Last week’s was the last scheduled episode of ABC’s sitcom Mr. Sunshine. Though 13 episodes were produced, ABC only aired nine. Starring Matthew Perry, the series took over the Wednesday night timeslot from Cougar Town, which stars another Friends alum, Courteney Cox. How did Perry’s new series perform? Does it have a sunny future or will it be cancelled before it gets a second season?
Mr. Sunshine revolves around Ben Donovan (Perry), the Manager of Operations at San Diego’s Sunshine Center sports arena. His stressful job isn’t made any easier by his crazy boss (Allison Janney), his sleeping with his marketing director (Andrea Anders), his a crazy new assistant (Portia Doubleday), his best friend (James Lesure) or his boss’ less-than-skilled son (Nate Torrence).
After weeks of promotion, the sitcom started off quite strong with a 3.7 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 10.52 million viewers. Unfortunately, the TV series lost 30% of its audience demo in week two, a pretty good indication that many didn’t like what they saw in the pilot. Week three lost another 15%. Future episodes went up and down a bit but week five dropped a whopping 25% and and the demo number dropped another 33% in week eight. That was a series low of a 1.4 rating.
The nine episodes that have aired averaged a 2.2 rating in the demo and 6.02 million viewers. It’s ABC’s lowest-rated sitcom and, had it stayed on the air any longer, the ratings surely would have kept dropping. It sometimes airs opposite American Idol but so do the other ABC sitcoms and they perform much better.
Based on the ratings, it looks fairly certain that ABC will cancel Mr. Sunshine after one season. ABC sometimes gives a second chance to TV series that have struggled but still show promise. Though Mr. Sunshine has an impressive cast, the show’s been on an overall downward trend from the beginning.
At the January TCA press tour, ABC’s president Paul Lee indicated he was interested in scheduling another night of comedy next season. If that happens, they may decide to renew Mr. Sunshine for a small second season and combine the remaining four unaired episodes with the new ones. ABC has done something similar in the past.
What do you think? Will Mr. Sunshine be cancelled or renewed? Would you like to see it return?
Image courtesy ABC.
I realize this may be ancient news to most of everyone but it was one of my favorite shows that I have seen in quite a while. Mr. Sunshine had a mixture or every emotion but in my experience watching the show was mainly hilariousness, sarcasm, and just down right amazingly well put together scenarios because the cast and Mattew Perry in it. After FRIENDS I thought I would never see him again as far as a SITCOM. I just wish you would give the show another chance it was the high light of my week every single time I… Read more »
thought it was pretty good actually not friends or anything but enjoyable much better then many shows that are still running
I was so surprised that this showed disappeared.
I think your rating system needs to be evaluated.
Hi, I realy liked the show, finaly something good after “Friends”. I think that ABC have to give it chance!!!
I want this Mr.Sunshine BACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!
:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
what were ABC thinking… i am so angry since i heard the news…
plain and simple..loved the show..just like the show Joey….never got their chances to be as good as friends…
It was great!!!… Its odd the ratings dropped so much but show should definately continue….
best shoe next to dual survival and friends
Loved it… Funny and clever. 🙂
Love it!!! Hope it comes more! Just started airing in Norway!!!!! Just my kind of tvshow!
Loved Mr. Sunshine! I hope it comes back.
I really loved the show, but it came on the same time AI was on and I don’t have tivo. I would love to see it come back. I thought it was funny.
I am so sad that Mr. Sunshine isn’t returning for a 2nd season. My son and I really enjoy Mathew Perry as he is an awesome actor on the big screen as well as the small screen. We hope to see him soon!
Loved the show mr sunshine. The best of the best episode was hostile work place. I still have it on my DVD when I want to laugh a lot!!!!
Please bring it back. If I can get the husband to watch it, it must be pretty good!!
I thought it was really funny!!!!! It made me laugh and thats a good thing!!