Radio Free Roscoe is . . . the most unappreciated show on the planet. I can say this honestly because it's entirely true. I blame the network. Radio Free Roscoe used to appear every night in Prime Time on The-N. Then it got canceled. Now it appears on The-N at one-thirty in the morning. It's clear that Radio Free Roscoe was replaced by shows that are a hundred times worse — South of Nowhere and Instant Star. Once again, the networks screwed up and I'll tell you why.
First of all, many people are probably wondering what in fact Radio Free Roscoe is. It's about four kids who started an underground radio station due to being shut up by the administration at their school. The basic message of the show is finding your voice. Ray, Lily, Travis, and Robbie use the station to express their feelings. They can say anything they want on the station and be heard. How? They use the alter egos of Pronto, Question Mark, Shady Lane, and Smog. It's about not going insane and being yourself. Instead, it kills stereotypes. And best of all, the principal can't do a thing about it.
I truly believe this show helped me find my voice. I felt I could relate to the characters. I know, I know, I don't have an underground radio station. But I could still relate to the fact that I was just a stupid little freshman who was trying to find my voice. I did. I started writing. Fan fictions, reviews of things, songs...that's how I express myself.
The Radio Free Roscoe kids were not rebels. Well, I guess they sort of were. But they were also great students. Robbie, for example, is the leader of RFR and was named as an honor student in the episode, “Bad Boy.” Lily started her own band and had a single. That doesn't promote underachiever to me. Ray was the funny guy and he gets a job as M/C at the local coffee hang out place. Travis is a man of mystery and is always quoting Buddha. I'm sorry, but I've never met a Bad Boy quoting Buddha. So this is also a good message.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Justene
Yes, I suppose all these shows have been good for you.
2 - Raine
i LOVE radio free roscoe and i cant beleive it is cancelled...all i want to know is a list of the bands they had on that show...i really liked the one band petit project but i cant seem to find any songs by them...email me back if it isnt too much trouble.
3 - Joanie
Congrats! Your article has been placed on Advance.net
4 - Maddy
Raine: If your have ITunes, there is a free podcast with samples of RFR band music. Search Radio Free Roscoe and you should find it.
5 - Johnathan
FWIW, 24Seven was only produced in England for one season. From what I can tell, had there been another season or two produced, The N would have picked it up.
As far as "Out There", there was a second season made, but The N didn't pick it up. As much promotion as they gave the first season, and as many overnight reruns as it was allotted, I was surprised that The N didn't pick up season 2. I can only guess that it didn't get the ratings or audience response they wanted.
My personal frustration with The N:
Daria!
For a network that claims to "go there" and does in fact show many series that do, I don't get why they haven't completely uncensored their Daria library. It's still cut to shreds in places.
I find that RFR has also grown on me, oddly, since the reruns began, moreso than during its original run. It really is a good concept for a show, even if offbeat, and I love the fact that one of the main characters seems to always be espousing Zen / Buddhist philosophy.
As for other shows I'd like The N to carry, see my blog - I'm going to post there next.
6 - soul
I agree with the reviewer's sentiments. The show was worth keeping on the air. It has a sense of realism that other shows catering to the same age group did not. I have to wonder how other subpar shows stay on the air while this one gets the shaft.
Bring it back! It's not too late.
7 - Mark
I completely agree with this article. Radio Free Roscoe was about exercising the right to speak freely. I wish the show would come back on.
8 - kate.
okay , this is the saddest thing i`ve ever heard.
Radio Free Roscoe was the best show ever created.
I seriously need to know what happens , after the summer.
Canceling a show like this , is the worst thing the network could do.
i don`t think they relize what this show could have done for their ratings.
I think almost every teen can relate to this show , somehow.
RFR was amazing , and always will be.
9 - m3lis
well i was just watching the show now. i dunno bout you, but where i am they still play RFR at 9pm on the family ch. it really is good, although i really wish the band "the petit project" WAS a real band..so far ive liked their music and same with lily;s band "nomans land"...rock on guys!
