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?
My husband and I LOVED Manhattan. I can’t believe they cancelled the show before they finished the bomb. It seemed like they were getting really close. So sorry it’s gone.
it should have been shown on WGN also not just WGN America that would have helped
i watched it on Amazon, my cable co TWC caries WGN not WGN America
I really enjoyed season 1. Season 2 became much more of a soap opera, in my opinion. I found myself fast-forwarding through more and more of it to skip the melodrama and get to the actual drama of building the gadget(s). I’ll miss the show, but not more-and-more unbelievable secondary and tertiary story arcs.
Loved this show and I’m so disappointed it’s been cancelled. Seems like the network didn’t bother promoting it as much as it could. Such a shame that we dedicated fans won’t get any kind of closure. I hate when networks abruptly cancel a continuing drama without bringing the story to a satisfactory conclusion.
One of my favorite shows. Very sorry and disappointed that it has been canceled. Better advertising and marketing would have helped.
I think this is one of the best shows on TV. I cannot imagine cancelling it. The reason for the low ratings is because nearly everyone watching it stumbled upon it and was mesmerized. WGN should have heavily advertised this series before it was allowed to fizzle and die. The cast, set, and writing was superlative.
Excellent show. Very disappointed that it has been cancelled, but not surprised. Had WGN spent more than $3.00 on advertising many more people would have watched! Nobody even knew this great show was on
Yes. It’s one of my favorite all time shows. Hopefully it gets on Netflix programming.
I hope another network picks it up, or that it gets rescued by Hulu or Netflix.
The Manhattan Project changed the course of human history. Even though this was a dramatization, I think it painted a fairly accurate picture of many aspects of the project. Too bad it couldn’t get more traction.
That makes me angry. I liked that series a lot, but my cable company (Bright House) cut WGN from its basic package after the first season of Manhattan. I was going to get Direct TV, but I can’t put a dish or antenna on this house. So, I’ve missed Manhattan, and Salem, and Underground, and Outsiders. Manhattan was a great show, and Bright House is a bad cable company.
This show was one of my favorites. It is unfortunate this show did not get a larger audience. Maybe another network with a more mature audience would give this show its just Reward of followers.
LOVED this show!! And am super disappointed that it was not renewed — unless that means someone else (Netflix? Amazon?) can pick it up and air it where people can actually know about it and see it. WGN was great on the production (it was beautiful), but really ineffective on developing an audience.
I really enjoyed the series and wish the WGN would reconsider and do the third season.
Hopefully someone will pick it up. It had so much more going for it than so many series that go on year after year.