ABC is no longer happy with “Happy Town.”
The network has decided to pull the series from its schedule after tonight’s episode airs.
For those of you keeping track at home, it’s May and that means sweeps.ย With the show underperforming, ABC has decided to cut its losses, according to TV Guide.
The series will be replaced by “What Would You Do?” starting next week.
But fans looking for closure need not fret.ย ABC says it will air the final five episodes starting in June.
kyrann says
God, I hate it when this happens. The show just started…
Michael Mennenga says
Hello… How can this be a fair run of a program? a couple episodes and it’s gone already? Really?
I hate network TV.
Summer Brooks says
Mother Pussbucket… how is two episodes giving anyone a chance to find the show?
What do I need to do to make my own genre channel?
Michael Falkner says
Don’t we all, Michael? Don’t we all?
MichaelL says
Network Television needs to die. I watched both episodes and really enjoyed the show.
JimB says
Silly? Sure. But it’s not “gone” or “pulled” – it’s off the air for two weeks, to return on June 2, according to everything I’ve read.
But I guess saying ABC is “pulling” it makes for a more dramatic headline. Meh.
Summer Brooks says
But Jim, Why start it right before sweeps if you’re not going to run it? Why not wait until after the full fall seasons end, then run it complete, without interruptions, as a “summer series”? They should take a page from TNT and USA on how to promote upcoming “short” series… they bombard their other shows with ads for Leverage, In Plain Sight, Burn Notice, etc, and they start doing so at least two months out from the new season premieres, ramping up the frequency as those dates get closer.
Pulling shows like that don’t give the show or it’s potential audience a fair chance to gain traction, and couching the reasons under the cloak of “it’s sweeps” seems to just trying to hide that you’re hedging your bets because you’re disappointed that the show didn’t start off like gangbusters. The fact that the initial announcement was made last night before the second episode had finished airing is also very telling.
I think this type of move with genre shows has become self-fulfilling doom-and-gloom. SF/Paranormal shows typically take a while to gain an audience, far slower than a crime drama or medical drama. Networks are hesitating to put the genre show out there, and people who would become the show’s audience are hesitant to start watching and become attached because they’re concerned that the network will pull the show before it’s had a chance to find the numbers that the network considered “good enough” to let the show run, leaving them hanging yet again.
It’s bad form, and we don’t have to like it.
Michael Falkner says
Summer, if you make your own genre channel, please do us all a favor and avoid wrasslin’, lame “reality” shows, and incredibly stupid low-budget Saturday night movies based on hybrids gone wrong or impossible Hollywood disaster science-fantasy.
Oh, yeah… please also avoid corporate name changes based on texting syntax.
Thanks. ๐
Summer Brooks says
@Michael, not to fear, although I do have a soft spot for “Destination: Truth”… Josh is a big scifi geek, and he’s just adorable ๐
No wrasslin, reality shows would be carefully considered (I’d prefer to do something like “Project Greenlight” where you’d follow the creators of indie genre film projects), behind-the-scenes making of specials would be prevalent, and older shows would get the airtime they deserve. And since plenty of other channels are airing Star Trek, I think that’s one series I wouldn’t have to shell out the bucks for ๐
I’d also have to put “Slice of SciFi” on the air, because if I can get addicted to watching “The Dan Patrick Show” on DirecTV’s 101 Network, think of how many people out there are just waiting to become addicted to watching “Slice of SciFi” (we might have to expand the show to 2hrs though to accomodate all of the adult beverage sponsors who’d want in!)
My one concern is that it would be too expensive for me to get rebroadcast rights for shows like Babylon 5, Dark Angel and Strange Luck. But I do have a dream, a plan, and a new reason for living now.
Sam says
I thought this one had a lot of potential, particulary with “Lost” alum M.C. Gainey doing a stellar job as the town’s sheriff gone wacko talking of the mysterious Chloe and taking a hatchet to his own hand.
Not sure how the network can justify removing it so soon. But we are talking about Fox’s replacement network called ABC.
