Despite very negative reviews, TNT has renewed fledgling medical drama Hawthorne for a second season. The show, starring Jada Pinkett-Smith as Christina Hawthorne, a Chief Nursing Officer at Richmond Trinity Hospital, will air the penultimate episode of its first season tomorrow night.
The show, one of TNT's nine current original shows, three of which started this year, has been recieved poorly by critics. The Boston Herald called the show "a mess," and the New York Post called the cast "flat and one-dimensional." It's been continually called "weakly written," and "unconvincing" by many critics, and the titular protagonist has been criticized for being too much of an advocate. "She can’t always be in an uproar about everything or always play the hero. The show cannot center around her at the expense of everyone else," said Amy Amatangelo of Zap2it.
All that criticism really makes me wonder why exactly the show was renewed. I haven't seen Hawthorne, and have no intentions to ever see it. I'm frankly surprised that TNT has given another chance to this obviously drowning show, however, especially when compared to the hits on the network like The Closer, Saving Grace, and even the new Dark Blue. Hawthorne seems uncharacteristically mediocre for the usually stellar network, and I can't wrap my head around why they would want this show to remain on their network after such an unpromising first year. Is it because of star Jada Pinkett-Smith? Perhaps. Whatever the cause is, let's hope that Hawthorne finds some new writing help, stat. Because if it doesn't, I simply can't see the show being renewed for yet another season.
But what do you think? Is Hawthorne worth a second season, or should it not have been given a first? Post your opinion in the comment box below, and let's get a discussion going!
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Sam McPherson began writing for TVOvermind in July 2009, and has written more than one hundred articles for the site. He also writes for TVOvermind's sister sites, MovieOvermind, Walter's Lab,and hyperMosaic. Sam is an avid television fan, and regularly watches Lost, Fringe, FlashForward, Flight of the Conchords, True Blood, and Heroes, and loves the pilots for V, and Human Target. Follow him on Twitter: @mcphersonator
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The critics are right:nbsp; "Hawthorne" IS a mess!nbsp; Obviously, though, TNT wants to be in the Will Smith — I mean Jada Pinkett Smith — business.
The critics are complete idiots and have no taste in what a good show is. This show is fantastic.
i agree critics are idiots this show is amazing !!!!!!!!
critics: the most useless job in the world.with this economic crisis why aren't they all been fired?
I wonder if the critics would feel different if Meg Ryan was playing Jada's roll. Probably not enough sex like ER and Grey's Anatomy. Personally I am excited that TNT is signing off on another season..
People(critics especially) are so negative and it is just sad…
'Hawthorne' is definitely worth a second season and it needed a LONGER first season! The critics are entitled to their opinions however, I disagree with such negativity. It's not "flat" or "a mess"…it accurately portrays the life of a hospital from the sides of a nurse. It documents the hospital hierarchy and how doctors treat nurses like crap even though they do most of the work. The show is amazing and true and while it's not riddled with sex and ghosts like Grey's or a second-to-second crammed drama like ER, it's a quality watch.
Also, as for:
"She can’t always be in an uproar about everything or always play the hero. The show cannot center around her at the expense of everyone else," said Amy Amatangelo of Zap2it.
It's true that Hawthorne is unable to be the hero for all of her patients. True. However, she's an advocate for her patients and to adapt that passion to the television audience, she has to be overly aggressive to demonstrate the lengths that she'll go to save someone. Each patient is someone to her, not just some body temporarily inhabiting a bed. Also, the show is called "Hawthorne" so it HAS to center around her. It's not always about her. There are nice side stories with her other nurses (Bobbi, Ray, Candy, etc.) so the show strikes a nice balance.
I'm glad Hawthorne will get a second season. It is a great show! And why is the person who wrote this piece talking about the show and what it needs when they've never even seen it. So you can't intelligently speak on it. Watch it for yourself and form your own opinions. Such a follower … ugh.
I am HOOKED on this show! i love love love it! jada pinkett smith is wonderful in it, NO ONE can play christina hawthorne like she can!
