ABC has finally decided to cancel "Nothing Sacred." Though the
network says that it is possible some episodes may appear this
summer, several media sources have indicated that it is highly
unlikely. The writers for the show have all been released.
Catholic League president William Donohue commented on this
today:
"It is no secret that ABC stood by this failed show longer
than any other program. Never before has such a loser of a show
been given more hype and more preferential treatment than
‘Nothing Sacred.’ Had there not been a political agenda at work,
the marketplace would have spelled the fate of ‘Nothing’ long
ago.
"It is certain that had the show been a smashing success,
everyone associated with it would have laughed at the Catholic
League for giving it free publicity. But the last laugh was on
them. It is our victory and we are proud of it. The fact that we
drove away 37 sponsors is testimony to our success.
"Obviously, the show also failed because it was—contrary to
what all the TV experts said—a lousy show. Only a masochist
would love to watch a depressing show about a dissident priest
in a dysfunctional parish. The good news is that the supply of
masochists is dreadfully small.
"While the Catholic League never said that it spoke for all
Catholics, it is beyond dispute that the league is a better
barometer of Catholic public opinion than the groups that
opposed us. Both the league and its adversaries tried to rally
the troops, persuade viewers and influence sponsors. And they
lost. The fact of the matter is that from the very beginning
there never was anything sacred about this show. Though some may
not want to believe it, therein lies the real reason why it
bombed."