(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?
We were really looking forward to more seasons! It is such a good program! Really hope it gets picked up by another network. Too many programs do streaming and we older folks don’t do that so I hope it is on a genuine network on the television. lol
I really hope that another network picks up this show. I love all the characters and the storyline….please bring it back!
I’m so SICK of all the networks only caring about the 18-49 age group! What about the rest of our opinions? You know, those of us who actually STAY HOME & WATCH TV, oh, & buy the products of the sponsors!!! Do you hear that sponsors?
THANKS ABC…. ANOTHER STUPID DECISION! You’ll cancel something we all enjoy & put on lots of crap no one wants to watch! RENEW this show!!!!!
I think Stumptown is a great show. I really hope another channel picks this up.
I liked Stumptown so much that I bought the first season on Amazon Prime Video and watched each episode as they were put up for streaming. I was looking forward to season 2 and would absolutely follow it if it ends up on another network or better yet on a streaming service. This is not the first time ABC has canceled a series that I liked.
My family loved stump town we were looking 4ward 2 another season seems all the gd shows needing taken off 4 reality & game show type things. Very disappointing.
One of my favorite new shows from last season. Sure hope a streaming service buys it
I really enjoyed watching Stumptown. Likes others have mentioned you can take all these new reality shows off the air and keep shows that are well written and entertaining.
Absolutely Love Stumptown !!! Would DEFINITELY watch it again!!!
Getting so sick and tired of really good shows being cancelled, meanwhile lots of “horrible” series & Reality shows are kept on!!!!!
Stumptown is a great show, the end of season one with the Mother at the door, come on ABC please don’t leave us Fans stranded!!
WTF?? Another bone-headed move by ABC. Stumptown was, no, is a gem. I hope they find a new home soon. ABC brass? May a pox fall upon you.
Loved Stumptown. There is no female character on TV like Dex. Keeping my fingers crossed that it will find a new home, because I was looking forward to the new season.
I love Stumptown! When there’s a really good show, the network cancels it and they keep all the reality shows (way too many of them as it is). Hope Stumptown can find a new home cause I will definately watch it.
Love Stumptown!!! Everytime we get a great show it gets canceled and they keep the crap shows..☹. Hope someone picks it up !!!