HawthoRNe is an excellent show, Jada is an excellent actress and the cast was chosen perfectly. A rainbow selection of all races and gender. REAL LIFE LIKE, hospital people. I can only imagine that the issue with the critics are because this beautiful black women is being admired and I HOPE A LOVE RELATIONSHIP happens with the very handsome doctor. I love that the show is about NURSES instead of just doctors. The nurse plays an important role in hospitals and finally they are being exposed to the tremondous roles that they play instead of just humping doctors. I am a very huge fan of the SMITH best actors and actresses family and I believe that this show will be a success. Jada is indeed the best actress ever but of course she is also married to THEE BEST ACTOR WILL SMITH. I have a list of series and sitcoms that SHOULD BE cancelled and hawthoRNE SHOULD NOT BE ONE OF THEM. EXCELLENT SHOW!!!!!
hawthore is my fav show its amazing and id be pist if they stopped airing
Critics always think that because they say so….it is. Well they're absoluteley wrong. HawthoRNe is the best show I've ever seen and I am totally hooked. And to all those people out there who let critics make up there mind before even seeing the show, you should take the time to watch the show and appreciate it for yourself. Make your own decision.
this is actually a very good show in my opinion. i hope the 2nd season is longer!
Great show and I'm hooked. I came on this website to find out when the second season was starting, so there's my attitude about it!
The critics dont know what they are talking about. I am a nurse and while this show is not completely real life, there are many times where it does deal with issues that real nurses have to deal with on a daily basis. I love the show!
I love Hawthorne! this is such a great show and the critics are just morons who need something to bash on. Jada Pinkett Smith does a wonderful job as Christina Hawthorne and the rest of the cast is also fatastic. TNT dont let these critics push you into cancelling this show because you will be disapponting alot of fans. I cant wait for the 2nd season and I hope there is more seasons to come after that.
This show is a great show haters, who by the way idiot hasn't even seen the show!
I am a nurse and everything depicted in the show is 100% true!
We do the work
while doctors disrespect and go on lunch dates, no one else could play this
role like jada it is great to hell with er and greys porn anatomy all they do is yap and have sex a complete untrue depiction of real life in the hospital
LONG LIVE HAWTHORNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who are these critics?? I, and everyone I know loves the show. Also, by reading all the comments here and everywhere else, my circle is definatly not alone. To the critic: Watch the show before you form an opinion damn it! This is how so many good shows get cancelled, by critics who have no idea what they are talking about. I totally agree with rachel98 and peaches. I watch ER and Greys Anatomy, but HawthoRNe is a new and refreshing view of the world of nurses. I love everything about this show, they just need to bring back Michael Ealy, WHOOO! lol. It's so close to reality, but just enough not. Who needs to see ANOTHER reality show?? UUUGG!!
The show definitely deserves a season 2, and the critics are the only idiots with the mediocre criticism for a great show. I commend Jada and the remaining cast members, and I personally felt that season 1 was outstanding. The new name for the critics of this show is……cridiots, because they are not but a bunch of critiquing idiots!!
I think HawthRNe is a AWESOME show. I do believe the show should have gotten another shot on TNT. For the record the critics are pissed off that Jada Pinkett-Smith is really out doing "Saving Grace" and "The Closer" which are the two shows that are boring and overplayed by the main characters. To be honest when HawthoRNe goes off I change the channel "The Closer" is just not a realistic drama show. Critics get a real job!!!
Ok, some people get paid to do absolutely nothing but guess work, and lip service. And those people are among the people who A) forecast the weather, and B) critique television shows.
Of the two, the latter group are the worst, because, even weather forcasters get it right every now and then.
Go to school and get a real job people, because you definitely suck at being a critic.
I just finished watching the first season and i cant wait unitil the next one. I lke the fact that the show focuses on nurses and a strong character like hawthorne. i feel we need someone on tv to aspire too. Not too many characters like that now a days. I just wanted to say hope the show keeps going, cant wait for the second season, and i hope the writers make the next season longer.
18 year old.
I LOVE HAWTHORNE!!! I'm so hooked on the show and the rest of my faily love it too. Can't wait to see more.
Ok I really do love this show. I got hooked on it then watched the rest of the season online. I don't know why it was only 10episodes I really wanted more. I think it is great that TNT is bringing it back on for a second season. I am in the military so I am always looking to watch good shows when I am away training and trust me all of my collegues like it as well we will be watching
Does anyone know the exact date that HawthoRNe will be aired. Right now are they are talking about is that stupid show, "The Closer" starting on Dec 8 and I really do not like the show "The Closer….."