The Class aired its last first run episode Monday night on CBS, right according to schedule. The New Adventures of Old Christine will replace it in the 8:30pm timeslot starting March 12th. Does this mean that The Class has been cancelled? No. At least, not yet.
The Class debuted on Monday, September 18, 2006 on CBS. The sitcom revolves around a group of 28-year-olds who were part of the same third grade class 20 years before. After being reunited by Ethan (Jason Ritter), the former classmates begin to get to know each other once again and become intertwined. The series also stars Lizzy Caplan, Heather Goldenhersh, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Sean Maguire, Jon Bernthal, Andrea Anders and Lucy Punch.
The series, created by the co-creator of Friends David Crane and his partner Jeffrey Klarik (Mad About You), had been the subject of a bidding war by several networks. It premiered at 8pm (a difficult slot for a new show) and attracted an under-whelming 7.6 million households. Viewership dropped for the next two weeks to an average of 6.1 million. CBS moved it to 8:30, switching places with How I Met Your Mother and the ratings haven’t really improved, averaging under six million households weekly.
The Class has gone through some challenges behind-the-scenes as well. Realizing that the main cast of eight former classmates (combined with many recurring characters) was unwieldy, the producers sought to refocus the show on the characters’ romantic relationships. As a result, they limited the recurring role appearances and wanted to make series regular Lucy Punch (reporter Holly Ellenbogen) a recurring character as well. Punch declined and subsequently left the series. She was removed from the opening credits after episode 13. Though her effeminate husband Perry (Sam Harris) has appeared, Holly’s absence hasn’t been addressed.
If you’re counting, you know that only 19 episodes of The Class have aired. Though it’s an unusual number for a TV season, that’s all there are. CBS gave the series an initial order for 13 episodes and then ordered only six more in November.
Will The Class return for a second season? CBS isn’t expected to announce its plans until the “network upfronts” in May when they announce their Fall schedule. Right now the prospects for a second season of The Class don’t look good.
Right now, CBS has a two-hour block of four sitcoms. Rules of Engagement, which debuted last month, has done extremely well holding onto Two and a Half Men’s typical 10+ million households audience. Before going on hiatus, The New Adventures of Old Christine was attracting solid numbers and is expected to do well when it returns this Monday. How I Met Your Mother is the weakest show in the group audience-wise but has consistently outperformed The Class. Right now, there’s no good reason for CBS to dump any of those other shows, which essentially leaves no room for a second season of The Class.
Is there hope? Well, if CBS decides to add some sitcoms on another night then that would create an opening in the schedule. Right now, though their schedule is overflowing with crime procedural and reality shows, they generally get great ratings. CBS could also order a second season of The Class and use them to replace Christine or Mother reruns mid-season.
On the upside, the series won the People’s Choice Award for Best New Comedy. CBS generally seems to like the show and has faith in the creative team. The final decision will likely have to do with how the rest of their new Fall schedule shapes up. Will Kat and Ethan get together? Will Ritchie marry Lina? Will Duncan and Nicole get back together? Will Kyle have more to do than pal around with Ethan? Stay tuned!
I am having “The Class” withdrawls!! Each week I do a search to see if the show is coming back on. I even got my husband to sit and watch the show with me! This show is the new “Friends.” The entire cast is hysterical and the story line was going great! How could they cancel with such a huge cliff hanger??!! Please, we are all begging you to not cancel this show!!
Keep the class!!!!! it’s my favorite show and all of my friends love it too! it’s so much better than those other sitcoms on monday nights. how could you even think about cancelling??!!
PLEASE DON’T CANCEL THE CLASS!!!! MONDAY NIGHT TV WAS JUST STARTING TO GET GOOD!!
Like so many comments from others I love “The Class.” From the first episode I was hooked. I’ve TIVOed every episode and showed them to friends who had given up on TV sitcoms. Everyone agreed it was the funniest, warmest, most intelligent sitcom in years. The cast is great and like “Friends”, it has a ambience the makes people feel there is hope for TV comedy. After the first show I sent a message to CBS telling them to realize they had a hit series on their hands and to give it a chance. Most people I talk with don’t… Read more »
Please bring “The Class” back for Season 2!! This was the only show worth turning the tv on for on Monday nights. It’s one of the few shows that made me LAUGH OUT LOUD! The writers are brilliant and the show will “catch on” if given a chance!! I’ll gladly sign the petition to keep “THE CLASS” going!
Please keep the class! It is one of the best shows on television right now. I love it!
Go to the web site to sign the petition. Be one of the first to sign, and then send it to all of your friends and loved ones. Tell them, “If you love me, you will sign it!” 🙂 Have a wonderful day!
If you can’t click on the web site, copy and paste the following address:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savetheclass
This is the very best comedy show that there has been on TV for a long time! I looked forward to watching it every Monday. They can’t nor they shouldn’t cancel it!
Let’s start a petition to save the class! It is the best new show this season! I can’t understand why somebody would want to take that away from us! What can I do to prove that it needs to stay on the air???
I love “The Class” I can’t believe they would even think of cancelling it. It is one of, if not, the best new show on t.v. I tried watching every Monday night!!!!!!!!!! I don’t really care for the “Old Christine” show that has replaced it!!!!!!!
I hope CBS brings it back!!!!!!!!!
I only started watching CBS this year because of The Class. If they don’t continue with the show I think they will lose a lot of viewers on Monday nights. I can’t believe how hard I laugh every time I watch an episode! Richie kills me. He is best comedic role on t.v. I like it more than any 1/2 hour comedy show in the last 20 years. I think that it is better than Friends. I find the characters more accessible. I relate to them. And most of them live more realistic lifestyles than the Friends characters did. (i.e.… Read more »
I second everyone’s sentiments about how wonderful The Class was and will be so upset if it is cancelled. It was my favorite sitcom. I never missed an episode. I even loved watching the repeats. It is so well cast and the writing is brilliant and hilarious. PLEASE DON’T CANCEL!!!!
[i]The Class[/i] is the first sitcom I’ve ever watched that actually leaves me hungry for more. If CBS cancels the show, I shall be sorely disappointed.
I have to say this I understand that not every show gets to live. the class however should be one show that does. I love the fact that there is a show i can laugh out loud to while i watch it. I really hope to see more episodes. don’t give up on it.
I absoulutely love The Class!!! I have not missed one episode! Everytime my husband and I watch it we laugh out loud, literally!! I really don’t care if the reporter is gone from the show. I didn’t even miss her. Just when we get hooked on the show they end it. I really hope they do not cancel the show. THE CLASS was a show we made sure we were home in time to watch it, took the phone off the hook and turned off cell phones. That Richie is hilarious!!!!!!!! I will be very upset if they cancel the… Read more »