Jared Padalecki, a long-time star of The CW network, has openly criticized the network’s new direction following the cancellation of his show, “Walker.” The actor, who also served as an executive producer on the series, did not hold back his feelings about the network’s shift towards what he describes as “cheap content.”
In an interview with Variety, Padalecki expressed his disappointment with the network’s new leadership under Nexstar, which acquired The CW in 2022. He lamented that the network he had been a part of for nearly two decades had drastically changed. “Nexstar is changing the network around, where it’s not really going to be a TV network as much as it’s going to be, ‘Here’s something fun for an hour that you’ll never watch again, but hopefully you watch it. And it’s cheap!’” Padalecki said. “And I hate to say that, but I’m just being honest. I mean, f–k it. They can’t fire me again. I’m just being brutally honest. I think it felt to me like they were looking for really easy, cheap content that they could fill up time with.”
Padalecki pointed to upcoming fall game shows like “Trivial Pursuit” and “Scrabble” as examples of the network’s new strategy, which also includes a significant number of foreign imports and co-productions. “I feel like The CW that I was a part of last year is not The CW that I was a part of under [former chairman and CEO] Mark Pedowitz for that entire, almost 20-year stretch,” he added.
The actor’s comments come on the heels of the series finale of “Walker,” which aired on June 26. The show, a reboot of the 1990s drama “Walker, Texas Ranger,” premiered on The CW in January 2021. It followed Cordell Walker, played by Padalecki, as he returned home after a two-year undercover assignment investigating the death of his wife, Emily Walker, portrayed by Padalecki’s real-life wife, Genevieve Padalecki.
Padalecki shared his thoughts on the state of the television industry, expressing a sense of disillusionment. “I’m a little disillusioned about the state of the industry that I’ve loved and been employed with for 24 years,” he said. “So I have a lot of thinking to do, and I have a lot of time to be with my wife and our kids, my friends, and think about where this industry is.”
The actor also mentioned that he doesn’t foresee himself signing up for another long-running network show, which could potentially take him away from his family for years. “You really have to sacrifice a lot, and I’ve sacrificed everything I have to sacrifice for many, many years, and I think I’m at a point in my life where I want to spend more time with my wife and kids,” he explained.
Despite his criticisms, Padalecki is open to future projects, particularly with “Supernatural” creator Eric Kripke on his Prime Video series “The Boys.” This potential collaboration could reunite him with former “Supernatural” castmates Jensen Ackles and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. “[Eric] and I have talked about what it could look like. It’s not written yet. He said it wouldn’t really be until 2025. We wouldn’t shoot until probably January-ish,” Padalecki shared, adding that he’s game to “go play in the playground [of] the guy who created Sam Winchester. I’ve had good times in his playground, so I’m happy to do it again.”
Padalecki’s candid remarks highlight a broader concern about the direction of television networks and the quality of content being produced. His frustration is palpable, especially given his long-standing relationship with The CW, where he starred in “Supernatural” for over a decade before taking on “Walker.”
The actor’s emotional connection to “Walker” was evident in a social media post he shared in May, announcing the show’s cancellation. “Howdy y’all,” he wrote. “It is with a heavy heart that I share this news with you. #Walker will not be airing on #CW for a fifth season. It’s a tough piece of news to be sure, but we are SO thankful for the #WalkerFamily that has been built, both on set and off.”
Reflecting on the show’s end, Padalecki noted the parallels between his character’s journey and his own life. “We’re just about a month [removed] from the announcement that we weren’t picked up again, so it’s kind of funny how life imitates art, or art imitates life,” he told Variety. “What Cordell went through in the finale and what I’m going through now are mirrors. I’ll be 42 next month. Am I waiting until I’m 60 and I have 800 episodes of television or something? I have to live my life now. … I think, ironically, in trying to tell somebody else’s story for so long, I’ve realized that my story has value too.”
As Padalecki navigates this new chapter in his career, his criticisms of The CW serve as a stark reminder of the challenges and changes facing the television industry. His commitment to quality storytelling and his desire to balance his professional and personal life will undoubtedly shape his future endeavors.
Source: Variety, TVLine
