(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?
I’m so so sorry it is gone.
I loved the show… they are idiots to cancel it
TO BAD WE CAN’T CANCEL ALL THE BIG SHOTS AT FOX!!! PRAY THAT NETFLIX PICKS IT UP!
When Clarice came out as a sequel to Silence of the Lambs, I was excited. But I really think PS is more like SofL than Clarice. I love Prodigal Son. I feel like crying. It’s one of the best shows I’ve ever watched. The new Walker, Texas Ranger falls closely behind. I think I’m “in love” with Walker…. <3 <3 <3
Love this show. I really hope Netflix or another channel picks it up!!!
I’m starting to loathe the “Big 4” commercail networks. Maybe Netflix will pick up PS?
My husband an I always watch certain shows together. This is a big let down we were so upset we had another show we would watch together. This is terrible it was a really good show.
This is a great show. How can they cancel this and leave all those other BS shows on? This show had real stars in it too! Hopefully Netflix, Amazon or Hulu will pick it up.
This sucks!! Found an interesting show and because the ratings drop it’s time to cancel. Hopefully another network will pick it up!
Sometimes you just feel like watching something dark. I have always turned a fox for that. Like the Kevin bacon in “the following” Chasing a murderer who used Edgar Allan Poe poems To plot his murders. I think even that one got an extra year and that was really darkI am very sad to see this go. I really enjoyed Bright’s analysis / profiling Of cases. There are many other shows that spent many seasons doing that. There is nothing like that on TV now. And last but not least, I was very interested to see how Bright works out… Read more »
No. Good show. Don’t know who you polled for this, but needs to have continuing episodes! Good show.
I’m PISSED PRODIGAL SON IS CANCELED!!!!!!! Guess people don’t like ORIGINAL IDEASA JUST STUPID ASS REALITY SHOWS
Yes, I’m getting tired of all the reality tv shows. I used to watch Survivor. My husband and I watched together and we loved it. But after about 8 seasons, it just got old….
I have a feeling that this will become like Lucifer. Which fox cancelled and Netflix picked up. And Fox has regretted ever since. This show is by far the best that fox has on and probably will be picked up by someone else. Just shows how stupid fox executives truly are
I hope it picked up by Netflix!!!!!!
I would’ve watched this if it came back as it was one of the few shows I still watched and enjoyed. Not surprised about the cancellation unfortunately as it was currently their lowest rated drama on at the moment.
Prodigal Son is the best show currently on TV, and I watch a ton of TV shows. I am utterly disappointed that it has been cancelled. What are these Fox executives thinking? It’s so, so sad.
I can’t believe they cancelled it either. It’s such a good show. Fox does this all the time. Makes me sick.