Fox Cancels Four Comedies
In the midst of the announcements of cancellations, renewals and greenlit series, comedies have largely been getting good news around the dial today, but not at FOX, where four comedies have been given the axe. Seth McFarlane’s animated series Bordertown will not be coming back next year, but that news wasn’t a surprise to anyone who has been following television news. Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life was also cancelled, and had not been expected to survive its freshman year with poor performance since its January 2016 debut. The series followed Cooper Barrett, played by Jack Cutmore-Scott trying to make his way through life and figure out how to navigate the world’s ups and downs.
More surprising was the cancellation of both Grandfathered and The Grinder, after all week the trades speculated that one of the two would likely survive, arguing over which one might escape cancellation. Grandfathered starred John Stamos as a career focused, confirmed bachelor and restaurant owner who at the age of 51, discovered he has both a son and a granddaughter.
But it’s the cancellation of The Grinder that is most disappointing, at least for us. It may be Rob Lowe’s best role yet, playing Dean Sanderson, who returns back to his Idaho hometown after playing a lawyer on television. After playing a lawyer on a hit TV series for years, he decides he is ready to join the family law firm. Fred Savage co-starred in the series as Dean’s brother, an actual lawyer, who worked at the family firm.
Many (us included) considered The Grinder to be the funniest, smartest show of the year. Lowe tweeted out the disappointing news today, saying that the series was “unapologetically original, smart, funny and had a murder’s row of talent” using the hashtag #GrinderRests. He added, “the good news is that film is forever. And I’m thrilled to have 22 episodes that were as acclaimed as they were. Time well spent!”
Many weighed in, sad about the series’ departure, including IndieWire, which mounted efforts to save the series, Mindy Kaling, and a slew of publications. Just a day ago, Entertainment Weekly declared the show one of TV’s funniest comedies. If you were one of the many who didn’t check out The Grinder, make sure you catch season one on On Demand.
#GrinderRests
#TheGrinder was not renewed by @FOXTV It was unapologetically original, smart, funny and had a murder's row of talent. #GrinderRests.
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) May 12, 2016
The great news is, that film is forever. And I'm thrilled to have 22 episodes that were as acclaimed as they were. Time well spent!
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) May 12, 2016
