(Photos courtesy of PBS / Erik Heinila)
While the quality of mercy is not strained, television productions (and their budgets) often are. We are sad to report the Mercy Street TV show on PBS has been cancelled. There will be no season three on PBS. Ridley Scott, David Zucker, and David Zabel, executive produced the series.
A Civil War-era medical drama, Mercy Street follows the doctors, nurses, contraband laborers, and Confederate loyalists at the Mansion House Hospital in Union-occupied Alexandria, Virginia. It is set prior to the Emancipation Proclamation. The PBS TV series stars: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Josh Radnor, Gary Cole, Peter Gerety, Donna Murphy, Norbert Leo Butz, McKinley Belcher III, Shalita Grant, L. Scott Caldwell, Hannah James, Wade Williams, AnnaSophia Robb, Tara Summers, Brad Koed, Luke Macfarlane, Cameron Monaghan, Suzanne Bertish, and Cherry Jones.
Mercy Street Cancelled After Two Seasons on PBS
According to Deadline, PBS and producers cited funding, as well as, “the complicated nature of aligning production timelines.” Here’s more:
The first season reached 14 million viewers over six episodes (Live + 7), making it the second-highest-rated drama for the 2015-16 TV season on PBS, behind jet-fueled lead-in, Downton Abbey. Season 2, which premiered on January 22 and ended on March 5, has attracted 6.5 million L+7 viewers for the first three episodes.
“We sought to bring a time and place to life that is so important to understanding American history, and in a way that was meaningful, authentic and entertaining, EP David Zucker said of the series.
“Together, we delivered twelve hours of compelling and worthwhile storytelling which we all take pride in,” added EP David Zabel. “It was five years in the making and we are grateful to PBS for its loyal support.”
What do you think? Did you watch the Mercy Street TV series on PBS? Did you expect it to be cancelled or renewed for season three?
Too bad. As with the three networks, good shows are cancelled and lesser quality shows are retained. I’m not spending more time watching my DVD collection as television does not have much to offer me anymore.
I am disappointed that the series was cancelled. It dealt with problems that are still haunting us today. Very unfortunate.
I started watching Mercy Street and couldn’t get enough. So sorry to hear it’s being cancelled.
I just came here to look to order Season 3 as a gift for my sister. I’m sure she’d have enjoyed watching the series. I mean, who DOESN’T like this series?! I’m very disappointed.
I am so disappointed, I did not know it was cancelled and I have been waiting and waiting for my recorder to show it found it before I knew it was on! Again, so very disappointed. I thought it was excellent.
So typical; the good shows get cancelled and the mediocre shows keep going.
I was so looking forward to Mercy Street. It was so well done. After 6 decades of living a life full of expierences I recognized the personalities of the characters. Thus I came to know and understand the real life characters in my life, past and present. I also learned more about our history and have a better understanding of how we got where we are today. All in one show. What a great opportunity. So sad it has ended. So many more lives could h a very been enriched. Thank you for the two seasons.
So disappointed that there will be no more Mercy Street on PBS. I was so looking forward to Season 3. Please bring it back. There are no shows like it on other channels. Very sad! I will miss it! Thanks for two wonderful seasons!
I love Mercy Street! I’m sad it was cancelled.
We are so disappointed. PBS has been our “go to” on Sunday evenings. We enjoyed the show so much! Lack of funding? Our country needs more authentic history to reach more people. This was a great start!