(James Minchin / SundanceTV)
Here’s a storm Hap Collins and Leonard Pine can’t weather. SundanceTV has cancelled the Hap and Leonard TV show after three seasons. The 1980s dark comedy-drama finished its third season last month. Since there will be no fourth season, the Hap and Leonard: Two Bear Mambo season three finale, “Monsoon Mambo” will serve as the Hap and Leonard TV series finale.
A SundanceTV anthology series based on the Jon R. Lansdale novels, Hap and Leonard stars James Purefoy as Hap Collins and Michael Kenneth Williams as Leonard Pines — lifelong best friends. The cast also includes Tiffany Mack as Leonard’s lawyer, Floria Grange and Cranston Johnson as Detective Hanson. Season three, Hap and Leonard: The Two-Bear Mambo, also stars Louis Gossett Jr., Corbin Bernsen, Andrew Dice Clay, Laura Allen, and Curt.
Hap and Leonard: Two Bear Mambo A Look at the Ratings
The third season of Hap and Leonard averaged a 0.04 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 200,000 viewers. Compared to season two, that’s down by 20% in the demo and up by 15% in viewers. Compare the performance of Hap and Leonard to other SundanceTV TV shows.
Less than a week after the April 11th season three finale, Lansdale tried to rally the troops, on social media, to push for a season four renewal.
HAP AND LEONARD FANS. Help us be renewed. We have no idea what SUNDANCE wants to do, but we would like them to know what we would like them to do. Write then directly and tell them you need your HAP AND LEONARD. NOW!
— Joe Lansdale (@joelansdale) April 16, 2018
Ultimately, the push was unsuccessful, and Lansdale confirmed the confirmation via Twitter and Facebook.
Hap and Leonard officially canceled. Sundance's highest rated show, 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Three Seasons wraps it up, dudes. It was an honor to have worked with the folks on the show, actors, crew, writers,… https://t.co/WJvpfDJEhl
— Joe Lansdale (@joelansdale) May 15, 2018
The official Hap and Leonard Twitter account also sent out a message of gratitude to the cast, crew, and fans.
Thanks to the incredible cast and crew of #HapandLeonard for three unforgettable seasons….and a special thank you to the fans! pic.twitter.com/sNvsAPzRLU
— Hap and Leonard (@HapAndLeonard) May 15, 2018
The production staff also commented on the Hap and Leonard cancellation. Read more from EP Jeremy Platt, co-creator Jim Mickle, and showrunner John Wirth.
Goodbye #HapAndLeonard @HapAndLeonard… pic.twitter.com/poez7xWEyQ
— Jeremy Platt (@JeremyPlattform) May 15, 2018
#HapAndLeonard fans,
It’s true. Our show has come to an end. Thank you thank you thank you for watching, re-watching, caring, engaging and calling for more. We loved every minute of making it, even when it drove us nuts. It means the world that you loved it too. /1
— Jim Mickle (@Mickle_Jim) May 15, 2018
.@HapAndLeonard Thanks @SundanceTV @jamespurefoy @bkbmg, @joelansdale, cast, crew, producers, writers, directors and especially our diehard FANS for 3 seasons of Hap and Leonard. We will not be back.
— John Wirth (@WirthwhileTV) May 15, 2018
The cancellation of the James Purefoy and Michael Kenneth Williams led series based on Joe R. Lansdale’s nuanced and rollicking 1980s set novels of two mainly unlucky Lone Star state buddies’ misadventures came today from the AMC owned net.
“It has been an honor to share the adventures of Hap and Leonard with SundanceTV viewers,” a spokesman for the station told Deadline on Monday. “We thank the talented cast and crew who brought Joe Lansdale’s stories to life including John Wirth, Jim Mickle, Jeremy Platt and Linda Moran — and the extraordinarily talented Michael K Williams and James Purefoy. We aired three successful seasons of the show and are proud of the topics and relationships it explored.”
