It's now becoming very clear that e.tv is not happy with Debora Patta and/or that Debora Patta is not happy with e.tv: Mere hours before the final episode on Tuesday night at 21:30 of the weekly, longrunning investigative magazine show 3rd Degree, e.tv is suddenly pulling the two repeat episodes of 3rd Degree usually scheduled for later in the subsequent week completely off of the schedule, without explaining why.
e.tv's unability to explain and answer a simple media enquiry as to why the usual 3rd Degree repeats scheduled for later this week is getting pulled, speaks silent volumes about the relationship between e.tv and Debora Patta.
In an oddly macabre shocker e.tv last week bluntly announced in a terrible way that e.tv and Debora Patta are separating and that 3rd Degree is suddenly ending as well.
Behind TV channels and behind shows are people. Where people like people, a TV channel treat a show good. The opposite is also a TV truism.
Suddenly dumping repeat episodes of 3rd Degree comes across as ... spiteful, amateur, extremely petty and unprofessional and lacking class, besides making glaringly obvious the lack of media tact and insight on how to handle delicate TV transitions with sensitivity and grace despite how you might personally feel.
"Be advised that the 3rd Degree repeat episodes schedule for tomorrow, Wednesday 15 May at 10:00 and on Monday 20 May at 10:00 have been dropped from the schedule," e.tv said at 17:30 on Tuesday. "The episodes have been replaced by the second season of The Close-Up."
e.tv didn't respond to a media enquiry as to why this late schedule change has been made. It makes it look as if e.tv suddenly wants to hastily scrub itself clean of 3rd Degree like the clean-up after a horrific crime scene you suddenly want to erase as if it never existed.
But 3rd Degree can't be erased that easily because it existed for 13 years - and e.tv put Debora Patta on the popular culture map as much as Debora Patta also helped and worked very hard to put e.tv on the map.
Also interesting is that e.tv is quick to yank the 3rd Degree repeats off the schedule, but couldn't yet say what will be replacing 3rd Degree in its primetime slot on Tuesdays - which is of much bigger concern and importance to a broadcaster like e.tv.
Despite what might really have happened between e.tv and Debora Patta, she brought 3rd Degree to e.tv, she started it and she executive produced and anchored it for 13 years on e.tv and the eNCA (DStv 403). In television - just like dog years, 13 years is a lifetime.
It seems odd and disingenuous for e.tv to pull repeats of a show off the air, because it's finishing, and thereby appearing to limit the final full exposure and "victory lap" if you will of a longrunning and award-winning show.
