There was at least a little positive news to come out of ABC after a flurry of cancellations. The network has renewed newbie sitcom Happy Endings for a second season.
Happy Endings follows a young group of friends whose relationship is put in jeopardy after the couple that brought them together break up at the altar. Fortunately, Alex (Elisha Cuthbert) and Dave (Zachary Knighton) remain friends but there’s plenty of awkwardness ahead for them and their friends; Max (Adam Pally), Brad (Damon Wayans, Jr.), Jane (Eliza Coupe), and Penny (Casey Wilson).
The sitcom debuted very late in the season, usually an indication that the network execs have little faith in a project. Happy Endings premiered at 10pm on April 13th to a decent 2.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 7.3 million viewers. The second episode, airing at 10:30pm, dropped to a 2.3 rating and 5.7 million.
Viewers aren’t used to seeing sitcoms at that hour and ABC likely needed something to fill the hour. After all, all but one of ABC’s new dramas failed this season so they had few choices.
 Loading ... |
Subsequent episodes of Happy Endings have fallen to some serious lows, hitting a 1.4 demo rating and 3.26 million viewers. Ordinarily, that would be an easy cancellation. However, ABC execs are said to really like the series and likely feel that it didn’t get a fair shot.
Each season, the network gives one or two struggling shows a second chance and that appears to be what has saved Happy Endings. There’s also word that ABC’s considering a second night of comedies so, if that happens, they’ll need shows to fill those slots.
Of the renewal, Happy Endings creator David Caspe told Zap2it that he was very grateful for the renewal since, “I’m very aware that it does not usually go this way.” He noted that they don’t know the details yet, saying, “We don’t know when or how many or anything… but at this point I’m just so happy to get the opportunity to keep going.”
What do you think? Are you glad that Happy Endings will be back for season two? Do you think it just needs time to catch on?
Wondering where the rest of your shows stand? Check our ABC cancel/renew page.
Image courtesy ABC.
I love this show. I think this show is clever, quick witted, hilarious and the comedic timing and the choreography of it’s cast is great. I love the occasional addition of the oddball fringe characters. The sub-refererences are very fast paced and you have to be quick to get some of them so, that means the show probably won’t last because most viewers are used to slow-pitched comedy’s like “Two and a half men” or “Whitney” Tell your friends and co-workers about this show! Oh, and this show is funnier than “Friends” ever was.
I love this show!!!! i have to say i love the wednesday night lineup from the middle, suburgatory ( also one of my favorites!), modern family and of course..happy endings!
i love the characters, the humor, everything about this show is awesome. I wish it was at an earlier time slot for others to get the chance to watch. I made it a point to stay up late on wednesday nights just to watch this show!! keep it going, please!!!!!
Maybe it should have been this season’s “Miami Medical”.
This show is hilarious…it is in my top 5. The cast has good chemisty and awesome comedic timing. It’s the next Friends.
I love love this show!! It’s hilarious and witty 🙂 Check out my blogs..
I have seen every episode at least twice. This is the best written show on TV right now. Bravo!
Glad they’re giving it another go. Next time around, treat the show properly with a normal season, and not such a late start, and putting it after “Modern Family” and “Cougar Town” will make wednesday the best comedic tv night I’ve even seen. This show is perfect for the demographic they are looking for, ther need to really advertise it to the young crowds on the internet and social networks. Word to mouth will then do the job.
You guys are right, this could possibly become the next “Friends”, if advertised properly.
I am glad this show is coming back. I think it is funny and has a lot of potential to become really good. Flesh out the characters a bit and this show could become the next Friends.
I’m really happy about this news. “Happy Endings” needs a bit of work. Perhaps a way to break it away from being such a cliche. But one thing is certain, they’ve found some excellent actors that are hilarious. Elisha Cuthbert and Damon Wayans Jr.’s characters still need to find their “thing”, but apart from that, they’ve written some great characters. I’ll be watching.
OMW! I’m really happy that this show got renewed! I saw previews for this when I was watching Modern Family and I thought it looked pretty promising. However, I try not to watch shows that come on in their freshmen seasons anymore cause EVERYTHING gets cancelled nowadays. Case in point, ABC cancelling pretty much all of their new dramas that started Fall 2010. Anyway, I heard it got renewed so I thought I would give it a chance. This show is FREAKING hilarious. I have been laughing so hard during the past couple of episodes. The cast is amazing. They… Read more »