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.
I absoutely LOVE Saving Grace and can’t believe the show would lose any popularity? The show has a great cast. They’ve cleaned Grace up a bit so I don’t know why they would cancel the show? The story lines aren’t bad either. Just when I get use to the idea of Earl being around all the time damnit! Alot of fine actors will be out of work un-necessarily. This sucks.
Figures, you get a great Tv show and they kill it off. It’s al about money, money, money not entertainment. Screw you at Fox!
I’ve watched a few episodes and its an alright show but i think holly wants to retire. But Southland is rising and i encourage you people to watch it. I think it beats shows like Raising the Bar, Saving Grace and That other show where with Kevin Bacons wife. But if you email TNT enough and buy DVDs im sure the show will be brought back. I mean we brought back Family Guy and Southland that way so give it a whirl if you people want it back.
I have just found out that Saving Grace is ending. This is one of my all time favorite shows and cannot believe that Fox would not choose to continue such an entertaining and well-acted show. I will truly miss seeing this show.
I hate that Saving Grace is going off the air. I only watched the show to see Butch. I hope that I can see Bailey Chase on another good show.
We all can see by the quality of mcinep’s spelling and typing that Saving Grace is entirely too intelligent for him/her. Yes, I make typos, but even the phraseology shows a lack of ability to understand and appreciate a show as welll-written and acted as Saving Grace. Ladies and Gentlemen, we now see the level of audience being sought by TNT and Fox Studios. That is who they want to please and that is the caliber of person they are trying to create with the shows they produce. Fox Studios, which is refusing to produce any more Saving Grace seasons,… Read more »
I stand corrected. I have never watched the show…saw 5 minutes of it, wasn’t interested, and tuned off. Do you really think that Southland is a good substitute for Saving Grace? I mean, really? If they only are willing to spend so much on their programming budget, is it worth it to give up Grace and Earl??
I almost cried when I seen the commercial for Saving Grace the final episodes, I can not believe they are pulling another great show off the air, Instead of buying reruns of the office and law and order for every channel on tv why not save the money for shows like Saving Grace that DESERVE to be on air. This is getting so tiring to see wonderful show after wonderful show end , while being replaced by mindless clutter I could care less about, ARGH
I really enjoy this show and am very sad to see it end. I love the acting and the stories..it really stinks that the networks think that we only have the brains for the reality show mentality. I will miss this show, the thoughts about a last chance angle and the down to earth characters fashioned after normal, everyday people. We are all flawed and this show makes you feel good about life.. I wish I had my own Earl. He is great.
I love this show! Please Please don’t stop it! Finally a show that I love and watch re-runs over and over I love it so much. Even my teen-agers love it as well as older people! It’s great g=for all ages and it actually has a moral to it’s story! Give Holly Hunter 5 more million to stay! Why is it whenever there is a hit show like Saving Grace it’s going off the air so soon, why doesn’t someone at TNT figure a way to keep it! I know Holly Hunter is perfect for this roll and I would… Read more »
I only just heard about Grace last night — Oh, no! Another of my favorite shows bites the dust! So much for nuanced drama and fine acting! But there’s no need to dump on Southland (without even having seen it — you can’t go by the previews). It’s another really great show, very well written and acted, with a strong ensemble cast (and even a strong female detective as one of the lead characters). I’m very glad it has been saved!
I think it is terrible that the show is discontinuing. The show’s ratings were great when it followed “the Closer”. Maybe put it back on Monday and check the ratings. I think that the show gives everyone a sense of being with their lives and religious beliefs. It sure does make one think!
Re comment by mcinep… we all have different tastes, and I agree that Saving Grace is not everybody’s cup of tea. So let me suggest this, since this is a blog primarily dedicated to our outrate that Saving Grace is being removed after this season, please do yourself a favor. The next time you see Grace on your widescreen, push the little button on your remote that changes the channel and watch something else. Something that has no texture or meaning. Cheaters would be a good one, try that. The rest of us know what a loss it is for… Read more »
besides some of the worse acting ive ever seen holly hunter nude makes my stomach turn i rather see one of the munchkins from wizard of oz although they are the same size
I have seen advertisements for the NEW SEASON of Southland… the ads, which are supposed to be the best and most alluring scenes, make me cringe. From what they’ve shown me, there is no redeeming social value at all, just a lot of cops being “bad cops” – AND YET they are cancelling Grace?? Southland’s ads remind me of The Shield, which glorified a bunch of bad cops. Where is the redeeming social value? At least Earl is working on Grace, making her face her actions. I’ll say it again, this is the European way of telling us what they… Read more »
I am really getting tired of the networks! They really don’t ever see that they have things right! They seem to end series that are great like Saving Grace, and keep producing shows that I never watch and never would! This is a real great show love all the cast members! I love how different each character is and how they make one big family. They always keep you on your toes. You never know what they are going to do. Prodictable is boring! It is about time they show life from a realistic point of view, ( We are… Read more »