ABC has its reasons why not to continue production on Heather Graham’s new sitcom.
Despite the network’s massive promotional effort behind Emily’s Reasons Why Not, just 6.2 million viewers tuned in for the Jan. 9 debut of the female-friendly series.
Based on its audience’s apparent lack of interest in Emily, the Alphabet net elected to preempt the second episode of the sitcom with a rerun of the season premiere of The Bachelor Monday night.
Though Graham and friends were slated to return to the lineup next Monday, the network shut down production on the show Friday, following the taping of the sixth episode and a decision by ABC to reduce its original order.
Depending on how the Parisian exploits of this season’s Bachelor fare with viewers, there’s a good chance ABC may decide to pull the plug on Emily for good.
“It is a shame,” Gavin Polone, the show’s executive producer, told Daily Variety. “A lot of people were working really hard and the show kept improving. Sony spent a huge amount of money and were very supportive. I can’t fault ABC, though: they promoted it like crazy and when the audience stays away, in this supercompetitive environment, quick decisions are made. That’s the television business.”
While Emily wasn’t given much of a chance to make its mark before being shown the door, two tried-and-true television series were also given their walking papers this week.
On Tuesday, Fox announced it would be bidding farewell to both That ’70s Show and Malcolm in the Middle at the conclusions of their seasons in May–a move that surprises no one.
The bell-bottomed cast of That ’70s Show will be packing up their trailers after eight seasons following the series finale on May 18, which also marks the show’s 200th episode.
The show was widely expected to come to an end at the conclusion of its seventh season, but was instead reupped for an eighth season, despite flagging ratings and the departures of stars Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher. The show is averaging 6.4 million viewers this season.
“That ’70s Show is one of our longest-running hit comedies,” Fox Entertainment president Peter Liguori said in a statement. “The show’s success is definitely a testament to the creativity and dedication put forth each week by the talented cast, outstanding writers and producers and the great crew. There are a lot of things about the ’70s we’d like to forget–especially those involving polyester–but this series has been a wonderful look back at this most memorable decade.”
Meanwhile, the five troublemaking brothers of Malcolm in the Middle, along with their television parents, will be calling it quits May 14, after marking seven seasons and the show’s 150th episode. The show had struggled this season, averaging just 3.5 million viewers, way down from 15.2 million in its first year.
During its tenure, the show won numerous accolades, including the Peabody Award, six Emmys and a Grammy Award.
“Fox is proud to have been the home of this groundbreaking comedy,” Liguori said. “From its innovative production values to its exceptional writers and cast, this series has helped shape the modern sitcom. We’ll miss this hilariously loud and manic–yet somehow relatable and admirable–family.”
This month’s hottie is “That 70’s Show” star Topher Grace. You may know him from some of his popular films “In Good Company“, “Win a Date with Tad Hamilton“, and his Screen Actors Guild award winning role in the ensemble of “Traffic“, or some of his lesser known films like “P.S.” with Laura Linney.
