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 am upset also to see Reaper was cancelled, I agree it was fresh, original, and smartly written. I loved the characters like Sock and Ray Wise as the devil was perfect he really seemed to enjoy the role! I do not understand why shows like this and another of my favorites Arrested Development which was a wonderful show also get canned, I guess we have to watch stupid mind numbing programs? I am finding less and less to watch as they remove the good shows.
I LOVE THE SERIES IS WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS EVERY TUESDAY NO MATTER WHERE I WAS I KNEW THE TIME I HAD TO BE HOME TO SEE IT. ALL I HAVE NOW IS SMALLVILLE
I love Reaper It Was My Second Favourite tv show after Smallville They Should Really Sell the show to NBC,ABC,CBS or FOX. Reaper rocks I wish That The CW Will Save Reaper Some Time. Bret Harrisson ,Tyler Labine ,Rick Gonzalez,Missy Peregrym,Ray Wise and Jenny Wade’s Acting Is Superb. The Show Is Awsome. I Pray That Some Day The CW People Will Renew The Reaper Series.
i dont get it. look at all the ppl who really like this show. this is one of the most original shows i have ever seen. evrything lately is the same garbage being recycled into the networks. you would rather keep shows like The Hills, i swear, who the f*ck doesnt know that that show is completely scripted and on a side note…THEY GARGLE BALLS. i swear CW, if you dont realize that the shows you keep on just make us all look like fake plastic fools.
Really dissapointed! 🙁 A great show Sock and bens friendship was so well written and the chemistry between the actors was great a sad day for T.V
You make me sick the best show i have watch for ages and they cancel it this sucks what are the amercian people on they make a classic then get rid no wonder why us brits call all amercian people dump ass,s
Please please please do not cancel Reaper! It is brilliant! Much better than a lot of shows which are being kept on air! Please bring it back for at least one more season! From everyone in Ireland-please!!
I’m American. I kept waiting for the Season Debut and now I here it’s canceled. Please bring back Reaper! Clever writing & casting must be the requisite for cancelation. The finale left us up in the air. We need closure! CW must think they need another tween show to stay afloat.
I’m not sure whether this is still a live blog but we in Britian have recently been informed that Reaper has been cancelled and I have one, simple question… Why?!! It really is a refreshing and unique show that is humourous (or humorous to you guys), clever and extremely well written and casted. To be honest we haven’t had such a show from the US since Friends which, love it or hate it, was also well written and casted. It is a shame that redundant shows like American Idol are allowed to continue whilst great shows like Reaper are cancelled.… Read more »
CANNOT believe they cancelled this!! I only heard when the last episode was aired in Scotland on E4!!! Totally gutted!! This was a great show!!!!!!
Really? You really did this to me?! I just found out, and it’s not cool of you! My husband and I look forward to the beginning of the week only for “our shows”. And you destroyed that didn’t you? Why not put it on the same time slot as Jay Leno, because he sucks.. I actually was bord enough to watch his show the other night and Hugh Laurie was the only remotely interesting thing on the show, even though his accent threw me off. He is a big fat old man that is not funny, even a little bit,… Read more »
I LOVE REAPER!!! GIVE IT BACK!!! This means war!
THANKS ALOT ****** AMERICAN PRODUCERS REAPER WAS GREAT AND IF YOUR 2 ****** DUMB 2 REALIZE THAT THEN WHY HAVE YOU NOT BIN CANNED LIKE YOU WOULD BE IN THE UK. THANKS 4 THE WASTE OF TIME AND NOT EVEN TRYING TO ROUND UP THE END, ON BEHALF OF EVERY COMMENTOR HERE LETS HOPE A BOLT OF LIGHTNING OR A METEOR FINDS ITS WAY 2 YOUR EMPTY HEAD SOON AND MAKES EARTH A BETTER PLACE PS F U PPS RIP REAPER
the C.W are ******* stupid. and i hate them. best show…..gone.
I couldnt believe watching the last episode of Reaper in the UK this week that is will be the last after the americans cancelled it.
The amount of crap on tv today including american idol/ x factor / britain/america’s got talent, because of telephone call money making other shows that provide some light funny entertainment get cancelled over the same ol out of tune records.
Sux bring it to the UK we will re introduce Reaper and Boston Legal to a deserved audience.