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America’s Most Wanted: FOX TV Series Cancelled But…

Published:May 16, 2011

Americas Most Wanted canceledIt’s the end of an era for the longest-running TV series on FOX. After 24 seasons, the network has cancelled America’s Most Wanted. It’ll continue as a series of occasional FOX specials but, as you might expect, the show’s no-nonsense host isn’t taking the demotion lying down.

Debuting back in February 1988 on seven Fox-owned stations, America’s Most Wanted found immediate success. Within four days of its first broadcast, one of the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted was captured as a direct result. This made it clear to skeptics that the show could be a very effective tool for law enforcement agencies. A couple months later, the series debuted on the new FOX network and became its first hit.

The series was briefly cancelled in 1996 when the network opted to air sitcom repeats instead. Viewers and law enforcement officials voiced their upset and FOX reinstated the show. It didn’t hurt that the reruns weren’t performing particularly well.

Last March, the 1,000th installment of America’s Most Wanted aired live from the White House and Walsh and President Obama discussed the impact of the show and some of the administration’s crime-fighting initiatives. To date, more than 1,150 episodes have been produced. The official website touts that as many felons have been caught in part because of the show’s profiles.

The series has been one of the best-rated shows on Saturday nights for quite some time. Unfortunately, FOX entertainment president Kevin Reilly said today that the ratings weren’t enough to justify the cost. He said, “It has been an important show for us historically but it’s no secret to John, we have not made money on the show in a quite awhile. It wasn’t particularly viable.”

FOX has been the only network to schedule original programming on Saturday nights and Reilly feels that it makes more sense to air repeats of its drama series in the 9pm timeslot.

Reilly noted that America’s Most Wanted will continue on the network however, as a series of quarterly two-hour specials.

The show is produced by 20th Century Fox Television and STF Productions. Reilly also said that Walsh is in talks with other divisions of News Corp (which owns FOX) about the possibility of continuing the weekly series on another outlet. MyNetworkTV seems like a possible choice. Reilly added, “I would not be at all surprised to see the show pop up somewhere else.”

What do you think? Are you disappointed that the series won’t be on FOX every week? Has the show made a difference?

Wondering where the rest of your shows stand? Check our FOX cancel/renew page.

 

Image courtesy FOX.

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{ 134 comments… read them below or add one }

FRANCES DAVIS May 7, 2013 at 9:16 am

Why, Why.Why??? IT’S A GREAT SHOW. MY HUSBAND IS ALWAYS ASKING ME, WHAT HAPPENED T O AMERICA’S MOST WANTED!! WE ENJOYED THE SHOW. IT GAVE HOPE IN THAT THE CROOK WOULD BE CAUGHT AND WOULD NOT GET AWAY NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TOOK TO CATCH THEM. WHERE CAN WE CATCH THE SHOW ?

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Barb Wilson May 6, 2013 at 10:47 pm

Words can not express my disappointment that AMW has been cancelled. Watching the TV tonight about the 3 women found alive in Cleveland and realizing that Jon Walsh had profiled these women just proves the show was worthwhile. I salute Jon Walsh and his efforts and hope the Fox and Lifetime channels or maybe Oprah will take up the banner again and keep trying to rid our streets of predators. Thank You JON and ALL the dedicated people connected with AMW.

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Ronda Breaux April 3, 2013 at 2:33 am

I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS SHOW WAS CANCELLED, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS COULD REALLY USE SOME HELP LOCATING SOMEONE DEAR TO US WHO HAS BEEN TAKEN ACROSS THE STATELINE BY A WANTED FELON. WE KNOW THEY WERE IN TEXAS AND BELIEVE HE IS BRINGING HER TO MEXICO. HE IS ORIGINALLY FROM LOUISIANA BUT HAS RESIDED IN MEXICO FOR THE LAST 10 -15 YEARS. HE IS WANTED ON SEVERAL FELONY CHARGES ONE BEING HUMAN TRAFFICKING. PLEASE HELP US!!!!!!

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Angel March 25, 2013 at 12:03 am

I want to know why AMW cancelled? We got cable so that we could continue to watch our favorite show. So if anyone have the answer to this question please let me know what happened are they on a different channel or are AMW off television?

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VICKY R. February 3, 2013 at 3:09 am

JON WALSH WAS A GREAT PERSON GIVEN HIS TIME AND EFFORT ALONG WITH THE MAN AND WOMEN OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PUTTING THE BAD GUYS AWAY WHERE THEY NEED TO BE,JAIL.I KNOW YOUR GONNA BE BACK JON DOING THE BEST THING THAT NEEDS TO BE ON T.V, GIVEING US REAL NEWS…

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MATIAS February 3, 2013 at 2:57 am

AMW WAS THE BEST SOW TO PROVID EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD OF WHOS A CRIMINAL ,IT MADE FOX WHO THERE ARE THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED TO CANCLE THE VERY MAIN TOOL ON T.V.

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Rober & Carol Hathaway February 1, 2013 at 9:11 pm

We really miss the show, to bad you think money is more than puting the bad guy in the place he should be,JAIL

thanks Bob & Carol

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Rober & Carol Hathaway February 1, 2013 at 9:07 pm

we really miss the show, it help get the bad people put where thy belong, in JAIL.pleas bring it back.

Thanks.

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Glen& Carol January 17, 2013 at 11:00 am

We were faithful watchers of AMW & cannot believe Fox would cancel this program to show worthless programming!! Bring it Back!!! MOney is not worth the peace of mind this show provided.

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