ABC has cancelled “Not Dead Yet”, the Gina Rodriguez-led comedy series about a newspaper obituary writer who can see ghosts… specifically, the people she’s writing about. It ran for two seasons, with a total of 23 episodes. Along with a unique premise, “Not Dead Yet” had a decent amount of emotion behind its first season, transitioning to more of a traditional, but funny, workplace comedy vibe for a mostly satisfying Season 2. But the viewership just wasn’t strong enough for ABC to keep it around.
It’s the second year in a row I’ve been disappointed by the network’s decision to cancel a series. Last year it was the 11-episode drama “Alaska Daily”, starring two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank, a show that got better and better, with some of the most moving and gripping storylines I’ve seen on TV in a long time.
These days, when it comes to comedies, networks only allow a handful to thrive. You have to be a major success right out of the gate to have a good chance at survival. For ABC, it’s “Abbott Elementary”. For CBS, it’s “Ghosts”. FOX likes “Animal Control”, and NBC seems to have faith in “Lopez vs. Lopez” and the “Night Court” revival, cancelling “Extended Family” after a single season.
I’ve invested myself in a number of sitcoms over the years that haven’t lasted long. It, of course, started with FOX’s “Back to You”, the TV news comedy starring Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton, which ran for 17 episodes (3 unaired in the U.S.) from 2007 to 2008. I also enjoyed that network’s duo of “Grandfathered” and “The Grinder”, both cancelled after 22 episodes in 2016.
NBC’s “Great News” (2 Seasons, 23 episodes) was fun, along with the “filmed in front of a live OUTDOOR studio audience” “Abby’s” (1 Season, 10 episodes). Cancelling “A to Z” after just 13 episodes (it should’ve gone at least 26 — one for every letter of the alphabet) was a ridiculous decision.
On CBS, I *really* liked “The Unicorn” starring Walton Goggins (2 Seasons, 31 episodes). And on ABC, in addition to “Not Dead Yet”, I enjoyed “Single Parents” (2 seasons, 45 episodes), which also featured Brad Garrett in the ensemble cast. “Call Your Mother” (13 episodes), “Imaginary Mary” (9 episodes), “Downward Dog” (8 episodes) and “United We Fall” (8 episodes) were all solid.
And TV Land’s “Nobodies” shouldn’t have gotten the axe after just 24 episodes. I still consider Season 2 one of the funniest batches of episodes in modern TV history, right up there with Season 1 of AppleTV+’s “Ted Lasso”.
These days, if there’s a show you love, treat it like a limited series, because that’s all the time you may have to watch it.