Stitchers’ Season Three and How It’s Changing the Face of TV Renewal

First off, let me congratulate Stitchers on being renewed for their third season! To each person who Tweeted, Instagramed, Facebooked, wrote a letter, signed a petition, or created a video…this is for you.

According to Karey Burke, Freefom’s Executive Vice President of Programming and Development on Stitchers renewal: “Stitchers‘ passionate fanbase has been vocal about wanting to see more of this show, and we listened.”

Why is that so big, you ask?

Because in the history of Television, this has only happened a handful of times. So often we find ourselves loving a show that only lasts a season or two and must live with the reality of it when it’s not renewed. Firefly, anyone?

But the Stitchers community is changing that, and we’re changing the face of renewing Television as well. With so many ways to communicate via social media now, the impact of our everyday actions can have ramifications that surpass even our wildest dreams. Now, with one hashtag, you can spread your message to people across the world. You can save a show.

I’ve always felt that passion was the key to the Television business. If you’re going to do anything with Television, you have to have a passion for it, a willingness to fight for it. For the fans of Stitchers, this is all too true.

The overwhelming support from fans is what helped Stitchers earn a third season and not only am I glad that Freeform celebrated those efforts, but it should also spike the interest in other networks. Look at your fans, look at the people who watch your shows, and listen to them. Recognize that they are always fighting hard for what they love and they won’t give up until their voice is heard.

To all of those who feel as though it wouldn’t matter if they participated in spreading the news about their favorite show, look at what we have done. Look at the Stitchers community and know that no one was silenced, not one voice was small, and not one action was too minute. Every single person in this community was heard loud and clear.

To know that our interactions with networks, casts, crews, and people around the world are influencing and changing the way renewals happen, opens up a world of possibilities for not only fans of Stitchers, but for each show. We, as members of a community, must remember that their fate is in our hands. Never be silent and never assume that you can’t make a difference, because you can.

We did.

Alyssa Lemke, author of the Stitchers Petition for Season Three, gained thousands of signatures and comments. People were showing their passion and love for the one thing that unites us all. This show. When news dropped of the renewal yesterday, Alyssa took a moment to celebrate by posting a note on her Tumblr page, in which she addressed all of the people involved:

“This would not be possible without each and every project, tweet, post, and each and every one of you. I am so blessed to be a part of such a strong and motivated group of fans.
We didn’t give up, and it worked.”

But she knows that the work that’s been done, is far from over. And I think we are both ready for whatever the next several months have in store for this community. Because we’ve come to learn that when you love something, and you work hard for it, and you put the effort in, sometimes you don’t always get this lucky.

But yesterday, we got a win, and we’re going to take it.

 

Congratulations to Freeform, to Stitchers, and especially to the fans. You did it.

 

 

Excited about the renewal of Stitchers’? Catch it on the Freeform app!