Sci Fi Channel is canceling Painkiller Jane, the action series based on the comic book by Jimmy Palmiotti and Joe Quesada.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 22-episode first season will continue as planned, but with the Sept. 21 season finale becoming the series finale. Sixteen episodes have aired so far.
The Painkiller Jane comic began in 1995 as a five-issue miniseries at Palmiotti and Quesada’s Event Comics. It recently was relaunched at Dynamite Entertainment.
August 15th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Dear Scifi channel, your lack of advertising and they way you move shows around all the time. Is what kills shows, not the show it self.
August 15th, 2007 at 10:06 am
Uh… Well, considering the fact that PKJ has stayed right where it started, I’d say it was the show in this case.
And I’m kind of glad the show’s cancelled.
Now if only they could have given The Dresden Files the love it needed…
August 15th, 2007 at 10:07 am
I’m not really suprised. The show isn’t very good.
August 15th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Great news, now get rid of ECW wrestling and bring back THE DRESDEN FILES!
August 15th, 2007 at 10:30 am
Really crappy that they cancelled the show after it was showing improvements. The writing was showing some improvements but they kept drifting away from what made the character worked.
Shame. Know Jimmy and Kristina had a ton of effort and hope for them to do what was right with the character.
August 15th, 2007 at 11:11 am
File this one under “mercy killing.”
August 15th, 2007 at 11:40 am
Apparently I’m one of the few people that actually liked the show. I’m actually pretty bummed about this.
August 15th, 2007 at 11:45 am
Horrible storys, and acting what did sci fi expect. First the dresdin files, then painkiller, and from the looks of it flash gordan will be next. Sci fi needs to find a good idea quick, and give it to some people who know how to make decent shows.
August 15th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
I tried it several times. Just couldn’t get into it.
Of course, Sci-Fi seems to have a problem with original series, once you get past Battlestar Galactica and Eureka. (Dr. Who doesn’t count. It’s not original to them.)
August 15th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
Sci-Fi has no idea what the hell they want to do with anything.
They’re dropping shows like Stargate SG-1 for shows like Flash Gordon? That first episode was so much crap.
PKJ was ok. It had a few shining moments, but overall it was just mediocre.
Sci-Fi neds to get their act together NOW.
August 15th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
LOL! I’m happy to see that the Sci-Fi channel can actually understand what “Crap” is. I mean, how many of their Saturday night movies suck? All of them. So you would think that those in charge have no idea of what sucks?
Maybe they hired someone new recently?
I mean come on! Just from the commercials, they press the almost nudity/girl on girl button just to try and get people to watch…and apparently it didn’t work.
Sad to see that Kristanna Loken’s most current projects have been garbage (this series, BloodRayne, Dungeon Siege movie). I guess her best role will always be in Terminator 3.
August 15th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
BRING BACK FIREFLY!
August 15th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
BRING BACK G Vs E!!!
August 15th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
Not to start an argument, but why would Sci-Fi cancel their wrestling show? It’s their top rated show.
August 15th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
From what I read Flash Gordon brought in great numbers and that is part of the reason why they didn’t feel the need to keep Painkiller Jane around.
They don’t need a whole lot of original shows to keep themselves running as they are part of the NBC/Universal empire. All they need is a couple of buzz shows. Flash Gordon, Eureka, and Who Wants to be a Super Hero are where they are putting their efforts right now.
I think they have accepted that Battlestar was never going to get them an emmy nom, no mater how many people rave about it, so they opted for something cheaper that brings in comparible if not better ratings. Remember, Super Hero does really well for them and costs like nothing to make, if you were in the business of running a TV Channel, what would you go with?
August 15th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
From what I read Flash Gordon brought in great numbers and that is part of the reason why they didn’t feel the need to keep Painkiller Jane around.
really? where did you read this? the show wasnt picked up for a second season before flash ever made it on air…it was just announced today to the public…but would love to read that article ian.
jimmy
August 15th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
SciFi, as far as original programming goes, is just like DC. It wont get better until the people at the top are gone. Sad but true. I never even got to see this because I don’t have cable. Hope it comes to dvd soon. I’ll give it a shot.
August 15th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
I wasn’t that big of a fan, though it was way better then I thought. I hoped for another seasons because some times scifi shows attract a lot of attention through repeats and experimenting with repeats at different/alternate time slots.
