We all saw it coming. One of the most anticipated TV shows of the new fall season, Lone Star, has been cancelled after two episodes.
Lone Star centers around a handsome conman (James Wolk) who lives a double life to swindle investors and an oil tycoon family. He starts to have regrets and struggles to balance both lives and keep everybody happy. Others in the series are Jon Voight, Adrianne Palicki, Bryce Johnson, David Keith, Eloise Mumford, and Mark Deklin.
The FOX series debuted last week to a very disappointing 1.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 4.1 million total viewers. Last night, despite several days of buzz and campaigning to get new viewers, the ratings fell even lower to a 1.0 rating in the demo and 3.23 million viewers. As was the case in week one, many people who started watching tuned out before the episode was over. For whatever reason, it just didn’t click.
Lone Star has been cancelled effective immediately and the three remaining unaired episodes have been shelved. There’s no word if FOX will get around to releasing the remaining episodes at some point in the future.
Last week, the cast and crew were shooting the sixth installment. Production has now been shut down and it’s unclear if that episode was completed.
Lone Star’s spot will be filled by the season three premiere of Lie to Me.
What do you think? Are you sorry to see Lone Star be cancelled? If you watched, where do you think it went wrong?
UPDATE: Subsequent reports have indicated that there are six completed episodes with four left unaired.
Image courtesy FOX.
i loved lonestar that show was so good i cantg believe it got cancelled espically after 2 episode .
I’ve been a fan of James Wolk’s since he was called Jimmy Wolk in Front of the Class; unfortunately, he wasn’t able to use that momentum because he was locked up with another pilot that didn’t take off. The show runners weren’t savvy enough to realize a series based on the machinations of a morally ambigious protagonist would be better served on cable rather than network television. The female characters were also too one-dimensional which, from the comments I’ve read, was problematic for female viewers who hated the idea of guy running on a game on two innocent women. I’m… Read more »
I agree with Mara—why bother watching something new when it gets cancelled so quickly. Thank God that TNT had the good sense to pick up “Southland” last year. Was I the only one who liked “Invasion”, and “Cane”? At least those shows got a few airings before getting canned, but it was so unfair to cancel “Lone Star” after only TWO episodes. Why not try moving to another night or time first?? This show had a great cast and a fascinating storyline. It wasn’t really like anything currently on TV. What a shame.
Are you kidding? After two episodes? This is ridiculous! The acting was excellent, the characters interesting, the storyline compelling. Please release the other episodes online…or dvd…..finish the season. Saw James Wolk in You Again and he was excellent…I know it’s not the end of his career but I will be disappointed if it really is the end of Lone Star…
I barely even heard about the show and was about to check it out on Hulu only to find it canceled (though still watchable on Hulu). What gives? At a minimum, it was poorly scheduled: the Monday night competition was tough last week and this week with lots of new seasons starting. Only an idiot would have tried to schedule a show like this into that lineup, especially since the demographic this show probably is best suited for had other good options. The TV execs were morons, unless they **wanted** the show to fail. I’ve never understood the logic of… Read more »
My wife and I *loved* the “Lone Star” premier. Smart, interesting, intriguing, well written, well acted, well cast. Right there, we knew it was toast. Doomed like all the other excellent show: “Boomtown”, “My Own Worst Enemy”, “Daybreak”, to name only a few. We also watched the premier of “Chase”, which we though was formulaic crap. That one will do well. Sigh…
Enjoyed the show, don’t cancel, please bring it back, great story line and acting. Wanting to see what’s next. Not fair to cancel after 2 shows, the time it was on was up against that stupid dancing w/stars is the only reason low amount of viewers, and that show isn’t all the time. We need a night time series on regular TV! I’m not going to watch anything on FOX anymore because you do not give shows a chance!
I very much enjoyed this thought-provoking and intense drama characterized by intelligent writing, intricate and gripping plot and excellence in acting. Mere words cannot possibly express my level of disappointment that is was so inadequately marketed, poorly scheduled and prematurely canceled.
I agree with Barry… Give it a chance! I really enjoyed it, There are at least three returning sitcoms that are a greater disappointment…. How I met your mother is painful, Glee? Lonestar is gritty, FOX are morons.
I couldnt stop laughing when I read this. How sad. But I can agree two episodes is too little. Man, and I thought My Own Worst Enemy got a raw deal…
Well, I was part of the Neilson Rating Survey and couldn’t keep up with it. So how can you really be sure the show was a flop. I consider myself an intelligent person and the rating things you have to do with Neilson is just too much to expect!
Cancelled after two shows? And the first time it aired it was up against the premiere of Dancing with the Stars? This is so unfair. I really liked the show – and loved James Wolk. Why bother watching anything new if it’s going to cancelled after two episodes? Guess I’ll just wait until a show has been on for a season so I don’t get my heart broke again. Don’t take it personally – James Wolk. You just had the bad luck of ending up on Fox. Next time, hire on at USA Network – at least they give their… Read more »
I watched the first episode when it re-aired over the weekend and then part of the second episode. It was an original concept that was very well acted and produced. It felt more like an HBO show with its racy content and story line — perhaps better for a niche audience than the general television viewing public. Also, it was probably lost among all the various new programs premiering over the past few weeks, including the “re-make” of Hawaii 5-0 and the one with Tom Selleck, who is always so popular with TV fans.
I thought Lonestar was great. Fox should have just changed the time or day. It was great, the acting was superb. BRING IT BACK!
I absolutely loved the story line and actors on Lone Star, and am broken-hearted to see it cancelled. Perhaps the failure of such a drama reflects the psychosocial state of our culture. During the Great Depression, showbiz flourished because people needed an escape from reality. During the 70’s and the horrific Vietnam war, we relied on music and artistic expression to numb our pain. The characters and plot of Lone Star may be too reminiscent of current painful and personal events. It may fare better as soon as we can dig ourselves out of our country’s current economic and political… Read more »