Wildfire: Why Was the ABC Family Series Cancelled?
After four seasons on ABC Family, teen drama Wildfire ends tonight. Devoted fans are understandably upset. So, why is it leaving?
Wildfire debuted back on June 25, 2005 and revolves around the world of horse racing. The series began with teen Kristine “Kris” Furillo (Genevieve Cortese) coming to the Raintree Farm from a juvenile detention center.
Season one averaged just over a million weekly viewers and season two increased to 1.56 million, an increase of over 50%. Unfortunately, season three dropped back to the first year’s numbers. Season four debuted in January. Soonafter, ABC Family announced that Wildfire had been cancelled.
Fans have petitioned ABC Family to continue the series. The folks at SaveWildfire.com have sent truckloads of hay, 500 cast iron horseshoes, apples, rope, and 1,000 pounds of carrots. Unfortunately, it’s higher ratings and additional viewers that the show really needs. As CBS learned from Jericho, a passionate campaign doesn’t necessarily mean that viewers will tune in.
ABC Family’s media relations manager, Amy Maloney, told the Albuquerque Journal that the fan support doesn’t come as much of a surprise. She said, “It is par for the course, in a sense that we’ve always known there is a strong fan base for the show… It’s flattering. It’s exciting.” In other words, Wildfire has a core audience but it’s not big enough for ABC Family.
Word is that Lionsgate, the company that produces the series, is looking for a new home for Wildfire. If the series is renewed, producer Lester Berman the cast and crew are ready. He says, “We’re saving a lot of the set dressing and the uniforms. We’re putting it in storage just in case there’s a miracle that [Wildfire] comes back.”
When the cast and crew wrapped their filming in June 2007, they were unsure if they would be back for season five. A few months ago, Cortese spoke proudly of Wildfire and the season four closer. She said, “I think we have one of the best casts and crews in television… On the other hand, we also end (this season) on a really cool note. I’d be glad to go back and get to work again with people I love, but if not, at least I’ll know we did a great job.” Stay tuned! 
December 1st, 2008 at 10:41 am
I just found this website so Im responding to the cancellation now..
I was a new fan of wildfire this season, my friend asked me to watch it with her and I ended up enjoying it. I am truly sad to see it go
November 27th, 2008 at 11:57 am
I WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR IT WAS CANCELLED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have watched every episode of the show and can’t wait until I have all of them on DVD. After reading this article I hope that they get enough viewers and can start the show again!!! I would literally have a party if there was a season 5. I just love the show and am sad to see it go! It was my favorite TV show and now it is gone
thank you for a great 4 seasons and please bring the show back!!!!!!!!!!
November 15th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
I LOVE AND TRULY MISS WILDFIRE!
season 3 ended on a tricky note! kris and jrs future looks bright! but what about the “dirty dozen” horses and flame. and what about dani and matts relationship and jean and pablos!!?? these questions are all that should convince lionsgate to air WILDFIRE on a different channel…..if ABC still says no. I LOVE AND MISS WILDFIRE very deeply! i would get all excited sunday nites, not bcuz of school, but bcuz wildfire was going to be on that night. it was my only reason to look forward to a whole new week! plz, continue this show, on a diff station if have to, but please just continue it. thankyou! ps, i LOVE HORSE RACING and each time there was a race, i would get so excited! its good to give the sport more credit too! kris is so pretty and i miss seeing the cast!
November 12th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
The only show that the hole family can watch. We all made a point to sit and enjoy a show as a family.
November 11th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
ABC should shame themselves for taking such a beautiful show off the air, but of course the ratings may not have been as high as some others but at least it was a good family show, I watched it since it started and will miss it.
Thats whats wrong with the world these days, it’s the almighty dollar, bring back some of the good clean shows that families can watch together, all one sees on TV now days is sex, murder and some stupid way out shows, no wander our children now days have no morals and no respect for others or their property and I blame a lot of it on the media. I will not be watching ABC anymore untill they bring Wildfire back again.
November 10th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Why cancel the show, there was more to come It just don’t feel like the end. How do we know that Kris and Junior will really get married. Yeah they plan to but we need more of the show. This show Wildfire was a great ABC family series. WE the fans need more even if Its just one more season. Maybe one of the reasons that some people stoped watching it all the time is because the long commercials. They probably wanted to wait for the DVD to come out. There are many people who loved the show and we teenagers and everyone else could watch the show and it would be approprite for all ages. We don’t get many shows like that. WE NEED MORE OF THE SHOW PLZ.