Why haven’t they shown this series in a morning marathon? I always wanted to catch up with this series progression, but missed most of the episodes. I just didn’t want to start the series without knowing the characters.
Again, as someone has posted already. This series has had some shining moments. In only one episode I’ve watched so this kinda bums me out. I just hope there could still be a chance to save this series. I also wonder if this series has much of a female following?
August 15th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
SciFi, as far as original programming goes, is just like DC. It wont get better until the people at the top are gone. Sad but true. I never even got to see this because I don’t have cable. Hope it comes to dvd soon. I’ll give it a shot.
Comment by michael — August 15, 2007 @ 2:39 pm
If you didn’t see the show… why comment on it?
August 15th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
I just found out the only episode I really like and had the shining moments I enjoyed. Was the one Jimmy Palmiotti wrote. They really just need to have him on writing duty for every following episodes.
August 15th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Phew…for a second, Jamal, I thought you were taking a shot at DC…until I saw you were just quoting someone else.
I never had the chance to see this.
August 15th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Well, the source comic book was pretty bad to begin with and didn’t sell very well. The TV show was at least watchable.
This was just a very stupid premise and not very original.
August 15th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
oh well, i don’t catch sci-fi,but i can get it on dvd just like the blade tv series.
August 16th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
“Well, the source comic book was pretty bad to begin with and didn’t sell very well. The TV show was at least watchable.”
REALLY? guess what, you have no idea what you are talking about.
for a self published book,which jane was, Jane’s numbers were fantastic. are you comparing it to x men and superman? if you are, you need to research before you post and understand the book is an indy .
your opinion is yours, but your facts are all wrong.
please take a moment before you post and actually think.
thanks.
Jimmy
August 16th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
I just wish someone would try to do a faithful adaptation of a comic book on network TV.
Last one that gave it a fairly good shot was Witchblade. And that one would have lasted longer if not for Yancy Butler’s self destruction.
Painkiller should have been as close to the comic as humanly possible. The original TV movie showed how bad an idea it was to deviate from the norm.
Now I regularly watch the show and do like it, but that ain’t Jane. Not by a long shot.
August 17th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Hey Jimmy, sorry to hear about Pain Killer Jane being cancelled, but so far, what no one has pointed out here yet, is that you were able to get a TV show based on your characters/creation on the air. And not for just a pilot or a couple of episodes, but for a full season. So congratulations to you on that accomplishment! I don’t look at this announcement as half empty, I look at it as half full. The reason being, you have your foot in the door now in Hollywood, who’s to say that this is your last shot? I think that it’s just the beginning for you and that your best days (and creative ideas) are yet to come…
August 17th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Well put Mark!
August 19th, 2007 at 12:20 am
Thanks mark and all the other well wishers out there…more to come for sure.
Jimmy
August 19th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
I have to say there was a lot of lost potential there, but at the same time I sure did look forward to it every week…
August 19th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Jimmy,
Sorry about the news. I tried to get everyone I could to watch “Painkiller Jane”. I know i enjoyed it But truth to tell, i do feel a film or TV series based on the character that was based more on your character would do even better.
The character needs your madness, Jimmy!
seriously, as others have stated. It is cool that you were able to get a full-season commitment out of SCI-FI. Maybe sales of the DVD will save it like happened with “Family Guy”.
If not, well…I thought the “Blade” show kicked all kinds of ass last year and that was cancelled too. Sometimes shows ust don’t get the audience they should and/or sometimes executives make real stupid decisions.
I have confidence “Jane” will be back on either the small or large screen someday, hopefully with your vision for the character more intact. If not, I have confidence one of your other creations will be a hit with the masses sometime soon!
Godspeed!
September 19th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Sci Fi, keeps going down hill. First Dresden and now PKJ. You know they started off slow but were starting to turn around. SciFi channel doesn’t give anything a chance. They show wrestling and some of the worst made for SciFi movies there ever were!
October 20th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Frankly
Idont understand why a great shoow like painkiller jane is droped and cheap empty crap like eurika,flashgordan and dr who are allowed to continue I freely admit that I have a major crush on Kristana Loken but I have enjoyed her show and I miss it and her teribly.