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.
Remember, it is not TNT who is ending the show, it’s FOX STUDIOS PRODUCTION’s new head who has decided he doesn’t want to continue making it. “…Emiliano Calemzuk was tapped by Peter Chernin to take over News Corp.’s Fox Television Studios…After cutting the staff of Fox Television Studios by almost half, he pulled the plug on shows he didn’t think would yield long-term success, such as the TNT drama “Saving Grace.” He has a foreign name, is he even American? Maybe he simply does not understand American minds and tastes and thinks that Emmy nominations don’t count. TNT offered Saving… Read more »
Please continue Saving Grace! A gritty, realistic, funny, amazing show that deals with life’s tough issues: bombing, losing a farm, affairs, motherless child, family dynamics, challenges solving crimes, seeing the cruelty of people,, and…. faith, grace, prayer, redemption, beauty, hope, lots of humor, and love. It’s rare to find anything this good on television. I can see a number of stories going on for several years, with the growth of characters and the deepening of the situations. Hey there, TNT! You’re doing incredibly well with cable shows–you seem to have taken it over, and eclipsed the networks. Persuade someone to… Read more »
I absolutely LOVE this show, and I am saddened to learn that this is its final season (I’m watching an episode from last season right now). The cast is dynamic; Holly Hunter’s character Grace is relatable in a very raw, believable way. I am curious and eager to see how the story unfolds – I just hope that Grace doesn’t die. The teaser for this last season shows Earl telling Grace that she cheated death and was spared. So the question is: What is the big picture? Why has she been chosen to be guided by Earl? What is Neely’s… Read more »
“Saving Grace” is one of the top shows on the boob tube — EVER — and a luminous spot in my viewing year. This show was blessed with gritty storylines, rowdy characters and great interpersonal relationships between all of them, Earl the Angel and the spiritual subtext about transforming one’s life, and the wondrous Holly Hunter and Leon Rippy (and Bokeem Woodbine, before his character was executed). Seems that every time I fall in love with a show, it soon gets cancelled. I lately have loved and lost Pushing Daisies, Eli Stone and Boston Legal, to name a few (though… Read more »
Why? Don’t TV people realize when you have a briliant well acted, well written series like “SAVING GRAVE” that people who are older than 12 fall in love with, that’s NOT the time to cancel them!!! Wasn’t STAR TREK enough of an example that tv executives can be wrong!!! Please, Please try to save “SAVING GRACE” Somebody out there has to have an IQ Greater than a watermelon. Grace is the best character on TV and the series is the best thing around for years!!!!
angryLEIGH
This show is provocative, thought provoking and provides a great opportunity for those not “religious” to think about God and their relationship with Him. It asks the hard questions that so many seekers do. While I am a Christian and follower of Jesus and disappointed that the show does not address Him more, I love the conversations it generates. The problem was you could never find it. It was hard to know when it was on and when it was not. I didn’t see the last few episodes as I didn’t know when it was on! January? Summer? March? No… Read more »
I love Saving Grace. Please find a way to keep this show going.
There are so few shows that people connect with and for some reason Grace draws you in. She is the normal person – a person with issues just like everybody else. BRING SAVING GRACE BACK!!!! We need her and all her rowdy friends. They are US!
i LOVE saving grace.please keep it going.
Possibly the ratings have dropped because of the time slots the show is in. The “reality” shows the networks seem to revolve around really suck and are so demeaning to people that it makes it possible for me to get a lot of sleep. Saveing Grace is an interesting (reality) show that portrays the real life of people. Maby the networks need a little reality in there lives!!!! BRING IT BACK!!!!!!!
I think it should return it’s a great show and I am religious and that’s the aspect of the show I like. PLEASE TRY TO SAVE IT!!!!!
I am a retired educator, community theater and film buff. For me, “Saving Grace” started out with right-on casting, writing and the Holly Hunter spark. At times, it tests my 70 year-old mind set, but it is alive.
I can’t believe they are not going to continue with Saving Grace. This was my favorite show. It doesn’t pay to watch new shows anymore, once you get hooked they take them away. Soon I guess I will just stop watching TV altogether and do like texaslady and read a book. I hate reality shows and it’s getting to where that’s all the TV stations are wanting to show anymore.
Please bring Holly and the cast back. I love that show. Jacque
Why is “Saving Grace” supposedly so expensive to make? They shoot a lot outdoors; how expensive is it to go to an outside area to film? Otherwise, they only use 2 or 3 sets. Maybe viewership has been declining because the scriptwriting has been less than stellar the last season. Maybe too much focus on the characters’ problems and too little on the crime to be solved. I don’t know. I do know that this series is far ahead of any of the idiotic “reality” shows that infest TV now. I am not religious, but I enjoyed “Grace’s” interaction with… Read more »