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! 
i think that people that would cut the show that thousands wached. i pput up a pool and it sed that almost 90% of the u.s. wached the show from the start. i loved the show so much that i would wach it record it and wchet before i went to school and after. now i think that they should put it back on my sis it perolized and her crys every night cuz she cant wach a neew show of wildfire. she wach evrry singel one and that knows every word you should her her she actit out in… Read more »
Bring back the show.My son and I love the show and we haven seen the last three episodes.From the comments from the other people I can tell it is not the end.I want to keep seen more.It is my favorite show ever
i have season 1 and 2 and am waiting for season 3 to be released in the stores. You people honestly have no idea how much i love this show! Obviously all of these other people commenting on this web page love it too so don’t take away this show!! it inspires alot of people and is unique in its own way! GET IT BACK ON TV TO MAKE ME AND EVERYONE ELSE HAPPPYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please don’t cancel the show! 1 of the best ones out there.
I couldn’t wait for Monday’s to watch Wildfire. I enjoyed the show because I love horses; have a couple of my own. I loved watching Kris ride, especially when she took Wildfire, and the police were after her. There are so many young girls who love horses and there are no shows on TV that show the love and care horse givers give. I am glad that Kris fnally made a choice and choise Junior over Matt. I was getting a little impatiet with her. I’m gland there’s no heavy sex or swearing going on. This was a real good… Read more »
I’m sad that this showb has been cancelled because it was truly original compared to other series in the sense that it revolved around horses and the evolution of the characters throughout the seasons but at least I got the chance to watch it for as long as I did and hope the ending is what I had anticipated
I was so hoping that Wildfire would not be canceled. It was one of the best TV programs I’ve really ever seen . Please bring it BACK. Great actors and great story line. And best of all no profanity to get their point across. Much Love from Georgia.
I have been watching Wildfire for since the season 2 and it was a very good show. I have a grandson who ask to see wildfire daily he loves the horses. ABC Family should have had more previews showing not only on ABC Family channel but also ABC affiliated channels as well. Wildfire, Lincoln Heights, Falcon Beach are the favorites for this channel. Middleman never should have made to ABC Family, this is one of the worst acting shows on ABC FAmily. I wonder are they going to cancel that show. It dosen’t hold a candle to “WILDFIRE” just like… Read more »
I absolutely loved this show and I really enjoyed the series finale, but come on…. that was not an ending, to me that was more of a beginning!!!! PLEASE… How can you end there. Obviously, ABC Family does not care what their viewers want, so maybe another TV station will care, lets hope someone else will have the smarts to pick this up!!!
I thought it was really a shame when I realized the network was cancelling this show. I am 56 and my daughters are 30 and 26, we all have watched since the show first started. We happen to have our own horse ranch, but we still like the show for its different characters and situations. This was one of a few shows that were family oriented and atleast the players in it are adults. It is really sad how there are so many high school teen shows that are nothing but sex, alcohol and lies. We also like the show… Read more »
I think it is very sad that they canceled this show, so much more could of been done. I also agree that it is their own fault that it didn’t have a bigger fan base. I myself never saw this advertised and if they did, it must of been very rare. I would not of even known about it if my friend had not told me to watch it. This was a fabulous show, I really wish ABC Family would reconsider bringing this back. I think if they put a little more effort into advertising, it would have a lot… Read more »
ABC Family has had really good programing…but not anymore. I think the network is run by morans. Most of their newer shows are pure crap! Wildfire was a reat series and I think Kyle XY is also very good…whenever they decide to air the next season. I enjoy the CW network shows much more than ABC Family and CW’s DVD’s are released on a logical regular basis. I wll no longer watch any shows aired on ABC Family because of the network’s gross encompetence. I have also contacted many of thier various show’s sponsors and told them that I think… Read more »
I don’t think that “Wildfire” should be cancelled. Ther are alot of people that enjoy this show. It is a good clean show. The audience probably would like to know about what happens to Chris and Jr. and Matt and Dani and if Jean and Pablo actually get together. I think that there should be more teenage shows like this. Nowadays, there is too much sex and violence in other teen shows, and I think that this is the best teenage show that I have ever seen. And I am a senior citizen, and I just love this show, and… Read more »
maybe there werent enough veiwers because it was on a school day and a day when most people have activities after school i loved this show they have to bring it back my whoel town watched it yoiu could walk up to a random person and ask them if they watched it and they would say yes
Im irish and wildfire has three episodes left before it ends. i love the program. there is brilliant acting in it and its not boreing. its great in every way. i think i will cry when it ends. I HOPE and pray that it comes back………… Save Wildfire!!!!!!!! Please…