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?
Image courtesy CW.
Definately keep it. It’s the guy’s version of Charmed – and that ran how long? Need better ratings? Introduce some more serious good vs. evil plots… get some characters out of Heaven and put Sam in the middle of a bigger plot than any of us realized… draw the evangelical crowd (of which I am one).
Keep Reaper!!!
Come on, it should totally return, there are so many crappy shows that are on, it doesn’t make sense for ABC not to take it on
Crap… this was pretty much the ONLY show I looked forward to watching each week aside from ‘My Name is Earl’…AND THAT GOT CANNED TOO!!! But the good news is we STILL get to watch countless talentless hacks squalling their lungs out in the ‘American Idol’ auditions, because “My mom told me I had a really good voice”. (Wait… did I say that was GOOD news??) It’s interesting that the few shows on TV that actually have actors that get paid for doing what they do best, get low ratings or get scrapped altogether; but the ‘un-reality’ shows with useless… Read more »
Why did they cancel reaper when Smallville is in its 80th crappy season.
Come On Reaper was great why the hell did they get rid of it. Its not like the CW has any other good shows.
save this show
SAVE REAPER! The campaign even got a mention on Irish news (phantom)! We might have to send someone to centre of hell to find out how but damn it we have to try!
Apparantly the CW thinks that all anyone wants to see are re-worked old shows with annorexic teenagers who do things that no one in real life does. A new show with a fresh idea, great comedy actors, and a supernatural vibe has no place there. This is a real shame. The only reason I even turned the CW on was Reaper on Tuesday nights. A group of my friends would get together each week for the episodes. It was fun. I guess because I am not an emaciated or pregnant teenager I am not the “target audience” so my opinion… Read more »
I cant believe that Reaper the only show that is worth watching, is fighting for a comeback again? Why do we have 100’s of dumb reality shows on, that are so boring.
American Idol is the same crap every season it goes on and on for month.
This would really suck if they cancel Reaper, my husband and I always watch it.
It is refreshing and so funny and sweet.
CW don’t be a giant Douche Bag.
Reaper Is My Favorite Show! Now I Even Missed American Idol So I Could Watch Reaper, Now That American Idol Is Over The Ratings For Reaper Will Sky Rocket Please Save The Show.
im pissed
im getting tired of it
they have done this more than once
and no it left me fustrated i wanna know what happens
and now i might not be able to
this stupid station really need to learn how to manage everything
i hate 90210 and actually reaper is the only show i watch on the cw
and now that its gone whats the point of watching it
just someone please keep it going i really like it!!!
Reaper was me and my husband’s favorite show and one of the most fun and intelligent shows on tv. Really hoping for a season three!!
The problem with CW is that they want tee-angst rich, whiny and mopey kids and junk like 90210 instead of quality shows like Reaper or even EHC. They are just like the other networks, if it’s not pulling 10 mil plus viewers, it’s a stinker of a show. And the ending kinda of sucked and didn’t clarify anything. What did they expect when it went against the loser-fest that is American Idol? Or maybe that’s what they were expecting all along. What D-bags!!
i totally feel ur pain amy imean come on i can never catch a break its always the same. now REAPER this is a disaster i hate tv stations love tv shows