Tonight marks the fourth season finale of Everybody Hates Chris. What are the chances that the CW sitcom will return for year five?
Everybody Hates Chris is inspired by the teenage experiences of Chris Rock and narrated by the comedian. The sitcom follows Chris (Tyler James Williams), an average kid who’s surrounded by a bunch of crazy characters who, from his point of view, don’t seem to like him very much. Others in the cast include Vincent Martella, Terry Crews, Tequan Richmond, Tichina Arnold, Imani Hakim, Jacqueline Mazarella, Travis T. Flory, Kevontay Jackson, Ernest Thomas, Jeris Poindexter, Jackee Harry, Michael Estime, Antonio Fargas, Blake Hightower, and Todd Bridges.
The sitcom began on the old UPN network in September 2005. In year one, the sitcom averaged 4.3 million viewers and a 1.7/5 rating/share of the coveted 18-49 demographic. While that may not sound like much, it was one of the network’s most successful shows, just a few steps below America’s Next Top Model.
In Chris’ sophomore year, its first on the CW network, viewership dropped to 2.7 million and a 1.1/3 in the demo. That was a significant hit, placing it just about soon-to-be cancelled Veronica Mars.
During the 2008 – 2009 season, when the industry was brought to a standstill by the writers strike, Chris was one of the few shows that completed its entire 22 episode season in advance. Despite being one of the few shows to produce a full 22 episode season, the ratings were worse. Viewership dropped to an average of 2.33 million and just a .8 rating.
 Loading ... |
When the show was renewed last season, CW President Dawn Ostroff, said that Chris had “consistently proven itself to be one of the best comedies on television… This is a show we want viewers to associate with the CW.”
That was a nice sentiment but the network sent the sitcom to a little-watched Friday night timeslot. To no surprise, viewership dropped even lower, to an average of 1.69 million viewers and a 0.6/2 rating/share.
So, viewership has dropped significantly in the past couple years and the network is now targeting its programming almost exclusively towards young women. The CW is essentially giving up on sitcoms and will have only 10 hours of primetime to fill next season. Unlike fellow “on the bubble” sitcom The Game, Chris already has 88 episodes which is just enough for syndication.
Rock decided to make it even easier for the programming execs by making the season finale a fitting end to the series. In the episode, Chris is faced with repeating the 10th grade so he decides to drop out and take the G.E.D. test instead. Williams says, “An envelope arrives (with his test results), but before we find out the results, we fade to black. If it ends here, we ended it the right way.”
Will Chris be back next season? It looks very doubtful but we’ll know for sure on May 21st when the network holds its advertiser upfront presentation.
What do you think? Should the sitcom come back or is it time to go?
Image courtesy CW.
More about:
Everybody Hates Chris
Related Content
-
-
Everybody Hates Chris: CW Sitcom Cancelled, No Season Five
May 21, 2009 -
Everybody Hates Chris: So, Was That the Last Episode?
May 9, 2009 -
Everybody Hates Chris: Watch Chris Visit The Cosby Show
Oct 20, 2008 -
CW Renews Six Shows for 2008-2009, What About the Rest?
Mar 4, 2008 -
2007 Cancelled Shows: CW Drops Old Favorites
May 17, 2007
{ 85 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
Next Comments →
they should of made season 5 because season 4 ending was wierd and made me want to know what happens
please do not canceld every body hates chris i love the show my mom , brothers watch chris please please bring back season five
hey guys,
look i love this show and ı find it hilarious. and i watched every episode of it. I am looking forword for you broadcasting the next episode. So PLEASE dont cancel it. thank you..
i think who was incharge of advertising this show should be fired because no one heard of it until now because its on nick at night the show is really good and i think more people would of watched it but they never knew about it i hope it come back out and show chris and he started doing his comedy.
