Though it was looking like the underperforming CW series had a chance at survival, the network has decided to pull the plug on Privileged.
Privileged follows the story of Megan Smith (Joanna Garcia), a perky young journalist who becomes a live-in tutor for two wealthy teenage girls (Lucy Hale and Ashley Newbrough). Others in the cast include Michael Cassidy, Allan Louis, Brian Hallisay, Kristina Apgar, and Anne Archer.
Despite positive reviews and buzz, Privileged debuted on September 9, 2008 to just 2.64 million viewers and a 1.2/3 rating/share of the 18-49 demographic. Those numbers weren’t great for the junior network and ratings for subsequent episodes fell significantly over the rest of the season.
The network made multiple attempts to boost the show’s audience — giving it more exposure by rerunning episodes in various timeslot — but most viewers just didn’t seem to be particularly interested.
Though the ratings certainly hadn’t mandated it, the network had been considering bringing Privileged back for another season. A few weeks ago, it was announced that the CW would rerun the series during the summer months, an indication that the series still potentially had a future.
But, though Privileged matches the CW’s target demographic, the network has ultimately decided to cancel it. The CW has several potentially strong new series in the hopper and would rather take a chance on them.
Following the cancellation news, series creator Rina Mimoun wrote to Michael Ausiello, “It’s truly heartbreaking. I’m so grateful to everyone out there who supported our little show and fell in love with Megan Smith. She was the most delightful character I’ve ever had the pleasure to write and watching JoAnna Garcia bring her to life every day was a gift I will never forget.”
She concluded, “I’m incredibly proud of the work we did and forever indebted to all the fans, critics and to Warner Bros. for being so wonderful and supportive. I will miss this more than you know.”
How would Megan’s story have ended? We may likely never find out.
Image courtesy CW.
I agree I find a show I love and it gets cancelled! I loved this show and was sooooo looking forward to another season. I don’t understand who these execs are I don’t thin they are real people who watch t.v.They continue on this network to cancel shows I love and I am now done with your network I deleted all the shows from your network from my DVR because of this tonight let’s see over each season how many people you can alienate.
This SUCKS !! I loved this show and they are stupid for cancelling it, for real i will never watch this station agian, ABC Family is doing a better job anyway!!! Will was super hot and megan is so funny ,, wtf
IM SO MADDDDDDDDDDDDDD. i love privileged, will is so hot, and i love megan!!!!! im so sadddd 🙁 🙁 i was sooo wishing for a second season.
I AM SOOOOO MAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVED THAT SHOW !!!!!! DUMB ASSES!!! BRING IT BACK !! BRING IT BACK!!! I want to know what happens… Just like Summerland. I loved that show and they cancled it when the “CW’ took over the WB! They are not making good calls in my book at all!!!!!!!!!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRR
How messed up! I loved that show and followed it from day one! I’m so mad that I won’t find out what happened with Meghan and Will and Rose and Sage and Marco’s marriage! Grr… What a stupid call.
I’m going to miss Privileged. Network execs are so dumb. They cancel this smart, edgy show but they are going to support a Twilight knock-off? How pathetic!!
I agree! Every time I get attached to a series it gets canceled! Men in Trees was another one I loved. It just makes me sick! Privileged was a smart and funny show! I’ll miss it. 🙁
I just don’t understand these networks! If they never give new shows a chance we will never agin see shows like Seinfeld…which by the way was almost cancelled prematurely. I agree with the comment made that viewers are being pushed to stay away from new shows to spare themselves the dissapointment. Where will that leave things?
Seriously! Can some network with a brain cell pick this up? Pretty please?
Not a happy camper!!!! I am so sick of good shows that arent all about drugs and foul language being cancelled!!! I am giving up watching new shows.. Just leads to disappointment. Privileged ROCKED!!
they cannot just leave the show with a cliffhanger likes that!
save privileged
THis show should not have been cancelled. I swear that the CW is getting stupider and stupider by the minute lol. I mean all there good shows are getting canceled, i mean come on the only shows that is even saving the CW from dieing is Smallville and Supernatural. Without those two shows, what would the CW be in the first place.
Love Privileged!!! I can’t believe they kept 90210, but cancelled Privileged…that’s crazy! It was a great show, and should not be cancelled.
it had such a good ending!!
i agree.. SAVE privileged!!
I was also a big fan of Priviledged and Joanna Garcia. I am very sad to see it go! Wish there was something we could say or do.