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?
I can’t believe they have cancelled this show. I love The Cleaner. Why would they do this. Know I feel like it’s unfinished business.
The Cleaner is an excellent show -one of the few I made a point to watch every week. The networks think we should pay several hundred dollars in cable fees each year for a lineup of reality TV, infomercials and fake news broadcasts featuring mannequins reading press releases. The only ones benefitting are the networks- no need to pay for quality. A & E should reconsider their decision to cancel The Cleaner, which has excellent stories, dialog and acting. It is based on an interesting premise (which also happens to be true) and deals honestly with an important problem that… Read more »
The Cleaner is really the only reason I watch television. The entire cast does an excellent job at portraying real life drama. It’s raw, honest and captivating. Benjamin Bratt should have won best actor in a drama series. I am seriously disappointed in A & E’s poor decision to discontinue Season 3.
why would they cancel the cleaner it is a great show this is all to weird
What a disappointment. This was the drama show on A&E. I am in shock!!!!
This was a wonderful show. Well written and great cast. Maybe it was cancelled because it hit too close to home for many in show biz !
I LOVED THE CLEANER!!! y in god’s name did they do away w/ it?! It was the most realistis insight into the lives of drug addicts and what they go thru, and it was amazing to watch how someone could have so much simpathy for them to want to help them kick their habits…. it made others think about their loved ones who might have the same problems and want to help them or others. It was sooo wrong to cancel such a good show to keep a bunch of crappy one’s w/ just all old reruns!!! thumbs down to… Read more »
this was a GREAT show!!! why do they let complete morons run these networks and make decisions to keep crappy shows over good ones??? if they were smart they would bring it back!
I
LOVE THE CLEANER!!
Benjamin Bratt is awesome! Why would you cancel this?
Your website also needs improvement. It’s hard to find schedules and future guides.
Don’t cancel the cleaner
I loved The Cleaner….Benjamin Bratt was excellent as well the rest of the cast. The music was good and the story lines were also great. Why oh why would they cancel?
I loved this show and it’s cast.
I can’t believe that their going to cancel this show.
Why do they always cancel the good shows?
I hope they change their mind and give it another chance.
Come on A&E wake up!
I loved The Cleaner…why the hell have they canceled it????
i am so upset at a&e canceling the cleaner for more reality b.s.?! a&e can kiss my ass. to be honest, the cleaner was really the only show worth watching on this sad channel. i hope their ratings get so dismal that the channel crumbles
There was SO much more the writers could have done for this show. This series had several years of new material and left viewers dangling in the wind. A&E made a mistake in my opinion. But how am I? Just a viewer that loved this show. The actors really melded.
This is a “Great” show. We just found it last year….and now it has been cancelled. This is good quality TV that needs to be on the air. Please do the right thing and bring this realistic entertaining show back….PLEASE !!!