As viewers are no doubt aware by now, ABC has decided to cancel their Forever TV show after one season of 22 episodes. Series star Ioan Gruffudd took to Instagram to send a message to the show’s loyal viewers.
He wrote:
My dear friends, fans, supporters.
Tonight, as you all now know, I received a phone call that I was hoping not to receive, and to be honest I really wasn’t expecting it. I knew the numbers hadn’t been great, but I also knew the studio and the network both loved the show, and of course that it had an incredible fan base…so I thought we were in with a pretty good chance.
But sadly no, this time the cards weren’t dealt in our favor. Show business is like that. Hell, life is like that. You ride to the top of the wave and then you come crashing down again. I asked Alice to send out the sad news because I was a little bit shaken up and needed time to gather my thoughts.
So I sat down and started reading the thousands of Tweets in response to the announcement. And the more I read, the more I couldn’t believe it. The love, the sense of solidarity, the hope, the kindness, the support. Not just for the show, but for each other. And slowly I began to focus on what we had gained in the past year, rather than what we had lost in the last five minutes. I was overcome by a sense of gratitude. To have met you all and to have you all rooting for me and the show. At having a chance to play the role of my dreams, even if it was only for a year. To have been given the chance to bring Henry to life.
Watching the interaction of the FOREVER fans come together and share their love for the show has been breath-taking. It was you guys who held me up when I thought I could no longer go on. (Those days were LONG!) You made me smile when you pointed out the little things I did on screen that I thought had gone unnoticed. You gave me confidence when I accidentally found myself reading less than shining reviews. You were always with me, every step of the way, waving your flags, shouting your support for the show. It’s been an incredible, wonderful year, one that I will never, ever forget.
And guess what? The memories belong to us. We get to keep them ‘forever!’ Thanks again a million times for your unwavering support. Stay strong, be brave, and show kindness as often as you can!
Ioan xxx
What do you think? What do you think of Gruffudd’s message? Why do you think Forever has such a passionate viewership yet the ratings weren’t very good?
I am extremely sorry to see this show go. While the premis is unlikely, the scripting, characters, and superb acting combined to enthrall the viewer. I have recorded and watched every single episode. The show should be revived.
I agree with the poster who wrote ratings are crap, the sampling too small, statistically insignificant. When will the entertainment business world wake up to the basic truth that it is the fans meant to buy the products that need to be pleased, catered to, even, not the network executive. I will watch anything Gruffudd is in, have adored him since Horatio Hornblower. Maybe Netflix or Hulu or Amazon can produce a second season, as was done with ‘Crossing Lines’ and ‘Ripper Street.’
I say that about ratings because years ago — and I have no reason to think things have changed — someone from A.C. Nielsen admitted as much to Alfred Bester in Toots Shor’s.
Crossing Lines was indeed picked up by Netflix, and is one of the only reasons I pay for that service. Ripper Street, however, it still shown on its mother network, BBC. It is currently airing its third season in the US on Wednesday nights.
1. Ratings are crap. The samples are too small, not random enough, and statistically insignificant. The show had a passionate following because it was well written and well acted. The premise, however, was snot that original, having been done only a few seasons ago on a show called “New Amsterdam,” in which a colonial soldier is brought back to life by Native American magick. That show didn’t even last a whole season, as I recall, which should have been a red flag for this one. The truth is, sponsors are very nervous sorts, and if they seen things in shows… Read more »
So sad that another one of the good shows is gone, what are we left with garbage…Dumb nasty talking smart ass girls.. housewives of what ever that are really stupid..
Shows that have been on to long that is showing that mind set of our younger people that want to out do each other not work with each other… No wonder we have bullies that what is on T.V now.. I wish thy would put FOREVER back on any channel…SO SAD
I am so angry at abc that they canceled this wonderful series. I looked forward to it week after week. The whole cast was awesome and in MHO they are jerks to have ended it. I wish another station would pick it up
Unfortunately, I think that one of the reasons that Forever was canceled has nothing to do with how good the show was, from the storylines to the actors who brought them to life. It was more likely due to the fact that unlike an overwhelming majority of primetime shows on the major networks, it failed to push a political agenda, specifically a pro-homosexual agenda. Of the six major roles, there was plenty of diversity. Henry was British; his “son” Abe was Jewish; his “partner” on the police force was both female and Latino; their captain was Black; the other cop… Read more »
You’re so right Danny. I’m so sick of every show introducing yet another gay person. We know you’re gay, you don’t need to tell us over & over & over. I’m also getting tired of the black w/white or white w/black couples, too. If it’s not on a show it’s in the commercial. If that’s your thing ok, but stop forcing it on the rest of us.
This show is AWESOME!! Very intelligent and very intriguing. Of course, a show that makes the audience think and learn is NOT what tv executives and the big wigs want. More plastic surgery, housewife cheating, backstabbing catfighting shows is what gets renewed for 8 seasons. I hope another outlet picks this show up.
The more I think about it the more upset I get. Such a wonderfully intelligent and captivating show. ABC has thrown an exceptional show away. I know someone contacted Netflix to see if they would produce more episodes. Can anyone think of another station that has enough intelligence to pick this show up and run with it? I would definitely contact them also. Do you think AMC would? If ABC had the ability to recognize what a gem this show is they could put it on another day and time. Other shows can come and go, but this show was… Read more »
I truly loved this show. He is one of my favorite actors, the premise was interesting, the actors were perfect for their parts. Now e are being offered the stupid, insipid, unfunny, sometimes disgusting shows such as quiz shows in the “labor rooms” of all places, hillbillies in Hollywood and reality shows that I wouldn’t let my dog watch and comedy shows that need laugh tracks because the are not funny at all. Every time a network gives us a show with substance and intelligence it gets cancelled. Why, well I’m told its’ the demographic of watches” you know, the… Read more »
Yet again, a great show has been cancelled and it is a great shame. This show even from the first episode was a hit, I love the relationships between Henry and Jo and more importantly Henry and Abe. The sense and feeling of love you get watching a father and son when the son is the older one is quite endearing. We’ve still got a couple of episodes left in the UK but from reading the comments its going to be a cliff hanger of an ending. Yet again a programme is dropped when it still had so much potential.… Read more »
I REALLY enjoyed this show, and the last episode was a real clift-hanger. I want to see what happens. PLEASE COME BACK!!!
RENEW, RENEW!!!! This is a very good show. The plot has energy and intrigue!!!
This is one very classy and grateful man. Words cannot express how angry and disappointed I am in ABC’s decision not to renew this show. This show has a loyal base, highly educated viewers and the list goes on. However, the network does NOT look beyond the simple, but outdated ratings system to make decisions. Social media, in my opinion should be factored into the equation for show renewals. I can only hope that one day another network will renew this show and illustrate what another throws away, is another one’s treasure. Too bad we all can’t get together and… Read more »
I thought Forever was a great show, I really enjoyed it but I guess the network didn’t. At the rate the networks are canceling shows were not going to have anything but reality shows and these stupid comedy shows that aren’t even funny
This was a great show. Had incredible potential but most likely not enough sex or crude behavior or stupid sitcom jokes as it seems many of these networks think that is the only thing people watch.