There always has to be a first TV show cancellation and this season’s came much later than expected. Though several new shows have been essentially cancelled (Minority Report, Blood & Oil, Truth Be Told, and The Player), they are all still on the air. On Friday the 13th, ABC pulled the plug on their newest (and lowest-rated) drama after just three episodes.
Wicked City is set on the seedy Sunset Strip in the early 1980s. It revolves around Detective Jack Roth (Jeremy Sisto) and his new partner Paco Contreras (Gabriel Luna) as they try to solve a high-profile serial killer case. The rest of the show’s cast includes Ed Westwick, Erika Christensen, Taissa Farmiga, Karolina Wydra, Evan Ross, Anne Winters, and Jaime Ray Newman.
The cancellation was far from a surprise as Wicked City’s ratings were poor right from the start and they dropped lower and lower each week. For whatever reason, the audience just wasn’t interested. However, that’s not to say that the cast and crew didn’t put just as much effort and pride into the series as the creative people who work on a top rated show.
Following the cancellation, some of them took to Twitter to share their thoughts.
Executive producer/showrunner Amy B. Harris
Thank you so much to @ABCNetwork for giving us the chance to work with this amazing cast and crew. This was an Amazing journey. #wicked city
— Amy B Harris (@abharris) November 14, 2015
Executive producer Jon Cassar
The bad news is #WickedCity is cancelled. The good news is ABC is letting us complete 8 episodes so you can watch it all streaming
— Jon Cassar (@joncassar) November 14, 2015
#WickedCity A heartfelt thank you to my cast and crew who worked hard to put out the best show we could for you. I couldn't be prouder of u
— Jon Cassar (@joncassar) November 14, 2015
Executive producer Laurie Zaks
Well not unimportant to the 200 people who loved what they were doing and just lost their jobs. We loved #wickedcity https://t.co/qeCcUo3Noe
— Laurie Zaks (@lzakshorn) November 14, 2015
@abharris @StevenBaigelman @joncassar and me with the lovely @taissafarmiga #partingshots #WickedCitypeople #love pic.twitter.com/UezON0l4w5
— Laurie Zaks (@lzakshorn) November 16, 2015
Executive producer Steven Baigelman
Boom, Laurie. https://t.co/S22BxUKlbf
— Steven Baigelman (@StevenBaigelman) November 14, 2015
The best cast and crew. We did it right. With joy and integrity. Boom! https://t.co/0VY9R2BnC8
— Steven Baigelman (@StevenBaigelman) November 15, 2015
Love these people. Crushing it. https://t.co/yuNsMMcxup
— Steven Baigelman (@StevenBaigelman) November 15, 2015
Producer Sarah Byrd
Best experience I've had working on a show thus far. Feel so lucky to have been a part of #WickedCity https://t.co/cHlGZ0ssjb
— Sarah Byrd (@byrdie5522) November 14, 2015
Love the #WickedCity crew! https://t.co/3vffemlB9z
— Sarah Byrd (@byrdie5522) November 16, 2015
Thank you, Todd! It was an amazing experience! https://t.co/qCq0cW7erO
— Sarah Byrd (@byrdie5522) November 14, 2015
Such a blast working with you! We will definitely do it again! https://t.co/tRdXolZ9eQ
— Sarah Byrd (@byrdie5522) November 14, 2015
Actress Karolina Wydra (Dianne Gibbons on the show)
Thank you. I was very lucky to be part of the best crew and cast. Going to miss them. https://t.co/RSg9N5len3
— Karolina Wydra (@WydraKarolina) November 15, 2015
Actress Sara Mornell (Eileen Miller on the series)
Thank you @joncassar https://t.co/qTWKFqVQ68
— Sara Mornell (@Saramornell) November 15, 2015
Actor Gabriel Luna (Paco Contreras on the show)
https://twitter.com/IamGabrielLuna/status/666388114353459201
What do you think? Will you miss watching Wicked City on ABC? Do you think that ABC could have given the series a better chance?
I was actually totally into the show! And so were several of my friends! Really sad to see it go! Wish they would at least let them finish the season, want an ending!
Shame on ABC. This was mynew favorite show. You obviously don’t know what is good. Next you’ll be canceling general hospital. You are lame and I have quit watching ABC period.
This was the most awesome show in a long time….so stupid of ABC to cancel such an awesome show…It was so intriguing and amazing……Kuddo’s to all the cast of Wicked City…….Keep up the amazing and talented work~~!!!!! This was the most awesome show in a long time and we will miss you all and can not wait to see you all again…..
I think it really sucks that the show was cancelled I loved everything about the show I really wish and can put it back on the air
I loved this show….it was the only ABC show I watched. …..they should have at least finished the season. …
Why am I not surprised that yet another of my fave new shows is gone so fast? Didn’t even have a chance! Gee THANKS ABC. Your network is nothing but a LOSER!
Awwww!!! This sucks! I loved this show & looked forward to seeing it each week :-\ …. Not cool
This is the only show I have gone out of my way to watch! Cannot believe they keep How to Get Away w/Murder yet this one gets cancelled.
There are total of 8 episodes filmed, hope they find an outlet on FX, or some cable channel, not Hulu, or Amazon, etc.
Loved this show .. so very disappointed its not on.
Perhaps this show would be better served on the ID channel. Network television can only push certain subject matter so far. Sounds like cast & crew are enthusiastic enough to continue thru another venue…
Maybe we should have FX pick it up!!!!
I looked forward to “Wicked City” each week. Thanks, ABC for NOT giving the show a chance. I also watched “Blood and Oil”. I do not watch many new show for just this reason. I invest my time, look forward to the next segment and then the shows are canceled! Perhaps the problem is believing in the ratings.
I loved wicked city,thought it was one of the best ones out there, my mom and daughter too!! Was so upset when I heard it was gone !! Loved the fact it took place in the 80’s, maybe the nature of the killings were a little Wicked.!
Wicked City was a classic example of style over substance… The writing was loose, they didn’t take their time to engage the audience and taking their time to make these serial killer’s relationship evolve naturally. It all felt rushed, but it was wrapped up in a big huge nostalgic 80s bow… But if you put that bow on a big stinky **** it’s still a ****. The other issue came from the opposition and controversy it faced via the whiny sticklers who have nothing better to do than to fight to control what is ok and isn’t ok for everyone… Read more »
This is it or me and ABC. Blood and Oil and this show..both had alot of promise. After canceling Forever last year, I was never gong to do ABC again. Thought I would give these a chance…too bad ABC didn”t
That is it for me…