A&E has decided to get rid of another original drama series. After two years on the air, they’re dropping The Cleaner.
In The Cleaner, Benjamin Bratt plays William Banks, a recovering drug addict from Los Angeles. Following the birth of his daughter, Banks made a deal with God that he would end his drug use and help others beat their addictions as well. He and his team of recovering addicts use whatever means necessary to help end others’ addictions. Others in the cast include Grace Park, Esteban Powell, Kevin Michael Richardson, Amy Price-Francis, Liliana Mumy, and Brett DelBuono.
The drama kicked off on July 15, 2008 and attracted 2.58 million viewers with a 1.0 rating in the 18-49 demo. Season one averaged 1.1 million viewers in initial viewings and 4.2 million through multiple airings. A&E boasted that The Cleaner was the network’s highest rated original drama to date among adults 18-49 and 25-54.
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When the show was renewed for a second season, Bob DeBitetto, A&E’s President and General Manager, said, “The Cleaner has garnered critical acclaim and a loyal audience in its first season… Its authentic, dramatic storytelling combined with superb acting, led by an exceptional performance by Benjamin Bratt, has struck a chord with A&E viewers. It is exactly the sort of high quality, engaging programming that our fans have come to expect.”
Now, following a drop in ratings for season two, A&E has changed its mind about The Cleaner. The second round of episodes concluded on September 15th and, according to THR, the cable channel has decided not to order a third.
No reason was given for the cancellation but A&E typically draws more viewers for cheaper, unscripted programming. The Beast, another A&E drama, was cancelled earlier this year, months prior to star Patrick Swayze’s death.
What do you think? Are you sorry to see The Cleaner go? Was the show any less compelling or watchable in season two?
Truly disappointing. It was a great show. What happened to putting quality drama on tv?
BTW, typing is my weakness, not spelling.
I’m devastated!!! I truly loved the show!
Sorry to find out that the Cleaner is not coming back. I enjoyed the realness of it all in that there were some happy endings and some not. I enjoyed the realness in how the Banks family coped with his addiction and his job. Since it is/was based on a true story I would have liked to have seen how the relationships evolved and developed. And no the Show was not any less compelling or watchable in season two… it did get more intense and real, all just more of what I liked about the show. It was a show… Read more »
Please bring The Cleaner back. It was a great show that spoke to a wide audence each week about subjects no one wants to talk about. You had great story lines, and awesome cast. It was a great hour of TV.
I am so angry that they canceled The Cleaner. I have a nephew that is a heroin addict and the gives our family hope that it can be done, you can recover and there is help. I will not watch A&E anymore, they are like the other channels that can see when they have something good.
I cannot believe that The Cleaner wasn’t drawing enough viewers to keep the dollars flowing into A&E’s coffers. Come on guys, reconsider! This was a favorite to many (like me) and your decision is wrong-headed.
I agree that it is shame. The cleaner helps me to undertand stuff. You know, I am addicted to alcohol but I want to get out of it and even to become someone like William. Once I am out of this, I want to fight against addiction, and thanks to no-one but this real life show. I am upset knowing that it is cancelled but it exists and we should make our life becoming somethig of the same kind.
another great show cancelled!! what are these network exc’s thinking? this show was so damn good. it boggles the mind that TPTB cancelled thought provoking well acted shows and replace it with mind numbing voyeurisitic,reality tv. watching kirsie ally make fun of her weight and being a complete idiot IS NOT intertaining television, at least not for intelligent people. a&e isn’t the only one guilty of this. a few of my other favorites are gone as well. bring this show back.
I agree with Mike – we are overloaded with craptastic “Reality tv” but the truly great shows get cancelled. This makes me sad. I hope A&E has a change of heart…….
Well, there goes another great program. I guess I can watch dancin’ with the stars or maybe American idle or WWE Monday Night RAW. What a joke. First Meerkat Manor and now this. What’s next ? The deadliest catch ?!?!?
the one show that was worth watching during the summer and now it is cancelled. which is really too bad. there are way worse show to cancel than the cleaner. really disappointed in the network decesion. bad choice on a and e.
This was a great show!!!! I hate these networks getting rid of quality tv. I kept waiting and waiting for it to come back on. Glad I decided to research the death of another show.
I loved the show,it related to real life,the acting was great,brought to tears many times,tired of them cancelling the good programs!
I LOVED the Cleaner, this just sucks!!!!! I just lost my all time fav Nip/Tuck and now the Cleaner? All I have left now is Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice, if they go…..I will sell my TV for sure!!
Can’t believe this has been cancelled this is the only show on tv that I ever looked foward to seeing each season