Wait may 21? cuz if then we still have a chance
Man..when i heard it was cancled i was so pissed..they should make everybody hates Cw..pLEASE FFOR THE LOVE OF GOD BRING IT BACK!!!!!!! :/
i think they should come bac 4 another season all of them was hot can’t no 1 say they wasnt because they will be lien so come bac with another season plz
noss..por favor volte a ter o seriado do chris …
e mt bom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111
Ithunk that the show is good and may be cris sister can have boyfiend and crise can real havea grilfreind that realy like he and ishe look good that the gril next door!
they should put a season five on nic@nite or BET plz comeback on air again plz!!!!!!!!
There is no way that I or anyone else can be satisfied with that finale. There are way too many unanswered questions. I know it’s pretty much a lost cause but I DO NOT want this show to be over. It is a hilarious show that the whole family can enjoy and relate to, regardless of race. I NEED to know what really happens at he end of the 4th season. Please at least make a follow up or behind the scenes special just so lovers of this show at least know everything and everyone is ok.
iv seen every episode and im tired of watching reruns so they really need to make a nother season
To whom it may concern:
My name is Octavius J. Johnson (15 years old).I am a budding actor that has been in six independent films: my very first film was HBO the Wire as an extra.After leaving the movie set, I thought to myself “I really loved the whole movie making process” (even the extremely long hours).I was an extra on “The Wire”, but I wasn’t satisfied. I enhanced my skill and a while later auditioned for my first short independent film: without head shots. On the spot I was offered my supporting role, I immediately began developing a character for the first day of production two weeks after. After my first film, I used my money from my part time Chic-fi-la job to invest in some head shots. After those steps I immediately went to more auditions causing me five more characters to develop. I’m waiting on the big six.
I know what it takes to be in this business because my father is a movie producer of five independent films, he also did miscellaneous work with “The Wire”; locations and with “Ps I Love You” etc. as a PA. He teaches me what he knows and observes during production, that I should know. I obtain the information that was given and strive to be on Will Smith’s and Denzel Washington’s level and of course (Chris ROCKs)! I am very industrious especially in doing what I only want to do.
After reading the article above; with tentative plans of canceling “Everybody Hates Chris” television show, I was so shocked that the show isn’t doing as well as I thought it would be. I can say that my father and I are not two of the decomposed audience that “you” have. Every time I go to my dads we watch “Everybody Hates Chris together”.O yea my dad says its a well written script. I only include my father and I beacuse we’re the only ones in the “separated family” that have the passion for this business.. I can relate to Mr. Chris Rock’s childhood in a way.
I live with my mother , which is a very hostile environment. My parents are divorced.
I wrote this letter because I really want the Tv show “Everybody Hates Chris” to maintain its success, with me as one of the hilarious characters. I have been trying to search an audition , but it seems impossible. I would love to come audition if the show perpetuates.
I know that my fan base that I have here in Maryland; with all the girls and guys including family, will benefit the issue of the decreased viewers. I’m hoping my letter gets in the hands of someone that can notify Mr. Rock personally, if not an audition you can reach me at my e-mail.
Again I’m an Actor, Singer,Writer, Photographer, Musician(piano, drums,trombone etc.) Model and Comedian. I am thinking of ways that can make the show bigger than what it is. Maybe if Mr. Rock wants to market to teenagers he can do a soundtrack to the show; I am a recording artist that’s in the studio singing with Mr. Vaughan Mason(imdb) at the time. I am determined to work.
Thank you for your time.
Octavius J. Johnson(15)
I LOVE THIS SHOW SO MUCH THAT I WISH IT WOULD COME BACK. I LOVE THE CAST BECAUSE IT’S LESSONS LEARNED ABOUT LIFE AND THE CAST MAKES YOU FEEL AS IF THEY ARE A REAL FAMILY, THE ISSUE IS IT BEING AIRED ON A STATION NO ONE PAYS ATTENTION TO. I THINK THEY SHOULD LEAVE IT ON BET TO WHERE VIEWERS WOULD TAKE TIME TO SEE THE SHOW .
This show should not be cancelled because it is very funny,exciting, and makes you want to see more. My whole family watches it. Also people would hate to see re -runs of it if they want to see more.
← Previous Comments
Next Comments →