PBS cancels Market Warriors series from Antiques Roadshow producer

Published on Current.org, March 16, 2013

By Dru Sefton

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PBS is ending production of Market Warriors, the much-anticipated series that premiered in July 2012 as a partner program to longtime ratings hit Antiques Roadshow, according to a March 14 WGBH internal memo to employees.

Market Warriors pickers, from left, Bene Raia, Miller Gaffney, John Bruno and Kevin Bruneau, scoured flea markets for bargains that they later auctioned in an attempt to make more money than their colleagues. (Photo: WGBH/Anthony Tieuli)

Marsha Bemko, executive producer of both programs, today told Current the decision was PBS’s and declined further comment.

The demise of the series triggered several layoffs. The memo said that Field Producer Rebecca Donahue and Editors Peter Hyzak and Sean Sandefur left WGBH the week of March 4, while Senior Producer John Kalish, Associate Producer Joey Toppan, Production Assistant Rebecca Taylor and Assistant Editor Jim Fetela departed on Friday. Production Manager Heather Prince and Post Production Coordinator Maureen Fahey will stay through the end of the month and National Marketing Account Manager Jake Messier will remain until the final new episode airs April 22.

“I could not be more proud of this hardworking team,” Bemko said in the memo.

The memo noted that the station “continues to work with PBS on a range of new and ongoing series.”

The series was hit by controversy just a week after launch when original narrator Fred Willard was arrested and charged with lewd conduct, which led to his outster. He was replaced by Mark Walberg, Antiques Roadshow host.

The program was announced in January 2012 under the working title Market Wars.

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http://www.facebook.com/ginfor Forrest D. Poston

Seems PBS is becoming too much like the commerical networks, loosing patience too quickly when there were adjustments to be made that could have given the show a significant boost. Yes, there were problems, but there were also solutions less radical than the chopping block. Is it the demise of Market Warriors we’re seeing, or is it a sign of something larger and more problematic creeping into the PBS mindset?
- imcdto
  
  PBS is a commercial network. We watch 5-10 minutes of commercial acknowledgements during every hour. I don’t think much funding actually comes from viewers. Anyone know the percentages?
  - Steve Behrens
    
    The latest accounting by CPB says 26 percent of the field’s revenue is from “subscribers,” namely viewers and listeners. Only 20 percent comes from federal sources, mostly the appropriation through CPB. See the figures for 2011: http://cpb.org/stations/reports/revenue/2011PublicBroadcastingRevenue.pdf
http://www.facebook.com/moodartist Dale Alan Hammond

Does the squeaky wheel always have to
get the grease? Unfortunately this is usually the case. The few
enslave and manipulate the majority. It’s an odd and interesting
psychological fact that often the majority will remain quiet and
allow the few to conquer them. The reason for this strange phenomenon
has yet to be understood. Is it that the majority become too
complacent, lethargic, and self-centered to unite against any serious
opposition? The few run on jet fuel while the majority often become
mentally obese and fatally docile. I picture in my mind a mouse
leading an elephant to his demise. In my opinion, what has happened
here is PBS has been too sensitive to the whining self-ordained
critics (bottom feeders). They have allowed the squeaking wheel to
have its way by assuming its online comments accurately reflect the
opinion of the majority in regard to Market Warriors. Personally I
don’t believe the majority of Antiques Roadshow/PBS supporters agree
with the recent decision to cancel this show. Market Warriors is a
clean real world show for the whole family. Think about it, how many
shows do we have like that today? It seems that far too often
celebrities have to be rude, dirty, imbecilic, and generally
obnoxious to achieve success in television. Market Warriors is
honest, educational, and it motivates people to get off their butts
and do something constructive. I say it’s high time we wake up and
voice our true opinions. Why should we just lay back and let the few
rob us of our fun? Contact PBS and let them know you do not agree
with the decision to cancel Market Warriors. This goes double for
those of you who are major supporters of PBS. If they have to cut
back, let them cancel one of their lower rated cooking shows (like
obese America really needs all those food shows). Don’t just think
about doing it—DO IT!
http://www.facebook.com/dan.mcqueen.585 Dan McQueen

