Hollywood’s relentless reshuffling continues to shake up the television landscape, with CBS delivering a particularly stinging blow this week. The network quietly pulled the plug on “The Equalizer,” Queen Latifah’s groundbreaking reimagining of the 1980s classic — and honestly, the timing couldn’t feel more bittersweet.
The show’s May 4 finale now stands transformed from season closer to series farewell, marking the end of a five-season run that proved action heroes don’t need to fit a predictable mold. Queen Latifah’s portrayal of Robyn McCall brought a fresh perspective to the vigilante narrative, though apparently even that wasn’t enough to dodge CBS’s spring cleaning spree.
Speaking of timing — the television world seems determined to remind us of both endings and legacies this week. While “The Equalizer” joins the growing list of CBS casualties (goodbye “FBI: International,” “FBI: Most Wanted,” and newcomer “Poppa’s House”), we’re also processing the loss of a true comedy pioneer. Ruth Buzzi, whose wit could cut through pretense like a hot knife through butter, passed away at 88 in her Texas home on May 1.
Let’s pause for a moment to appreciate Buzzi’s remarkable impact. Her Emmy-nominated work on “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” didn’t just earn her a Golden Globe — it helped shape the DNA of modern sketch comedy. That spinster character Gladys Ormphby? Pure gold. Even in her final years, facing health challenges including Alzheimer’s and multiple strokes, Buzzi’s trademark humor never dimmed. After her 2022 health scare, she quipped about cremation arrangements, noting she “wasn’t quite ready to make an ash” of herself. Classic Buzzi.
The contrast between these two television moments feels particularly stark. Here’s “The Equalizer,” a show that dared to reimagine an action classic through a fresh lens, getting the network equivalent of a text message breakup — no flowery press release, just radio silence. Meanwhile, we’re saying goodbye to someone who helped write the rules of television comedy, whose influence still echoes through every late-night sketch and variety show.
Buzzi’s final chapter was touchingly human. Her husband of 43 years, Ken Perkins, shared details about her 86th birthday celebration — how she wanted pie instead of cake, specifically “apple crunch pie with vanilla ice cream.” Such small details somehow make the loss feel more real, more personal.
Television keeps evolving, doesn’t it? From Buzzi’s groundbreaking comedy to Latifah’s barrier-shattering action hero, the medium continues to reinvent itself. Sure, some chapters end too soon (looking at you, potential “Equalizer” spinoff), while others leave us with decades of memories to cherish. That’s showbiz, darling — always keeping us guessing, always moving forward, even as we pause to remember those who helped pave the way.
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