Most of you have probably heard the bad news by now: “Hand aufs Herz” just got cancelled due to low ratings. The show will end in September, after only one year on the air.
Are saying goodbye in September:
Jenny aka Lucy Scherer (left) and Emma aka Kasia Borek
To quote from a statement that was released both on the official website and on Facebook today, it’s a sad Monday for everyone. For us, the viewers, who from September on will have to live without our daily dose of a show that we have all grown so fond of and that I for one will miss terribly. But of course even more so for the team, who worked so hard and with so much passion to bring all of the stories, all of the songs and of course all of the characters that we now love so much to life. I was lucky to meet some of them when I visited the set a few weeks ago and they were all so optimistic and positive about the fate of the show that it’s breaking my heart to imagine how they must feel today.
Even though the news are incredibly sad, there are still some things that we can hold on to and that can maybe make us feel a little better. First of all, the show won’t end before September, which means we still have more than two months of new episodes left. Secondly, in the statement I linked to above, they promise us that the show will have a happy ending. Without knowing it for sure, I’m convinced that this will also include a happy ending for Jenny and Emma.
As heartbroken as I am today, I’m also very grateful: Grateful that writer-producer Petra Bodenbach and her team created this show and decided that they just had to include a coming out story and that they picked the characters of Jenny and Emma to tell the story; grateful that the story was written the way it was written, that the writers gave the characters and their love story time to evolve and thereby made it so much more credible; and grateful that Kasia and Lucy played it the way they did, with so much passion and devotion.
From September on, “Jemma” and all of the other characters might not be on TV anymore, there might not be any new stories, but I for one will always treasure the wonderful stories we had.
Cross my heart – Hand aufs Herz!
For a translation of the official statement by Sat.1 chief executive Joachim Kosack, and also to read another heartfelt and heartbroken comment on today’s news, go to amidola’s blog post at Jemma International.
And before you ask: Yes, you will read more about my visit to the set of “Hand aufs Herz” soon.
Well said!! I can honestly say that this was perhaps the most beautifully written, acted and realistic love story that has been on TV in a very long time. Not just a lesbian story, but a love story. And it will always have a place in my heart along with Kasia and Lucy, who I wish all the success in the world.
To take a love story and turn it into a world-wide phenomenon like Jemma is amazing and something they should be proud of always. They have touched alot of hearts and raised the bar for us.
You captured so eloquently all I could ever say about this sad news. This has been an incredible journey, not only for all of the excellent reasons you list, but also because of the amazing fan community that grew up around this storyline. Thanks to you Mel, and to everyone out there for all of the videos, recaps, translations, and engaging discussions and speculations. It has been an amazing ride. Let’s enjoy every precious moment between now and September.
1. Sat1 needs to make ALL the Jemma footage available. I think it’s unlikely that people will go to the expense of buying all the ‘whole series’ DVDs just for the Jemma scenes. Maybe Sat1 should do the right thing by web based fans and sort out a Jemma YouTube site – ‘paid for by ads’ maybe ?
2. Webseries anyone?!!
Kind regards to all
There’s not going to be a Jemma webseries.
I do think that it would pay to put out a Jemma Love Story DVD however. I think it would sell as well as the one they just put out, in fact it would probably sell alot better..LOL
Well, Jemma gave the show a fighting chance. When the big things occurred, ie., getting together, coming out, etc. the ratings improved. Too bad we’re (the international fans) are not in Germany to watch it live. lol
I can’t imagine what the international viewership is going to be for the two epsiodes where they make love. We should hit that one out of the ballpark.
I’m grateful for Jemma, Kasia and Lucy. Thank You.
@Jerri – I agree a Jemma DVD would be great – do you think that Sat1 will go to the expense of a Jemma DVD now? I hope so!
I’m guessing that you have some insider knowledge that there won’t/can’t be a Webseries? If so that’s such a shame. When ABC cancelled ‘All My Children’ and ended their ‘Otalia’ storyline,
Crystal Chapell and Jessica Leccia set up their ‘Venice Beach’ webseries and continued to act together. Like ‘Jemma,’ ‘Otalia’ had a massive ready made fan base when their show was cancelled. I think ‘Venice Beach’ is on series 4 now, so they’ve showed a webseries can work.
