And the Next Cancelled Show is...

[Karzak]

HBO's 'The Brink' Canceled — After Season 2 Renewal

HBO is changing its course on The Brink.

The premium-cable network has opted to cancel the Jack Black and Tim Robbins comedy after one season — despite renewing it in July.

"After evaluating our schedule and our programming needs, we unfortunately decided we cannot give The Brink the attention it deserves for a second season," said HBO in a statement. "We are proud of the first season and wish everyone involved in this show the very best."

The half-hour series, which bowed in late June alongside Dwayne Johnson's Ballers, was part of HBO's efforts to broaden its comedy brand.

Brink centered on a geopolitical crisis and its effect on three disparate and desperate men: Walter Larson, U.S. secretary of state (Robbins); Alex Talbot, a lowly Foreign Service officer (Black); and Zeke Tilson, an ace Navy fighter pilot (Pablo Schreiber). These three compromised souls had to pull through the chaos around them to save the planet from World War III.

The Kim and Roberto Benabib-created series, which was helmed by HBO go-to Jay Roach, generated mixed reviews, with a Metacritic score of just 52. (Already-renewed Ballers nabbed a 65.) Still, the premiere telecast drew a respectable 1.6 million viewers in its 10:30 p.m. slot, down from lead-in Ballers' 2.2 million viewer haul.

News of Brink's cancellation comes months after executive producer Jerry Weintraub, who was integral to selling the spec script to HBO, passed away.

For HBO, the decision to drop The Brink comes as its comedy roster consists of Ballers, Doll & Em, Girls, the final season of Getting On, Silicon Valley, Togetherness, Veep and the upcoming Vice Principals, starring Danny McBride. The cabler also has recently ordered comedies Divorce, High Maintenance, the Duplass brothers' Animals, Brothers in Atlanta and Issa Rae entry Insecure — all due next year.

In other news:

‘Life In Pieces’ Gets Full-Season Order At CBS

CBS has given a Back 9 order to freshman comedy series Life In Pieces, bringing its episode count to a full-season 22. The pickup follows a tense past few days of a standoff between the network and producing studio 20th Century Fox TV over the size of the back order.

Life In Pieces was conspicuously absent from CBS’ Friday pickup announcement of a full-season order for freshman drama Limitless and six-script pickup for Code Black. I hear CBS tried to leave room for potentially reducing the back order down the line, which reportedly was an issue for 20th TV. Ultimately, Life In Pieces received a firm nine-episode back order.

“Life In Pieces, with one of the best ensemble casts on television, is telling terrific stories in a very unique way, and we’re excited to tell many more of them this season,” said CBS Entertainment President Glenn Geller.

Life In Pieces, whose cast includes Dianne Wiest, James Brolin, Zoe Lister-Jones, Colin Hanks, Angelique Cabral, Thomas Sadoski and Betsy Brandt, has been an internal favorite at CBS going all the way to CBS Corp. CEO Leslie Moonves. Touted as an heir apparent to Modern Family, the multi-generational family comedy landed the best comedy slot on the CBS fall schedule — behind juggernaut The Big Bang Theory — despite coming from an outside studio. The network is keeping Life In Pieces in the post-Big Bang slot as TV’s top comedy returns to Thursdays next week.

Life In Pieces, which launched to largely positive reviews, ranks as the season’s No. 1 new comedy in total viewers (10.26 million). It has not been a breakout but has done OK ratings business behind Big Bang, holding on to about half of the big 18-49 lead-in. The full-season order comes on the heels of the freshman comedy posting its highest Live+Same Day adult 18-49 rating since its series premiere in its final airing on Monday.

Life In Pieces, created by Justin Adler, also co-stars Dan Bakkedahl, Niall Cunningham, Holly J. Barrett and Giselle Eisenberg. Adler, Aaron Kaplan, Jason Winer and Jeff Morton are executive producers.

 

[137th Gebirg]

The Brink?

WTF!!!????

That was the best.

With Movie Stars and Daily Show people and...

WTF indeed! THAT pisses me off! Great actors, smart writing, excellent dramedy storyline. I'm not sure I understand the reasoning behind that one. Probably due to the bullshit corporate double-speak and empty platitudes they used to explain its early demise. Things like "After evaluating our schedule and our programming needs, we unfortunately decided we cannot give The Brink the attention it deserves for a second season" make me go want to take a shower.

 

[Karzak]

Some more good news, assuming the show isn't garbage:

‘Ash Vs. Evil Dead’ Renewed For Season 2 By Starz Ahead Of Halloween Debut

It’ll be a double celebration tonight on Hollywood Boulevard for director/executive producer Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, Lucy Lawless and the rest of the Ash Vs. Evil Dead gang. Not only will they be whooping it up at the Starz series’ red-carpet premiere at the Chinese Theater with a performance by Iggy Pop, but they’ll also probably be pulling the chainsaw cord in joy over being picked up for a second season.

