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.
I liked the show and would continue to watch. Bring it back CW!!!!
im pissed off with this really am make it work!!!
This is just a testament to the mindlessness of most TV watching Americans. People would rather hop on the bandwagon and be able to gossip about their favorite idols around the water cooler than watch a show with wit and substance. This show is a gem and it’s unfortunate that it didn’t get the praise it deserves. Very few shows allow for each character to be as unique as the characters in Reaper. Even their take on the Devil feels like a new and modern version and his sense of humor is, well, perfect for the Devil. Give it back!!!
Reaper was one of the best fantasies on the air. Bollocks to CW for dumping this devil of a good show.
Reaper was my favourite show. No idea why they pulled such a brilliant formula. Great cast, great scripts, great idea. I’ll never understand TV people.
WHY ARE THEY PUTTING A SHOW THAT’S STILL GOING ON THE SAME TIME AS AMERICAN IDOL! THAT’S WHEN THE RERUNS SHOULD BE!!! AMERICAN IDOL IS THE WORST SHOW EVER BECUASE IT IS ITS FAULT REAPER WAS CANLLED!!!!!
Reaper is my favorite show! I can’t believe it is canceled. Please don’t do it! Maybe they could it on a different time slot Not against American Idol and keep it there.
omg why do tv stations always cancel the good shows and keep the crap no one wants to see
dont cancel reaper please
If they have really closed the book on this show I will be sooooo angry. Its just not fair, its a great show and the CW put it on the same night as that crappy American Idol show that almost everyone watches for some stupid reason. If anyone knows a way to contact ABC about continuing the series please post it here I would love to know. Reaper is a release from all the shows that have the same plots and stories. Guy gets into trouble, guy gets his life together, happy ending. This is totally different guy is born… Read more »
With a degree in Music Ed, I was sick to tears of the American Idol SOS Wagon. I was searching for something new, adventurous and quirky to start watching. I got totally hooked by Reaper. Ray Wise is the BEST I have ever seen, he is portraying a contemporary twist on the Universal enemy!!! How did Dana Carvey on SNL Say it:??? Oh yes, “Could it be, sssSATAN??!!!!” Tyler Labine and Bret Harrison won me over and who could ever be tired of Rick Gonzalez?? Maybe they didn’t let him take his shirt off enough?? Now, I am utterly disgusted… Read more »
What do your mean not enough ratings!!!!! Look at all these people who wat h it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why can’t they just schedual Reaper at a different time!! I aslo blame it on the fact that reaper had few episodes and it started so late! Come on 13 episodes is not a season. Bring reaper back!!!
It boggles the mind.
Please keep Reaper. This show can go in any direction from week to week!
What is not to like? Good vs Evil, magic, hardware, humor, …..
for god sake this is the best show going and should be keeped please please dont cancel another good show
And the networks wonder why all of us are bolting to cable – when they cancel imaginative and interesting shows like “Reaper” and “Pushing Daisies”…..thank God for “Rescue Me” and a few Comedy Central shows that have the balls to be interesting and actually employ some hollywood writers instead of feeding us the reality BS! SO SAD – BRING THIS SHOW BACK!
You no this is why i dislike watching tv shows untill there done with all the seasons it just seems like all the good shows get cancelled dead like me and reaper yet trash like 20210 idol so so are still going Tho i admit now a days i never watch tv i rather watch them on my pc so maybe they can do what abc did with lost really TV is dead get with the times