Times are hard for the Farrells of Shay Mountain. WGN America has cancelled its Outsiders TV show after just two seasons. That there will be no Outsiders season three comes as a bit of a surprise, because the (albeit low-rated) Appalachian family drama was the cable channel’s top performer in the Nielsen ratings. The April 25th season two finale will now serve as an unintentional Outsiders TV series finale.
Outsiders stars Joe Anderson, David Morse, Ryan Hurst, Gillian Alexy, Kyle Gallner, Thomas M. Wright, and Christina Jackson. The WGN America drama follows the Farrell clan. This tight-knit isolationist family has lived atop Shay Mountain for over two hundred years. They are constantly at odds with those who live outside of their community.
Outsiders TV Series on WGN America: A Look at the Ratings
The second season of The Outsiders is averaging a 0.22 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 795,000 viewers. Compared to season one, that’s down by 24% in the demo and down by 3% in terms of average total audience size. Find out how The Outsiders stacks up against the other WGN America TV shows.
Sony Pictures Television to Shop Outsiders TV Show to Other Networks
Deadline reports Sony Pictures Television will try to shop around a third season of Outsiders, but it’s kind of late in the year to do so. The news outlet also mentioned the possibility that parent-company Tribune Media is looking to sell off WGN America as a reason for cancelling its highest rated show. Here’s more.
Speculation about a potential Tribune sale, which has been going on for years, intensified recently with a report about a potential merger with Sinclair. There have been rumors about potentially stripping the company to get it ready for a sale though in a statement about Outsiders‘ cancellation, Kern stresses that the company’s intends to “expand” WGNA’s original content and to “be reallocating our resources to a more diverse programming strategy and to new structures.” Here is his full statement:
After three years of investing in marquee, brand-defining dramas, WGN America has successfully expanded its audience, its reach, and its presence in the minds of viewers. In our next phase, we intend to expand our original and unique content to continue growing our relevance and appeal to the widest possible audience. To achieve this, we will be reallocating our resources to a more diverse programming strategy and to new structures, enabling us to expand both the quantity and breadth of content aired by WGN America.
This move is designed to deliver even more value to our advertising and distribution partners. To free up the resources to reach this goal, we will unfortunately not be renewing Outsiders. We are grateful to our production partners at Sony Pictures Television and the terrifically talented people who made the show possible.
What do you think? Are you still watching the Outsiders TV show? Do you think another network will pick up the third season, or do you expect it to remain cancelled? Sound off in the comments.
Yet another disappointment by a network. I watch this show faithfully every week. I sure hope another network picks up Season 3. So tired of networks not realizing people watch television differently now, then in years past. Dvring is something many of us do to make sure we don’t miss an episode. Outsiders was so different and edgy compared to most series. Loved that about it. Not the old run of the mill, medical show. Bad decision WGNA. BOOO….!
If you guys want to help outsiders call Netflix and tell them you want them to buy outsiders. The right people at Netflix will get the message. Do this sooner than later.
Love this show, due to our work schedules we DVR to catch up on weekends
Love this show, due to our work schedules we dvr and watch on weekeds
NOooooo! My favorite show!! Finally WGN has an excellent show and they cancel it?? How stupid! What next? The only other good show, Underground? The two shows I always look forward to and now one is gone! Just keep showing those reruns of Walker Texas Ranger, WGN, and forget the original programming. You obviously don’t know a good thing when you’ve got it! I’ll just keep my fingers crossed for Netflix to pick up this gem.
This really sucks. I hope Netflix or CMT pick up this show. Best show since Sons of Anarchy. I am so done with WGN. No more Underground for me either!
My husband and I are faithful watchers of the outsiders! We have followed the series since season one and are totally saddened that there won’t be a season Three. WGN should reconsider the cancellation of THE OUTSIDERS since we the viewers are what should be most important.
I LOVE THIS SHOW!! I always go to my parents house to watch with my mom. Its our show. We both love it soooooo much! Im praying another network will pick it up.
Don’t cancel its a great show. I was expecting at the very least 4 or 5 seasons. Little foster finds his place with or without gwyn, Hasil and family accepted back to mountain, sheriff exposing coal company and still chasing big foster, remarriage, more dirty handed villians
love this show. I can’t believe they are cancelling it. I hope it gets picked up somewhere else!!!!! This is a great show!
Love love this show, The Outsiders. All the good ones . Hope someone picks it up! Great cast. Why????
very upset i really like this show all the good ones get cancelled!
This is the only show we watch faithfully. Never missed an episode.
Great that it is filmed in our area.
I’m not surprised. I stopped watching after the Season 2 premiere. While I do like some of the actors, the surprise sacrifice of Asa (Joe Anderson) left me with too many unlikable in-breds to care enough to carry on.. I also get the feeling there’s a lot of crap going on behind the scenes with this show….Either with the creators, the actors, the network…I don’t know. Something isn’t right.
Every time a great new show comes on it gets cancelled.
This is the one show we anxiously wait to see every week. Someone please pick it up.