JimB says
Summer, I agree with you – my issue was more with how the headlines were written/how the story was presented. Maybe it’s a semantic argument, but a “pulled” show means “cancelled” to me, which is not what’s happening. (Shrug).
You mention “self-fulfilling doom-and-gloom” isn’t that what this article is? Giving folks the impression that it’s gone/cancelled/whatever, thus leading them to *not* watch tonight’s episode or look for it’s return?
And yes, I totally don’t get what ABC is doing. CBS did (mostly) what you’re suggesting last year with “Harper’s Island” – they moved it once and skipped one week IIRC, but aired all episodes.
Summer Brooks says
No, “pulled” does not mean “canceled”, not anymore.
“Pulled” means they’re re-evaluating their entire strategy. These days, even shows that have been canceled will still likely have all the episodes aired, because they know the uproar may mean a few more eyeballs for the sponsors for those few weeks (a la Journeyman), so that’s not a factor anymore. Hell, “pulled” may be code for “we didn’t get to rub enough greenbacks on our nipples this week, so let’s shake up the schedule” for all I know, but it is not synonymous with “canceled” these days ๐
And I think “Happy Town” is better than “Harper’s Island”, which is why I’m more bummed about this premature move.
Justathought says
This is why a growing number of people (me included) shy away from watching “continuing storyline” TV. For ANY reason a network can pull a show at any place in the story arc, leaving the viewers hanging. Jericho, Invasion, firefly, and many other promising shows have been canceled due to money constraints, office politics, and/or changing network priorities, leaving thousands of disappointed viewers (customers) in their wake.
Once bit, twice shy. An increasingly skeptical and jaundiced public is favoring “game” shows with a guaranteed end point, i.e., Survivor, Dancing with the Stars, Apprentice, American Idol, etc., as well as episode TV with little or no continuing elements.
The Japanese had it right a few years ago when they started to guarantee that continuing stories would be ended within a published time frame that the networks were committed to.
Michael Hickerson says
Seeing how several networks are trying to go for alternative new programs during the summer, it might have made sense to wait for the summer on this one.
Of course, I don’t know how large the price tag is for this one. That may have been why ABC trotted it out now and didn’t hold it.
Liza Madore says
I can’t believe Happy Town was pulled I got hooked right away I was looking forward to this weeks show to see what Tommy does about Rachel! I really hate when this happens!!
Tom Peters says
I hate giving new shows my time because they die so quickly. But i love shows that are not the standard cop or medical or sitcom fare. Happy Town fit my criteria nicely. i want shows with imagination and creativity. Like LOST and Flashforward. Both gone now. How could they start Happy Town so close to summer and only give it a few episodes? I don’t watch TV during the summer. I’d rather be outside. Winters here in Winnipeg are long and cold and I want to enjoy the warmth while it lasts. Get serious ABC. Give it another shot come October.
As of right now, all I have for the coming fall is Big Bang, and two new Canadian sitcoms, (Hiccups, Dan For Mayor) if they survive. If the flood of shallow reality shows continues, I won’t be watching TV for much longer.
Linda says
Happy Town….. what conclusion. I did not see any conclusion episodes. Typical ABC – talk about a network that doesn’t give a shi@ about its audiences. At least let it finish. Some viewers had some taste and liked the show.
Lindsey says
I didn’t even know about Happy Town till I started watching it on Hulu. I am still unclear about how many episodes it is supposed to be…just 8? Thats not even a full season. I hate how networks don’t take into account people can’t just sit on their couches and watch TV ALL THE TIME. I arrive late to the party for a lot of TV shows…even LOST. I really enjoyed this show. Matter of fact these are the shows I started watching lately ust to find out that they don’t get to finish.
Happy Town
Dead Like Me
Pushing Daisies
Dollhouse
oh and a couple years ago that show called Drive
FlashForward
V
I only bring it up because ALL of these shows are interesting and instead of being able to watch these different shows we are stuck watching syndicated 20 years of Law and Order/CSI/ and the human depravity that is Reality Television. It seems that there is no longer any art on TV, no good stories….just formulas that please the masses…The overweight, undereducated, and superficial masses. COME ON GIVE THE REST OF US A BREAK.