CBS is shaking things up with Bob ♥ Abishola. Most of the 13-person cast has been demoted to recurring for the upcoming fifth season. Stars Billy Gardell and Folake Olowofoyeku have retained their series regular status and are expected to appear in every episode.
Meanwhile, Christine Ebersole, Matt Jones, Maribeth Monroe, Vernee Watson, Shola Adewusi, Barry Shabaka Henley, Travis Wolfe Jr, Gina Yashere, Bayo Akinfemi, Anthony Okungbowa, and Saidah Arrika Ekulona will appear in as few as five episodes each.
Deadline noted that the comedy series will have just 13 episodes in its fifth season. The comedy was renewed back in January by CBS for the 2023-24 broadcast season.
The following was revealed about the move to demote the majority of the cast:
I hear the cast members of the multi-camera sitcom, produced by Warner Bros. TV, were notified this week that only Gardell and Olowofoyeku’s series-regular options for next season will be exercised. The rest were offered to continue as recurring with a five-episode guarantee.
While reducing episodic guarantees — the number of episodic fees per season to which each series regular is entitled — is becoming more common amid industrywide belt-tightening, downgrading the entire cast besides the two leads to recurring is the most dramatic talent cost-reduction move yet and a possible indication of what’s to come as linear ratings continue to slide and the networks’ push to cut license fees continues to grow.
As Bob ♥ Abishola actors are switching from series regular to recurring, the studio is waving exclusivity, so they can take on other TV jobs while being asked to notify producers of their availability so the writers can write the scripts accordingly.
A premiere date for Bob ♥ Abishola season five will be announced later.
What do you think? Are you surprised that CBS made this move? Will you still watch season five of the comedy series?
CBS keeps cutting back on the actors of the shows they say because it is too expensive I am probably about the only one that does not watch ghost, but they do have a big cast are they cutting them back too? They destroyed NCIS LA
Totally agree Ghosts is a stupid show, we tried watching it way back in the beginning.. just silly!! & you are right, they have a big cast LOL
I love this show and would like to see many episodes. I think all the characters make this show!!!
I like all the characters on Bob loves Abishola, but I like the main two the best. I wish the show was an hour long, infinite variables on the plot are possible.
Too many unfunny secondary characters being introduced while proven veterans litter the sidelines.
Considering that CBS is in first place in the ratings, it is a distressing signal that streaming, a supposed boon to the industry, may well instead be its downfall. Reducing season orders to fewer than thirteen (actually ten or fewer is the streaming norm) is having a delitorious effect on network series orders, where it sometimes means the series in question is likely on its last legs. While they sometimes manage to stretch shows out to nearly season length with only thirteen episodes (a la ALASKA DAILY this season), the longer a network show is in hibernation, the more likely… Read more »
Uncle tunde and aunt olu should be in every episode. They are my favorite characters.
Mine too!
The fact that they are reducing the episodes to 13 is sad! Get rid of the parents but the other cast are funny, especially Tunde’.
What a shame, they will be killing this series. Each cast member is a huge part of this shows success. Why do the have to destroy a fabulous series when there is so little decent to watch these days.
Isn’t this the way it always goes? The supporting cast are almost always what makes the show, because they happen to be the funniest and most rounded characters. Will tune in to see what the show is like, but most likely will quit watching. Just a thought, but if they can’t make the show work with the characters they have now, the show may as well be cancelled.
I am really sorry to see this happen. All the other characters make it a much richer show. And I am afraid that it will lower the ratings more and that they will cancel it next year.
Results in watering down a terrific show. Poor viewership on the horizon. Continued viewing problematic
Just Cancel The Show Already
Asking of the four which is better, I couldn’t respond because they’re all equally good! There are many others that are not so good!
It’s those characters that make the show funny. Abishola is just so hard to stomach. Her severity had gotten worse & then they softened her some last season, but still not enough to make her likable. I would say this is the beginning of the end. I can’t see it making it though after this. Wish they would just cancel shows instead of limping them along (think Goldberg’s!).
I agree
I watch this show more out of habit and to see where the characters go. The hateful nature of Abishola is so old. It seems that character’s presence has been reduced this season with the secondary characters filling more scenes. That is the only thing I have enjoyed about it. Abiahola’s personality being more present going forward will be rough. I will miss the other characters.