The Mad Dogs TV series has been cancelled after one season on Amazon Prime. Series creator Shawn Ryan announced the Mad Dogs cancellation via Twitter, today. From his series of tweets (embedded below), it sounds like the decision to end the series was made by the creative team.
A dark comedy, Mad Dogs features the reunion of friends, now in their 40s. The cast of Mad Dogs includes: Steve Zahn, Michael Imperioli, Romany Malco, Ben Chaplin, and Billy Zane.
The pals reunite in Belize to celebrate Milo’s (Billy Zane) retirement. After things take a bad turn, secrets come out, and resentment festers among them.
Amazon’s Mad Dogs is an adaptation of Cris Cole’s UK TV series of the same name. According to Ryan Mad Dogs was always intended to be a limited series. (Can we just bring back the term mini-series, please?)
Ryan says, “…in order to get Season 1 made Amazon wanted to know that future seasons might be possible. Cris Cole and I said we thought there could be but we should have that conversation on if and how after the season was over.”
The duo had the conversation with Roy Price and Amazon, last week. When they laid out their second season plans they were not what Amazon wanted. Likewise, the creative team did not want to make the sort of story Amazon did want. In the course of 19 tweets, Ryan made sure to praise and thank the cast and crew.
1) Wanted to report that a decision was made not to make any more episodes of Mad Dogs.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) February 28, 2016
2) We were lucky to be one the best reviewed dramas on Amazon, if not the best. A lot of critics got what we were going for, so thanks.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) February 28, 2016
3) Some Amazon employees told me that Mad Dogs, after only four weeks, already had better streaming stats than many other Amazon shows.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) February 28, 2016
4) So, thanks to the viewers for finding, embracing and binging the show. It’s been a blast to read your joy and shock on Twitter.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) February 28, 2016
5) That said, Mad Dogs was originally intended to be a closed 10 episode limited series.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) February 28, 2016
6) Many critics pointed out that this wasn’t the kind of concept destined for an extended multi-season run, and that’s right.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) February 28, 2016
7) But in order to get Season 1 made Amazon wanted to know that future seasons might be possible.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) February 28, 2016
8) Cris Cole and I said we thought there could be but we should have that conversation on if and how after the season was over.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) February 28, 2016
9) We had that conversation on Thursday with Roy Price and company. Cris and I laid out a story for Season 2 we believed in.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) February 28, 2016
10) Ultimately, Amazon didn’t want to make that story and we didn’t want to make the kind of story they wanted us to make, so…
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) February 28, 2016
11) It made more sense to declare victory after ten episodes, which was our original plan all along anyway.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) February 28, 2016
12) Mad Dogs is extremely important to Cris and I and we can’t do the show any other way than to follow Cris’ vision.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) February 28, 2016
13) Ultimately, I think it’s better to leave it there, pure and unsullied, than to do a watered down version of the show.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) February 28, 2016
14) I’m so proud of our 10 eps and how they turned out, despite the many obstacles in our way.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) February 28, 2016
15) Want to acknowledge Ben Chaplin, Michael Imperioli, Romany Malco and Steve Zahn. What talent and chemistry!
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) February 28, 2016
16) Want to thank all our writers, directors and especially our ridiculously hard working Puerto Rican crew.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) February 28, 2016
17) Especially want to thank Cris Cole who was a terrific collaborator. He stuck to his vision, morals and beliefs throughout.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) February 28, 2016
18) If you haven’t checked out Mad Dogs yet, I hope you will. It’s the full, complete crazy story we set out to tell over three years ago.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) February 28, 2016
19) Oops. A cat just walked in. Looks like I have to go. See you on the next one. #MadDogs
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) February 28, 2016
What do you think? Are you a fan of the Mad Dogs TV show? Have you watched the first season of Mad Dogs on Amazon? Do you agree with the decision to end this show, or do you wish it had been renewed for a second season?
So I work in Television Sales and this is the best show I’ve seen in decades watched it all in a weekend and then what you end it. Typical of anything good to watch
Cannot believe it is going to be over. I LOVE this series! Addicted to it. I sure will miss it.
Have you seen the original UK series, Phyllis?