Saturday, February 25, 2012

A letter to you from Shawn Doyle (Arkady Balagan)


Hey you crazy Endgamers. Our beloved Nikhi wanted me to write a little post about...what? I dunno...the only parameters were "write something from your heart". Hmmm, there's a lot of traffic in there at the moment, but here goes:

It's been a while now since I wandered with cold bare feet across the Huxley lobby to tease Barbara, dupe Hugo, fight with Pippa, question Alcina or flirt with Danni. A lot has happened in both my personal and professional life since then. I was very disappointed when the show was not renewed, very heartened and gratified when thousands of you expressed your love and appreciation for it and fought to save our baby. I've done some interesting work in challenging projects elsewhere and have continued to take risks as an actor (not always succeeding, mind you, but risking anyway!). I've tried to be a good dad to my awesome kid and nurture a new relationship with an amazing woman who happens to be halfway round the world at the moment. Through it all, Balagan has sat in the corner of my mind, uncharacteristically still and silent, waiting for, what?

Waiting for the words, the ideas, the mission, the pain and the joy. Waiting to come back to life. Every now and then I try the accent on in my mouth, just to make sure it still fits. It mostly does, thankfully. And when I feel some of those sounds moving from my throat, over my tongue, between my lips, I remember Ark's wickedness, his joy and fervor, his true child-like fascination with life and what makes people want to go on living in the face of such struggle, confusion or pain.

Then I remember what a gift I was given with that role. One that went beyond some financial gain or popularity or ego-feeding. I was given a voice to express so many of Shawn's questions about all kinds of shit. About life. And that is NOT a gift that comes around all the time for an actor. Or, let's face it, for a person. That's why we need stories, why human beings have needed stories since the beginning of time: to not feel alone, and to make some kind of sense of it all.

And, in the end, that's why I miss Arkady Balagan and all his friends.

We are now at ANOTHER crucial time in our campaign to get Endgame renewed. Hulu will likely make a decision soon, at least that what I think. The show has been doing respectably, but now is the time to push it over the top and prove to them that PEOPLE WANT THIS SHOW BACK. If it is something you want as well, now is the time to do whatever you have to in order to accomplish the mission. Get the petition rolling strongly again. Get more and more eyeballs to Hulu. Watch an episode or two and rekindle that energy. Focused energy makes a difference, believe it!

Thanks for reading my little soppy love letter. I continue to be so grateful for all of you!

Shawn

15 comments:

  1. Love your show! I hope that it gets picked up. I've been watching on Hulu. Waiting for more episodes!!! Good luck!
    Kari

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  2. About to recommend it on facebook another time. I check the Endgame and Save Endgame pages regularly in case the good news arrives. I really hope we get this back!!!

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  3. I am ADDICTED to your show!!! After the first episode I was hooked, and watched the next 5-6 episodes. Then the next night watched the rest. Then I re-watched them over again. I HAVE NEVER DONE that with ANY show EVER !!! I rated each show with 5 stars. I don't have a Favorite episode. I LOVE them ALL !! This show has AWESome Actors, directors, producers, wardrobe, photography, writers, etc. I HOPE to see a SEASON 2& 3 !!!!

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  4. Thank you for your gracious and heartfelt letter. It is worthy of the great Balagan himself and we all hope that someone has the good sense and imagination to appreciate the unique quality of ENDGAME. It is such a tragedy of the Canadian TV marketplace and production system that the best series of the last few years - Intelligence and Endgame - were summarily cancelled. I find it deeply disturbing that not one of the smaller American networks has seen fit to pick up Endgame for a second season and market it properly. Bravo did a terrible job and at least HULU has seen fit to rebroadcast the first season of episodes. This cannot have been a particularly expensive series to produce and with the proper support from a TV network and a good time slot it is reasonable to believe that Endgame would become a huge success in the same way that other series - Miami Vice, for example - needed a second season before finding a broad audience. Endgame is too good to die after only one season and shame on BRAVO for giving up so quickly despite a cult following that would surely have grown.

