HBO has cancelled their Looking TV series after two low-rated seasons. While there won’t be a third season of the gay dramedy, the series will have a resolution.
Looking revolves around three gay friends (Jonathan Groff, Frankie J. Alvarez, and Murray Bartlett) in San Francisco as they make their way in the world, looking for personal and professional fulfillment. Also starring are Lauren Weedman, Russell Tovey, and Raul Castillo.
The half-hour show debuted in January 2014 to just 338,000 viewers. It was a poor start but viewership grew as the weeks progressed, hitting a season high of 519,000 in week six. Despite the low ratings, HBO renewed Looking for a second season, keeping it as a companion to their low-rated Girls series.
The ratings have gotten even worse in season two. Just 150,000 viewers watched the February 15th installment. Season two averaged 240,000 viewers with a 0.1 rating in the 18-49 demo. The finale aired on Sunday.
Now, HBO has decided to cancel the show but plans to wrap up the series with a special. There’s no word on when it will be released as yet.
A statement from the cable channel says, “After two years of following Patrick and his tight-knit group of friends as they explored San Francisco in search of love and lasting relationships, HBO will present the final chapter of their journey as a special… We look forward to sharing this adventure with the shows loyal fans.”
What do you think? Did you like the Looking TV show? Do you think that it should have been cancelled or renewed for a third season? Will you be watching the special?
I agree with many of the comments that it was poorly advertised. I have many male gay friends that didn’t know about it. I have just got them to Google it and now its over. I enjoyed the show and I’m really sad that it has come to an end. Such a shame 🙁
I found the show a little later due to on demands “watchathon”…. I absolutly love the show… I fineshed the first season the first night i found it and i watch all of the second the next night… Finding out it was cancled was absolutly devistating because i really grew attached to the characters… It really brought me joy to see homosexual relationship and not just sex… I was really able to feel the compasion between the characters…. Long story short i love the show…. I HBO dosent wish to renew it then so be it…. But i would absolutely… Read more »
LOVE LOOKING CRUSHED THAT IT WAS CANCELLED HBO PLEASE RECONSIDER
I’m from indonesia. I found looking when I search best us tv series. I think looking one of the best tv series I ever watch.
so sad HBO cancel it.
It wasn’t as good as the likes of Game of Thrones, Girls and True Detective, so, without the viewers, why would HBO keep Looking on air? I fully understand and support the decision to cancel it.
Ian, Looking was much better than GOT, Girls, or True Detective. I canceled my HBO subscription accordingly when HBO canceled Looking. There’s no way I’m going to watch those other shows again.
I am always looking for shows featuring gay characters I can relate to. Rarely do I find one that portrays those characters well. This show is not an exception. The characters were flat out boring and completely unrelatable. Is this what people think gay “communities” are like? The show’s environment was so sleazy and trashy, I experienced secondhand discomfort for the characters. The script was also stunted (as I find with most HBO series). It sounded so flat, dull, and fluffy, like Magic Mike (which doesn’t even need a script because people will come for the nearly naked men) but… Read more »
It is disturbing that HBO cancelled “Looking” because: A: HBO did a terrible job at marketing the show and many of us in the “community” did not know about it. — I stumbled across it and love the characters and feel more connected to this show than when QAF was on! I caught up with Season 1 just prior to Season 2! B: The show did a great job of representing real-life situations that are relevant not only to the gay community (ie, pre-exposure prophylaxis) but also to society (whether they know it or not) C: The characters were just… Read more »
So True!!
I found out about Looking on HBO GO. I have never seen any promos. I am not gay, but I loved loved loved this show. It’s a very realistic portrait of love and relationships, so heartwarming. I am crushed that it’s over.
What a shame, such a great show.
It is the only show on right now that associates with my life and community.I was always upset about it only being a half an hour.I will be in dissapointment mode for awhile about this one.
Well, it seems HBO executives know nothing about gay comunities (all over the word).
I have many friends who are now seeking desperately for Looking episodes because they only knew about the show recently on Facebook when they read the comments of people like me talking how sad this “end” is – no third season.
HBO should re-evaluate the potential of Looking and look forward to the millions of LGBT and non-LGBT people who can love it and, specially, learn to love PEOPLE without labels nor prejudices. It is an amazing TV show and it shouldn’t stop now!
The best show. Cold no wit for Sundays to come. I hope HBO changes its mind and puts t back on
I dont understand why the cancel shows! Nowadays people record the shows and watch them later! They still get the viewers but they can’t tell who watches it bc so many people record them. They need to keep Looking! I love this show!!!
Why cancel …it takes time to get a following..once i found it i got hooked. I recorded every show ..watched each episode twice ( some more) ..I don’t think there is a gay man alive that can’t find themselves in one og the characters.. and every young gay male can learn from them…cancel Looking and I cancel HBO..
I have been faithfully watching Looking since its debut. I feel the emotions and situations that are portrayed in this series is so true to what many gay and straight people go through. It was about time these sensitive issues were addressed and I believe that Looking successfully achieved this task. It was nice to see emotions being dealt with instead of violence and destruction. After viewing these shows I always came away thinking and feeling better about myself and others in similar situations. I wish humankind would consider emotions and relationships as passionate as it does with death and… Read more »
Mate.., just watched both series’s in 2 days with my BF, surely showed a true understanding to many different stutuggles throughout a gays mans life also touched on real realations with all including the HAG.
Great to see British actors playing both American and British roles. We’ll be watching out for the special… This should be taken by another broadcaster like Netflix? Just a thought.