PBS: Heads will roll over this dumb-ass decision; NO MORE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ME! One of the other networks will pick up the cast and the show. Talk about bad management; Fire those bozos!
Gina D’Onofrio

well no wonder, it was bounced around all over the place on the schedule, put into hiatus before the presidential elections in november and supposed to come back. it finally did, then changed times again and had weeks in between before it aired. i thought this was supposed to be a “game show” type show with an ending and who wins the most money at the end. Will we ever see the final episodes and does it have a “winner”? very disappointed, love this show.
http://www.facebook.com/ann.verwiebe Ann VerWiebe

As a fan of Antiques Roadshow and History Detectives, this show never really clicked for me. The competitors rarely made back what they spent at the flea markets at the auctions, so there wasn’t the excitement that comes with a big win. Anything tied to shopping usually attracts my attention, but Market Warriors never made it to my must watch list.
- Neena Petersen
  
  Love History Detectives too, but what’s with all the reruns? Market Warriors was a nice addition to the collecting theme. It wasn’t perfect, it should have been given time to improve.
- Khalil Ghannam
  
  I watched the show, while the whole time thinking “these people are stupid.” I don’t know much about vintage or antique things but they would consistently buy crap and lose money at the auctions. Really what is the point of that show. That is why PBS cancelled it. Bozo production with bozo cast. Of course, I say these things in the kindest way possible.
imcdto

I don’t think the Fred Willard controversy had a thing to do with the cancellation. The concept of the show was good. The warriors themselves were pretty bad at being pickers. Kevin seemed competent and is a successful dealer.
- http://www.facebook.com/sandyakessler Sandy Kessler
  
  definitely nothing a blip
horseradish

cancel that stupid Charlie Rose show or idiot Bill Moyers–keep Market Warriors
- Neena Petersen
  
  wow. I can’t imagine ANYONE calling Bill Moyers an idiot!
  sure hope PBS doesn’t listen to you.
bina groves

I really liked this show, but I am very disappointed when it comes to the auctions. What is up with the bidders? Why is there only a handful of them at a time? I feel like there is no energy in the auctions and that works against our pickers. I am sad they are cancelling the show. I think it could have improved in time.
- imcdto
  
  The pickers are professionals. They should be well aware of how auctions are going nowadays and buy accordingly.
http://www.facebook.com/sandy.berger.716 Sandy Berger

I LOVE Market Warriors and learn so much from them. I go to yard sales every Saturday and then sale the items in my store. This show has helped me tremendously. Love all the cast. Is there anything that can be done to keep this show on the air. BOO to PBS for cancelling this GREAT show.
http://www.facebook.com/sandyakessler Sandy Kessler

whata ridiculous move a fun show and educational too much music on PBS love it but should be a muysical station everything else stops so disappointed
http://www.facebook.com/sandyakessler Sandy Kessler

are you scared of flea market flip because that is a different show entirely
- Gail Schneider
  
  Market Warriors was one of the best shows on TV. It was a show that EVERYONE could relate to – pickers, dealers and shoppers alike. They bought items we see every day at antique shows and flea markets – not like Antique Roadshow where it’s virtually impossible to find anything they have appraised. I think the deletion of Bob Richter was a very bad choice, loads of people protested, but PBS stayed with Bene – who knew nothing about most of the items she bought – like that bayonet, and the toy bicycle – omg did she spend way too much????
  the trouble with these stations is that they NEVER listen to their audience – they just do what they want, and therefore a GREAT show is cancelled.
  Let’s all write to the travel channel – or any of the others who show those FIXED picking shows – maybe a true show with NOBODY staging items will find another home
  I am an antique dealer, I saw the Market Warriors in action at the show I was doing in Chantilly Va. (The DC Big Flea Market) NOTHING was staged, they bought from friends of mine, and it WAS on the up and up. Kevin Bruno has been back almost every time we have a show to buy for himself .
http://www.facebook.com/ryan.nathan.31 Ryan Nathan

Wow…this is the only show ive ever recorded from PBS…how can they screw this up?????? Friggin morons…true, Mark Wahlberg was stale as host, but come on!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/tootie.place Tootie Place

too bad sorry to hear this. PBS don’t join the Networks with Mindless shows, we are senior citizens and enjoy this show their personalities are unique YUK 3 times, has anyone looked into BBC AR? Why are they still airing? Cmon PBS hang in there.
http://www.facebook.com/yvonne.dawsonpoole Yvonne Dawson Poole

Hope someone else does pick up Market Warriors. My favorite show. Watched it every week. I hate PBS anymore. Too political. They have expanded number of channels in my area but prime time is mostly their news hours or a show they can use to pitch their politics. Double yuck. Cannot stand you PBS.
- http://www.facebook.com/atindra.gibbs Atindra Gibbs
  
