Rachel Brosnahan As Abby Isaacs In Season Two, Episode Two: Fatherland (via WGN America)
Although creator Sam Shaw already had a third season planned, WGN America cancelled the Manhattan TV series, after its second season. Perhaps seeing the writing on the wall, back in November, Shaw said he crafted season two of Manhattan, with an eye toward some resolution, in case of cancellation.
Upon cancelling the historical drama which starred John Benjamin Hickey and Olivia Williams, WGN America President Matt Cherniss issued a statement citing the usual culprit — low ratings. Still feeling the sting of the end of the critically-acclaimed Manhattan, Cherniss has now offered more insight into the decision he tried to avoid.
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Cherniss said he did everything he could to give Manhattan some momentum in the ratings and build up an audience. Among the steps he took were moving the show to the fall, when more viewers are watching, and moving it from Sunday nights to a less competitive spot. He even tweaked the ad campaign. In the end, it just was not enough.
“As we got to mid-season of season two, reality for me had started to set in that it was going to be very difficult to bring the show back for a third season,” Cherniss says, acknowledging at that point it simply didn’t “make economic sense” to move forward. He knows it would be easy to chalk up the paltry turnout to the stresses of “peak TV,” but he has watched as WGN’s other originals delivered considerably more viewers: Witch drama Salem drew 770,000 viewers in its second season, while new entry Outsiders shattered network records with 3.9 million watching its Jan. 26 premiere. […]
“When you’re starting a network and building a brand, you’re looking for reasons to pick up a show, not the opposite,” he adds. “But at some point, you have to see some momentum.”
Were you a fan of the Manhattan TV show? Do you think WGN America was right to cancel it after season two, or should it have been renewed for a third season? Do you feel like you got some closure in Manhattan‘s second season i.e. series finale? Sound off, in the comments.
We love the series and hope you will renew season 3.
We purchased season 1 and 2 and would love to see season. 3
Loved this series and it seems all the good ones always get cancelled far to soon.
I loved this show and do not feel like there was any finality to the series. I wish when shows were cancelled, they at least gave us 1/2 a season to watch with a good ending so we get closure. I hate when shows just end.
Really enjoyed Manhattan and deeply disappointed there won’t be a 3rd season.
So sad I was looking forward to season 3
I LOVED this show! S0ooooo sad it was cancelled!
Kept wondering when Season 3 would begin. Very surprised to learn it was canceled. Such a shame, it was an excellent series. My compliments to the fine actors, creators, and crew. Maybe the “Longmire” effect could happen and find new life elsewhere.
It was a great show had been waiting and wondering for season 3. WGN as usual made the wrong decision. Plugged course it had more to do with your bottom line, than quality or ratings. What you show now is JUNK. I will not watch or take a chance of getting interested in a TV series only for your executive’s to pull the plug on the show halfway.
Maybe Netflix all pick it up… I loved this show… I finally bought it on Bluray…
Very sad to hear this was cancelled. I don’t have cable so had to wait for season two to come out on Hulu. Just finished. While the final episode was amazing, it left so many questions! If WGN won’t bring it back, maybe Netflix or Hulu will pick it up. Please!
Well written and directed show based loosely on an historical event. There was certainly a turn for the worst in the stories of season 1 and season 2, almost as if the writers were not sure there would be a season 2 and had not planned on it. Season one was more successful because it had sex every where, season… not so much. I’m not saying that’s how I rate a show, I’m saying that’s what viewers want. American Horrer story is the dumbest show on tv, but because it’s basically a soft core porn, it’s successful. Except for Roanoke… Read more »
Problem wasn’t the show but the platform. Mainstream television and media are no longer with our times. Most of us catch these shows after they are released on Netflix, hulu answer Amazon. Man in the high castle is smart, started off on amazon platform so ratings won’t be an issue for them.
It was a great show. The problem was the crappy network it was on.
Typical network politics. The good series get cancelled, the crappy ones get left on for scraps. NBC did the same with THE EVENT a while back. Like MANHATTAN, it was a great story stomped out before it got fire. Come on people. What a great story about historical time in this world, not alone our country. Hopefully Ashley Zukerman can last longer on Kiefer’s DESIGNATED SURVIVOR.
Loved the show. Hope some other network will see an opportunity to run a quality show and pick it up.