HGTV protest & Paul James being cancelled

Not sure where to post this, but is everyone aware that Paul James' Gardening by the Yard has been cancelled by HGTV? Which leaves only Gardener's Diary on that network as a real gardening show, which is probably only seen by those of us who DVR it since it's on Thursdays at 7 am EST.

Anyway, one angry gardener has started a protest movement to let HGTV know that some of us wonder where the G went in HGTV.

Here's her blog:

http://hgtvprotestcampaign.blogspot.com/

I used to watch HGTV all the time. Other than Gardener's Diary, I never watch now at all. I can only take so many shows on $50,000 landscaping projects in a state that's three zones warmer than mine.

ditto, hart!

Thanks, Aguane, I was beginning to think it must be just me. LOL

Not just you. there are lots of us that are complaining.

I haven't seen Paul James' Gardening by the Yard' on HgTV for years now.
I read that the gardening shows don't bring in the revenue to the advertisers that the other shows do.
Got me beat!

If you click on the link I posted above, that lady has links where you can write to HGTV or its parent company.

Joan, I think that's hogwash. If they ever had any shows that real gardeners would watch, just think of the money all of us spend each year on plants, tools, amendments, garden ornaments, you name it.

It's pretty ridiculous too that they focus so much of their programming on flipping houses and very expensive renovations when the housing market has gone to heck and when there are more and more people all over the country starting gardens to save money and be more environmentally conscious.

hart, oh I agree that it's hogwash.

Who knows what the motives are of HgTV?

I don't care what their motives are. But they needn't bother to try to argue that gardening programs don't pay because we all know how many millions, heck, probably billions of dollars are spent by gardeners every year.

Most of their gardening programs probably don't pay because they're not really gardening programs, they're not really aimed at gardeners and they're irrelevant to 99% of the people who spend money on gardening.

Well then, what's the answer. Why would HgTV ignore gardening programs when it's such a popluar item with viewers.

Why does the Food Network ignore all the people complaining about the dearth of cooking shows on there now? Because they're idiots?

My guess is the real reasons are the shows they do are cheaper to produce, that some marketing idiot gave them statistics saying they could make money with cheap landscaping junk shows and real estate shows without bothering to look at real statistics on garden spending and that like most people who produce televisions shows, movies, etc., they don't have enough creativity or talent to come up with something better or to anything more than what everybody else is doing.

Bombard them with emails...this and Curb Appeal are the only things I watch on there anymore.

"eyes"

I have several times. If you check the link above, quite a few people have written from this lady's efforts.

I do believe that most companies will respond at least in some way if they get enough flak from their consumers. And we are consumers. No one gets HGTV for free.

Complaints have been poring into HgTV for years now and they haven't changed anything.

Pouring in? I have never seen an organized effort to do anything about this anywhere. I've seen people complain on various garden boards and on Television without Pity, but that's about it.

I know a few years ago several people on another garden board said they were going to write about bringing back Gardener's Diary, which had been off for a good while, and not long after they did bring it back. I hope the emails they received had something to do with that but of course I don't know whether it did or not.

It certainly doesn't take a lot of effort to write an email or two.

You know, I worked in and around politics for years and I'd like to have a nickel for every time I heard someone say it does no good to complain to your local, state or federal government. But I know for a fact because I've seen it that if enough people write or call or show up at hearings, legislators and officials will do something.

This message was edited Apr 26, 2009 9:09 PM

That's true...if you don't voice your individual feelings, then how is anyone to know...a mighty chorus begins with just one voice.

"eyes"

Money talks and ...................
That's what the world of entertainment is all about. Even the Cooking Channel is about entertainment and *advertising*.

I'd really love to see more, good gardening shows. The renovation shows are boring. One repeats the other.

This subject has been beaten to death on other forums and no one has come up with a satisfactory answer.
I have seen organized protests which get no answer from HgTV. If they don’t answer then you’re blowing into the wind.
Just because you haven’t ‘seen’ an organized effort to contact them does not mean there hasn’t been any.
Tell you what. Get together their company’s addresses, names of people in charge, then draft up a protest.
I’ll sign.

All of those names and addresses are at the link above.

I too notice how HGTV is giving up on gardening shows. I have watched Paul James for years. There is little to pick from anymore of good basic gardening shows. Maybe DIY will pick him up. It would be nice if they would acknowledge gardening especially it is in
their logo!

I wonder how Paul James and his family and crew feel about this?

BTW,
Where does the "G" come in in the programming at HGTV? Pretty much zilch!

oh good, a place to vent.....i have to tell you that if i hear one more young couple complaining about how they could never buy this or that house because the appliances aren't stainless and the counters aren't granite, i'll throw a brick through the screen. whatever happened to upgrading as you go? there was a time when people would wait years, till they had the money saved, to re-do kitchen or start a home project. now everything is "i want it perfect NOW" and they're being talked into taking on enormous mortgages (Property Virgins) in the process. how many young couples or singles can really afford a $400,000 dollar home?

i would love to see a show revisiting all of these people since the economy tanked.....Foreclosures 101.

and yes, i've stopped watching HGTV; the G stands for Gone.

FYI: Paul James will be on HGTV on Sunday mornings at 7:30 am (at least in my area of Michigan). As far as I can tell they are new episodes but not sure. You can go onto the HGTV web site and call up his show. It happened that I wrote and told them how I felt and they answered by giving me a full page of the new and old garden shows that are now on the air including these of Paul's.
I may try and watch some of the new ones but now that the weather is clearing I want to spend time outside in the garden not looking at one.

Do you have a link ladydragon5?

I forget the date I saw for his last airing but I think it was in June or July.

From a March 19 newspaper interview:

"The highlight of the day was the special appearance of Paul James, the Gardening Guy, nationally acclaimed host of HGTV’s popular show “Gardening By the Yard.” James reminisced about his 16 years hosting the show and told us he’s been cancelled."
http://www.enidnews.com/localnews/local_story_080233824.html

And this blogger went to an appearance by James in September:

"He was just like on TV: funny, down to earth, and full of practical knowledge. He said HGTV had not renewed his contract as they felt he was too old and gardeners were too old and they're really wanting to cater to an under-35 demographic."
http://gardenfaerie.blogspot.com/2008/09/garden-faerie-meets-paul-james.html

I'd love to see this list of "gardening" shows too. How many are really gardening shows?

BTW, if any of you want to catch Gardener's Diary, it was moved this week to Fridays at 7 am EST.

Heh, I just went to their website to see what all these gardening shows might be. The topic tabs now say "landscaping" instead of "gardening." Under the tab, they list two shows, Curb Appeal and Gardening by the Yard." When you click on "more shows" you get a list of real estate shows. Looking at the A-Z list, I see:

Curb Appeal
Gardener's Diary
Gardening by the Yard
Groundbreakers
Landscape Smart
Landscaper's Challenge
Outer Spaces
Rebecca's Garden
Urban Outsiders
Yard Crashers

Seven of these are landscaping shows. In fact, some are more like structures and decorating for outdoors with a sprinkling of plants thrown in as part of the decor.

I do see they have upcoming shows for Rebecca's Garden listed and that show hasn't been on in a while. Maybe the protest is having at least some effect?