ABC Cancels 'Downward Dog,' But Creator 'Not Giving Up' on New Home
But ... look at how sad you've made them, ABC!
"Downward Dog" fans are now trying to use social media to save the freshman series, which was just canceled after one eight-episode season. There's also hope that if a big crowd tunes in to watch the final two episodes this Tuesday, ABC will either change its mind, or another network/streaming service will swoop in to save the day.
Allison Tolman stars in the quirky comedy series, which is told from the point of view of her dog Martin. Samm Hodges co-created the show with Michael Killen (Hodges also voices Martin) and he shared the cancellation news in a letter on Twitter, expressing his surprise, but also hope:
Hey. Statement from @m_killen and I. Love and hope and not giving up #DownwardDogpic.twitter.com/VUn8NrgdLu
— Samm Hodges (@sammhodges) June 23, 2017
So far, six episodes have aired, so episodes seven and eight will be airing on Tuesday, June 27. Fans -- including ABC star Karen David ("Once Upon a Time," "Galavant") -- are now reacting on Twitter, hoping to somehow keep the show alive:
.@downwarddog_abc Cue fans for a #MoreDownwardDog campaign! Xo https://t.co/frsBbc7eCf
— KarenDavid (@KarenDavid) June 23, 2017
In keeping with the "dumpster fire" vibe of 2017, #downwarddog is canceled at ABC ????
— Liz Raftery (@LizRaftery_TVG) June 23, 2017
#DownwardDog fans if ur mad, watch the final 2 eps Tue after Bachelorette. They're really the best 2. Super Bowl ratings=everything changes.
— Barry Rothbart (@barryrothbart) June 23, 2017
I am so sad to hear this. #DownwardDog deserves a spot in the great shows cancelled too soon hall of fame. https://t.co/j1t6gnw5JI
— Rebecca Eisenberg (@ryeisenberg) June 23, 2017
What exactly went wrong on ABC? According to Deadline:
"ABC was faced with making a renewal decision on Downward Dog, from Legendary TV and ABC TV Studios, as the options on the cast were to expire next week. Downward Dog, which became the first broadcast comedy series to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, had been relatively steady in the ratings though it slipped to series lows of 3.1 million viewers and a 0.6 adults 18-49 rating (Live+same day) this week, which didn't help its cause. [...]
But in the end, the show proved too expensive to produce (the single-camera comedy films in Pittsburgh) for a summer run, and scheduling it in-season was virtually impossible because ABC's comedy deck is stacked with seven returning series that have full-season orders. There is only one new half-hour series slated to debut in the fall, The Mayor, with two more, Alex, Inc., and Splitting Up Together, on tap for midseason."
ABC just moved "Still Star-Crossed" to Saturdays in what was viewed as a pre-cancellation move. The network has yet to officially announce anything, but we'll stay tuned for details on the future of "Downward Dog."
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