The bomb’s finally dropped. According to Variety, WGN America has cancelled their period drama Manhattan after two seasons.
Earlier, we reported that series creator Sam Shaw had planned a third season for the historical show.
The series dramatized the Manhattan Project’s development of nuclear weapons in 1940s New Mexico. The series starred John Benjamin Hickley, Olivia Williams, William Petersen, and Daniel Stern.
In a press statement, WGN America president Matt Cherniss cited low ratings as one of the reasons for cancellation:
After careful consideration, we have reached the very difficult decision not to move forward with a third season of ‘Manhattan.’ We are proud of this critically acclaimed series, an extraordinary original drama, and are deeply disappointed that such a wonderful show could not find a larger audience. We thank the immensely talented Sam Shaw and Thomas Schlamme, along with the exceptional cast and crew and our great partners at Lionsgate and Skydance, for crafting a masterful series. We are equally grateful to the dedicated fans for their support over the last two seasons.”
Season one of the series received low ratings, with an average viewership of only 420,000. Ratings for season two decreased even further, with an estimated average of 240,000 viewers. Season two ended on December 15th.
What do you think? Did you watch Manhattan? Do you think it should continue elsewhere?
That was one of the best shows on television. By all means, let’s replace it with another mindless reality show.
Of course they are canceling it; because I loved it, I am so sick of some clowns in the Midwest getting one of my favorite shows cancelled, when are the Nielsen people going to join the 21st century, and realize that most people record all or most of their programming; which totally negates their programming analysis completely!
Late here, but I’m in what might be termed the Midwest and I loved it.
Seems they had a larger audience when season 1 was streaming on Hulu than season 2 which wasn’t.
There was no network support for this show. Season 2 was half way over before I knew it had returned and it wasn’t streamed or ondemand. I really enjoyed season 1…season 2 was obviously truncated for me!
Manhattan was an amazing show!!! One of the only ones I watched same night. I really feel this should be picked up and kept elsewhere. Please save this show!! Biggest issue they had I’m sure was not putting it on any other platforms. I bet viewership would have been up if it was on Hulu!!!
We really loved Manhattan. It had just the right yinyang combo of thriller for me (husband) and romance (wife) with lots of great history for both of us. It was a coup for an unknown network like WGN to pull off an epic of this magnitude, but a show of this importance deserved better distribution. Put that sucker on Amazon Prime like Man in the High Castle, and the story may have ended very differently. But, as much as we loved it, the story had arrived at its logical conclusion in my opinion.
We are so disappointed about the cancellation of Manhattan. It was definitely one of the most intelligent and entertaining shows on TV. The themes of this historic event are so universal and very relevant today. Having read many books about the Manhattan Project, we found the fictionalized account and composite characters very compelling and cleverly constructed. The whole series really captured the moral complexities and dilemmas perfectly. The dialogue was brilliant and superb. Many of us at the university watched every episodes religiously. What a true heartbreak for us! We only hope the producers will reconsider.
Thank you for your brilliant comment, both well written and completely and succinctly on point. Historical drama is often full of useless side plots, but every bit of this world class drama was completely entrancing and should have been required viewing for all generations! This was a part of history that seems all but forgotten, yet is truly essential knowledge, given the frightening direction the world is headed. Let us hope that some network of quality picks it up and continues it…the sets and location were breathtakingly accurate and lovely, as well as SO period-accurate!
Am so sorry to hear of the decision to cancel Manhattan. I thought it was an amazing show and I looked forward to watching each new episode every week. I hope another network will consider giving this amazing series another chance
I enjoyed season 1, but season 2 was absurd from end to end.
I fell in LOVE with this show from episode one and really enjoyed both seasons. The writing was fantastic, casting was superb, direction was crisp. Lots of drama and intrigue against an historical backdrop that was really compelling. The second season stumbled a bit as it tried to manage an abundance of story lines. The Oppenheimer character was underused, even with the hint of a forced suicide on his real life extra-marital girlfriend. It tied up nicely at the end, but honestly, after the Trinity test, where were they going to go? I will savor the episodes I have and… Read more »
I loved the show. Hope Netflix picks it up.
We watched all of both seasons and found the first was superior. The second jumped the shark with all the espionage, counterintelligence, murky motives, soapiness. Nothing the matter with a scientific soap opera but it better appeal to science/tech fans.
We watched all of both seasons and found the first was superior. The second jumped the shark with all the espionage, counterintelligence, murky motives, soapiness. Nothing the matter with a serious soap opera but it better appeal to science/tech fans.
I wanted to like it. I actually thought it was decent but I can also see how it would not have become a hit. The subject matter and characters unfortunately were not interesting enough for a large audience.
I really wanted to like this show. I tried to watch season 1, but only made it halfway before giving up. The story, the characters… they were just so boring! I know it’s history and I truly meant to be interested, but it was simply too dull. Sorry.