(A&E)
It’s not often that a channel will cancel its highest-rated series. Less than a month ago, A&E was touting the Live PD TV show’s great ratings. Today, the cable channel cancelled the series — at least for now.
Debuting in October 2016, Live PD provides a unique look at the policing of America. The series follows diverse police departments from across the country in real-time as they patrol their communities. Using dash cams along with fixed rig and handheld cameras, the series captures the work of urban and rural police forces on a typical Friday and Saturday night.
Host Dan Abrams and commentators Tom Morris Jr. and Sergeant Sean “Sticks” Larkin offer insights into what audiences are seeing in real-time, bouncing between the featured police departments and offering an inside look at each live episode.
In early May, Live PD was picked up for 160 additional episodes and was scheduled to air its 300th episode on Saturday, June 6th.
On Friday, June 5th, It was announced the series had been pulled off the air for the weekend. “Out of respect for the families of George Floyd and others who have lost their lives, in consultation with the departments we follow, and in consideration for the safety of all involved, we have made the decision not to broadcast Live PD this weekend,” A&E said in a statement.
— Live PD on A&E (@OfficialLivePD) June 1, 2020
Now, the series has been cancelled though it seems as though the door may be left open for the show’s return at some point. The decision came from both A&E and MGM’s Big Fish Entertainment, which produces the show. “This is a critical time in our nation’s history and we have made the decision to cease production on Live PD,” the network said in a statement to Deadline. “Going forward, we will determine if there is a clear pathway to tell the stories of both the community and the police officers whose role it is to serve them. And with that, we will be meeting with community and civil rights leaders as well as police departments.”
Cancelling the program was likely an unpleasant decision for both parties due to the loss of revenue. Airing for three hours on both Friday and Saturday nights, Live PD was a big draw for A&E in the ratings. According to the cable channel, the program was the top-rated show on regular cable for those nights in 2019 and the numbers have gotten even better since the pandemic has caused live sports games to be suspended.
Last night, host Abrams had reassured fans that the show would return.
To all of you asking whether #LivePD coming back. . .The answer is yes. All of us associated with the show are as committed to it as ever. We are still discussing some specifics but I want to assure the #LivePDNation that we are not abandoning you.
— Dan Abrams (@danabrams) June 10, 2020
And to be clear as I have said on my @SXMPOTUS show, you can both support the important and impactful peaceful protests and support the overwhelming majority of police officers doing the noble and difficult work they do every day.
— Dan Abrams (@danabrams) June 10, 2020
Today, Abrams communicated that the series would not return after all.
Shocked & beyond disappointed about this. To the loyal #LivePDNation please know I, we, did everything we could to fight for you, and for our continuing effort at transparency in policing. I was convinced the show would go on. . More to come. . .https://t.co/WWh7fDrig2
— Dan Abrams (@danabrams) June 11, 2020
I am hoping that this continues with @TomMorrisJr1 https://t.co/7GxeXNZYP6
— Dan Abrams (@danabrams) June 11, 2020
I am going to finally go to sleep but I just want to say one more thing to the #LivePDNation. Thank you for making this so much more than a tv show. You created a huge community of kind, caring people with whom I hope to stay in touch with in this next chapter. More tomorrow. . .
— Dan Abrams (@danabrams) June 11, 2020
Cops, a long-running program on Paramount Network, has also been cancelled.
What do you think? Did you watch Live PD on A&E? Do you think that this series should return at some point?
You people who cancel these shows are ridiculous!! Why do you think these honest & fair officers deserve to be treated like the bad cops – in your brain they’re all the same, right!! So dumb – you’re so simple minded!! You need courage to stand up for the good cops!! THEY deserve their rights, & so do we!!!
You need to bring it back this was a great show!!!. If not we won’t watch your channel anymore.
