(ABC / Craig Sjodin)
ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey is talking about why the network cancelled its Downward Dog TV show after just one season. From the TCA summer press tour, the Post-Gazette reports Dungey said they tried to make a more limited second season of the show, but couldn’t make the numbers work.
An ABC sitcom based on the web series of the same name, Downward Dog stars Allison Tolman, Lucas Neff, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Barry Rothbart, Siovhan Christensen, Ayden Mayeri, Andrew Gorell, Sam Hodges (voice), and Ned the dog. The sitcom centers on Nan (Tolman), and is narrated by her philosophically inclined and rather forlorn dog, Martin (voiced by Hodges).
Here’s more from the Post-Gazette:
The network canceled filmed-in-Pittsburgh comedy “Downward Dog” despite strong social media buzz and rave reviews —better notices than any of ABC’s new fall shows, which range from mediocre to kind of bad, will get. (Among TV series premiering in 2017, “Downward Dog” is one of just three broadcast network shows to rank among the Top 60 of 134 best-reviewed programs at Metacritic.com.)
Ms. Dungey confirmed what “Downward Dog” producers have said about attempts to keep the show afloat at ABC. “There are always parts of this job that are creatively heartbreaking,” she said after an ABC press conference Sunday. “We very much wanted to do a second season of ‘Downward Dog.’ We engaged in a series of conversations and ultimately we were not able to make it work financially, which is disappointing because it’s a show that I would have loved to have an opportunity to bring back.”
Ms. Dungey said ABC wanted to do a limited run of episodes, which was not as financially viable. “We didn’t have the ratings to justify doing a full 13 and we just weren’t able to get there,” she said.
Could “Downward Dog” have survived if it had been given the in-season Tuesday time slot after “Fresh Off the Boat” that went to the disappointing and since-canceled “Imaginary Mary”? “I think we made the best choices based on the information we had at the time,” Ms. Dungey said. “You can Monday morning quarterback anything. What does bum me out is I think they had some great ideas for season two and I really love those producers and that cast.”
As of Friday, “Downward Dog” producers were still attempting to revive “Downward Dog” somewhere other than ABC but their options have dwindled. Streaming service Hulu, among others, passed on the show.
Downward Dog: A Look at the Ratings
The first season of Downward Dog averaged a 0.71 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 3.47 million viewers. When sorted by its demo ratings, Downward Dog ranked 20th of the 26 scripted ABC TV shows we’re tracking. When sorted by total audience size, it only rose to 16th place. Dr. Ken, which outpaced it in both measures, was also cancelled by the Alphabet Network.
What do you think? Did you watch the Downward Dog TV series? Should it have been cancelled or renewed for season two on ABC?
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19 Comments on "Downward Dog: ABC Chief Addresses Comedy’s Cancellation"
Loved the show. Well acted and great script.
PLEASE! Reconsider cancelling Downward dog! I was my favorite TV show! All the comments posted seem to love the show. If ABC won’t pick it up, SOME station needs to!
Completely, agree. I looked forward to watching Downward Dog! It came on so late in the season many people had not even been able to see the series yet. Huge mistake cancelling this series. Please, someone pick up this show.
One of the only shows I have recently gone out of my way to watch. Apparently only game shows and bad reality shows are money makers these days.
I am heartbroken that they cancelled this show! Anyone who has ever loved a dog could appreciate it. ABC could have been heroes using it as a platform for pet adoption (Martin is a rescue dog both in the show and in real life). Instead they broadcast junk like The Gong Show. I will NEVER watch ANYTHING on ABC again. I hope another network or streaming service picks it up. I will follow Martin anywhere.
It’s the only tv show that I’ve watched in years. I don’t watch tv but was so happy to have finally found a show worth watching. I am very sad it was cancelled. Please reconsider.
Please, please reconsider. Please renew Downward Dog. it is amazing, heartfelt and surprisingly entertaining. Please give it another chance for people like me to discover it!
I watched every episode hoping it would get better. It was awful. It should’ve been called “Downer Dog” or “Bummer Dog”. He was a total snowflake and his owner should never have had a dog. Other than that it was great. Not.
Lovely, gentle, warm, creative show. Unique, fascinating to watch how closely the writers adhered to the dog’s point of view: funny and touching insights about interspecies communication. Cleverly intertwined with compassionate and honest struggles with human to human communication. A rare bright spot in the wasteland of today’s tv and a real loss. Time to give up on most tv.
Here is a simple idea Channing Dungey. Make the second season and wait until the inevitable that one of the other new shows that you will cancel early this coming year will free up a slot.
They don;t call your network Always Being Cancelled for nothing.
I tried watching Downward Dog, and the way they wrote Martin’s (the dog’s ) voice was nails-on-a-chalkboard annoying to me. He pretty much used “like” in every sentence. So I understand the low ratings more than the “rave reviews”.
Attention, Already Been Cancelled network chief: If you cannot make the numbers work, how about taking a closer look at your convoluted formulas? I am done with your stupid network that does not respond to its viewers. Downward Dog was the best. I hope we who loved it find justice in another network picking it up for US, not your ridiculous numbers! With luck, very soon you will experience a name change to the Already Been Closed network.
I thought Downward Dog was the most entertaining, funny, heartwarming, and creative show – I am so disappointed that it was cancelled. I had just told my friends and family about it, because I literally just found it the week before I heard it was cancelled. I watched all the past episodes with my husband. I am so sad it will not be back.
I agree. I couldn’t have said it any better. It was the one show my wife and I looked forward to watching. Hopefully another network will pick it up.
I’m sure if Martin (the dog in Downward Dog) belonged to a BACHELOR or BACHELORETTE, they’d have found the money to make the show. Give me a break. ABC used to be my favorite network but no longer. Bunch of garbage on ABC
You couldn’t have said that any better. I watch some of the network shows but I am really enjoying many PBS dramas. Be great if HULU picked it up because it is such a cute show with talking Martin who I love.
Another abc..bs..cancelation. .cbs nbc..here I come..abc is getting stupid now..the best shows..cancelled or last season this yr..I’ve had it..