(ABC/Raymond Liu)
Bad news for Dex and her friends. ABC renewed the Stumptown TV series for a second season back in May but now, due to production delays, those plans have been cancelled.
Stumptown stars Cobie Smulders, Jake Johnson, Tantoo Cardinal, Cole Sibus, Adrian Martinez, Camryn Manheim, and Michael Ealy. In the TV show, Dex Parios (Smulders) is a strong, assertive, and sharp-witted military veteran who lives in Portland, Oregon. She has a complicated love life, gambling debt, and a brother with Down syndrome, Ansel (Sibus), to care for. With only herself to rely on, she solves other people’s messes with a blind eye toward her own. Her military intelligence skills make Dex a great private investigator, but her unapologetic style puts her in the firing line of hardcore criminals and the police aren’t her biggest fans either. Other characters include Grey McConnell (Johnson), a bar owner and Dex’s friend; casino owner Sue Lynn Blackbird (Cardinal); Dex’s friend Tookie (Martinez), a taco food cart owner; and Lieutenant Cosgrove (Manheim) Detective Miles Hoffman (Ealy) of the Portland Police Bureau.
The first season of Stumptown averaged a meager 0.49 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 2.84 million viewers in the live+same day ratings. Of the network’s 20 scripted series that aired during the regular 2019-20 season, Stumptown was the lowest-rated show in the demo to be renewed, ranking 17th of 20 programs. The series did perform well in streaming and delayed viewing.
Deadline reports that production delays and other factors have made it impossible for the series to be ready for a fall launch on ABC.
The series’ production plans, like many shows’, have been negatively impacted by the current pandemic. In addition, extra time was needed to work on season two scripts. Stumptown was due to take a change in direction in year two following a showrunner change at the end of the first season. The show was reportedly also an expensive one to produce and having to take COVID-19 precautions would lead to significant budget increases.
As a result, the new season wouldn’t have been ready to air until April 2021, at the end of the traditional broadcast season. ABC has now decided to rescind the renewal order and the cast and crew were told of the decision to cancel earlier today.
All hope may not be lost, however. ABC Signature, which produces the series, is hoping to shop the series elsewhere and find it a new home. Considering that Stumptown does well in delayed viewing, a streaming service would seem to be the show’s best bet.
What do you think? Did you like the Stumptown TV series? Were you looking forward to watching season two? Would you follow the series to another channel or service?
Stumptown is a fabulous show and I will miss seeing it in the fall. I typically watch all shows, including this one, after it has aired. Because I am older and can’t afford all the streaming services, I hope that it is picked up by a cable channel if ABC refuses to keep it.
I love Stumptown!! It was original, great writing great characters especially Dax and it took place in Portland. I am so disappointed! I hope a streaming service picks it up I’ll definitely watch it wherever it goes!
Love Stumptown!!
I really enjoyed this show it is so enjoyable and was always looking forward to the next episode I hope you keep it. There is not much on tv I have a few others that I really enjoyed them also I would be very disappointed if this show was taken off. Thank you a big fan.
Absolutely love this show as tv is terrible right now as even the new shows for 2020 so far that are televising in the last couple weeks are not as good as stumptown
Rather than shopping it out to somewhere think abc should keep it ax they have really gone down hill on shows overall
Hey, us 65 year old guys are under represented here! I loved the show, nothing like a take no prisoners, strong, female character.
So, where are the rest of my fellow oldies? Guys? Hello?
I am with you Bob. Just turned 66 myself in July. #savestumptown
I would follow it to a streaming service. Better than ABC probably!
I enjoyed the show and I’m very disappointed. I would watch on a different channel, or netflix. It would depend on where it was streamed to see if I would watch it.
I hope this show gets picked up. I haven’t seen much lately that kept me hanging on like this one, and I was really looking forward to season 2. Damn shame.
Love the show
I loved this show. I was so happy when I had seen before it was renewed. Now I am unhappy.
They always cancel the good shows but keep them stupid reality shows on I don’t get it Stumptown was a great show I hope Netflix picks it up typical corporate BS
Was really looking forward to see what was going to happen next. It was one of the ABC shows that was worth watching.
In my opinion there’s other ABC shows that could be cancelled. I really hope that Stumptown will find a new home.
Noooo, please bring it back ~ I Love this show!!!!
One of my favorite shows last season! I was so happy is was renewed this is a terrible and very customer unfriendly decision!