Lifetime has decided that neither of its freshman dramas are worthy of a second season. The cable channel cancelled The Protector in September and they’ve now canned Against the Wall as well.
Against the Wall stars Rachael Carpani as Abby Kowalski, a single cop who joins the Chicago department’s internal affairs division. The series’ co-stars include Andrew Walker, Brandon Quinn, Chris Johnson, Daniel Kash, James Thomas, Kathy Baker, Marisa Ramirez, Mayko Nguyen, Steve Byers, and Treat Williams.
Debuting on July 31st, the show attracted a mediocre 1.8 million viewers with a 0.5 rating in the 18-49 demographic, about on par with The Protector. Unfortunately, the numbers didn’t improve throughout the season. The 12th and 13th episodes (now the show’s last) aired on October 23rd. They each drew 1.4 million viewers and 0.4 demo ratings.
Lifetime recently ordered 10 more episodes of successful (and likely ending) Army Wives and also has Drop Dead Diva to help launch new shows. The cable channel has ordered The Client List, with Jennifer Love Hewitt reprising her role from the successful movie. Lifetime also has a few pilots on tap like Modern Love starring Eric Stoltz, American Housewife with Melanie Griffith, and Sworn To Secrecy, a movie and back-door pilot that stars Neve Campbell.
What do you think? Are you sorry that Against the Wall won’t be back for a second season? Why do you think the drama didn’t catch on?
Image courtesy Lifetime.
I wasn’t a big fan of the protector…but I LOVED Against the Wall. I am so sad to see it go. That and Army wives are the only shows on lifetime that I watch. I hate all the other project this and that…and finally enjoyed a good show with some sort of substance. Lifetime isn’t going to be on my list of channels anymore. Everything mentioned that they are going to introduce sounds lame and boring. Jennifer love hewitt and melanie griffith?? Really come on guys at least get some fresh faces and not someone who has already shown a… Read more »
Oh my gosh, I LOVED Against the Wall!! I was really looking forward to seeing who she ended up with and how things worked out with her brother and best friend. What are they thinking? So now we get stuck with shows depicting little girls getting fussed at and being made to dress as prostitutes? Oh and I can’t forget about oll the Projects they’ve got going on now!! Geez Lifetime is gonna suck now!
I really liked Against the Wall! I agree they didn’t give it time to prove itself, why would anyone want to start watching any of the new shows when they just cancel them after the first season?! Now we won’t know how the show was supposed to end!
I am very disappointed in both cancellations. There aren’t many “story” type shows on TV and these two were really good. It seems they are cancelling all the good shows — Brothers and Sisters, Breakout Kings, Nurse Jackie, Southland, etc. Why don’t they have a way to survey the public instead of just cancelling the good ones and leaving the Top Chefs and Project Everythings and all the sappy movies????
I LOVED Against the Wall. I wanted to see which guy she chose. I was really looking forward to the new season. Poor decision on cancelling that show.
I am just so saddened that TV execs at Lifetime have no patience and no self-confidence. If they picked the show to start with, invested the time and money needed to bring it to TV, then they should have enough patience and trust to give it time to catch on. Not every show is like The Walking Dead!! The vast majority of shows take more than a couple of episodes to get a following, but Hollywood wants a show to be a huge hit after it’s 3rd episode, and that’s just not gonna happen. Fox has done this so many… Read more »
A terrible decision made by a network that shows reruns of canceled shows 3/4 of the day and has no idea what to do with itself at night. No wonder no one watches it! Where was the marketing for Against the Wall? Do you know how many people I would mention it to and they would say, “Never heard of it.” Nice job, Lifetime!
I used to be a Lifetime junkie, watching those movies over and over. No more. I refuse to watch a channel that values Dance Moms over quality programming. Up yours, Lifetime!
I’m no fan of Lifetime but if they cancelled these and keep “Roseanne’s Nuts”, I’ll be appalled.
They actually canceled Roseanne’s Nuts a while ago. But that’s still no excuse to cancel the only good show on that remedial network. Lifetime really knows how to scrape the bottom for their shows. Nancy Dubuc you suck!
Tha Critic » Roseanne’s Nuts was cancelled awhile ago.
I loved both shows. I think they didn’t do well because they were not advertised as well as their other shows. The ads were like afterthoughts. I put up with tons of their stupid Dance Moms and Project Whatever ads during the shows and refuse to even watch 1 minute of them. Please tell the writers to petition other networks to pick up the show. 1.5 million people is still quite a bit and with good advertising, the shows can thrive. We need more good stories without a lot of language, nudity and violence.
Sorry it’s been canceled. It’s a good show and should have been given longer to prove itself.
Agreed with Richard – get your facts straight – Abby was not a single Mom. Loved the show – very disappointed that Lifetime will not be bringing it back next season. Go figure – a really good show is introduced & we’re stuck with stupid shows like Dance Moms. What a shame!!!
It’s been canceled because it’s not Dance Moms. They actually have to pay these actors and actresses money to do their craft. As a guy I pretty much watch nothing on Lifetime but my honey convinced me to try Against the Wall and I really liked it. Much much better than your typical cop show. It actually made me think of trying a few other Lifetime shows in the future but not now. After really only half a season it’s not worth my effort.
This was a terrible decision by a terrible network. That network has completely lost their way and with Nancy Dubuc at the helm it’s only getting worse! But look at her taste in the past. She has never been involved in scripted drama so she has no idea what is good, what people want or how to promote it. Lifetime is a sinking ship.
Right on, Sarah! Lifetime is doing a show with Melanie Griffith playing a housewife? And they cancel a great show like Against The Wall? Plus shows like Dance Moms and Project Anything-They-Can-Come-Up-With are just continuing to show why Lifetime has dropped so far in ratings and esteem. Against The Wall was just too smart for the room (Lifetime).
@ Richard
I think they’re confusing “Against the Wall” and “The Protector” re: the single mom. I liked both shows, would have liked to see a season 2 for both but am not going to be sad about 1 and done.
I agree with “Fake Me Out” about the writer confusing the two shows. I also really enjoyed both and wished they would continue both so story lines could be developed. It is always about the money and # of viewers, which takes you back to the money! That’s too bad! We as viewers are usually the losers!
You’re correct. I was thinking of Protector. Thanks for the kind correction.
Abby is not a single mom in Against the Wall! Get your facts straight! I will miss the show…