After just two weeks on the air, ABC has decided to pull Happy Town from the schedule. The TV show will be back but, for how long?
Happy Town follows the residents of a small town in Minnesota. After being plagued by kidnappings years ago, it seems the mysterious “Magic Man” has returned to start a killing spree. The cast includes features Sam Neill, M.C. Gainey, Geoff Stults, Lauren German, Amy Acker, Steven Weber, Ben Schnetzer, Sarah Gadon, Jay Paulson, and Robert Wisdom.
The series got off to a poor start two weeks ago with a 1.7 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 5.25 million viewers. Last week, for episode two, viewership took a nosedive to a 1.2 in the demo and 3.79 million viewers.
To no surprise, ABC has pulled Happy Town for the remainder of May sweeps. After tonight’s episode, the series goes on hiatus for two weeks and will return on June 2nd.
While this wouldn’t necessarily be a sign that the show will be cancelled, the ratings are. They’re terrible and there’s every expectation that they’re just going to get worse — especially with warmer weather coming and people spending less time in front of the TV.
After tonight’s episode, there are just five episode left. With numbers like these, fans of Happy Town will be lucky if the network shows the rest of them, never mind a second season.
Next week’s episode will be replaced by an edition of Primetime: What Would You Do?. On May 26th, ABC will present the network premiere of the Transformers movie.
What do you think? Why isn’t Happy Town performing better? Is it just not a very good TV show or are viewers just missing the boat?
Image courtesy ABC.
They don’t give shows a chance to build an audience anymore. TWO WEEKS – what the heck is that! I enjoyed what I saw – give the rest of the audience a chance to find it.
This show had potential but the acting in it was horrific. I couldn’t keep track of how many eye rolls I gave it. The daughter was especially bad. If you want the daughter to act like a 3 yr old, cast a 3 yr old.
ABC was STUPID to put this mini-series on during the regular season. This should be on durign the summer, when the regular shows are not on. It needs to be on at 10 because of the adult nature (murder). It is very entertaining, and was not given a fair chance by ABC by being put on at a time when tv is so competitive. That is why many shows fail. People have their standard shows and do not want to spend the time on new shows that they assume will be cancelled, because that is how the networks roll.
I can understand both sides. I, personally, enjoyed the show. However, I remember saying to my fiance during the pilot, “The acting isn’t very good and it’s kind of cheesey.” BUT…I still had it recording on the DVR because I think the story was good. I was really looking forward to seeing more of it, so I am dissappointed it got cancelled. On the other hand, I can see why the ratings weren’t that great.
Finally found a show that was something a little different and then it just disappeared. At least finish the series. My DVR is set and waiting!
Oh no, this was really a good show!
I can’t lie that the beggining of the first episode was slow, but then it ends so good that makes you want all the rest!
It’s a pit that they cancelled it, it was a very good TV show.
I was really enjoying this show. I am a fan of mystery/occult shows, and am sick to death of anything to do with vampires and reality tv. Why is it that the networks are so afraid to stick with something for awhile to see if the viewers respond?
What’s up with that crap? They take all my shows off and then they put something on I am interested in and they cancel it? My wife and daughter both enjoy the show as do I. Maybe try putting it in a time slot where someone can stay up and watch it. I have to DVR it so that affects ratings.
Lets see why they wouldn’t have a lot of viewers…. Wednesday night at 10 P.M…. hmmmmmm. Too bad Neilson ratings don’t take into account DVR or those that watch on the internet at normal hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so sick of ABC canceling every good show they put on. When I started watching Happy Town I liked it so I knew ABC would pull it off like they always do. This is the last time I will even start watching a show on ABC.
If you want to see more mindless TV just watch ABC.
I loved this show! It’s one I was actually looking forward to watching each week. Seems like “reality” TV has taken over and I cant stand it. I hope they bring Happy Town back and maybe put it on earlier?.
Happy Town, is a pretty interesting and entertaining show. It is sad when scripted shows don’t get the chance while all the other reality tv shows get 2nd and even 3rd seasons. The problem is that there are just too many options on TV. My family and I were really enjoying Flash Forward and because it also was underperforming in the rating it was yanked as well. I feel the network was trying to picky back on the ending of Lost and people would just start tuning in to Happy Town but timing is everything in TV.
My whole family enjoyed Happy Town. Why would you cancel it???????? Please bring it back!!!! I dont watch the local channels because all they show are stupid garbage reality shows. By accident of flipping channels we started watching V and then saw previews for Happy Town. Now we are ABC fans two nights a week. Get the word out about Happy Town. KEEP HAPPY TOWN! Do NOT cancel it! Atleast if we are gonna be couch potatos let our minds think! Give us something to look forward to watching thats good!
This is really sad, It’s like Twin peaks meets Stephen king for a night on the town. This show really had potential
I love these mini series shows. Everyone else is right, they leave all the stupid reality shows on and take off the good shows. Just when you get into the show, they cancel, whats up with that! ?