After four seasons on ABC Family, teen drama Wildfire ends tonight. Devoted fans are understandably upset. So, why is it leaving?
Wildfire debuted back on June 25, 2005 and revolves around the world of horse racing. The series began with teen Kristine “Kris” Furillo (Genevieve Cortese) coming to the Raintree Farm from a juvenile detention center.
Season one averaged just over a million weekly viewers and season two increased to 1.56 million, an increase of over 50%. Unfortunately, season three dropped back to the first year’s numbers. Season four debuted in January. Soonafter, ABC Family announced that Wildfire had been cancelled.
Fans have petitioned ABC Family to continue the series. The folks at SaveWildfire.com have sent truckloads of hay, 500 cast iron horseshoes, apples, rope, and 1,000 pounds of carrots. Unfortunately, it’s higher ratings and additional viewers that the show really needs. As CBS learned from Jericho, a passionate campaign doesn’t necessarily mean that viewers will tune in.
ABC Family’s media relations manager, Amy Maloney, told the Albuquerque Journal that the fan support doesn’t come as much of a surprise. She said, “It is par for the course, in a sense that we’ve always known there is a strong fan base for the show… It’s flattering. It’s exciting.” In other words, Wildfire has a core audience but it’s not big enough for ABC Family.
Word is that Lionsgate, the company that produces the series, is looking for a new home for Wildfire. If the series is renewed, producer Lester Berman the cast and crew are ready. He says, “We’re saving a lot of the set dressing and the uniforms. We’re putting it in storage just in case there’s a miracle that [Wildfire] comes back.”
When the cast and crew wrapped their filming in June 2007, they were unsure if they would be back for season five. A few months ago, Cortese spoke proudly of Wildfire and the season four closer. She said, “I think we have one of the best casts and crews in television… On the other hand, we also end (this season) on a really cool note. I’d be glad to go back and get to work again with people I love, but if not, at least I’ll know we did a great job.” Stay tuned! 
Cancelling this show is CRAZY!!!!!! We love it!!! You have only had this show on the air for four years. We have fallen in love with the characters and now you take it away. The majority of us have been waiting four years for Junior and Kris to get married, how can you not show us a part of their married life. How can you not see that so much more could be written, for example, Kris getting one of the horses to the Kentucky Derby, etc… How much of a viewing audience does ABC Family need to keep a… Read more »
I absolutely agree I loved this show i binge watched it .. I so hope they continue with the show ..
I have watched WILDFIRE since it began and it is a wonderful family show. I am very upset about it going off the air. We have too many teenage shows on partying and drinking and drugs and not enough with the values shown on this program. The characters are wonderful to watch and I will truly miss this program. Please try and find a place for it. This was the first program that I had watched on the Family channel and I loved it!
If the rumors are true that ABC Family is cancelling Wildfire because of the increased salaries they would be paying the cast , it is a shame!!!!! They should be more concerned about their fan base and how upset everyone is that this show is being cancelled. There are very few shows that I am comfortable letting my kids watch “outside of Disney” , but Wildfire was one of them. ABC needs to keep shows like this, not get rid of them. I enjoy shows like Greek, but I’m an adult, I do not let my kids watch it. There… Read more »
ABC Family is making a big mistake cancelling Wildfire. It is one of the few shows left that everyone as a family can sit down and enjoy. Parents can tune in with their family and not have to worry about what is going to be shown or said. I know every week I watch with my family its the one night a week we can count on all being together, it has helped keep us connected. With the right promotion, Wildfire can gain a ton more followers. Please help us save wildfire and visit savewildfire.com. If Wildfire cannot continue on… Read more »
What abc family doesn’t realize is that most of the wildfire fans only watch their channel because of wildfire. So cancelling wildfire is causing them to lose a lot of viewers. I believe that all of their ratings will be dropped. It isn’t fair for them to add in all of these new shows when people don’t want them to cancel wildfire. So what is the point in them canceling wildfire? it would save them a whole lot of money just to keep it and not add in all of these other dumb shows.
My name is Sara. I watched the 4th season on monday it was great . please dont cancel the show i want it back . I like watching episode after episode. it is nice to see that cast that i watched since 2005 and now.
DONT CANCEL WILD FIRE
Wildfire isn’t just for the younger people, I’m a retired person and I totally love the show. This show is like a breath of fresh air compared to what else is on ABC Family and other channels. I’m a member of Save Wildfire group and we’re working as hard as we can to save the show.
I’ve watched Wildfire all four seasons . It?s what brought me to ABCFAMILY in the first place. It?s cancelation will also be what makes me stop watching ABCFAMILY. They look to be on the trend of bringing in shows about teenage sex, drugs, parties, and that’s not what my idea of a ?family? show is. Wildfire has inspired many and it still inspires us today. It emphasizes the family unit, the struggles, the triumphs, the letdowns. It shows romance and love, not lust and casual sex. Not only does it bring in the racing world, but the star of the… Read more »
This is the best show on tv and the only show i watch. I’m so happy to hear how much the cast and crew want to come back. They are waiting for a miracle just like me and I really believe we can do it! I really want a fifth season, there are still so many stories left to tell. We need more people to tune in and watch the show. It’s needs to be promoted better and maybe even sponsored. The media in the Burbank area should be contacted about the campaign. Save wildfire!
I think that ABC Family real gem is Wildfire. The characters actually care about life and ensuring families survival. The horseracing lifestyle has not been portrayed on television in along time. Yet ABC Family has turned its back on it, cancelling the show. ABC family is turning against the family for beer plotline on on their show Greek. Its a real disppointment. Wildfire was responsible for their growth in viewership. They need to The ratings were not the issue. Yes, they did go down in year three, but show insiders have told us Wildfire regained viewers this year. It all… Read more »
Hey, my wife loves wildfire and I kinda like it to. Just find a new home for it and lets get it back on. Just do it!
Thank You, G. Hefner
I felt it was a good ending but not the ending i wanted. There is so much to do with this show and it really gets me mad because its one of the those few shows that have nothing to do with sex and rock and roll.
I WANT IT BACK
My name is Shannon and yesterday night i watched wildfire’s season’s finale at both times, after the second time ti came on,i got sad. In the last ten minutes of it when the wedding started, and the music, it was so good in all the past seasons why let it end, it ended so well, but with so many things left hanging, like tina sharp’s favor, and john zach, and jace her brother, and her mom barb, and her dad, and pete, so many things else, that they could use to make another season of wilfire with. Then again when… Read more »
Please find a new home for Wildfire. This is a great famiy show. I can’t believe this show has been cancelled!
I am one of the fans behind the campaign this is to all the fans out there. Fans from around the world have united in attempt to save our show Wildfire on ABC Family. For a list of things you can do to help save the show you can go to http://www.SaveWildfire.com and click on campaign. The website was just recently updated with new information and new things that you can do to help. You can also donate money at http://www.SaveWildfire.com to buy more things to send to ABC Family. Campaign Message Board Headquarters is at http://www.genevievecortese.com/forum/index.php Visit it to… Read more »