FOX has a problem. The recent World Series was lowest-rated in history. Fox’s new shows (Justice, Standoff, Til Death and Happy Hour) have returned from the baseball hiatus to lower viewer numbers than their averages before the World Series. As expected, the fourth season premiere of The O.C. drew a paltry number of viewers, pitted up against CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Grey’s Anatomy. It’s no surprise that Fox has to make some changes. Those changes impact Happy Hour most of all.
The sitcom Happy Hour debuted on September 7th and centers around the life of Henry Beckman, played by John Sloan. Henry has the perfect life and relationship until he gets dumped, loses his job, and has to move in with Larry Cone (Lex Medlin) — a friend who has a unique take on life and the opposite sex.
The show was not well received by critics and didn’t draw many viewers either. In fact, Happy Hour was a frontrunner in most cancellation polls. The sitcom was pulled from the Thursday night schedule after three episodes but FOX promised the show would return. Happy Hour returned on November 2nd and its fourth episode drew a meager 2.2 rating, down over 25% from its pre-baseball airing. It provided a very weak lead in for FOX’s drama, The O.C.
As a result, FOX is moving shows around, particularly in an attempt to save The O.C. The once popular O.C.will air on both Wednesday and Thursday nights for the coming week to try to regain its audience.
To make room for this, FOX has pulled Happy Hour from the schedule once again and the word is that it won’t be coming back. Any mention of the series has been stripped from the Fox website. Some sources have said that the series’ 13 episode order will be completed (including an episode featuring Arrested Development’s Jessica Walter), so perhaps Happy Hour will be aired internationally or released on DVD at some point. 
I haven’t started watching the O.C. until recently, and I love it! Its one of those shows that have you addicted after the first episode. Honestly, I think its selfish of the people who have complained about it. If you don’t like it don’t watch it! Let the people who do like it continue watching it. I hope that they decide to relaunch the O.C. I would definitely buy the fifth season.
Funny show! Really got into it and looked forward to it then all of a sudden gone!! FOX SUCKS!
My husband and I are also very disappointed that Happy Hour has been cancelled. This was one of the few shows that we really enjoyed together. It is the first real comedy in a long time that really made us both laugh out loud. Please bring it back. Here’s to Happy Hour!!!!!
It is not over till its over. We can still impact them to create another season. Don’t underestimate the power of people joining together!
The OC is a realy great show. It has ment a lot to me. It has actualy brought my sister closer to me because we were watching the episodes together. No, seriously, why would you even thing of letting the oc that show is an amazing one! I’m telling you, it is so believe me for God’s sake. I’m in love with this show. It just cant end like this. What will it take to change you guys’ mind? Sing a petition or what? Cmon… Kelly Rowan is MY idol…. oh yea, And I so love Adam Brody and Ben.… Read more »
i Can’t believe u could even think of letting the oc that show is my life i love and have never!!! missed an epasode of it if that show goes off air i will never never ever whatch any fox show again u hear me i love the oc ya maybe there is a lot of complaining teens but who cares its like a soap… at night and i love the ppl that dont like it have probab;y never whatched more than 1 epasode so if u want to have more veiwers i will tell every1 i no to start… Read more »
I can’t believe Happy Hour is cancelled. I miss it. Now that the OC is going away – maybe they will bring it back. I don’t know why they’d think Happy Hour would bring in OC viewers anyway – that’s for the teenage crowd while Happy Hour appealed to an adult crowd. I say bring back Happy Hour!!
It is clear that FOX never intended that Happy Hour succeed. Their advertising for it was nearly non-existent, with barely a mention at the end of an ad for ‘Til Death. They bounced the pilot of ‘Til Death all over the prime-time schedule, in a desperate attempt to get viewers for it, and now they play a re-run of ‘Til Death (from just a couple of weeks previous) along with a new one on Thursdays. It appears that Happy Hour was deliberately picked up just to be slashed from the schedule. They’ve got no business blaming a cancellation on poor… Read more »
Happy Hour was one of the best shows i have seen in ages. The characters were great and the acting was better then it in many shows.
Lets hope that they release the complete series to DVD
I love Happy Hour. I thought this would be the show to make drinking the afternoon popular again. Especially for those of us who chose to enjoy our 20’s by avoiding marriage and getting pregers.
My only other comment is that ‘Til Death sucks and so does The O.C. So someone needs to release the unaired episodes of Happy Hour on YouTube so I can watch the rest of the season instead of The O.C. or ‘Til Death.
I love Happy Hour. I thought this would be the show to make drinking the afternoon popular again. Especially for those of us who chose to enjoy our 20’s by avoid marriage and getting pregers.
My only other comment is that ‘Til Death sucks and so does The O.C. So someone needs to release the unaired episodes of Happy Hour on YouTube so I can watch the rest of the season instead of The O.C. or ‘Til Death.
Oh my god what is wrong with you people?? I went to a taping of this idiotic excuse for a sitcom and may I say I have never had to endure a more painful 3 hours in my life. Are we talking about the same show?? The actors (with the exception of Brad Faxon, whom I can only assume needed the money) were so clearly lacking in comedic talent that even calling this show a comedy is a stretch. Then again, they had little to work with, considering the atrocious writing clearly aimed at producing a laugh from the lowest… Read more »
Oh my god what is wrong with you people?? I went to a taping of this idiotic excuse for a sitcom and may I say I have never had to endure a more painful 3 hours in my life. Are we talking about the same show?? The actors (with the exception of Brad Faxon, whom I can only assume needed the money) were so clearly lacking in comedic talent that even calling this show a comedy is a stretch. Then again, they had little to work with, considering the atrocious writing clearly aimed at producing a laugh from the lowest… Read more »
I’m sorry to know Happy Hour was cancelled…it was a really funny show, and sure fresher than ‘Til Death. FOX needs to give people time to find the new shows before taking them off the air. I looked forward to watching Larry and the crew…they were a really bright spot on Thursday nights.
I seem to be in agrement with a lot of people that FOX did not let Happy Hour pan out.
Happy Hour was the only reason that I turned to Fox of thursday nights and now I don’t even turn on the TV untill Grays comes on.