ABC Family Axes Jennifer Weiner’s Show
Philadelphia author Jennifer Weiner has had no shortage of success, at least in the chick-lit—or “women’s fiction,” if you prefer—genre. It seems that every ladies’ book club has read Good In Bed and In Her Shoes from the early aughts, and many fans feel that her most recent work, July’s Then Came You, finds Weiner at her best. But her transition to television has been a real reversal of fortune.
In June, ABC Family debuted State of Georgia, a show written and produced by Weiner and starring Raven-Symoné (That’s So Raven! and Cosby Show) as an egomaniacal gal with Broadway ambitions. But after a three-month trial run, the network has pulled the plug on the show, which failed to score big in the ratings. “Alas: #stateofgeorgia is no more,” tweeted Weiner. “So grateful to the cast, the crew and the writers for letting me come and play … and to all who watched.”
Ironically, the New York Times, whom Weiner memorably chastised for not reviewing her (and other chick litter’s) books, gave State of Georgia a pretty glowing review, calling the show “clever” and Raven-Symoné “an impressive physical comedian.” So if your next paperback shows up in the Sunday Book Review, Jen, don’t get too excited.