(Phil Caruso/FOX)
Malcolm’s work and family struggles are over. FOX has cancelled the Prodigal Son TV series so there won’t be a third season.
A crime thriller series, the Prodigal Son TV series stars Tom Payne, Lou Diamond Phillips, Aurora Perrineau, Frank Harts, Keiko Agena, Bellamy Young, Halston Sage, Michael Sheen, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Season two guest stars include Christian Borle and Michael Potts. In the story, Malcolm Bright (Payne) is an extraordinary criminal psychologist who knows how killers think and how their minds work. In the 1990s, his father, Dr. Martin Whitly (Sheen), was a notorious serial killer called “The Surgeon” who killed at least 23 people. Since murder is “the family business”, Malcolm uses his twisted genius for good, to help the NYPD solve crimes and stop killers. He works alongside his longtime mentor, Gil Arroyo (Phillips), and two detectives — no-nonsense Dani Powell (Perrineau) and JT Tarmel (Harts), a born-and-bred New Yorker who questions whether Bright is a psychopath himself. In season two, Malcolm must deal with the repercussions of the first season finale and his father seeks to deepen his relationship with his prodigal son.
Airing on Tuesday nights, the second season of Prodigal Son averages a 0.41 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 2.09 million viewers in the live+same day ratings. Compared to season one, that’s down by 45% in the demo and down by 38% in viewership.
The last episode of the second season (and the series) will air on May 18th. According to Variety, the decision to cancel the show was a tough one and noted that the network brass just didn’t feel that the ratings justified a third year. It’s not known yet if the show will be shopped to other outlets.
Cast and crew reactions can be found here.
Check out our FOX status sheet to track the network’s new series pickups, renewals, and cancellations.
What do you think? Have you kept up with the Prodigal Son TV show on FOX? Were you looking forward to season three?
What??? Whoever makes these decisions should be fired. This is a favorite of mine, unlike anything else on TV so of course it was canceled. Very disappointed!
Keep Season 2 going snd please give us back Season 3 of the Prodigal Son. Best psychological crime thriller on network TV!!!
Sad that yet again, another of my favorite shows won’t be back. I hope someone else picks it up!
Netflix should pick it up like they did LUCIFER.
This is one of the best shows. I rarely watch network TV anymore because it’s normally boring. Prodigal Son is smart, wonderfully acted, and amazing. If there is a way to uncancel this show please do so.
Call my wife and I on a bunch of our friends loved this show. I don’t understand what’s the matter with that these Networks they seem to take off all the good shows keep the stupid crappy ones it’s unbelievable I am so disappointed keep a dumbass show like Bachelor big brothers so many dumb shows out there and they don’t cancel them but they cancel a decent show that keeps you in your seat and makes you think when they got rid of the Grim was another good show they’ve got rid of so many good shows just totally… Read more »
Totally intrigued with Prodigal Son. Can’t believe it is cancelled.
I love Prodigal Son! I have quite a few friends who love the show also! This really makes me angry that they’re not giving the show a chance to bring more people to its audience. Sometimes a show needs three seasons or more to really dig its heels in.
I love this show as well not happy about the cancellation. Any show that requires thinking every network takes off.
I don’t understand why they keep canceling good shows
I love this show.
Sick of to many game shows and rebooted ones.
This is terrible news!!! This is my fav show. I’m so disappointed so I’m commenting here for the first time on a TV show. Prodical Son is a great show with interesting characters & storytelling. There is do much crap out there on TV & I am shocked & disappointed in the decision. Not sure the ratings measurements are still accurate because many others are disappointed & disdained by this news. Hope another company picks it up!
I HATE THIS! I love this show. I can’t always watch it the night it airs, but watch it immediately the next day. The actors are great. The storyline was interesting. I loved the insight into an upper-class American family dealing with crises without overflowing with sex or constant family betrayal. I couldn’t wait to see how Ainsley would develop. I hope they reconsider or another network picks it up, IF they keep the same type of writers.
very upset,I thought the acting was great,but I am not 18-49,and that says it all!Gender gap!
So upset to hear they canceled it. Loved the show never missed an episode!
Very upset!! This was such a great show! Hopefully another network will scoop it up!!