In addition SoN have done ‘Spashley’ webisodes.
I’m interested to know what you know if you can share it?
I have no insider knowledge, there’s just no profit in it for a big production company like Sat1 to do a webseries. They did things like the chat and ungeoblocking for us, but they also got a lot of free, good press for their show in the process, so it was a win/win.
CC decided to do a webseries as a launcher for HER company. You notice how the characters are not Otalia? That’s because they’re owned by CBS. Just like Jemma is owned by Sat1.
As to whether they’d ever put out a Jemma DVD, who knows? It would probably sell better than the one they just released, but that’s just my opinion.
Hi, that’s a relief!
I wasn’t thinking Sat1 would do it, more that they may get asked to work with an already established webseries. Lucy and Kasia have a fan base to die for so I wouldn’t be suprised to see them get invited to do something like ‘Venice,’ (or even ‘Venice’ itself!) as soon as Lucy has finished her next project, or even as a ‘side’ project- as CC has done now she’s back on ‘Days of our lives.’
If I ran a web based production company I’d snap them up!
‘Otalia’ showed that, even if they couldn’t use ‘Jemma,’ people would still follow the actresses if they wanted to work together again; assuming Lucy had enjoyed tv work enough to do it again! They seemed to really enjoy working together and understood how valued they were by a community who don’t see themselves reflected in mainstream programming very often.
Just as CC did, they could add in previous workmates- Dennis and Roberta Valentini for example!
Lucy and Kasia had such great chemistry that I’d subscribe if they took to the net and worked together again- even if they just did a 1 year later ‘anniversary in Paris’ webisode! Am I alone?
I can’t believe just how much this is actually breaking my heart. I was still in Berlin when I got the message that it was cancelled, I was packing and had to catch a train, so it didn’t really sink in until I was on the train, plugged in my earphones and started to listen to the HaH soundtrack. And I really don’t know why it was that song, but during “If I Were A Boy” I suddenly started to cry. Here I was, a grown woman, a lawyer, sitting on a train amidst a bunch of strangers and couldn’t hold it together because a TV show had just been cancelled – wow!
But I wasn’t the only one who was crying. Here’s a video of Kasia saying goodbye to the fans:
And here’s Lucy saying goodbye:
Yes, we will see them in other roles (Hollywood, did you hear that? Kasia is available now and would LOVE to be in a Hollywood movie!), and Jemma will always be in our hearts, and maybe it’s for the better because if they get their happy ending now, we can imagine that they will always stay together and we will never have to see them break up. But still: After September, there will be no more HaHe, and there will be no more Jemma. And that thought just makes me cry (again).
I have been lurking since the very very beginning, i enjoy reading all of your opinions and today i need to tell you how devastated i am that from September i won’t see Jenny’s eyes and her dimples of course.
The only thing that spinning in my head is why all the good things come to an end but maybe is better that way before we get bored if that was ever possible.Yes it sets the bar high and now i am waiting great things in near future.
Thank you Mel for being my shelter when i was not able to watch what was going on HaH.
I much appreciate all your hard work.I think thank you isn’t enough maybe 1000 thank you is better.
I wish Lucy Scherer and Kasia all the best from now on.
I am devastated. I never ever was a “fan” of a series – but this one was truly so different. All what was happpening and building in the series but also with the fandom. It’s so so sad…. I’m still in schock
I was offline for sometime because of work so I was really forward to get online and catch up but when I open my computer, the word cancelled caught my attention and my heart just sunk reading the details. I know the show will end sooner or later but I did not expect it would be this soon. I’m gonna miss JEMMA so much and the fandom as well. From the bottom of my heart I thank the people who made this site, for all your efforts in making us international fans understand and enjoy their story.
