Why Did ABC Cancel "The Assets" while F/X Renews "The Americans?

ABC announced the cancellation this week of their Cold War spy era series "The Assets" after just two episodes. They planned for the series to be "limited" and complete the story arc in 8 episodes. I'm sure they didn't think the "limit" would be two episodes, however. The series was a fictionalized version of how the CIA searched for and caught one of the most destructive, traitorous turncoats in its history, Aldrich Ames, played by Paul Rhys. It takes place during the mid-80s when Ames was a respected CIA counterintelligence operative, and details the CIA's efforts to find the mole in their system. I am in the small minority of viewers that saw both episodes of "The Assets." I say small because the first episode received a .7 rating and the second a .6. No broadcast network can allow a show with ratings like that on the air, so despite my desire to find out what happened in the series, ABC made the decision to cancel. Why didn't the series work? After all, F/X's "The Americans," which stars Keri Russell as one of two deep cover Russian spies working in the US during the 80s, is a big hit. I can envision the pitch for the series and the development meetings that made "The Assets" a 'go' project. The producers probably pointed out the success of "The Americans" and said "The Assets" would be like a spy reality series, with the added hook of being based on "actual events." "The Assets" came with a major, built-in problem that probably sank the series before it began: U.S. traitor Aldrich Ames was a major character, and they wanted us to feel sympathy for him. That's a tall order for US audiences. Imagine the difficulties that a series set during the Revolutionary War would have if the producers wanted the audience to identify with Benedict Arnold There are some things that Americans just don't want to see. Of course, "The Assets" also featured Jodie Whittaker playing Sarah Grimes, the blonde CIA agent who would eventually track the traitor down. But oddly, the two episodes I saw concentrated on Aldrich as much as the intrepid woman trying to catch him. Why did one 1980s spy thriller fail and one (The Americans) succeed? Star Power is part of the answer -- Keri Russell has a television following from her days playing "Felicity". Better execution of concept is another reason. "The Americans" features great writing, sharp direction and great acting. "The Assets" writing and directing were OK, but not particularly memorable. Finally, "The Americans" doesn't feature traitors. The Russian spies masquerading as a typical American family aren't traitors -- they're patriots fighting for their country. They also give viewers an American family that viewers can root for. While "The Assets" gave Sarah Grimes a home life, the scenes didn't depict a loving home, but instead a troubled home caused by her devotion to the CIA. Her husband was understanding, but her teenage daughter was rebellious and everyone resented the time she spent on her job. In the end, an idea is only as good as its execution. "The Americans" is well executed and thrilling. "The Assets," despite the efforts of a talented group of people, was not. That's why "The Americans" will stay on F/X, and I'll be hunting Hulu for the last few episodes of "The Assets."

Set Your Creative Goals

Today's the eleventh day of 2014! Have you set your creative goals? What's that you say? You don't know what your goals are yet? Well get to work. I know, you were partying on New Year's and needed the next few days to recover. Then you spent last week catching up on work. Then there are all the bowl games, snow in the Northeast, and your last opportunity to binge watch all of "Breaking Bad." I'm not saying all of those aren't worthy or important activities. However, if you want to become a content creator, the first step is to actually create content. Write a poem, or a chapter of your novel. Finish that screenplay scene, or create a video. Grab that canvas out of the closet and start painting! Of course you can choose what content you like to create. But unless you're creating or writing or the time, you're not an artist -- you're someone who hopes someday to be an artist. This year, resolve to create specific times in your schedule to create. Drop an appointment in your schedule, just like you would for a meeting at work, doctor, or dentist. Don't take calls during that time, or check Facebook and e-mail. Make it your time to create. Even if nothing happens the first few times, keep that appointment on your schedule. Eventually, it will become your most productive time. Finally, set a creative goal for the year. Decide to finish your screenplay, novel, book of short stories or poems. Give yourself a date to finish by. Then break the overall task into segments. If you just finish a chapter for your book each month, by the end of the year you'll have a 12 chapter book to sell. Creators create. That's our job. Make sure in 2014 you give yourself time to create and a goal to achieve. You'll be amazed at the results. Write and tell me how it's going, and what you accomplished.