‘Save Manifest’ campaign keeps canceled NBC drama in the #1 spot on Netflix for weeks

For almost a month now, an extraordinary thing has been happening on Netflix. A global grassroots "Save Manifest" campaign has helped propel the canceled, three-season NBC drama Manifest to the top of Netflix's TV show ranking. And there the show has stayed. Firmly planted in the #1 spot on Netflix's Top 10 TV show list for almost a month, as watch parties around the world are organized. Show creator Jeff Rake has also been using his Twitter account to stoke interest. He shares behind-the-scenes insights and constant encouragement for viewers to keep watching. And boy, are they.

The show found a second life on Netflix after NBC decided to pull the plug. A cancellation that interrupted Rake's vision for the show, leaving many narrative threads dangling. Indeed, it's hard not to look at all this and come away with the feeling that the modern TV model is pretty broken. The decision makers, too often, are just guessing blindly when they green-light a show. And when they decided to shut one down.