10 - CallmeMaddy
M3lis: Petit Project is a real band.
11 - Rav
wow, i totaly agree, i think that it is stupid. I love rfr!
I wish they would bring it back
12 - Linkavage
Dear writer, i could not have written a better article myself. I myself was devistated when the RFR series had come to an end. The way i found out was through the episode when Travis tells everyone he is leaving, Ray is working full time at Mickey's, and Lilly is doing a Mall Tour with No Man's Land. I was truly crushed. RFR has had an amazing impact on myself. As cheesy as I sound, it is a fact, like Maddy said. It was a real show and the actors played the characters flawlessly. I was moved by the show, and i will always remember how it made that little, no. BIG difference in my life. So thank you Stephen, Stephen, Kate, Ali. You 4 alone helped me in a way no one else could at a time in my life. Peace out RFR. And thank you Maddy for writing this amazing blog for me to respond to and express my feelings toward.
P.S.
If anyone has any info on how to locate Posters, CD's or any of the seasons, please email. [Personal contact info deleted]
Thank you.
P.S.S
My URL is my piczo space, where if you look at the links, you will find a dedication to RFR.
13 - Troy
I got some Petit Project songs. About four I think. They are a real band. Thank God I live in Canada. We still get RFR on the Family Channel.
14 - ashley
I really love RFR too. Geez... man. What a mess.
15 - Lena
I completely agree with you RFR used to be the show i count on to get me through the day i felt like i could relate to the characters and i could have a voice of my own my whole life i was quiet and i never got to say my opinions. RFR helped me it changed my attitude toward life. At least i'll have the memories and if your interested if you go to youtube.com godmode has every single episode ever made just go to the search and type in radio free roscoe season 1 episode 1 and there you go you have all the episodes from season 1 -4 check it out if you really love rfr you will thank me tons SEEYA
16 - Pete
RFR is fantastic. I'm only just starting to watch it via episode downloads and youtube but I find it unbelievable it was cancelled.
They wrote scripts for the the next season as well. They already wrote scripts! The least they could do is release these.
17 - mano
omg i know eh
pisses me off
i agreee
damn channels
ruined it
i miss it soo much
=[
18 - Me
:( its sad... its one show that truly teenagers can relate to, and it gives u a sense of comfort. Its a shame that even FAMILY channel didnt fund a season 3, atleast they still play it here in canada so i manage.
19 - Kimmy
dont judge instant star and south of nowhere when you've probably only seen a part of the show for 5 seconds.
hypocrite
20 - richard
shame on you "N" instant star and south of nowhere ..... lol please
21 - Sarah
I miss Radio Free Rosco... and it pisses me off so much cuz I didn't even get to watch the last episode and it sucks cuz I still wonder! WTF! I wish they'd put it back on the air!
22 - A.j
man i have bin looking for a site liek this for long time i love Radio Free Rosco but i dont know y they canceled it i loved it then it got to the parts were they were making new episodes and she like hits cord and tells ray that she loves him i think i seen like 2 or 6 more episodes after that and they started replaying and then it was moved to liek 1:00 and i had to mus schoo lto watch it and o ya i did i love this show so much but ya i REALY HOPE THEY BRING IT BACK I WOULD PAY TRILIONS
23 - Kiiriya
If it wasn't or our ability to record things I would have missed it competley. Ithought rfr was like permabanned from the n only to realise tha one day when I din't go to school because my dad went to afghan i just happened to turn o th tv and it was going off. I could sware that i almost cried. RfR was and isstill my favorite show, i just have to record it now to catch it. >.<
24 - Megan
So RFR,which I completely agree was an amazing show (or I wouldn't have read the whole article), was canceled because of poor ratings. Wouldn't the mass of people wanting clue them in that people are watching?
Or were they just not watching enough in Canada for the Family Channel to support it?
Too bad The-N didn't go and fund it.
I miss that show so much.
thank god it's back (sort of)
25 - Brittny
For Megan who commentede before me ... WHAT DO YOU MEAN ITS BACK???? are there new episodes?? plzz answer!