SPACE ALIENS TAKE OVER HBO: John From Cincinnati Cancelled!

June 15, 2007, By Paul Holmes, SurfNews.com

” …Of course, there wasn’t much about surfing in WWN and surfing was surely the hook HBO felt would give JFC an edge with an audience. If so, it was a fundamental error to set the series in Imperial Beach, Calif., which is mainly renowned among surfers for its poor waves and horribly polluted water. The idea that a three-generation family of pro surfers would make IB their home is the height of silliness masquerading as dark ironic humor. And, of course, as in all Hollywood renditions, there wasn’t enough actual surfing in JFC to make it a must-see program for real surfers, although there was a bit of fun to be had in spotting the real surf celebs: Keala Kennelly and Grayson Fletcher in starring roles; the charismatic and photogenic Kala Alexander as a very believable Hawaiian underworld type; cameo and action surfing appearances by Brock Little, Shane Beschen, various Malloys, and more.

There was also some fiendish delight for insiders to see surf industry marketing get a none too subtle send-up in the sub-plot of the “Stinkweed” surfwear label’s relaunch.

In the end it has to be concluded that JFC failed to re-up at HBO because even though its characters were colorful the show was just plain incomprehensible to most people. As The Hollywood Reporter said, announcing the cancellation: “Labeled by critics as “strange,” “weird” and “unlikable,” “John” never clicked with viewers despite a strong marketing campaign and such well-known leads as Rebecca De Mornay and Bruce Greenwood…” [more]