It looks like the 1970s are over — again. Paramount Network has cancelled their period dramedy, American Woman, after one season of 11 episodes. The now defacto series finale aired in August.
Based on the childhood of Kyle Richards, American Woman stars Alicia Silverstone, Mena Suvari, Jennifer Bartels, Makenna James, Lia McHugh, Cheyenne Jackson, James Tupper, Diandra Lyle, Tobias Jelinek, Jonathan Chase, and Sam Morgan. The series centers on Bonnie Nolan (Silverstone), a single mother of two daughters. Second-wave feminism is on the rise, and the sexual revolution is in full force, when the heroine discovers her husband, Steve (Tupper), is having an affair. Now, Bonnie has to figure out how to make it on her own, with a little help from her friends, Diana (Bartels) and Kathleen (Suvari).
American Woman debuted on June 7th and drew a 0.21 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 595,000 viewers. It seemed like that was a mediocre launch for the newbie network. Earlier in the year, Waco had launched with a 0.38 demo and 1.11 million viewers but the season ended up averaging a 0.29 with 840,000.
The second episode of American Woman saw a big drop off in the ratings, falling more than 52% in the demo. The numbers continued to dwindle downward with the final episode attracting a 0.06 demo and 326,000. In contrast, Paramount’s Yellowstone drama, which also aired during the summer months, averaged a 0.38 demo and 2.24 million.
The channel isn’t getting out of the dramedy business however. It’s been announced that the sixth season of TV Land’s Younger series will move to Paramount. It will begin airing in January alongside new series First Wives Club and the newly ordered Emily in Paris (from Younger’s Darren Star).
What do you think? Did you enjoy watching the American Woman TV show? Are you sorry that there won’t be a second season? Why do you think this show didn’t catch on?
I truly enjoyed this show and I’m so sad that it was not renewed. I also agree that it should have been an hour long I’m hoping it will get picked up by another network.
Hey, Paramount Network! What you just said about “American Woman” being cancelled has got to be a lie! If what you said was true, then that makes me mad! I want you to give the series another chance of surviving, please. I want to see what happens on the show in 1976, the USA Bicentennial Year. Now, that would be a lot of fun!
I love american woman. Pls renew it
Yes I would love to see the 2nd season of american woman
I’m very disappointed American Woman wasn’t renewed for a second season. I really enjoyed the show. I too would agree I would have liked the episodes to be an hour long instead of just thirty minutes.
I liked it as well but it was kind of dry and I think what hurt it was that it was only a 30 minute if it was a hour I think more of her story could of been told instead of dragging it out as it was doing. I don’t judge first series usually as people are just getting into character and getting the feel of their rolls, but what hurt this show was it is 30 and somewhat dry as I said before. But the way Kyle Richards was talking about it was a lot of history in… Read more »
I am so upset about the non-renewal of American Woman. The characters were fully developed and the message was all about strong women overcoming life’s obstacles. It deserved more support. Shocking result in the age of #Metoo. Proud of Kyle Richards and hope her Mom’s spirit pushes her to fight for her show if not on this channel, then another. I will watch wherever it lands!!
Yes I really enjoyed American Woman , Alicia Silverstone was an outstanding actress in showing what women in that time period went thru. So sorry that the series was not appreciated. But since there was not enough violence in it, the 18-49 year old views didn’t want to watch it. It was a fun historically told story that we got to see how one “woman “walked in her shoes”
That same age group you say Kyle Richard’s was trying to appeal to are watching Reality TV instead. She brings plenty of fake drama on RHOB, and I along with many other young women slurp it all up with a bag of popcorn.
I really enjoyed this show and I looked forward to seeing what happened next season. I think the reason the numbers were to expectation is the fact that it ran in the summer instead of fall/winter. I made it a point to DVR every epoisode, knowing I wouldn’t be home when it aired. I really think you should reconsider and as everyone else suggested, making it an hour long.
I wish they would reconsider cancelling American Women & do it as an hour show. I really enjoyed every episode.
So disappointed this show has been canceled. Loved it, loved the 70’s. Thanks a lot Paramount.
Loved this new show and so sad to hear it has been cancelled. Bring it back and have it for an hour instead of 30 minutes. Wasn’t on long enough for people to know about it. We stumbled on it and loved it.
So sad to see this show go. I loved it and loved seeing Alicia Silverstone on TV.
Awesome show was looking forward to another season
Yet another great show, gone in a flash. I begin to wonder, if those that record shows to watch them later, are taken into account. In 1/2 hour sitcom-dom, it’s far easier to spend an hour and s half, watching 3 episodes, than watching 3 over a three week period, 1/2 hour at a time.