The Goode Family and Surviving Suburbia: ABC Prez Says Sitcoms Cancelled

The Goode FamilyAt today’s Television Critic’s Association summer press tour, ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson conceded that two of the network’s freshman sitcoms wouldn’t be coming back for second seasons.

The Goode Family is an animated series from King of the Hill’s Mike Judge, David Krinsky, and John Altschuler. Featuring the voice talents of Judge, Brian Doyle Murray, Dave Herman, Linda Cardellini, and Nancy Carell, the sitcom follows a working-class family who, despite their best efforts, find it difficult to live politically-correct lives.

Surviving Suburbia stars Bob Saget as a father who lives in a typical suburban household but can’t seem to find much that makes him happy. Castmembers of the sitcom also include Cynthia Stevenson, Jared Kusnitz, G. Hannelius, Jere Burns, Dan Cortese, Lorna Scott, and Lyndsey Jolly.

Both series have had disappointing runs on ABC. Goode Family debuted to a disappointing 3.93 million viewers and a 1.6/5 in the 18-49 demo. The network shifted it to Friday nights after three airings and the numbers nosedived to a series low of just 1.09 million and a 0.3/1.

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Meanwhile, Surviving Suburbia brought in solid numbers when it followed popular Dancing with the Stars. The show’s debut attracted 12.16 million viewers and a 3.2/8 rating/share. Once Dancing with the Stars was over however, the sitcom’s audience declined considerably — to a terrible 2.83 million and a 1.0/3. The network shifted Saget and company to Friday nights and the numbers have dipped to 2.23 million and a 0.5/2 in the 18-49 demographic.

Last night marked the season finales of both series. While few expected that ABC would give either a sophomore run, it’s rare for a network executive to actually admit when shows are finished. According to The Futon Critic, McPherson laid the shows to rest today, saying that neither would be back.

What do you think? Are you disappointed that neither will be returning or, should ABC have pulled them long ago?


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Underheight.com » Blog Archive » Yarg! ABC cancels “The Goode Family”
August 14, 2009 at 12:24 pm

{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Anna August 14, 2009 at 9:45 pm

Well, that’s really disappointing. I rarely ever watch any network TV anymore, but I did watch The Goode Family every time it was on. The more recent episodes were really funny, and I even got my non-TV-watching husband to watch a couple of episodes.

I guess it’s back to cable for us.

2 Mike W August 18, 2009 at 6:17 pm

I was really disappointed with the Goode family. It was just an insipid show to me. I really liked the premise – but they just couldn’t pull it off. I especially didn’t like any of the characters except for maybe the Daughter. I thought they were pretty 1 dimensional.

3 bozo bonzo kharthoum August 22, 2009 at 10:44 am

I’m going to miss the Goode Family. I watched every episode and there are zero other shows I watch on television religiously. I used to watch Jay Leno once every now and then, and I stopped when Conan O’Brien took over. Talentless fop.

Bliss Goode was the closest portrayal of today’s teenager I have ever seen on television. She’s constantly texting and ignoring everyone else. So typical. Mike Judge is an excellent observer of current trends and events.

Take it to Fox, Mike! Don’t let this one die!

4 webdiva August 24, 2009 at 7:57 pm

Thank heaves: they stank.

5 Mark September 9, 2009 at 6:06 am

I loved THE GOODE FAMILY. I want more!!!!!!! Please dont give up, it is an amazing animated show. Be back, I expect to see more funny stories of eco-crazed family! Sometimes I see myself in them when I go to my eco-store, haha..

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