Just feeling very sad and empty right now I wasn’t expecting the show to be cancelled. Although it’s sad news right now perhaps in the long run it’s good, we won’t have to worry about Lucy leaving to go back to the theatre and Jemma should have a happy ending which we all know is rare with lesbian couples. Kasia looks devastated and it makes me sad to see her so upset trying to fight back the tears she gave so much to the show. I hope we will see them have more success in the future obviously Lucy is already a musical star. I just hope I see them again as i don’t live in Germany. I tell you what though it looks flippin’ hot in Berlin or wherever they are filming the goodbye messages makes a change from wearing 15 layers of clothing.
I want to say a huge thank you to Mel for your dedication to Jemma and for creating this wonderful site where we can express our thoughts and I can’t wait to read your report of when you went to the set.
Could someone kindly interpret Lucy’s comments?
I echo everyone else’s comments. So sad to see this show get cancelled. I’ve become a fan of the entire show and will really miss not seeing Jemma and all the other story lines.
Kasia and Lucy have really brought something special to the characters written on the script. The writers have created a wonderful story, but Kasia and Lucy have given the Emma and Jenny characters life and depth and soul. As others have said, the story will live on. But like good friends, it’s sad to have to say goodbye.
Thanks Mel, for your hard work making the story accessible to the international fans. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
Hi KBee!
In the beginning Lucy wasn’t sure if they were already filming.
She asked: “In German? Is this already filming/running?”
and then:
“It is sad that this is already the “bye-bye video”.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and hope that you will take much pleasure in the last episodes.
And many, many, many, many thanks for all the attention and lovely words you gave us!
It was a great time.
Thank you very much!!!
And… uhm… thanks”
Thanks so much! Very cool!
I’m sad, but mostly for the actors, especially Kasia (though I think she’s so talented it will only be a matter of time before we hear of a new project). As for Jemma, I will miss them, but they will live on in our hearts as a beautiful lesbian love story and the girls will always be together. As Heather said, a happy ending is still a happy ending, and that’s something.
When I heard the news that HaH was cancelled I actually didn’t believe it at first. Then I realized it was true and I was incredibley sad. I haven’t really been able to comment about it until now. I loved Jemma and the way the writers let them grow from “enemies” to friends to girlfriends. Both characters were written so well and Lucy and Kasia have such great chemistry together. Lucy especially made every seen with Kasia fantastic with her little touches and amazing expressions. Both are talented actresses and singers and I’m sure they will go far. I’m disappointed as well because it seemed like the Jemma fans were growing and Sat1 was so welcoming with unblocking their episodes and having the Jemma corner on their site. I almost thought they might end up allowing subbing eventually…unfortunately not.
I will miss Jemma very much but I am greatful to them for introducing me to this great community! I am from Canada and was so pleasantly amazed at how friendly and supportive everyone is here at this site and the other international translated sites. No flaming of posts or major disagreements! I was amazed too how much effort and time was spent adding subs or variations thereof, for us international fans so we could enjoy the show as well. Thank you so much Mel for this site and your awesome voice of reason, calmness and hope. I agree that if they are leaving at least it’s on a happy note for the couple, that they gave us two months to wind down and gave us such a great storyline. Danke!
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=155696001169727
Help us to save Hand aufs Herz!!!
@lovejemma, that’s a really great idea but do you think that Kasia would want to work for Sat1 again – she seems really hurt, and who knows what Lucy thinks about what has happened.
I’m not on facebook but I’ve seen a post on AfterEllen suggesting that Kasia should be in Glee!! I can see Lucy in it too – maybe playing the ‘Bea’ role to Kasia’s student! Can you imagine if either of them actually got picked up for Glee- that would show Sat1!! Maybe this is another option for a facebook campaign?!
I’ve got a feeling the actresses are going to be fine especially Lucy as she loves the theatre and she obviously has a huge following with her theatre fans (she said herself it was probably them who voted in their thousands so she would win the fans award at the soap awards). Actually it’s amazing to think she won that award considering she hadn’t been in it that long. Kasia looks so upset and rightly so she put her heart and soul into the role of Emma and she must be shocked and disapointed. But she has loads of talent and i’m looking forward to finding out what they’ll be up to next.
