Despite valiantly fighting off the “evil” ratings juggernaut known as American Idol, it looks like Sam and friends have lost the battle. Reaper has been cancelled by the CW network.
Revolving around a young slacker whose parents have sold his soul to the devil, Reaper showcases the talents of actors like Bret Harrison, Tyler Labine, Rick Gonzalez, Missy Peregrym, Ray Wise, Andrew Airlie, Valerie Rae Miller, Donavon Stinson, Christine Willes, Allison Hossack, Ken Marino, and Jessica Stroup.
Once expected to be a breakout hit of the 2007-08 season, the series averaged just 2.7 million viewers and a 1.2/3 rating/share of the 18-49 demographic. It was renewed for a second year but the network delayed it until mid-season and then scheduled it opposite American Idol.
Initially, the show did pretty well but then the numbers began to erode. As a result, the CW network has terminated the series after two short seasons.
There is a slim chance that Reaper could continue in first-run syndication. ABC Studios, who produces the series, is currently gauging interest. If they are able to keep the show going, it may have to be without Labine’s Sock since the actor’s signed onto a new FOX sitcom, Sons of Tucson. It’s unclear if Labine’s Reaper contract would still mandate his returning to the show if it moved to syndication.
As it stands now, next week’s episode, titled “The Devil and Sam Oliver,” will be the show’s last. In a recent interview with Steve Eramo, Labine said that the possibility that this would be the last installment was very much on everyone’s mind.
He said, “There’s always a certain amount of emotion that comes with what could be the end of something that you’ve put so much work into and where you enjoy the people you work with as much as we do… So it got a little emotional around the set during the final days of filming this story.”
Of the episode, the actor said, “I don’t want to give away any details of the finale, but I can say that it won’t leave you frustrated if we don’t come back. It should leave you feeling like you could go off and imagine what the rest of Sam’s life would be like. I thought that was really clever because when they wrote this episode, the writers weren’t sure if they were writing the end of the show or the end of the season. So I thought it was a good move on their part.”
Should Sam, Sock, Ben, and friends return for more adventures or will you be happy to let it go?
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Image courtesy CW.
Although the show doesn’t really progress from week to week, it’s light entertainment at it’s best, it’s a very funny show and makes me lol more than anything else on TV, but as per usual with American networks, they only care about advertising revenue and not decent shows, so another great piece of entertainment gets dropped. Morons.
I love this show me and my brother (8) get a kick out of it. its great show. and needs to stay on. but they totally messed it up by waitin till mid season to put it back on.
I love this show. This makes me very, very sad.
I am so disappointed that they canceled this show! I have no reason to tune in to the CW after the finale airs, they show nothing but a bunch of garbage (Supernatural excluded. The on-screen chemistry between all of the actors was fantastic! What a waste.
Very disappointing to see Reaper get canceled. It’s not often that a show effectively combines top notch humor with teeth rattling suspenseful moments. Sam, Sock, Andi and Ben are all characters that everyone can get attached to. Classic case of a highly underrated show that loses viewers due to stupid obstacles (Writers’ strike idleness; bad air time). Reminds me of how “Firefly” wasn’t given a chance. Well, no need to watch CW now…
Ever since “The Office” was moved from 8:30 to 9 pm, I cannot watch “Supernatural”. I tivo it at my parents’ house and my boyfriend loves “The Office”. I like it too, but he goes to bed early to wake up early for work…has to tivo the show. Just like “Buffy”, “Angel”, and not “Reaper”, and soon “Supernatural”… the CW execs lost me tuning into their crappy, lame soap opera dramas like remake of “90210” and “America’s Top Model” :P~~~ <— vomit! Hooray to the people who like those shows! But I will NOT watch that! Whatever the CW does… Read more »
one more thing this obviously means gone are Privileged (I admit I did like that show) Stylista (Who even knew this show existed) Everybody Hates Chris (would have been nice to see Chris another 3 years during his High School time but oh well the CW decided to go in another direction) The Game (this show was on borrowed time any way) 4 Real (Chris Haddock made this a shame it did not work out) In Harms Way (did any one really watch this) Valentine (I admit I liked this show) Easy Money (though I did not watch this show… Read more »
How Ironic that the CW affiliates, most of which broadcast ABC studios other first run syndication show – Legend of the Seeker on Saturday Nights, are interested in Reaper. It would be poetic justice if Reaper were given the Sunday 7:00pm time slot as much as I loved Jericho repeats of the show just do not perform well. I bet a 3rd season of Reaper would do better there. Here is how I think the affiliates should broadcast their network. Let me explain that I am a 28 year old guy who grew up in the 90’s so I love… Read more »
Reaper was so funny. OMG. It had so many jokes buried in the dialogue. Oh well.
Another one bites the dust. I vowed to never watch the WB after it killed Angel…but then came Supernatural and then came Reaper. Now Reaper is gone and Supernat will end next year. Since I’m no longer a 10 year old girl I guess they just aren’t interested in my viewership. Done. Bye CW.
Thank you CW! Thank you for cancelling Reaper! Now I never have to tune in to your channel again. I can take my viewership as a 24 year old male with piles of disposable income to another station, and watch their adverstising. And you can cancel any other show that doesn’t fit in with Dawn Ostroff’s vision of creating Lifetime Jr. How about another 12 shows about pretty, spoiled, rich kids acting superior in a coastal town? Or why not just make a spinoff for every teeny-bopper show you currently have on the air? Or maybe you can hit the… Read more »
Figures. I really liked this show.
This is yet another great show that is being cancelled. Quit with the stupid reality shows and keep the whitty fun shows for a change. Frankly, I am getting sick of all the stations since they are cancelling all the great shows and keeping crap! Please renew Reaper!!!
This is the one show I wanted to be renewed more than any other. I can’t remember the last time I was this disappointed a show was going off the air.
I just really started watching this show mid-way thur the first season & fell in love with it! Its funny,clever & makes you think about the balance of good & evil. Also i love me some Rick Gonzalez. He is so cute. I like all the chacters so i hope it comes back for another season.