Dirty Sexy Money: ABC TV Show Essentially Cancelled?

Despite mediocre ratings in season one, ABC decided to renew Dirty Sexy Money for a second year. Unfortunately, their gamble hasn’t paid off and it looks like time is running out for the Darling clan.

As the story of Dirty Sexy Money begins, idealistic lawyer Nick George (Peter Krause) finds himself taking over his late father’s single client, the very rich and dysfunctional Darling family. Patriarch Tripp Darling (Donald Sutherland) is incredibly influential but needs all the help he can get to manage the fragile relationships with his wife Letitia (Jill Clayburgh) and their five grown children; politician Patrick (William Baldwin), promiscuous Karen (Natalie Zea), corrupt clergyman Brian (Glenn Fitzgerald), and immature, party-loving twins Jeremy (Seth Gabel) and Juliet (Samaire Armstrong).

Tripp also needs Nick’s help in fending off his enemies like rival billionaire Simon Elder (Blair Underwood). Thankfully, Nick has the support of his wife Lisa (Zoe McLellan) and their young daughter. Other characters are played by Lucy Liu, Will Shadley, Laura Margolis, Bellamy Young, Candis Cayne, Shawn Michael Patrick, Chloe Moretz, Sheryl Lee, Andrea Smithson, and Daniel Cosgrove.

Money debuted on September 26, 2007 on ABC. The premiere episode attracted 10.44 million people and a 3.6/12 rating /share of the 18-49 demographic. The following week’s numbers fell by less than 10% which was a very positive sign. Unfortunately, the show essentially kept falling each subsequent week, hitting a season low of 6.52 million viewers and a 2.0/8.

The show’s production was interrupted by the writers strike and Money’s creator, Craig Wright, wondered if it would ever return. Ultimately, ABC decided to take a chance and renewed Money for a second season with an order of 13 episodes.

Should Money be cancelled? Yes! It's not very good. Maybe. It's pretty good. No! It's a great show! View Results  Loading ...

The gamble didn’t pay off. Season two of Money kicked off on October 1st with only 7.02 million viewers and a 2.4/7 in the demographic. The following week’s installment fell to 5.85 million and 2.0/5. Subsequent episodes have averaged less than six million viewers, making last season’s low-point look good by comparison.

The network has yet to order additional episodes or indicate interest in doing so. The cast and crew are currently wrapping production on what is likely the show’s last episode. ABC’s midseason schedule hasn’t been officially released but one that’s being shown to advertisers doesn’t have Money on it.

The series could still be under consideration for a third season but that seems highly unlikely considering the ratings decline between seasons one and two.

The sixth episode of season two is scheduled to air tonight, leaving seven to go. With Money’s declining viewership, you have to wonder if ABC will even air them all. If they do, it will likely have more to do with the network’s economics than plans for the series’ future. Where’s Tripp Darling’s influence when you really need it? Stay tuned!