There is one thing I don´t understand because I don´t know how the business with the webseries or with the streams is working:
Why is it not possible for Sat1 to earn money with the viewers on the homepage?
Everytime I read about the cancelling of the show they admit that there is this big sucess on the internet but that they need the people to watch the show on tv.
But there are also commercials if you watch it as a stream.What´s the difference?
Do they get more money for the commercials on tv ?And why?
I would imagine that there’s less revenue for web commercials than TV commercials for several reasons. And I think alot of their hits were of the international variety, meaning while I may have enjoyed the chocofresh commercials, I don’t have access to the product or most others advertised, otherwise, believe me, I’d buy it.
I agree with Jerri. On TV, you can have much longer commercial breaks with more commercials, which means more revenue. But I think that they have learned from this, and that they will work on a way to eventually turn the success a show has online into money as well so they don’t always have to base any decision just on the TV ratings. It’s just unfortunate that it will be too late for this wonderful little show called Hand aufs Herz.
Maybe not too late if the fans play their cards right…
I think people would accept much more commercials online. On TV, they are used to it and so they would accept it online, too..
And delicious chocofresh could go global- perhaps with some Jemma- specials with every bar- it could be a big success..But unfortunately you`re right, probably it`s too late for our show now…
@Marie-Helene: Or perhaps you are right..I don´t know..It seems definitely stupid to me to cancel a show with such a fanbase..
Perhaps another chanel will adopt the show or something like that. It`s aired at six a clock in the evening and thats really a stupid time..
It´s somehow obvious that the problem isn´t a lack of fans..
bonjour j habite en france et je trouve dommage qui arrete .
Je pense qu ils devrait penser a changer d horaire de diffusion et peut etre aussi changez le format ,pourquoi pas faire comme glee ,1h par semaine et en plus ça permet a kasia et lucy de faire d autre chose a cote comme il y aura moins d heure de tournage.
Allo, je suis canadienne-francaise. Je suis tout à fait d’accord avec toi. Le problème vient principalement de l’heure de diffusion et probablement aussi du format. Une durée d’une heure et une fois par semaine serait beaucoup mieux. Et puis, je crois aussi que le diffuseur doit comprendre que le monde de la télévision a changé et qu’internet offre de nouvelles possibilités en termes de revenus. J’espère de tout coeur qu’ils vont revenir sur leur décision…
Sorry for this french interlude.
I agree. The show is on at the wrong time for the target audience. Maybe they can move the timeslot for a while or change it to the one hour once a week format. Also, it seems like the old way of evaluating whether a show is successful through a sample of TV viewers is no longer working with the popularity of internet viewing and digital recording. It’s a challenge not only faced by SAT1, but by other broadcasters. Increasingly, younger folks especially, prefer to watch TV online. It’s time to include them in how viewership is counted and for these companies to expand their definition of what makes a successful show.
On a good note though, the facebook pages of the HaHe actors suggest that SAT1 is overwhelmed by the fan response and maybe having some misgivings, so everyone keep up the excellent protest efforts! Who knows, this fanbase may be able to save this show.
oh, I’m so torn now. On the one side I was crushed when they cancelled the show. BUT at least we are promised a happy ending, and I’ve sort of come to terms with the fact that it will be a one-season gem that I will keep in my pocket forever. And in addition to this, I don’t think that Lucy will stay on the show if it gets renewed, but return to musicals. Finally, I don’t see them topping this storyline with a new love interest etc. for Emma. Jemma has been 100% perfectly done so far, and I’m afraid that another season will ruin it.
That being said, if they want to bump viewer stats for the remainder of the season, they should def. move the timeslot to 19.
Why does everyone think Lucy was leaving anyway? I only ever heard one very vague mention in the chat when she said she would return to musicals in the future. Was there something else officially stated because everyone writes it like it ‘s just a plain old fact: Lucy Scherer is returning to musicals after season one. Period.
As far as the story goes if it should continue for another season, in my opinion the writers have done an excellent job thus far with Jemma and there is no reason to think they wouldn’t continue to do so.