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.
WTF!!! love this show!!! 🙁
JESUS CHRIST!
CANCELLED ?!
WHYYY
BEST SHOW IN THE WORLD
THIS IS GAY. I LOVE PRIVILEGED!
WAAAHHHHH!!!
IM ACTUALLY DYING.
i loved this show and its really sad that its cancelled!!
disappointing news! am sure the show has gained enough fans already…
Really? Cancelled? You can’t cancel it! First off, I just started watching this show and it’s still on episode 2 on ETC yesterday, Friday that is. Second, I dont know what kind of survey you’re having but it sure isn’t perferct, seeing that a lot of people are actually watching it! (Like me who’s not from the US but in Asia). Well, let’s not get on to third reason because I may not just have three reasons why they shouldn’t pull the plug on this show. It’s really a BUMMER to actually LOVE a show and then POOFF! It’s gone!
The CW cancelled it but check for other stations that might pick it up. City TV is still running reruns this summer. hopefully they will pick it up. fingers crossed.
Please dont cancel the show 🙁 im dieing to see what happens next with megan and will 🙁 and you can just cancel a show with a ending you left it with 🙁
I can’t believe that this show was cancelled! I am 43 years old and I enjoyed watching it with my 14 yr old daughter. Truely sad to see it go!!
I can’t believe this is being cancelled!! I loved this show! I would look forward to watching this every week and I kept googling it periodically to see when it was going to start up again for season 2, just to find out that it has been cancelled!! I am very disappointed, I really liked all the characters and the plot, and the weekly suspense I waited for…this was the only show I would actually set my DVR for!! I’m not much of a tv watcher!!
I’m extremely disappointed!!!
I LOVED THIS SHOW! i cant beieve its cancelled. the book was amazin and when my school heard it was being turned into a show we had a huge party. **** U CW. get some good shows.
A sure fire way to ensure the cancelation of a series is me and my wife to be crazyabout it. Along comes privileged and sure enough ….”cancelled”!!
Tv executive must be idiots!!!!
One thing for sure they “don’t watch TV”.
We are from Australia and we were so into this show! Mum and I loved sitting down on a thursday night to watch it and now it is over! grr.. I looked forward to it every week!
Dont close it FOR GOD SAKE i saw the first season in a day… alll in a day cause i liked it so mutch, its not so popular it just needs to be more popular then its great.. dont cancell !
I am sooooooo mad that this got cancelled!!!! I was so looking forward to the second season!!!!!!! this is totally mental torture because I will never know what will happen to Meagan and Will, and the Baker twins!!!!!!
this really sucks priviledge was a great show cw shouldnt be cancelling it….