TNT has announced that their Holly Hunter drama is coming to an end. Interestingly, it wasn’t exactly the network’s decision. But, regardless of who’s responsible, the fans will have to wait quite awhile to see the story wrap up.
Saving Grace focuses on a police detective, Grace Hanadarko (Holly Humter), wo’s great at her job but finds her personal life far more challenging. The series also features Leon Rippy, Kenny Johnson, Bailey Chase, Laura San Giacomo, Gregory Cruz, Lorraine Toussaint, Dylan Minnette, Bokeem Woodbine, Mark L. Taylor, and Tom Irwin.
The show debuted in July 2007 and attracted 6.4 million viewers, making it the highest-rated cable premiere so far that year.
Season two’s debut attracted 5.2 million and, this past June, season three’s return drew just 3.5 million. TNT remained very positive about the series, likely because it consistently rates first with adults 25-54.
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Last season, the network ordered a second season of 15 episodes. The first nine aired during the Summer of 2008 and the other six began running last March. TNT ordered the same number for season three and the first grouping finishes its summer cycle this Tuesday.
According to THR, TNT wanted to pick the series up for a fourth season but Fox TV Studios actually declined the offer. The drama is an expensive one to produce and there’s apparently not enough profit in the cable deal for the studio to continue.
A spokesperson for Fox told Variety, “In today’s rapidly changing television world, shows need to drive revenue off too many sources in order to be profitable for all the partners. Unfortunately, the economics of the series mandated stronger international and ancillary revenue than the show was able to generate. We thought an appropriate ending after three extremely successful seasons was the best outcome for all parties involved.”
Since the series has several ongoing storylines, Fox and TNT agreed to produce three additional episodes to wrap up any loose ends. The network will combine them with the remaining installments from this season and hold them until next Summer. So, fans will get some closure to the series but they’ll have to wait a few extra months to get it.
Michael Wright, TNT’s Executive VP head of programming, is sorry to see the show end. In a statement, he said, “The show’s continued success is thanks to the amazing talents of Holly Hunter and [series creator] Nancy Miller, along with a tremendous ensemble cast and a highly skilled production team. They have taken us on a unique journey, and we look forward to seeing where it will ultimately lead.”
What do you think? Are you ready t say goodbye to Grace Hanadarko? Would you like to see the cast return, perhaps in TV movies?
Image courtesy TNT.
Love this show so much……it is a shame that it is going to be cancelled….they seem to always take the great shows off the air……hopefully there is a smarter network out there that will pick it up!!! What will I do with out my Bailey Chase and Kenny Johnson!!!!!!!!
what a shame to cancel one of the most original series in years
ARE YOU CRAZY????? I agree with most of the previous posts. It seems anything of quality is doomed. I am so sick of the unintelligent crap that keeps getting renewed. Not all of us are mindless boobs. Saving Grace is vivid, fresh, unique and true to the region. I loved the authenticity of Oklahoma (and the UT rivalry). I’m invested in Loretta and Earl. I’m hooked – how can you take it away from me. Grace is street wise and sexy. The endings of the shows are a punch in the stomach. It’s like going to the theater every week.… Read more »
Love SG, Really hate to see it end!
Holly Hunter and the whole cast, They all jellied great together. But I would like to say, that if the show does end, it is great that the network is thinking of the fans to bring closure. It is such a disappoint to get wrapped up in a show and BAM cancelled with no ending! I do hope FOX reconsiders and think of the viewers and not just the bottom line!
It’s such a shame, that they charge us for TV now (We only paid for the electricity years ago..can you tell I’m a Senior citizen!!) Now, they take off the good shows, all because of money….This show as well as some other good ones are getting the boot, because of greed. I was delighted when this show started, it was put together well and the actors are great. I wonder, is it the actors that cost so much or the producers, directors, etc. that “has” to have the paycheck that will keep us from some excellent writing and acting??? Who… Read more »
Well, another waste of my precious time that I may have left. I am 62, a true baby boomer. To cancel a show like Saving Grace, well, you may as well rip out my heart. This show is well acted, great plots each week and a running arc that was a great idea. I don’t know who the people really are behind the cancellations of lots of shows over the last 3 years, but they must be living on another planet. Maybe like Lost on Mars! The networks can’t keep taking good shows away and keeping crappie ones on and… Read more »
I pray that TNT will reconsider or someone else will pick up the show “Saving Grace”. I’m hooked on it’s uniqueness. There really isn’t anything quite like it out there and that is due to great writing and a great cast!
I’m very upset that this show is no longer gonna be on. Let me tell you something, although I’m not a reckless (not any more) partying let loose and let go anymore I feel a strange connection to the character Grace you see I was working 3blocks dowtown when the Federal Building blew up and that day haunts me still at 9:02am April 19,1995, I felt safe and life was great I remember looking out the window on the 2nd floor of our office thinking how pretty downtown OKC was that beautiful spring morning and at 9:03am I was no… Read more »
Are you crazy, great show don’t let it end, why do these networks keep letting great shows go people if you want it to stay let them know maybe they will bring it back.
Well, the other one is on USA not TNT, but the ads for this one are on that network as well. I should have noted that before, sorry everyone.
Season 5? I thought this was a new show that came out this year along with that other one with the other blonde….I forget the name but it’s on Sunday’s and has something to do with the witness protection program. I’ve never seen either of these shows but I keep seeing the ads on these.
It seems like more and more great shows are deemed “too expensive” and then are cancelled. I am just sick about this—I love Saving Grace. Holly Hunter is just terrific and the whole cast is of such a high quality. Is there any way that TNT will reconsider?
thank God. Holly Hunter is such a waste of time. When an ugly women takes off her clothes in a film they give her an academy award. It has nothing to do with her acting ability. It first happened to Glenda Jackson in ‘the women in love’, then Holly Hunter in ‘the piano’. The less she is seen the better.
What! I just learned The Listener was canceled, and now Saving Grace????? Just when we were starting to get shows for “grown-ups” and not just teeny-bopper crap. I can practically read the script for every old L&O, I’m so sick of such a narrow range of choices, with same-old, same-old formats – Saving Grace was new, fresh, really well written and a vivid portrayal of the culture where it took place. The subjects tackled were of wide interest and ambitious. Stop babying your audience, or putting us to sleep!
It would seem that when something of some quality is produced that it’s doomed from the beginning. “Saving Grace” has such a great cast and story line and provokes such thought that I will be sorry to see it go. So much is produced that is mind numbing that my generation (the target generation of SG) may as well give up and go live in a cave. At least we have thousands of years of books to sustain us.