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! 
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I love Wildfire, it’s a great show, how sad it came to an end. Would love to have it back, keep searching for a different station. Please bring it back, we all miss it, we want it to continue.
This was my absolute favorite show. I could never watch it at the times it aired but had my DVR set to record every episode. Please…please…please bring this show back even on another channel. I loved this show.
this was my fav show and i know so many people that love that show!!!! BRING THIS SHOW BACK!!
this was my fav show and i know so many people that love that show!!!! BRING THIS SHOW BACK!! i was excited to watch this show and i could not wait til it came back and it wouldnt come on tv till i found out they took it out! wtf that is not cool:(
Bring Wildfire back!!!!! This is by far my favorite show!!! i watched it every monday!!! Pleaseeeee bring it back!!!
I hope that ABC TV fails. You are a greedy bunch. Put Wildfire back on. You people make me sick as you do thousands of others. Heartless awipes.
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