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  5. Dear Mr. Doyle,
    Thank you for this beautiful letter to your audience. For the past few weeks, I've been very much enjoying your show on Hulu, and I do hope that it will be renewed for a few more seasons.
    What makes your show especially worthwhile and unique is that Endgame and its protagonist(s) consistently operate on principles of non-violence. In that respect, the show belongs to a very rare category of crime-solving tv series, past or present. Episode after episode, the protagonist does his all to solve a puzzle without resorting to force, or weapons, whatsoever. His tools remain his curiosity, his intelligence, and his trusted friends. In that respect, if my memory serves me well, Endgame seems to have no equals among the multitude of crime-solving shows produced today.
    Not only you've personally brought a colorful character to life with utmost success, but also together with your team, you've created a series imbued with a tangible and contagious sense of humanity and life, one that never fails to sees the light in people.
    It'll be a pleasure to see it continue beyond the first season.
    I will post this on your show's page on Hulu, as well.
    Best,
    Payman Akhlaghi

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    1. I agree with this wholeheartedly! We have shows which depict very violent and graphic representations of criminal activities, and it may be something we like to watch but it is not something good for us to watch.

      ENDGAMƎ gives us that puzzle-solving satisfaction without the gore, and demonstrates humor and friendship in a way that is classy, not cheesy. We owe that to Mr Doyle as well as the other core cast members, and I believe we all hope to see more seasons!

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  6. Love you as Balagan, all of the other characters (which is extremely rare) and the entire production!!! It will certainly be a travesty if your show does not get renewed! I am so sick of the mindless drivel that lasts forever these days while the handful of good shows that happen to squeeze through are canceled. I honestly believe that if we revamped our ratings system to include what everyone watches instead of just a select few, we would have great shows with great talent that last for many years once again! Thank you so much for making Balagan and his world so real, enduring and interesting for all of us! :) Heather

    Heather UpChurch
    Art & Design Studios
    www.artanddesignstudios.net

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  7. What you said reminds me of that line in the film, "Shadowlands". CS Lewis (Anthony Hopkins) is talking to a student of his at oxford who is poor and just stole a book. Lewis comes to offer his help and the student talks about his love for books. He says, "We read to know we are not alone." That's what you said about us (people) needing to tell our stories. Whether you're the actor, writer, director , crew, makeup artist, etc. I've always believed there are only two types of movies, songs, books, etc: good & bad. Thanks for putting on one of the best shows Canada has ever seen. My 71 year old mother asked me yesterday, "What happened to that show about the Russian man who roams around the hotel in his bare feet?" So I came online to get some info & support you. You have even bridged generation gaps & united Mom & I when we don't like any TV shows in common. Is there anything you guys cannot do? (like leap tall buildings) I'm with you. Love L-L

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  8. I just found this wonderful show on Hulu and watched all of the episodes in one day. Imagine my horror when I combed the internet to find out about a second season just to find that there won't be a second season.

    I enjoyed the writing, the storylines, the acting, and the relationships formed on this series. I'm very saddened that I won't be involved in the lives of Balagan and the Huxley.

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  9. I found it on Hulu and loved it. Only one more to watch and I am sad.

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  10. loved Arkady Balagan!!!! www.facebook.com/tiffanybrookebell

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  11. i never heard of endgame until hulu ran ads for it. about a month ago i finally watched an episode and was hooked. what a wonderful and uplifting show. i was greatly upset to see it only ran one season. i liked it so much that i spent a lot of time looking for it on dvd. amazon carries it for twenty dollar plus three dollars shipping. i keep telling people about this amazing show and wish somehow it would be resurrected. thank you shawn doyle and cast for all the hard work it was worth it.

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  12. Spent last night watching endgame for the first time. Once id started, I couldnt stop. Fell in love with the ehole thing. Its really a shame that it ended so abruptly. Would love to see it rekindled.

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  13. Shows awesome just stated watching haven't stoped

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