VQT was formed in 1984 after Swanson's grassroots lobbying efforts for the female cop drama "Cagney & Lacey." The aim of the group was to focus attention on outstanding creative programming, such as "Designing Women," "China Beach" and this season's "Gilmore Girls," and demand the networks provide more of the same.

Swanson, who recently published the book "The Story of Viewers for Quality Television: From Grassroots to Prime Time," said the decision to pull the plug on the VQT was tough but inevitable because of declining membership and scarce funds. VQT has dropped from its peak of about 5,000 participants to fewer than 1,000, making it impossible to stage such costly activities as the annual awards dinner and convention in Los Angeles.

Among the group's accomplishments, according to Swanson, are the extended lives of the series "I'll Fly Away," "Brooklyn Bridge" and "Homefront." VQT also informed viewers about the power of sending letters and making phone calls in support of a series.

"I felt we had accomplished our goal in that viewers knew how to make their voices heard," Swanson said. Swanson pointed to the web as one of the causes behind the organization's declining membership. Fans of shows facing cancellation can now easily find website posting boards that allow them to bond and vent about how to save the show, like what happened with the "Tabasco Campaign" to save The WB series "Roswell."

"There was a time when campaigning for a show had meaning, but because it can now be done with a click of a mouse it really has lost its specialness," Swanson said.

"Someone actually got press notice for her campaign to save 'The Nanny.' I said, 'Well, it's come to that.'"