(Photo by: ABC/Darko Sikman)
Eileen’s pursuit of the truth won’t continue into the 2023-24 network season. ABC has cancelled Alaska Daily, so there won’t be a second season.
A drama series, the Alaska Daily TV show stars Hilary Swank, Jeff Perry, Matt Malloy, Meredith Holzman, Grace Dove, Pablo Castelblanco, Ami Park, and Craig Frank. Eileen Fitzgerald (Swank) is an award-winning investigative journalist and high-powered newspaper reporter in New York. Her reporting methods and abrasive personality are called into question after a high-profile story blows up in her face, and Eileen loses her job. Her former mentor, Stanley Cornik (Perry), approaches her about making a big move, and she goes to work for a struggling downsized Anchorage newspaper, the Daily Alaskan. Grudgingly, Eileen teams up with a young local reporter named Roz Friendly (Dove). Together, they begin investigating the murders of a group of indigenous women. Eileen is on a journey to find personal and professional redemption in a new locale, across the country, and in a very different world.
Airing on Thursday nights, the first season of Alaska Daily averaged a 0.23 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 2.84 million viewers in the live+same day ratings (including DVR playback through 3:00 AM). It was one of ABC’s lowest-rated scripted series in the demo and a middle-of-the-road performer in total viewers, when compared to other shows on the network.
The show nearly doubled its viewership in the live+7 day ratings, but that was apparently not good enough to secure a second-season renewal.
The first season of 11 episodes finished airing on March 30th.
What do you think? Have you enjoyed watching the Alaska Daily TV series on ABC? Are you disappointed this show wasn’t renewed for a second season? Were you expecting a cancellation?
With the cancellations of Alaska Daily, The Company You Keep and Big Sky it shows me that ABC wants to be the network of insipid game shows and ludicrous reality shows. Way to go ABC programming execs. Won’t waste my time with your network.
We loved this show and Hillary Swank. VERY disappointed in the cancellation. Bring it back!
I am very disappointed that this show was cancelled. It was different, smart and brought attention to an important topic. I am not surprised though as I think it appealed to a narrow audience unfortunately.
I loved this show, as did several of my friends. I cannot imagine why they canceled Alaska Daily. The acting was phenomenal!! It was such a great storyline and I was so looking forward to season 2!!!!
I agree that this is a huge mistake. This was a great show. Very different from other shows. What a shame.
So disappointed that ABC has cancelled this excellent show. I hope another network picks it up!
Alaska Daily was one of the best TV shows I’ve ever seen, going all the way back to Hill Street Blues!
I’m so sorry to read about this cancellation. This programme had an important message on the issue of murdered and missing indigenous women, and also tackled the issue of a small player in a big game, trying to honest journalism rather than just selling trite entertainment ‘news’. So much for tackling big issues in an entertainment package. This is a terrible decision, and if ABC doesn’t reverse field, I hope a network with some integrity picks it up.
Huge mistake ! Only TV series on ABC worth watching. Great cast ! It brought attention to missing and murdered indigenous women which is in crisis mode. Shame on you!
The show was well written and well acted. I guess letting the World know about the indigenous people problem was too much for ABC. Too bad!!!!!
We love Alaska Daily! So very sad to see it go!! Please someone else pick up this wonderful show!!!
It didn’t help that the writers were unable to come up with scripts in time for episode filming. I think they ran out of good ideas when they ran across the cache of explosives, and when the crazy guy took hostages. A lot of the plot threads were predictable, like the paper owner’s dad setting up a competing newspaper in town. I think we are close to a who shot JR situation.
Maybe CBS will pick it up. I rarely watch ABC and now I know why. They continually broadcast trash – you cancelled a great show. You never even gave it a chance to get an audience. Always pre-empting it. People between 18-49 aren’t interested in shows that have an important message and are well-written. More reality junk coming down the pike!
This is one of the BEST shows on TV.Get your head out of your butt and renew this GREAT show.
Cancelling Alaska Daily is a travesty. It is such a good show. It is a TERRIBLE decision. ABC gave Big Sky 3 seasons to find an audience. The far superior Alaska Daily deserved a second season.