bloody furious. And he's not the only one that wants to know why, the fans deserve it but I doubt we'll ever really know why.

[Ashtonian]

My wife was devastated to learn Las Vegas had been cancelled.
It was a fun show to watch.

[Mark Jeffries]

"My wife was devastated to learn Las Vegas had been cancelled.
It was a fun show to watch."

Which has something to do with CBS and "Shark?" Moron.

[yessika]

He might not be mad but I am, and we didn't even get a reason why.
CBS just went crazy cancelling Shark and Moonlight

[Pam]

Shame on you, Les Moonves! Cancelling a well acted, well written show with likeable actors we were just starting to know. What was your formula for factoring in the Writers' Strike? You cancel Shark and retain the cheap, self absorbed Amazing Race and Survivor? Haven't you noticed that they are slipping in the ratings? Aside from Numbers, your Monday night fare, and without a Trace, you have nothing in your lineup in the reality, drama, comedy areas worth watching. Of course, now that I have listed what is watchable, you will probably cancel them all! You should donate what you call your brain, to science!!!!!

[Pam]

Shame on you, Les Moonves! Cancelling a well acted, well written show with likeable actors we were just starting to know. What was your formula for factoring in the Writers' Strike? You cancel Shark and retain the cheap, self absorbed Amazing Race and Survivor? Haven't you noticed that they are slipping in the ratings? Aside from Numbers, your Monday night fare, and without a Trace, you have nothing in your lineup in the reality, drama, comedy areas worth watching. Of course, now that I have listed what is watchable, you will probably cancel them all! You should donate what you call your brain, to science!!!!!

[alex cimini]

cbs sucks, first Jericho then Cane, close to home etc... need I go on

[anon]

Does anyone know if there's any chance Shark might get picked up by another network? It was a really good show ... maybe someone else would have some interest. It still averages more viewers than a lot of shows that got renewed.

[william]

These shows are all mindless garbage, good riddance!

[Sonya]

I'm just about done with CBS. First Jericho now Shark. I thought season two what there was, was even stronger than season one. Hopefully (not holding my breath) CBS will do the right thing and release S2 on DVD. If NBC had half a brain, they'd pick up Jericho, Shark, and Moonlight. Instant fanbases for a network that desperately needs them. Oh wait...NBC...nevermind.

[Sonya]

I'm just about done with CBS. First Jericho now Shark. I thought season two what there was, was even stronger than season one. Hopefully (not holding my breath) CBS will do the right thing and release S2 on DVD. If NBC had half a brain, they'd pick up Jericho, Shark, and Moonlight. Instant fanbases for a network that desperately needs them. Oh wait...NBC...nevermind.

[RICHARD]

I can't understand the reasoning of CBS. Shark is a great TV series with plenty of viewers more than ones that were renewed. CBS played with the timeslots and hurt us viewers. Finally we had a series with great acting and great scripts. Shame on CBS. Change the decision and put Shark back on.

[JOSEPH]

Shame on you, Leslie Moonves! We loved SHARK and never missed any episode, even when you moved it to Sunday and then to Tuesday. You should cancel Big Brother (who watches that stupid show, anyway!!!). We love James Woods. NBC or ABC or FOX should pick up SHARK!

[Joseph]

Can't believe CBS has cancelled SHARK! We love that show and have watched every episode, even when it was moved to Sunday evenings and then to Tuesday evenings. Shame on you, Leslie Moonves! You should have cancelled Big Brother, instead of Shark. Who watches Big Brother anyway--it's such a stupid show! James Woods is such a fantastic actor. The other networks should pick up SHARK.

[Betsy]

I hate that this happened, Shark was my favorite show and now that its been canclled I'm at a loss and very upset with CBS...apparently they don't know good tv when they see it if its not some reality tv crap. I hope it gets picked up by ABC or some other more deserving network (that is unless CBS actually does wake up and smell the coffee or latte...or whatever it is they're drinking).

[Alison Horn]

Shark being cancelled is a damn disgrace! As a big fan writing from England I was really
enjoying season 2 and now I learn that I had better enjoy as there won't be many more
from where that came from! Bang out of order, I look forward to James Woods returning in
forthcoming movies x

[pharrer]

"Shark!" is a smart, wise-to-the-world show with terrific acting. It's an entertaining close-up on how complicated and compromised the legal system can be and how careers can be built on amoral choices. It's also as close a portrait of contemporary L.A. social mores as we're likely to get on primetime. If cable could support "The Wire" for several seasons, why can't you back "Shark!"? Give'em the green light for 2008 - 2009, Mr. Moonvees, I want more of Woods & Co!

[Daniel Figueiredo]

Can't believe CBS has cancelled SHARK!

Shark it's, for me, "the best law series EVER" !!!!!!!!!!

I Hope it comeback someday !!!

:-(

[Rosana]

I cannot believe that CBS cancelled Shark. What are they thinking? Not of the viewers that's for sure.

Shark is one of the greatest lawyer shows on TV. James Woods as always is tremendous in his part. He and the cast worked really well together.

There are plenty of other ridiculous shows CBS has on now and will be back in the Fall. They really need to cancel them. But what they're doing is cancelling shows a lot of viewers really love,

Well, CBS, your ratings are going to go way down. They're on their way now. I am so furious with CBS at this point. They should really rethink what they're doing.

Bring back Shark in the Fall.

[Laura]

I agree...first they get rid of Cane and Close to Home, and now Shark and Moonlight? Fans of Moonlight are trying to get it on another network. I hope it goes through because I LOVE Moonlight...I would have rather Shark stayed than The Unit come back...CBS made a really stupid decision in canceling Shark and Moonlight...