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.
PLEASE, BRING IT BACK!!! It was the only show my husband and I agreed was great and watched together!
Bring Reaper back, it was AWESOME!
Bring Reaper back for a season 3.
reaper was an amazing show i wish tat somehow it could continue on with more episodes.
I am so bummed that this show is over.
I am just catching up and finishing Season 2 thru Netflix but want more!!!
I really enjoyed this show!
The characters were great and the show just got better and and more fun.
Such a shame it won’t continue on… unless, they get put back on… hint hint. 🙂
I really wish they could make a movie out of Reaper so there is a final ending to the show instead of leaving the loyal viewers hanging. Reaper was a great show and it will surely be missed.
I miss this show it was very good and it was really funny and Sock was awsome
This show was great! Really disappointed they aren’t going to bring it back for a third season.
I miss this show so much it was awesome. I loved the idea, and the actors. it was suck a clever and funny show. I do really hope they bring it back.
The Devil was the funniest person I have ever seen on TV and they kill his show off. Typical.
Just bring it back!! I want the DVD series best unique show!!
they should bring the show back!
means
Your kidding, all the original shows just get wipped out because we have to see who should be the next singer to promote!!! If we want to watch TV we got to follow these reality shows and the obvious glamour shows that portray the rich kids with problems!! By cancelling this show CW you make all of us look like vain stereotypical viewers with no brains or intellectual diversity. You’ve got to stop giving us the same stuff with a new name. Reaper had originality, unpredictability, a cast that had chemistry whoes character personalities meshed, writers that were able to… Read more »
Bring the show back in a better time slot and you will find that the numbers you where looking for are there. The show had a great story line that could have anyone hooked. I would start by running the first two season’s and see how they do.