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August 9, 2007
Fans are crackers for "Donnellys"
In their efforts to rescue their favorite shows from cancellation, fans will often send network executives not just letters, but items that connect to said shows. For instance, the fans who campaigned (successfully, I might add) to save the CBS apocalypse drama "Jericho" bombarded the network with nuts, in a reference to the last line of the show's season finale.
This week, a local woman -- Melyssa Velez, 20, of Bridgeport -- e-mailed me about an effort to resurrect another cancelled show, NBC's drama "The Black Donnellys."
"Donnellys" was about a group of working class brothers adrift in New York's seedy underworld. NBC pulled the show after only a few episodes, and aired the rest online. But fans don't want to see the show die, and are trying to persuade other networks to pick it up. In an attempt to make this happen, they've been collecting pounds and pounds of crackers to send to network execs.
The crackers are a reference to The Firecracker Lounge, a hangout for many of the show's characters. According to the fan site www.savetheblackdonnellys.com, a total of 670 pounds of crackers have been to the cable network HBO, in an effort to convince higher-ups there to pick up the show. The site also reports that, as of Aug. 1, fans (who call themselves "Firecrackers") have donated more than $1,000, to be put toward cracker purchase.
Velez said the fans haven't heard back from HBO, so they've decided to stop sending crackers there. She said they're not sure where to send the remained crackers, but are considering sending them to new Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly. Reilly was entertainment president at NBC during the initial run of "The Black Donnellys."
That's not the only hurdle Velez and co. have faced in trying to resurrect their show.
A key "Donnellys" player, Olivia Wilde, was recently cast on the Fox drama "House." Velez said Wilde's new job could be an obstacle, but "this is still something we want to pursue."
The Firecrackers have been in touch with some of the show's cast members, including Billy Lush of New Haven, who play Kevin Donnelly.They've also been contacting local media, including yours truly, to spread the word about their efforts.
Velez said she was a big fan of the show and was upset when it was taken off the air. Thus, one she found out about "Save the Black Donnellys," and a companion site, www.thefirecrackerlounge.com, she decided to join their efforts. "I loved the show to begin with, so I joined the group," she said.
For information on how to contribute to the effort to save "The Black Donnellys," visit www.savetheblackdonnellys.com or www.thefirecrackerlounge.com.
Posted by amanda on August 9, 2007 2:16 PM
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