NBC Cancels 'Timeless' After One Season: 'We're Surprised & Upset'
Is it really time for "Timeless" to end, or can the series find life elsewhere?
Show co-creator Eric Kripke confirmed that NBC canceled the time-traveling drama after its first season, which averaged 4.6 million viewers with a 1.1 rating in the advertiser coveted 18-49 demographic. As TVLine noted, the Season 1 finale ended on a cliffhanger, so fans hope that the story can continue somewhere else. Otherwise, why did they invest so much time and effort into the plot and characters only to have the rug swept out from under them, yet again? It doesn't exactly inspire confidence to try another new show, since networks will probably continue this same bait-and-drop pattern.
Here's a message from Kripke, with the promise of more to come from him later:
Its true. NBC canceled #Timeless. We're surprised & upset. Get you a longer response later. Odds are long, but trying to find another home.
— Eric Kripke (@therealKripke) May 10, 2017
Co-creator Shawn Ryan added his own thoughts:
1. Learned a lot about TV biz in last few days. A lot of things to argue for a #Timeless renewal but $$$ flows in mysterious ways in tv now.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) May 10, 2017
2. As @therealKripke mentioned, Sony will look for another outlet. Don't know the viability of that, but know there's intense fan love.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) May 10, 2017
3. I've been inundated with #Timeless love by non show biz people more than any other show I've ever done. I feel bad for all of you today.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) May 10, 2017
4. So thanks to all of Team Timeless for your passion and ❤️ for the show. We'll try to keep it alive. #ResucitateTimeless
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) May 10, 2017
5. Want to add I got a classy call from Bob Greenblatt and Jen Salke from @nbc who are heartbroken about the financially driven decision.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) May 10, 2017
6. Appreciate Bob, Jen and NBC giving us the canvas to tell 16 fun stories with our amazing cast. #ResucitateTimeless
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) May 10, 2017
The "Timeless" cast also shared their sadness to end the story:
"Nothing valuable can be lost by taking time" -- Abraham Lincoln
Thank you #Timeless fans for all of your support. An honor & a pleasure. pic.twitter.com/VN0DKBuIn1— Abigail Spencer (@abigailspencer) May 11, 2017
Actress/SNL-er Leslie Jones is a fan of the show and shared her disappointment with the cancellation:
WTF?! WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO TO KEEP A GOOD SHOW ON TV?! @NBCTimeless was an excellent show!!! Y'all making a huge mistake!!!
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) May 11, 2017
William Shatner also jumped into the conversation:
With the disappointing news on #Timeless there still is Lucy's Diary up for bids. Here are the signatures. https://t.co/qN9syXurQLpic.twitter.com/8dEPR4br2K
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) May 11, 2017
Other viewers echoed their comments, calling "Timeless" one of their favorite new shows of the year, and Twitter is now filled with frustrated fans.
Man, everyone is ready to fight @nbc about the #Timeless cancellation and it's beautiful. Some light in the darkness.
— Kimmy ???? (@PsychPineapple_) May 10, 2017
Wait...Taken survived but #Timeless was cancelled? I don't understand @nbc. ????Timeless was the only show on your network I cared to watch!????
— Janna Lynn (@jannalynn95) May 10, 2017
#Timeless cancelled? How do these great sci-fi shows die after 1 season (cough cough Firefly), but other trash never freaking ends?
— Dean Hoffman (@DeanthePolitic) May 10, 2017
Another home for #Timeless please @hulu@netflix@TheCW@CBS#SaveTimeless save the quality!! @therealKripke@MattLanter@LanaJeany@jcbiiipic.twitter.com/DDj2vnum8d
— Barby73 (@zomparellina_73) May 11, 2017
'Tis the season for this kind of disappointment, as the networks reveal their 2017-2018 programming, and break the bad news to the cast/crew/fans of the canceled shows.
On the better news front, NBC did renew "Chicago Fire," "Chicago P.D.," and "Chicago Med." Basically, if "Timeless" added "Chicago" in front of it, it would've had a better shot.
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