  Yes, Yvonne, there are many reasons PBS is under the wheels presently and is reflective in the axe on Mkt warriors. shame. However, there are some pretty good shows still on that network that I will continue to watch (don’t have cable and don’t need it either) because of the clean quality PBS does still bring. Well, others create with Public in mind, not $ signs. Still, shame on em for doing the stupid dance on Mkt. Warriors entertaining values…the stupidity (makes me feel pretty smart in different parts, heh) of the buyers and sellers and the many many faces of an art and artists all over our great country selling stuff over and over, making a little profit, making ends meet and meeting characters from Maine to Spokane…gone again.
elizabeth1112

We enjoyed “Market Warriors” and even tuned in especially for it, something we’ve never done with “Antiques Roadshow” – in fact I was looking it up to see when it was next on when I read this. Now I’m sure our local PBS station will run “Doo Wop Cavalcade” endlessly in its place.
The four pickers were the most normal people I’ve ever seen on TV.
- http://www.facebook.com/atindra.gibbs Atindra Gibbs
  
  Doo WAP!! LOL’s eliz.! yep, they are crankin em out now!!! I think this reflects the generation of who is really in charge….I also look at the waxy pale faces in the audience of those doo waps and get so grateful I am me…silver hair (what is left on the sides) and all.
Darryl McMurry

My years of donations to PBS are now a thing of the past. When the daytime shows are little more than what amounts to a baby sitting channel, to the excess of would be cook shows, to the extremely boring British soaps and then cancel something the folks can associate with, it shows PBS caring. As stated prior to this post the auctions could be better and the pickers better, but lets face it, its a form of reality show. I don’t care for the term, yet its the first one I could watch, enjoy, and look forward to the next episode.
- http://www.facebook.com/atindra.gibbs Atindra Gibbs
  
  Well said, Darryl. Thanks for my view too. Looked forward to each show, even though it was so unorganized and sometimes had to wait several weeks to see, I always looked forward to smiles and surprises.
http://www.facebook.com/atindra.gibbs Atindra Gibbs

A shame on PBS’s once smart eyes. What could have been the brightest part of antiques at the end of the road (show), was some stupid decisions no doubt by admin folks who have no idea when it comes to being in the mix or bartering or scheming…ok they do scheme a lot…

The Warriors were character building, and did not need big dollar name items, like on the Roadshow, to draw attention and interest. I’m a flea mkt vet, retired presently, and know fun when I see it. This involves mistakes, fopaws, etc. Not by the upstairs folks making this stupid decision to cancel a great show, but the HUMAN mistakes we all make in assuming things. That is why I loved this show. That being said, yes, the auction part was starting to fall apart and had to be an admin decision, not the characters doing the trench work…could have been much improved. What? Tell them they will be auctioning in CA and then hold it in east overshoe wherever in the east???
What was that about!!!??? Pulled the rug right out from their best and almost last shows… OK, all things being not quite equal, perhaps a better show will be developed by someone smart enough to see the real value of what was a great thing.
Sincerley, Born in Berkeley
Donna Kennedy

This was one of the few shows that I got excited about watching. I’m missing it. It would be great if another network would pick it up.
andrew uckerman

I really LOVED Market Warriors! It was fun, exciting and a GREAT CHALLENGE finding an ANTIQUE that might be a WINNER and make a little profit! WAY TOO MUCH FUN!!! I also had a little crush on MILLER, she’s a BABE! haha! Hope it comes back!
Don Dollton

This can be a successful show, first you need to get rid of the find a particular item and only give them a hour. Why not give them 4 hours and let them spend $1,000 and bring in as many items they can buy that THEY think is worth money. This would really test their knowledge (and no IPhone either Miller). You could then edit the taping/production down. John, Miller and Bene kept bringing in items that any knowledge picker or antique dealer would know was not worth anything, the only people profiting were the attendees buying at the auction in the end. Kevin was the only decent one who actually knew what was good or not. When Bene bought the bayonet, that was it for me, she did not know anything about what she was buying and that whole transaction made her look like an idiot.

