FOX has cancelled a number of series this week and some have been a bit of a surprise. Lie to Me, Human Target, and The Chicago Code were all canned and most had been expecting at least one to survive. One cancellation that doesn’t come as a shock however is Traffic Light. No one was expecting the low-rated sitcom to be back for a second season.
Traffic Light follows the lives of three men who’ve been friends since college — Mike (David Denman), Adam (Nelson Franklin), and Ethan (Kris Marshall). Now in their thirties, they find themselves in different places in their lives and various stages of relationships. Mike’s married to Lisa (Liza Lapira), Adam lives with girlfriend Callie (Aya Cash), and Adam’s still the perpetual bachelor.
The premiere of Traffic Light attracted just a 1.9 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 4.59 million viewers. In week two, the numbers fell more than 25%, to a 1.4 rating and 3.49 million. With figures like these, it was pretty clear that Traffic Light was doomed.
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The ratings for subsequent episodes kept falling and even went as low as a 0.9 in the demo and 2.24 million viewers. The newbie sitcom averages a pitiful 1.5 in the demo and just 3.66 million viewers. It’s currently the lowest-rated series on the network, even ranking below Fringe which airs on Friday nights.
FOX has now officially cancelled Traffic Light after one season and 13 episodes. The final unaired episode of the series is scheduled to air next Tuesday, May 17th. The last episode produced, titled “Tommy Guns,” ran last night.
For now, FOX plans to air repeats of Traffic Light at least through the end of June. In light of this cancellation news, that schedule may change.
What do you think? Are you sorry that Traffic Light didn’t get a second season? Is the series better than the ratings indicate?
Image courtesy FOX.
what a shame..i love TL. now that and stargate universe are gone. i dont think m gonna watch tv anymore
Also, this was one of my ‘picks’ for best new comedies, which really means…it’s doomed.
My jaw literally dropped when I saw this was cancelled. I thought this was kind of like Seinfeld as a couples show. I guess good writing and acting isn’t recognized anymore…big surprise…just add another csi or law & order to the schedule!
Boo!!! I thought this serious was hilarious…finally got my boyfriend to watch it with me and he actually enjoyed it too. LAME!! Why does everyone keep cancelling the good sitcoms!!
I agree gavin, Traffic Light was great. I am starting to get bored with Glee so I don’t tune in as much but I remember TL is on right after. I get the witty humor and the character development. I coaxed my wife into watching and she likes it too. We really identified with the characters and hope the show gets picked up somewhere. When one door closes another window opens…
I meant to say FX not spike. I dont know what i was thinking.
It was one of my fav TV shows! Loved the character and the writing was so witty! I don’t know how it had such low ratings…what I’ve seen a lot of people liked it, too!
It always amazes me that some shows seem to make it and others dont. Traffic light was a great comedy. However, i found the show by accident. I never saw advertisements, or at least i cant remember any if i did see one. It was poorly marketed, and i guess they just assumed glee leading in would be enough. I did not watch glee, and i assume the people who like traffic light dont like glee as well. This show was great. I hope it gets picked up by a cable network. It reminds me of something i would find… Read more »
Good riddance, Fox. If Breaking In gets un-canceled, that could replace Traffic Light.
My 8yr old daughter and i love Traffic Light and are very dissapointed to see it cancelled. It was not given enough of a chance to gain momentum and i absolutely believe it could have really been a real success. The writing was too smart and cleaver for the majority of schmucks watching the tube. This is a real crying shame.
Really sorry to see Traffic Light is cancelled. Much better sitcom than all the other new ones this year.
The show needs more time for viewers to discover it. Best “couples” sitcom of the season!!!!
My husband and I love Traffic Light. It is witty and we see ourselves in the episodes. I am so disappointed to hear that it was canceled. It is an unsung gem.
I agree! I guess viewers like to settle for low-brow comedy and they “don’t get” when a comedy is brilliantly written…too bad for those of us who “got it”.
I think its a pity “Traffic Light” wasnt given a real chance. You say “Glee” opened for it, but in reality its core demographic isn’t watchin glee, and TL’s really too intelligent of a comedy for anyone who can stomach the always terrible, “Raising Hope”… Bah
Sorry to see it go. My wife and I love this show and watch it every week. We look forward to it, and love the charachters. It sucks it has to go, seems that so many other shows that aren’t nearly as good get to stay on!
Would it make a difference if I went down to Fox and cried like when Kizzie’s baby was taken away on Roots? I think this was the best new show since Big Bang Theory. Please do not cancel it.