With race, sexuality, family, corruption, faith and that often undiscussed subject of the American class system among those topics explored on the noir-ish series since its March 2, 2016 debut, Hap and Leonard became the highest rated original series in Sundance TV’s history. Part of that allure was the great dynamic between Rome alum Purefoy and The Wire vet Williams in their portrayal of the two very different blue collar middle age pals. Stumbling into detective work of sorts, the three seasons of six episodes each drew from Lansdale’s Savage Season, Mucho Mojo and The Two-Bear Mambo books.
What do you think? Are you a fan of the Hap and Leonard TV series? Should SundanceTV have cancelled or renewed Hap and Leonard for season four? Sound off in the comments.
This is so disappointing! This was one of the best shows on tv in a long time.
I cannot believe Hap & Leonard has been cancelled! Some network needs to pick up this great show! With so much reality television, it was great to see an old fashioned, TV series that kept you watching week after week! Please, renew!!
I can’t believe the show has been cancelled. C’mon guys. I live in this horrendous country where the only real fun comes from watching TV and I just came across HAP AND LEONARD on AMC just to find out it’s been cancelled. Anyway. I love it and thanks for such good TV.
From Mexico
best show EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! BRING IT BACK PLEASE Only reason I watched and kept sundance channel
Thers a Petition to save it -No Spam
https://www.thepetitionsite.com/de/917/759/181/netflix-or-amazon-should-pick-up-future-seasons-hap-and-leonard/
Thank you for at LEAST giving us some reruns. How about a season 4? Now THAT would be a good idea!
Please, please renew Hap and Leonard! It is one of the best shows I’ve watched in a very long time. The plot line is superbly creative, the casting could not be better, and Purejoy and Williams are absolutely terrific! Accents, mannerisms, etc. they have down pat, and their timing is perfect! I’ve seen Purejoy and Williams in other roles , they are great actors but this show really exemplifies their talents. So do not change a thing! If the advertisers are not pleased with the results of their efforts attempting to draw from the demographics they’ve chosen then perhaps they… Read more »
and 66 yr old women!
I really like this show, and I’m sad to see it go. It always leaves me perplexed when the highest rated show on a channel is cancelled. Usually it’s because it draws the wrong demographic for the advertisers. I’d like advertisers know my money spends just like a younger person’s. I’m also sad to learn that some of the show makers intent was to educate instead of write good stories
This was such a unique show. Actors superb and stories excellent. Cannot understand why it was cancelled
SOME NETWORK SOMEWHERE NEEDS TO PICK THIS SHOW UP. SUNDANCE PEOPLE, PUT DOWN THE PIPE AND STEP AWAY. YOU ALL HAVE EITHER LOST YOUR MINDS OR YOU ARE SMOKING METH. RENEW THIS SHOW YOU BUNCH OF BONEHEADS!!!!
This has been my favorite show since day one…..James and Michael had a chemistry together…I loved the characters ,the friendship the stories and situations that are still problems today Hap and Leonard dealt with made me feel good watching them and unwavering friendship since they were children ….they made it seem so real…….hats off to you guys..I think Sundance tv made a mistake….this coming from a 57 yr old man
I am very, very disappointed with Sundance for canceling one of the finest programs on tv. Stellar acting, superb writing, important topics, wonderful cinematography, excellent production design and values, are among the many things that made this show resonate and be incredibly compelling to watch. If I had known there was the possibility of it not being renewed, I would have most definitely written to Sundance. This is a show that needs to be on the air.
Of all of the shows that I watch regularlly this is the one I patecently waited for each year. Male friendship, the kkk, bigotry, sexuality. I swear it was just too good for us. If the all mighty network execs really want to do us a favor.. bring it back!!!
I think one of the best shows ever (Hap & Leonard) has been cancelled. I can only hope that another network picks this gem up….
Hap and Leonard are cancelled? Time to cancel Sundance.