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.
To Admin: You have answered direct quetions in the past, hopefully you will find an answer to this fianl question: Is there any discussion, from Nancy Miller or any of the principals involved with “Saving Grace” that might lead to even a two-hour movie wrapping everything up? Or, continuing the story? There must be a way to get some closure, whether it takes place 6 minutes or 6 months from the explosion… Please, can you find out for us? Those rushed-through last three episodes were just not a proper conclusion for that wonderful show. And yes, we know that in… Read more »
@Mary Sagor: None that I’m aware of. The creative team seem to have made the finale they wanted to make.
Admin: I thank you for the response. And, maybe it is a suitable ending…as when we (for instance) graduate from college or move to another city – resulting in having to leave friends behind, never to have contact with them again. We will think of them for years, wondering what happened, making up what to us would be a fitting continuation to the their stories. But in “TVLand” we don’t normally have so many unanswered questions…I will miss them all, terribly.
Attention “Admin”, thanx for your reply clearing up my confusion. As I said, the lady in the photo is younger and prettier, so I will run with it….
I thought the ending was powerful, uncompromising, thought provoking, and not the typical Hollywood starlet ending — much like Grace and Holly Hunter. And of course Grace was saved. The mailbags left behind, unscathed, and the look on Earl’s face was all the proof I needed.
I just finished watching the finale and I have to say that I am absolutely with you! Evil may not have been vanquished from the world but Grace was saved. I’m disappointed that the series is done and maybe a sweeter ending might have pleased some (even me, I balled like a baby at the end), but not everything gets wrapped up pretty with a bow. (Especially if the writers really thought they had a season to do it and then had to make it happen in 3 episodes. No wonder the final “season” was a little weird and herky… Read more »
Great conversations, y’all. I too am in my sixties, but enjoy a lot o the programming aimed at younger audiences. I have lived a lot, had a lotta fun, made a jillion mistakes and unwittingly caused misery for myself and others. What I haven’t done, I’ve seen others do. So if I was judging “Grace” (didn’t mean to) it’s because I once was a hellion similar to her and I figure I was judging her for being a self destructive HUMAN (been there, done that) . She at least was in law enforcement, I was just a nurses’ aide for… Read more »
I agree , that TNT is making a hugh mistake, but than it is always about the mighty $$$$$$ I will though give them a big HAND on the fact that they have Rizzoli & Isles, Memphis Beat and the return of Dark Blue, LOVE them all! oh I forgot Southland I, love, love them all.
PLEASE, people, stop blaming TNT or the writers! It was FOX STUDIOS’ decision to stop production on the show, because it did not make enough profits for billionaire “Daddy Rupert.” They did not care that Grace and Earl were dearly beloved or that they made a difference in our lives. We could write for years and they will not bring her back. Those cr***y reality shows are cheap and easy and therefore will take up more nad more air time. Luckily, there are other networks and other good shows. But, don’t blame TNT. And don’t blame the writers. They did… Read more »
Saving Grace…saving? Grace? Grace is a gift of unmerrited love. Leaving behind all that loved her in anguish? I get the whole Joan of Ark relevance, but I don’t watch TV. I don’t know who won Idol or whether Grey still has anatomy. I do…did…watch Grace. The thing I liked best was that she screwed up so much, but still had God’s grace toward her. I guess maybe some of us can relate to that. I thought she might have been preserved beneath the pile of mailbags-like the three biblical guys in the fire who walked out untouched. I would… Read more »
The series was starting to get pretty silly and less story lines of the other great characters. Yeah – I know it’s called “Saving Grace” . . .but come on . . Grace breaking into the dead girl’s room to go through her things and then hiding in her closet, brother! And the trip to Mexico and all of that absurdity – I was getting put off enough with the dead cattle show and using the s— word all the time – just because they could.
I would watch it if they brought her back from the dead! I loved this show, felt like a lost a friend at the end.
I also cried and cried when I realized this was it–will grieve this one like I am with LOST!
I am regreatful that others are allowed to make choices in what I watch, and when I will no longer be allowed to view my favorite shows. I am upset, to say the least. Saving Grace should be saved. My heart is in this completely. There are no words to explain feelings, and I am left with a void.
While I agree with the majority of the comments – that the ending was unfulfilling and left many loose ends – it was still heart wrenching. As for Hamm throwing away the ring at the end scene, I understood the pain that caused him to do so. He had never had a chance to show it to Grace, much less ask her to marry him. Did anyone but me wonder about the fact that only ONE body bag was carried from the explosion? Most ardent fans believed the “writer” (Huck?) was evil and the devil’s advocate, however, he walked earth… Read more »
Okay, I am new to this, I do not understand why it says the last post is 10 months old, nor why it says my previous comment is “awaiting moderation”? By whom? As I can’t seem to catch up with it to ‘moderate’ it. I did say “be” instead of “being” And who chooses those photos to go with our comments? Just because I call myself “La Loca” doesn’t necessarily mean I am Latina. I could call myself “The Beautiful” and that might not be true, either. So to everyone reading my first post, that photo was chosen by the… Read more »
@La Loca: Here you go… The post was written 10 months ago, many of the comments are obviously more recent. We moderate comments, meaning that we look them over so that spam, hateful and abusive (to other people) comments do not appear on this site. The photos next to comments are random unless you sign up for a gravatar account and use the email address that you register with. I hope that helps.
I was at times fascinated and then repelled by some of the things I saw on “Saving Grace”, but I admired the courage it took to do this show, at times funny, at others raw and bleeding. Provocative it may have been, but it was well written, well acted. Until the last season. If it was the same writers, then I guess they just churned out the last few episodes in a hurry, the last episode was especially choppy. Previous persons ‘ comments covered a lot of what I”ve been thinking: the ending was stupid, and as evil always goes… Read more »
La Loca,
You didn’t get the ending at ALL. She DID win. She blew up evil and stopped “him” from causing more trouble. By sacrificing herself, she saved future people that “he” would have killed. Didn’t you hear him say he would bomb someone else like the Oklahoma bombing? I totally disagree with you on her character as well. She was HUMAN and was portrayed that way. Unless you’ve lived a perfect life without sin, do not cast stones.
AMEN, Legally Blonde!
I could not have said it better myself. She DID win just like we all do WITH God!!!! It was a human approach and I was balling like a baby at the honorable carry out. She did it in Grace style 🙂
I can’t believe it, another GREAT show getting cancelled! Why don’t they get rid of these stupid tv reality shows! They’re terrible, I don’t watch them and neither do my kids. Bridezilla, stupid, Jersey Shore is the WORST. But they continue to air that garbage, but the good stuff, they get rid of.
I love Holly Hunter and the story lines are great. Please let’s not get rid of the good shows and replace them with mindless reality shows.
I didn’t believe that she wasn’t going to walk out of the fire at the end until I saw Earl saluting sadly – and then I knew. Still .. Grace could have survived that fire, and I was prepared to see her saved by God, against all odds. And untouched and uninjured, as well. The ending was a cheap, fast “tie it up in a bow” so that those who felt that it was doomed due to its cost could cut THEIR losses. It was sad and second rate, compared to the rest of the show. I guess it’ll be… Read more »
I couldn’t agree more. Just when you find an interesting series….they cancel it. I’m a Closer fan too. Come on!
I didn’t know the show was ending until I looked it up today. My husband and I loved this show!! We are in our sixties, so it wasn’t for just the younger crowd. I fully expected the next season to have Grace as an Angel standing buy all her friends and family. That would have been a great way to continue and build on the show. So sad,,,we will miss them all, esp. Earl.