Though FOX didn’t officially announce the cancellation of Running Wilde, the writing has certainly been on the wall for quite some time. It’s now been cancelled.
The freshman sitcom, which stars TV veterans Will Arnett and Keri Russell, debuted back on September 21st with a mediocre 2.4 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 5.59 million viewers. The following week, the demo rating fell by 21% and the next few weeks saw it hit a season low — a truly horrible 1.1 rating with just 2.29 million viewers. Interestingly, viewership started to build after that but it wasn’t enough. The eight episodes that aired averaged just a 1.6 in the demo and 3.72 million viewers.
Understandably, FOX opted not to order any additional episodes of Running Wilde, keeping the season order at 13 installments. FOX subsequently pulled the show for November sweeps. The network has occasionally been running repeats on Sunday nights as well as Saturdays at midnight.
Today, at the TCA press tour, FOX president Kevin Reilly confirmed that Running Wilde will not be coming back. He took some of the blame for the show’s lack of success but acknowledged that the sitcom started off slow. He said, “Look, one of the early lessons you learn is to bet on the talent. [The series] was slow to find itself. I was involved. I was involved probably more than I wanted to be. Mitch didn’t resent it. It struggled to find its legs. It found them probably too little too late.”
What do you think? Was Running Wilde worth watching? Why do you think it didn’t catch on?
Image courtesy FOX.
I am streaming this show and you’re right – it got off on a “slow start” … however, the talent is awesome and funny and the story lines were good, as well! I think it was judged to harshly – perhaps Will and his fellow writers, should resurrect the show- I bet it would catch on – as I am enjoying it on Hulu !
This was a nice little series with some really lovable characters. Shame it wasn’t given the time to bloom, slow burners should not start on such a big stage, FOX was a bad Idea.
Bring it back, I just discovered it at Netflix, and watched the whole season, is a different show.
This show was so good and it needs to be brought back! I am getting real sick of all the good and original shows being canceled like this one! All people care about are reality tv which is all fake or stupid vampires or zombies or aliens. It gets me frusterated because I watch this on Netfix and fell in love with it, they should really bring it back.
I totally agree even 6 yrs later – I am finding that they “cancel exceptionally well written and funny worthwhile shows – all in the name of “reality tv or certain ratings – but streaming has changed all that and I hope great shows make comebacks – they’ll have a following and their audience will be faithful !!!
I’m mad I got hooked to this show! I also saw on netflix. Please bring it back!
And 6 years later I’m watching it on Hulu ! Luving it 🙂
It was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Indeed !!!
This show needs to be brought back! It is just too good. Very original and refreshing in that it is so different from anything I’ve seen on TV.
This is just another of those jewels that’s slipped between the cracks, forced down there by the crowds rushing to the shallow and brainless reality shows which are “all the rage” at this period in TV history. Shows with even a little imagination don’t have much of a chance nowadays.
Just finished the, very sadly, last episode of “Running Wilde”… come on… really, they canceled this show! I too just found it on Netflix and loved it. So happy to see Keri Russell again after the best show ever, Felicity, only ran 4 seasons. What is up with the networks canceling the smart shows. Hoping they bring this one back… and a Felicity revival would be sweet too!
unreal show! please please bring it back.
Discovered this hilarious show on netflix.. I NEED A SEASON 2!!
“I ment family guy was cancelled after 2 seasons”
My husband & I are 31yrs old & discovered “Running Wilde” on Netflix recently. We are huge fans of Will Arnett & thought that we would give it a try. We watched every episode in a day & couldn’t wait to find out what would happen to “Steve, Emmy, Puddle & even crazy Andy” in the next season. We worked out of our home for 3-4 days a week for 3 years & that is why we probably lacked to have seen the show on cable. To our huge dissapointment we found out from this page (that i googled) that… Read more »
Like most of the people who have commented on here…. I just watched the whole season on Netflix and thought it was awesome. I also didn’t know that the show existed when it was originally aired. I remember catching one of the episodes half way through when it was on, but could never figure out what it was and watch it again.
They need to ressurect this show, or Netflix needs to pick it up as they are doing with Arrested Development.
I also just watched the series on Netflix, and I’m a little bummed it won’t be coming back. I didn’t know the show existed or was on Fox until last week. I thought it was hilarious, so I decided to look up when the next season would start and was disappointed to find this website. What a cliff hanger to end on…