I will no longer watch anything on A&E and I resent that I am not allowed the right to choose what I do or do not want to watch. It’s too bad too, because for the past several years, I have stayed home every Friday and Saturday night to watch Live PD. If 0George Floyd had been white, would Live PD have been cancelled?
I loved live PD and hope to see it return someday soon❤️❤️
I certainly hope that live pd will return. It was a fantastic look into the lives of the police officers on the streets . I know that this is hard times but to cancel shows that show what police officers are really about is absurd and doesn’t solve anything but put them in more of a bad light that they don’t deserve
I LOOK FORWARD TO LIVE P.D. I DONT THINK THIS IS RIGHT .BUT THEY ONLY WANT YOU TO SEE A COP THAT DID SOME THING WRONG.LIVE PD SHOWS GOOD THE COP DO.PLEASE COME BACK MY SON IS A COP. I DONT LIKE WHEN THEY BAD MOUTH COPS.THERE LIVES MATHER TOO.
I have enjoyed Live PD. I hope it comes back. It was a fair show by showing both sides. My top show to watch. A&E made the wrong call.
In my opinion, LIVE PD was a lot more than cops n robbers. This show enabled the public to be involved with identifying persons of interest, find missing children, help locate wanted persons. It was like an extension to law enforcement. It also gave us a better understanding of policies and procedures performed by law enforcement. It gave many other views as to what was happening on our streets, city and rural, and made us feel more connected. Canceling LIVE PD is an injustice! Give it back, PLEASE!!!
You have no right to tell us what we can watch and not.you caved into the dummies that wanted you to.Guess will stop watching your programs will.tell all my friends.
I was disappointed to hear that Live P.D. was cancelled,not because I enjoyed watching it, but because a show that shows police officers doing a difficult job was deemed offensive in some way. In my opinion it was a cowardly decision,which was taken because of a small but very vocal minority who are more interested in showing how virtuous they are than in social change. Don’t think this will satisfy them because they don’t want solutions, they want a voice in perpetuity. After they bullied you into this decision, the next rant is just around the corner. I will never… Read more »
I love this show and I know a lot of people are mad at the fact they canceled it. It was stupid for them to cancel it. I’m hoping it will get picked up by another channel. I’m boycotting channel A&E without live PD they don’t exist. Since they canceled live PD I’d like to see the channel be deleted from every network on TV just for be stupid. Don’t they know that live pd helped find missing people. By cancelling this show A&E has lost a lot more then they realize. These networks need to stop letting society dictate… Read more »
I’m not gonna be watching much or any programming this coming year. I’m gonna be doing other things other than waste my time sitting in front of the TV watching a bunch of crap which I don’t wanna watch. Instead of this politically correct garbage I’m just gonna live life to the fullest without having to deal with this Self proclaimed quality for all people. Enjoy your life for what you want not what others are forcing upon you.
Yes of course it should return it was fair and showed the difficult job that police do day in and day out … and what about first 48 another excellent show I haven’t been able to find it either ?????
Shocked that Live PD is not returning. We finally had an unscripted, transparent, visual of what police officers deal with every day and it’s been pulled????? We need the balance showing that all police officers are not the same. Totally unfair to paint them all with the same brush. Disappointed in management for not seeing this.
Yes I watched the show and yes, I want it to return! It was the best show on TV. I loved the hosts and learned lots of things about what police officers actually do. Live PD Nation has even helped find missing persons! I really hope it comes back so I can stop being sad about it. My family is tired of hearing me whine about it.
I’m devistated to hear LivePD has been cancelled. I’m retired from law enforcement and was thrilled to see law enforcement portrayed AS IS….not scripted, honest presentations and virtually nothing indicating unfair treatment of anyone. I was excited when the show started – specifically because I thought it would provide a clearer idea of what officers deal with every day – and would allow viewers to understand the good, the bad and ugly the officers handle equitably, regardless of who they were dealing with! The show was live (with a respectable delay for certain circumstances) – I don’t believe A&E edited… Read more »