FOX has a certain responsibility to its viewers. Last year, in a failed attempt to revitalize the network, FOX made some supremely stupid decisions and cancelled shows with real potential. Now, we are nearing the end of yet another season and the majority of the new shows are going to be eliminated as well.

Many shows never make it, but several of these had real potential. To cancel a show because it had low ratings on a Friday night is unreasonable. To cancel a show after less than a dozen episodes is to prevent it from finding its audience. Over the past year, it appears that FOX has intentionally eliminated certain shows. We realize that shows cannot go on forever, but canceling a show without warning is a betrayal of its fans. Dark Angel ended with the words: TO BE CONTINUED. Firefly disappeared in the middle of the season with no end and no warning. FOX should be required to provide these shows with ample time to resolve their stories. We take the time to watch these shows, we become intimately involved with the story and characters, and then they take the story away with no consideration of the millions of people who gave up the time to watch their station every week. FOX needs to know that we are angry about this mistreatment. We know that sometimes shows dont make it, but sometimes they really are just never given a chance. FOX needs to give its shows time to develop and proper promotions. If all else fails and the show will be cancelled, FOX should provide its viewers with an ending. FOX, and every network, has an ethical duty to its viewers to provide for a resolution to the stories once they begin them.

In the past season, I have come across a mind-bending number of angry fans. With the death of: Dark Angel, firefly, Futurama, Allie McBeal, Family Guy, Andy Richter Controls the Universe, Cedric the Entertainer, Oliver Beene, the Pitts, Wanda at Large, Girls Club, Fastlane, Jon Doe, and probably a whole host of other shows; FOX has offended and betrayed a large group of people.

We are not happy with the way we have been treated. In this petition, we speak out as one group. It is a fundamental, basic concept in media ethics that the media has a duty to its viewers. FOX has not held to that duty at all in the past two seasons. I write this not just as a Dark Angel fan, but as a Betrayed FOX Viewer and I hope everyone else who has lost a show will join me in this statement as well. United we stand, Divided we fall.