I go to antique shows and it takes me from 3-4 hours to get good coverage and I usually always find something good. This is what people want to see, being able to find something good at these shows, not some piece of junk selling at auction for way less than what the supposed experts bought the items for.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=697228961 Jen Hutchins

so bummed this is cancelled! I love this show.
benguin

We’ve been wondering where Market Warriors went… sadly, now we know. Hopefully the PBS folks are reading this and will give it another run. It was THE show for our family on Monday nights. So now the kids are bummed, the parents bummed… I think even our dogs are depressed.

C’mon PBS- put it back on the schedule. This is a nice bookend to Antiques Roadshow, and we’ve gotten to love the cast.
- Neena Petersen
  
  Ditto here!
Tammy Winters

What a huge disappointment!You are losing a huge audience;it was my twenty-four yr old son who introduced me to the show and he along with his thirteen and seventeen yr old brothers watch it with me…..what are you people at pbs thinking?!?!!!!
Neena Petersen

PBS, every time you run tired old music shows for fund-raising, I want my money back. How about an auction? That’s what Milwaukee PBS does and it’s interesting to watch.
http://www.facebook.com/lazalaffs Linda Harrington

Sorry this goofy, offbeat show will be missing due to PBS cancellation. I enjoyed the grassroots business lessons, the awkward amateur moments and the fellowship among the competitors (seller vs buyer, buyer vs buyer). Americana at its best has lost its appeal over at PBS?
Pingback: Readers prick me, defend “Market Warriors” | Auction Finds
lbf1

I only heard of this show for the first time yesterday. Some antiques dealers were discussing it in my earshot and none of them liked the show. They said the dickering on the part of the characters, when attempting to get a lower price, made them uncomfortable.

There was a particular episode that was made at a big antique show in the Washington DC area, and apparently a lot of antique dealers said that next time they would cancel their reservation if Market Warriors or any reality TV show was going to be taped there. They did not want any part of it.

The reality of it is, a whole lot of footage gets shot that never makes it on the air.
http://www.facebook.com/ruthann.graygrabowski Ruthann Gray Grabowski

I love Market Warriors! I love the 4 (5) competitors. Very dissappointed to hear this.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Susanand-Steve-Stark/1651488016 Susanand Steve Stark

Market Warriors was one of our top two PBS programs. Loved the personalities, loved the competition. Loved everything about it. Bad decision PBS! No more donations from us.
http://www.facebook.com/dkullerstrand Diane Kullerstrand

Boo Hiss! I really liked this show!
Chelsea Richards

I got to say, to be honest this series was way better than both Pawn Stars American Pickers, sad to say it’ll be greatly missed in our household.
LeLouvre-Antiques.com
Sterling Brooks

Arggggh…
I saw one episode and was hooked. And now I learn the show is canceled!
PBS didn’t give it a chance to succeed. I hope someone else will pick up the ball and run with it. My wife and I are fans of Antiques Roadshow, and even hauled some of our stuff from Abilene to El Paso (a mighty long drive) to see the show when it was taped there, and I was planning to do the same with Market Warriors.
- megan03
  
  I agree completely. They didn’t give the show enough time to succeed. It was well done and interesting. I love PBS and will continue to support them but wish they would reconsider this decision.
  - Sterling Brooks
    
    My TV is nearly “channel glued” to PBS on Dish Network…
    
    I too, hope they would relaunch this show. I liked the talent, and it was a grand adventure to see where they would be next.
    I love Antiques Roadshow and what I liked about Market Warriors was the fact that most of their scenes and locations were shoot outdoors, contrasting to Antiques Roadshow… Having worked in television myself, I know producing a show outside is challenging because of lack of control with weather, and scheduling, but I really enjoyed that aspect of Market Warriors.
http://twitter.com/xqx2400 Tweet Deals

Sorry to hear about the cancellation. I liked this show.
Harter Maryann

I kept waiting for this to reappear. DAMN…there’s so little good TV, and then this disappears too. it was really fun to watch! Had a good time trying to compare my own buying experiences with the cast members. Prices really fluctuate depending on geography! Sometimes I was surprised at their seeming naivete, and sometimes I was the naïve one. I wanted to go up against them to try my own luck. Come on, BRING IT BACK!!!
Angi Dryja Ignarski

Horrible decision by PBS! My husband found this show and we couldn’t wait to watch it every week! We would compete between the two of us given the items bought and we would try to pick the winner. This was a good show. REAL. We could relate and loved seeing antiquing done in a fun, modern way. Get your ducks in a row PBS and bring it back!
Ron Stainbrook

Now my very favorite program on television is no more. Can’t wait until some other network picks it up.