In the past, Kelsey Grammer and Martin Lawrence have both had successful sitcoms that ran for many years. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the duo’s new FX sitcom, Partners, has much of a future. It’s very likely to be cancelled.
On Partners, a snobby lawyer (Grammer) and an overly ethics-driven lawyer (Lawrence) become partners and end up helping each other get their lives in order. The rest of the cast includes McKaley Miller, Telma Hopkins, Danièle Watts, Rory O’Malley, and Edi Patterson.
As you may recall, FX made a 10/90 deal for Partners with Lionsgate TV and Debmar-Mercury. If the sitcom’s first 10 episodes reached a certain ratings threshold then the cable channel was obligated to order 90 episodes for season two — assuring the studios would have enough episodes for a (potentially very lucrative) syndication package.
Charlie Sheen’s sitcom, Anger Management, has a similar deal and this week, the 67th and 68th episodes of that sitcom’s 90 installment second season aired. George Lopez’s Saint George comedy also had a 10/90 deal but drew poor ratings and it was cancelled.
Deadline reports that it’s highly unlikely for Partners to go past a single season and it’s easy to see why. The ratings have been absolutely dismal. This week’s pair of episodes averaged a 0.12 rating in the demo and a mere 415,000 viewers — far lower than Saint George ever dipped.
Supposedly, FX hasn’t reached a decision yet but, unless there’s some sort of miraculous turnaround, it seems like Partners is already doomed to be cancelled.
What do you think? Do you like Partners? Do you think it should be cancelled or renewed for a super-sized second season?
I think with time Kelsey and Martin will be great together , have you ever watched the 1 st season of Seinfeld ( it did not compare to what it became ) not that Partners will reach Seinfeld status , Both these guys are very popular ,maybe it needs work elsewhere
I like the show but Martin Lawrence seems like he’s sleepwalking through each episode.
Love the Actors….agree with most comments about writting and other cast…..needs a boost….great idea…new…refreshing…diffrent……change not cancell
I like the show. Its a little rough right now but if they give it a chance it will settle in just as Anger Management did. I love Anger Management now.
I love the show. The show just started – give it a chance.
I agree rogers. keep kelsey, martin and telma but re-cast the rest.
In my honest opinion, these 10/90 deals are just stupid. The 100 episodes could have easily been split over five seasons/years rather than just two.
For example: 10 + 22 + 22 + 22 + 22. And, technically, that would only add up to 98 installments total. Or do exactly 20 episodes per season: 20 + 20 + 20 + 20 + 20. That way, the 100 episode total can easily be reached. Also, a show under a 10/90 deal can end up mediocre, or sometimes terrible.
Do you not understand why they do it this way???
They want to reach the “Magical” 100 episode mark so they can do syndication and sell the show to other networks and make money. YES they COULD do it your way, but all they do is have to wait 4-5 YEARS to go into syndication. This way in Year 3 they go into syndication rather then years 5 or 6.
They also save a lot of money in production costs. Instead of letting everyone go, tearing down sets after 20 episodes, and having to ramp up again, they keep churning out episodes. They still take short breaks but I seem to recall reading that they sometimes made two episodes a week of Anger Management. Quality suffers but much cheaper.
Show hasn’t even been on at least a year give it a chance !! 🙁 Plus it has 2 excellent actors playing great parts !! Grammer/Lawrence work well together and that show is pretty funny. I get a laugh or 2 every time I watch it ……so please leave on air 🙁 🙁 😉 😉
The 2 actors are amazing! I waited 5 mths. For this show, but the writing is awful. I didn’t watch after the first nite, get new writers and focus on the 2 superstars!
T is the writers, the two actors are amazing! Usually, I waited 5 mths for this show , but the writing is not good, so I didn’t watch again
Finally a comedy on TV again thanks FX
I like the two of them, but the other cast members, especially the ones that work with them are absolutely horrid. I would replace them first and try again. Also the daughters are not really adding anything to the show either, but I can see a chance for them, lead ins to their mothers coming back.
Truthfully I am waiting for the ex-wifes episode, T. Campbell can be M. Lawrences and S. Long can be one of K. Grammers. 🙂
I tried watching two episodes of Partners, but couldn’t get through either of them. Grammar is talented, but is miscast in this poorly written sitcom. The rest of the characters in Partners are even less entertaining than Grammar. The network would be doing the audience a favor by cancelling this stinker ASAP.
I hope they bring back partners and I like it somewhat
Lawrence and Grammar are doing the best they can. The scripts are flat and most (but not all) of the supporting cast are forgettable.
Also, why are the desks so close together? Logistics could have been planned out better.