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.
Can’t believe they didn’t give it one more season… What a shame. A late night adult oriented program filled with great actors and its sad knowing the series won’t be back again. The entire cast was was wonderful to watch. I miss it already. I hope another station picks up the series and by some (miracle) Holly Hunter returns.
I too am sad Grace is over. What about her sister’s necklace. Couldn’t it have been found and given to her nephew? That would have been some closure. I agree the ending was so rushed. We needed a little longer to mourn her with her family and friends. I loved the show and Holly Hunter but the ending should have given the fans more!
Of course I would have liked the ending better if Grace had lived and married Hamm – it might have showed that she was starting to reform her old ways by settling down. Now if they had to kill her off I would have liked to have had it end in one of two ways (forget the battle with evil storyline). I would have had Grace die in the line of duty and then I would have had her either come back as an angel and let her be seen by at least one or more of her family or… Read more »
I am horrified! I can’t believe the show has been cancelled. Why do the networks always manage to kill off the strong, gutsy, real life heroines? The only models left are doctors and nurses. Great for brainiacs, I guess, but not so much for those women who would, could, ‘save’ others through courage, passion, and ‘gut’ reasoning. I agree with one of the earlier posts about going back to watch all the ‘reality’ tv. [ack!] I, for one, will be hitting the book store and the library…
I am a big fan of Saving Grace, and I have enjoyed the show very much. I think the acting and production was fantastic. I was disappointed in the ending. Grace didn’t have a conversion of the heart or her spirit. Most of us do not have a relationship with an angle, who continues to encourage us in our daily lives. Most of us have to chose to have faith without an angle and many people have had hard knocks in life too. It bothers me that her nephew, Clay will think Grace committed suicide, because he will not know… Read more »
I think the show was one of the most well acted , emotional, funny, raw, heart wrenching , shows that I have ever seen. I am 52 years old and this show was
a not to be missed series… Thank you Holly Hunter and all your cast mates , for
a job WELL done.
Is there any way for the series to be picked up on another network,
such as FX ??? (I was hoping that Grace had dove under the stack of mail bags and
would be back laughing at Earl, hugging Rhetta , and getting married to Hamm.)
Its too late now, Grace is dead, trying to kill evil or the devil, which can NOT be done. This was a lame ending. Insulting to the cast and crew. Sham on FOX.
My VCR cut the program off after the credits and it showed Earl waking Grace up as if it were a dream sequence? Did anyone else see this?
I for one hope for a continuation. I became a fan just this season and as an adult viewer thought the show was well written, cast perfectly and uplifting. Grace as a flawed, self-centered, redeemable character gave me a sense that hope is really all that matters. The cast was awarding winning. Sad that the business end of TV is all that dictates what viewers are offered. I guess next season will be filled with more “Reality TV”.
Saving Grace Season 5 should begin with the resurrection of Grace. The writers can have her lifted up in the morgue, end up at the site of the explosion looking around only to have her eyes come to rest on a little black box… 🙂
Keep the story alive – Angels are among us and we all need to be reminded that good conquers evil. Not the other way around.
The series end of saving grace totally sucked because one she died and it gave no good ending. I could have farted out a **** that ended better than that. They couldn’t have killed her than have hercome back as an angel or something stupid like that and told her friends it will be okay and move on. Then instead of the guy throw the ring away he could have put it in her coffen or … urn.
Point being that the ending was totally stupid and TNT should be ashamed that such a good show ended so utterly poorly.
I agree. They SHOULD be ashamed… but… they probably aren’t.
Most idiotic, corny, dumb show I have ever watched…only because my Fiance watches it. Really, really bad.
Then I guess you’re among those who will not miss her. I must say, though, that while I am proud of you for watching it with her, if you thought that badly of the show, you may be in out of your league! Sounds like she has a greater understanding of life than you do!
I was a little disappointed in the finale … didn’t want nor expect to see Grace die. Definitely means there will be no “reunion” show or movie. Wouldn’t be the same without her.
I’m not ready for Saving Grace to be gone, when I saw all of her friends giving their salute for her and giving their final salute to her, I just relized this was IT. This was the final show for ever. But you can’t do that to me and for the millions of other viewers that watch this show. I watch this every week and I LOVE this show for the people in it and for the show itself. Please bring it back, it will be truly missed it not.
Actually I do not think she committed suicide. She was told to burn the contents of the box when she was ready. It was a pass. She did what was “expected” of her in that given situation. The mailbags were untouched showing that the most flamable thing in storage was preserved so why not her as well. The sad thing is, that her sacrifice was wasted as one is not able to destroy that which is evil. Merely slow it down, perhaps, and take away its ability to act on that one opportunity. If she were truly to be a… Read more »
I agree. All I could think about was all those she left behind. I saw something about them doing maybe 4 more shows for closure on this. I hope they do. I think they would attract a large audience.
Since numbers and $$ are all that matters…. we’ll see.