One of the series currently on the bubble this year is ABC’s October Road. Unlike other ABC series like Lost and Grey’s Anatomy, October Road just hasn’t picked up the same kind of huge audience. This is not to say that there aren’t people out there desperately hoping for the show’s renewal. In fact, there’s already a campaign going on to save the series.
The campaign, titled “Pay October Road Forward” calls for Road fans to donate a copy of the first season of the show on DVD to their local libraries. They’re also encouraging fans to donate other DVDs and books to their local libraries. Another way fans can help the campaign is by sending a copy of the DVD set to a soldier overseas. Click here for more information on the “Pay October Road Forward” campaign. And here’s the link to the Yahoo Group page.
With network upfronts coming up in May, it’s understandable that fans would be scrambling to try and save their favorite shows. Though I do have to wonder if there will be enough time between now and whenever ABC makes their final decision to really boost an interest in the show (especially considering they’re not airing new October Road episodes right now). That said, October Road is a good show and does deserve to be saved. I do have to admit that I didn’t like Road when I first saw the pilot. The story in the pilot centers on Nick Garrett, a guy who left town ten years ago, pretty much abandoning his friends, girlfriend and family in the summer following his high school graduation. He returns to town after his first book is published and needless to say, people are surprised to see him. Based on the pilot alone, I thought the story seemed cliché. After all, didn’t we see this kind of thing already in movies like Garden State? It was only after the first season came out on DVD that I decided to watch the full season and I had to retract my original opinion. While the initial premise of the show did center on Nick’s return, the series quickly moved to focus on the relationships between Nick and his friends and family (and their relationships with each other).
Is October Road as dramatic as Grey’s Anatomy or as mysterious as Lost? No, but it is a charming series with interesting characters, none of whom are perfect but all of whom are great to watch. The series is well cast and well written, plus there’s the occasional reference to the 90's (usually with the music in the series) and flashbacks of Nick and his friends back when they were kids.
Will Physical Phil ever conquer his fear of leaving the house? Will Janet and Eddie be able to work things out? Who’s Sam’s real father? Is Hannah ever going to realize what a slime Big Cat is? What’s going to happen with Aubrey and Ronny? These are things I’m hoping to find out. So let’s hope this campaign to save the show is a success and ABC brings October Road back for a third season.
