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.
I thoroughly enjoyed the show and looked forward to each new episode. I am disappointed, because I felt we were left hanging. Maybe when Billy O’Reilly’s “Killing the Rising Sun” in made into a movie or a series, more people will get some closure. I read the book and it touched on the Manhattan Project plus the descriptive aftermath of the dropping of the two atomic bombs on Japan.
Great show. Sorry to see it go.
Very disappointing
The viewers need a closure. You can not measure a series by online viewers nowadays. Even a short wrap up would do.
Bad, bad decision to cancel this series. Many of us DVR’d this show so the whole family could come together to view it, just how we view Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, etc. Your supposed increased promotion was non-existent in the New York Verizon FIOS market. Terrible job by WGN America.
This was a great show it should have continued there are way to many show getting cut to. Soon bring it back
I loved this show so historical and entertaining. I have been looking forward to third season . Shame on you.
Was really disappointed to read that Manhattan had been canceled.
Since my provider doesn’t have WGN, I have been waiting for season 2 DVDs.
Just finished watching. Sorry too many programs get canceled due to ratings based only on people who can afford the channel or if their provider carries it.
My husband and I would look forward to seeing this series each week. We are saddened that it won’t be renewed. It was a great series.
Manhattan is also an elaborate story that shows perfectly the 40’s. Unfortunately the TV loses a great series
Cancelling this series mid-way through its production is a mistake. I concure with all the reviews staing how well the acting and storyline was. Unfortunately, even though historically we know the end result of the application of the device, there are too many open-ended questions regarding the numerous personal conflicts. I would have appreciated it if this series would have ended with a third season with the story leading up to the dropping of the bomb and giving closure to each character’s conflicts. Too bad this series will be remembered not as the incomplete series, but instead, the project that… Read more »
I can’t believe you cancelled Manhattan. The story line kept us coming back. We usually recorded the shows and watched them next day as so many people do now with DVR capability and I have been told this plays against your ratings figures. Get real and investigate the reality of the story behind rating instead of just dropping excellent entertainment. The truth is, I watched it as much for the partial reality behind real story as well as the outright entertainment in the story-line. But, I guess just like the Manhattan Project being a huge part of our history and… Read more »
Can’t believe they cancelled this riveting, historical show. I was just checking to see when season 3 was going to air and found this very disappointing news. Boos to WGN for not having the courage to stick with quality.
I thought it was excellent, I’m sad to learn that it was cancelled 🙁
Loved the show, I’m so sorry to see it go. It was well written and great acting