Though Cougar Town has been performing very poorly this season, the show may go on if ABC cancels it. Talks are currently underway with TBS to possibly take over the series.
As I noted here, the ratings for Cougar Town have been so bad that ABC is sure to cancel it later this month — unless they want to keep it alive so it can amass enough installments for a syndication package. The problem is that there will only be 61 episodes by the end of season three and even a full fourth season would only bring the tally to 83 installments.
According to Deadline, ABC Studios is in discussions with TBS to potentially take over Cougar Town for two seasons of 15 episodes each. The article notes that conversations are still in the preliminary stages and transitioning a broadcast series to cable can be tricky deal-wise.
A rep for Turner Entertainment Networks declined to get into specifics but said, “Should the show become available, TEN looks at all opportunities presented to us that fit our brand.”
If the scenario works out, this will be the second Bill Lawrence TV show that’s survived a cancellation and switched channels.
After being cancelled by NBC, ABC Studios’ Scrubs moved to ABC for two final (and low-rated) seasons to increase the episode tally for syndication. Turner’s TNT picked up Southland after NBC dumped it and the cop drama has performed well enough to be renewed for a fifth season on cable.
What do you think? Would you follow Cougar Town if it were picked up by TBS? Or, should the declining ratings be taken as a sign that it’s time to cancel the show?
Image courtesy ABC.
Save it, it’s a great show.
Good humour, great cast.
Slap stick comedy is better than the more serious type of sitcom.
PLEASE SAVE IT.
Its the worst show ever. The acting and lines makes you cringe at times. Has no creativity what so ever. Cancel it and put this in a file marked ‘mistakes never to be repeated again’.
SAVE IT.
TBS works for CONAN!!
Please save Cougar Town~
[…] we reported that ABC Studios and TBS were working on a deal last week, it looked like TBS might end up renewing […]
As long as Cougar Town stays on, I will watch it anywhere! It is my FAVORITE show!
Save it
Wow! i have to say if this goes through i would envy fans of this show I mean to get a renewal of not one but two seasons, for a show that should have been canceled after the first episode is incredible. As a couch potato i can’t count the number of series I’ve gone through over the years hoping for just one renewal, getting more up to the point of syndication…. that there is living the dream.
@Steven Leitner TBS couldn’t save My name is Earl because the Creators refused to go from single camera to a multi camera format. It was to expensive to shoot a show with a single camera format for TBS to take the risk and spend all that money in acquiring the rights for a show that already had poor ratings. With cougar town its already a multi camera format so its chances are better at making the jump. I’m with Jason Lee i think its time for a My name is Earl movie!! lol and I really hope we get more… Read more »
TBS never showed any original episodes of “Earl,” they were all syndicated. So, your camera point is moot.
I will watch Cougartown on any channel!
I don’t have access to TBS, so it would depend if it still airs on a Canadian station as well.
I would totally keep following Cougar Town. I love this quirky comedy! Makes me laugh every time I watch it. Don’t cancel!!!!
ABC screwed up the ratings for this show by waiting until mid-season to bring it back and changing the night it was originally on. This show is great. Please save the show.
TBS couldn’t save My Name is Earl. Can they save Cougar Town?
Cougar Town is funny. TBS should get it anyway cause they know how to promote shows.
I like the show, but not as much as I did last season. ABC kept the show off the air for so long, that I lost some interest in the show. The show also needs some more variety if they want to do two more seasons. The highlight of every episode can’t be the drinking jokes in the kitchen.