#renewconstantine

[Halloween Series; Halloween Hootenanny] [John Constantine from Constantine (2014); played by Matt Ryan]

Human garbage. Cut, print, moving on.

**The body of this letter has been edited a little for content, more for errors, post cancellation announcement, because time was available.  The update follows.

To whom it may concern at Warner Bros TV, DC Comics & NBC; and to Daniel V. Cerone & David S. Goyer, the cast and crew, and to all involved in the production of Constantine:

It really is hard to believe it’s the 11th hour and dedicated fans (Hellblazers) are rounding up hoards of viewers who simply didn’t know the show was in trouble. These viewers are from around the globe. Many are just discovering the show. Some had seen it when it aired and assumed it would be renewed because of its excellence.

Most agree Matt Ryan is the embodiment of John Constantine, and for that reason alone the show is worth watching. Emmett Scanlan as Jim Corrigan is the perfect Spectre - Michael James Shaw as Papa Midnite… Charles Halford as Chas… They are the characters as you’d imagine them right out of the pages of the 30-year-old comic series, which gives writers over 300 stories from which to draw material! I don’t have space to address the entire cast and I’m mortified I cannot name each and every member because they are phenomenal, truly! The sets by Dave Black at Black Hawk Design are also characters they’re so complex and rich with layered references to past and future events! The show is as close as you’d want it to be to the comic series, yet it doesn’t feel like ink on pulp.

Yes, it’s another comic-based series, but it’s definitely different. It’s mythic. The stories, characters, sets, etc, are rich in references to historic and cultural references. Anyone with a love of the classics can peel back a new layer with every rewatch of the show. Parents should be pleased when children of appropriate age show an interest in the show because mythology and the hero archetype aren’t taught as well in school  as they are taught weekly in an episode of Constantine. Each week the hero–in this case anti-hero, because he’s flawed–heads out with his scrappy band of friends when they get a call to action, they cross a threshold into danger, someone makes a great sacrifice, achieves atonement or redemption, and they return somewhat changed, but having gifted the world (unbeknownst to all of mankind, except for we few, the lucky witnesses).

We should have more of that on television, not less!! I’d prefer to sit my children in front of that to the many shows currently airing, which featuring dysfunctional people seeking “love” (sex) or the ABCs of serial killers tracking us down–and sometimes their motives for doing so–what am I supposed to feel about their motives except horror? Even if talented law enforcement  catch them, we’ve all seen enough of that for now, don’t you think?

Constantine brought me back to NBC. I’d stopped watching network television. Many of us have. We find our shows on cable and on pay-to-stream because we know we’re going to get the whole season and the producers will give the show time to find its legs. This was something I was willing to risk my trust in networks on. I watched and thought, “This is so good! It’ll be fine.” Now look at us. I’m going on two weeks of no sleep trying to organize people to reach out. I’ve burned up a wifi entertainment system by streaming around the clock. On the other hand, I’ve made friends in Scotland, Brazil, Spain, England, Holland, Florida, Texas, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Canada… Hellblazers don’t plop on the couch, turn on the telly and watch whatever comes on. We have hobbies. We find the shows we like based on those hobbies. We have friends. We find the shows we like because of those friends. This show wasn’t promoted to reach its target audience, sitting there waiting for it to come on.

Now people are aware! You must make sure this show is renewed. And if it’s not renewed at NBC, you must make sure it finds a home at another venue, where the cast and producers can continue as they are. This is a perfect combination of talent. They can only get better with an investment of time. Please allow them a longer season & many more seasons to come!

Best regards,

L Murphy @elle4short Post announcement: 7:44 p.m. I probably wrote this better the first time, right after going to TwitJail for the 10th time today, for the 2nd day in a row! There’s something special about that kind of exhaustion, coming right on the heels of a disappointing announcement. Yet, I feel supremely optimistic for Constantine because I believe this combination of producers, cast, crew, design, writers, et al, is magical and know Warner Bros  TV and DC Comics are wise enough to shop the project intact. You’ll find another home and Hellblazers will follow you wherever you go. 

You’ll forgive me if I take a day to get my hair cut. Maybe I’ll cook some food for a change. I burned up a wifi entertainment module by streaming around the clock, that’s kind of a bummer, but it was all well worth it if it sent the message Hellblazers are committed to this show. 

To NBC I say, “Best of luck in your future endeavors.” To all of the rest of the Hellblazers family I say, “Here’s to our future home!” My love to all the Hellblazer family, to NBC I send only lukewarm regards,