Just days before the October 31 debut of the 10-episode series based on the Evil Dead movie franchise, the premium cabler today said the show will be back for another round. “One season isn’t enough to satisfy the fans’ two-decade-long appetite for more Ash,” said Starz managing director Carmi Zlotnik. “The early fan and press support, along with the international broadcaster demand for more story, have made it clear that the adventures of Ash Williams can’t end with Season 1.” Season 2 of Ash Vs. Evil Dead is expected to air in late 2016.

No official word on how many episodes the second season will be, but I’m hearing it is likely to be as at least as long as Season 1’s 10-episodes. Among the cast, we know for sure Campbell will obviously be returning as Ash and Lawless will be back as the mysterious Ruby. Raimi, Robert Tapert and Campbell will be back as exec producers as will Craig DiGregorio, who will continue as showrunner.

Having directed the original Evil Dead in 1981 and its first two sequels, Raimi helmed the pilot for the TV series and may be back for more in Season 2; he promised fans at Comic-Con this summer that if Ash Vs. Evil Dead got picked up for another season he would get behind the camera again.

Deadites beware.

 

[Karzak]

‘Grandfathered’ Gets Full-Season Order From Fox

A day after giving a Back 9 order to The Grinder, Fox did the same with its other new comedy series, Grandfathered. The plan always had been for both series to get full-season orders. While The Grinder is fully owned, Grandfathered is a co-production between ABC Studios and 20th Century Fox TV, so I hear it took longer to sort out some digital distribution issues, leading to the pickup delay.

Fox now has determined the fate of all of its new fall series for the rest of the season, with comedies Grandfathered and The Grinder and drama Rosewood getting full-season orders and drama Minority Report getting its 13-episode order reduced to 10 episodes. Scream Queens was designed for a limited order, so the series is done for its first installment.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Paget makes me stupid.

She's almost as pretty as Stamos.

But this show is a one trick pony.

They can't still have John being a bad Grandpa in season 3.

 

[Sto-Vo-Kory]

^ Are you suggesting infanticide?

 

[Guy Gardener]

Q: What's the difference between a dumptruck full of sand, and a dumptruck full of babies?

A: You can't unload a dumptruck full of sand with a pitchfork.

 

[Karzak]

Netflix Gives Selena Gomez’s ’13 Reasons Why’ Straight-To-Series Order

EXCLUSIVE: Netflix has given Paramount TV’s 13 Reasons Why, executive produced by Selena Gomez, a straight-to-series order. The show, based on the New York Times bestselling YA book of the same name by Jay Asher, was created by Pulitzer Prize winner Brian Yorkey, who also wrote the pilot.

Gomez recently wrapped four films: In Dubious Battle directed by James Franco; The Revised Fundamentals Of Caregiving alongside Paul Rudd; The Big Short starring Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling and Christian Bale; and Seth Rogen’s Neighbors 2. Most recently, she reprised her role as Mavis in Sony’s Hotel Transylvania 2 which opened to record-breaking box office.

As a recording artist, Gomez has sold over 22 million singles worldwide. Her recently released album Revival debuted at No. 1 the Billboard charts. The first single off the album, “Good For You,” went to No. 1 on the US Top 40 chart. Next year, she will hit the stage and embark on a global tour.

Along with Gomez, Mandy Teefey, Kristel Laiblin and Anonymous Content will also executive produce 13 Reasons Why. Gomez is repped by WME, Brillstein and Ziffren Brittenham; Yorkey by WME and Anonymous.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Okies, scanning the wiki entry about the book incompletely... Selena is playing a dead girl, but not supernaturally so. The unsaid half of the title is (13 reasons) why I killed myself. The story seems to be about a 13 video diary/suicide notes that's passed around between the 13 assholes who created suicidal feelings in Selena's character.

There's probably more to it (yes, there is), but that sounds like wanky attention whoring behaviour by a super jerk.

 

[Sto-Vo-Kory]

Q: What's the difference between a dumptruck full of sand, and a dumptruck full of babies?

A: You can't unload a dumptruck full of sand with a pitchfork.

Yikes.

 

[Karzak]

Q: How do you get a baby to stop crawling around in circles?
A: Nail it's other hand to the floor.

 

[Karzak]

‘The Muppets’ Gets Order For 3 More Episodes From ABC

ABC has picked up three more episodes from new comedy series The Muppets, bringing its first-season order to 16 episodes. After big expectations and a strong ratings start, The Muppets has slipped but has done an OK job opening Tuesday night for ABC at 8 PM, with its ratings running on par with lead-out Fresh Off the Boat, which just received a Back 9 order, bringing its Season 2 pickup to a full-season 22.

The Muppets had been earmarked for a limited run. Laying out ABC’s midseason plans at the upfronts, network topper Paul Lee said the idea is that after The Muppets ends its limited run, Fresh Off the Boat would move to 8 PM and used to launch new family comedy The Real O’Neals. Of course, if The Muppets had blown up in the ratings, those plans probably could’ve been adjusted to accomodate more Muppets episodes.

Season to date, The Muppets still ranks as Tuesday’s highest-rated new TV show among Adults 18-49 (2.6). On average, the freshman show is improving its half-hour for ABC by 69% in Total Viewers (7.6 million) and by 86% in Adults 18-49 (2.6), standing as the net’s strongest performing Tuesday comedy in 4 years. In its most recent airing this week, The Muppets returned against the World Series with an uptick in Adults 18-49 (+8%).

The Muppets follows Kermit the Frog and the rest of the Muppet gang as they produce late-night talk show, “Up Late with Miss Piggy.” The series stars Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, The Great Gonzo, Pepé the King Prawn, Rizzo the Rat, Scooter, Rowlf and the Electric Mayhem.

Bill Prady (The Big Bang Theory) and Bob Kushell (3rd Rock From the Sun) are co-creators and executive producers. Randall Einhorn, Bill Barretta, Debbie McClellan and Kyle Laughlin are also executive producers. The Muppets is produced by ABC Studios and The Muppets Studio.

 

[Mr Light]

Woot! I love the Muppets!

 

[TheSeeker]

I tried to watch the first episode with my 5 year old daughter but she couldn't sit through the whole thing. She got bored. I also didn't find it as fun as the old muppet show. It would be interesting to see if she could sit through an episode of the old show.

 

[Karzak]

In news that will surprise absolutely no one...

'The Walking Dead' Renewed for Seventh Season

AMC is staying the course with The Walking Dead and companion Talking Dead.

The cable network has renewed the top-rated zombie drama based on the comics created by Robert Kirkman for a seventh season. With the renewal, Walking Dead ties Mad Men as AMC's longest-running original scripted series. (With a 16-episode seventh season, Walking Dead would grow to 99 episodes, topping Mad Men's 92 episode total.)"

"Thank goodness someone had a Magic 8-Ball with them in our many long internal meetings about these renewals. When, on the third shake, 'without a doubt' filled the murky blue screen, we knew we had to proceed with new seasons of The Walking Dead and Talking Dead," AMC/Sundance TV president Charlie Collier said in a statement Friday. "All joking aside, we are so proud to share these shows with fans who have been so passionate, communicative and engaged. We are grateful for and continually impressed by the talent, effort and excellence on continuous display by Robert Kirkman, Scott Gimple, Chris Hardwick and the many people with whom we partner to make these unique shows possible. The result: More Walking and Talking. Hooray."

The renewal news comes as little surprise given that the zombie series — overseen by showrunner Gimple and starring Andrew Lincoln — ranks as TV's most-watched drama among the all-important 18-49 demographic. Season six opened with 14.6 million total viewers, and a 7.4 rating among adults under 50 among live viewers. With three days of delayed viewing, the premiere grew to 19.5 million total viewers and 12.9 million among adults 18-49, enough to top Fox hit Empire in the demo and rank as the highest-rated premiere in the metric of 2015.

 

[auntiehill]

The Walking Dead--well, that was obvious. It's one of the most-watched shows on TV.

 

[Guy Gardener]

It's sorta impossible for one of those actors to going in sane and ask for ten times as much money (like what happened in Three's Company) because no one is safe.

 

[Admiral Bear]

I tried to watch the first episode with my 5 year old daughter but she couldn't sit through the whole thing. She got bored. I also didn't find it as fun as the old muppet show. It would be interesting to see if she could sit through an episode of the old show.

It was pretty dull. Far too serious, adult and "real world" to be funny. The Miss Piggy chat show format just didn't work for me at all. I think I laughed twice. I've not bothered with the other episodes.

Are the DVDs of the 70s original still available? Now, that was classic.

 

[May 20]

It was pretty dull. Far too serious, adult and "real world" to be funny. The Miss Piggy chat show format just didn't work for me at all. I think I laughed twice. I've not bothered with the other episodes.

Are the DVDs of the 70s original still available? Now, that was classic.

Yes, Amazon has the first three seasons of The Muppet Show for sale. The last two seasons have not been released.

 

[Karzak]

‘Longmire’ Renewed For Season 5 By Netflix

Netflix has picked up a fifth season of Longmire. The renewal was announced on the series’ Facebook page: “We’ve never been one to back down from a fight. Longmire will return to Netflix for Season 5.”

Netflix last year rescued the Western crime drama when A&E canceled it after three seasons, following a passionate save-the-show campaign by fans.

Based on the novels by Craig Johnson, Longmire‘s current fourth season centers on Walt Longmire as he succumbs to his darker impulses after finding out who was behind the murder of his wife, and takes off in pursuit of the killer.

Longmire stars Robert Taylor, along with Katee Sackhoff, Lou Diamond Phillips, Bailey Chase, Cassidy Freeman and Adam Bartley. Gerald McRaney and Ally Walker guest star. Longmire is produced by The Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Horizon Television. Hunt Baldwin, John Coveny, Greer Shephard and Michael M. Robin serve as executive producers.