FX cancels 'Lights Out'
Boxing drama KO'ed after one season due to low ratings; final 2 episodes to air
Holt McCallany and Stacy Keach in "Lights Out," which FX canceled today.
FX has canceled "Lights Out," but the channel has done it in that usual FX way, which means the boxing drama's final two episodes of this season will air as scheduled. There just won't be a second season.
The writing has unfortunately been on the wall for a while with this one. The ratings have only been slightly better than they were for "Terriers," and what we learned with "Terriers" is that there's a ratings floor that even FX can't go under for a show its executives love.
I've seen next week's episode already, but not the finale. Based on the way this season has been going, and the very vague comments I've gotten from critics who watched the entire season when FX sent the episodes out a few months ago, it looks like (as with "Terriers") we're going to get enough closure for it to work as a 13-episode miniseries.
(*) One silver lining to this: FX is in the middle of trying to adapt the Brian Michael Bendis comic book "Powers," and McCallany is one of the few actors on TV who A)has the build to play main character Christian Walker (who looks like this), and B)as demonstrated on this show, has the charisma and dramatic chops to pull it off. And now he's available for consideration.
This is two failures in a row for FX with dramas that were critically well-regarded and seemed to fit nicely in the channel's testosterone-heavy brand. Of course, that's coming off a year in which FX also introduced "Justified" and "Louie," so it's not a prolonged slump. But I'm going to try to talk with FX president John Landgraf later today, and I'll be curious to hear if the "Terriers"/"Lights Out" back-to-back experience is going to change anything about how his people develop dramas. (UPDATE: I talked to him and he did, indeed, have some thoughts on why it didn't work and what lessons can be applied to future FX shows.)
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March 24, 2011 at 4:20PM EST Reply to CommentIm bummed about the cancellation but thaks the lord that FX lets shows finish out their run.
I hope that we see the Lights\Death Row re-match that we all want.
I kind of wish that more networks would commit to 1 season shows. I think that with some work, Rubicon, Terriers, and possibly Lights Out would all be teriffic mini-series\1 season shows.
Why dont more networks (especially cable networks) push the envelope and commin to doing something a little edgy or different?
That said, kudos to FX for airing an awesome boxing drama.
March 24, 2011 at 4:21PM ESTShoulda used spellcheck
sepinwall One-season shows, unfortunately, don't make any financial sense in this business model. Until someone figures out how to get on, get off and make a profit, the goal is going to be for things to run as long as possible.
March 24, 2011 at 4:21PM EST
March 24, 2011 at 4:23PM ESTThankfully FX does this; I dont think that CBS/FOX/ABC/NBC would.
J. PItts But what about the UK business model? Don't they routinely have shows that last 1, maybe two seasons?
March 24, 2011 at 4:58PM ESTDH How the Brits pull off the one-season business model successfully? I've seen a number of BBC series have good / short runs of 6-8-10 episodes.
March 24, 2011 at 5:00PM EST
March 24, 2011 at 5:07PM EST
March 24, 2011 at 5:18PM ESTanyways, the bbc is taxpayer\tv license funded. there are a number of 1 season shows and a number of series that are 6 episodes a season. they seem to run a number of imported american shows so they dont need a while lot of original programming.
ken sly
March 24, 2011 at 4:20PM EST Reply to CommentWell, I won't have to rush to catch up on the ones sitting on my DVR.
March 24, 2011 at 4:21PM ESTMike
March 24, 2011 at 4:21PM EST Reply to CommentUnfortunate. Another great show goes by the wayside. With the recent success of The Fighter I'm surprised this show didn't resonate w/ audiences.
Jay
March 24, 2011 at 4:23PM EST Reply to CommentI'm not exactly surprised by this news, or truthfully even that disappointed. I've enjoyed this show for the most part, but I never really thought it had a long-term future. Oh well, I'll enjoy the last two episodes and then go back to waiting for news of "Terriers" on DVD.
Joseph
March 24, 2011 at 4:25PM EST Reply to CommentI enjoy the show, to varying degrees, but never thought it would really work as an ongoing series, at least not as it's currentlt structured. But great idea re: McCallany as Detective Walker, he could totally pull that off!
Jeff
March 24, 2011 at 4:37PM EST Reply to CommentNot as disappointing as the Terriers cancellation and not all that surprising. How far could a series centered around a 40 year old boxer have gone, especially with the aforementioned problems dealing with Lights' family? Alan, had you heard any rumors about what a possible season 2 would have covered?
Zach L I'd venture a guess the following season would have been Lights defending his belt, possibly showing him slip further and further into dementia. You could even throw out the idea of Lights getting fed up with his brother and he goes off to manage another fighter...and now I'm sad thinking of all missed storyline opportunities lol
March 24, 2011 at 4:46PM ESTchudleycannonfodder Plans for Season 2: http://www.digitalspy.com/ustv/news/a310917/lights-out-exec-planning-season-two.html
March 24, 2011 at 9:08PM ESTchuchundra
March 24, 2011 at 4:39PM EST Reply to CommentCan't say I'm really surprised...or disappointed.
The was really a mess in many ways. There was a lot of characters doing stupid things to drive the plot along and a lot of random, boring, worthless or just downright unbeleivable plot lines that just distracted you from the main thrust of the story. Far too many "filler" episodes for a thirteen episode run.
I'm not sorry that I wathed it and I'll stay through to see how it turrns out, but I doubt that I'd have much interest in watching a second season.
Zach L
March 24, 2011 at 4:49PM EST Reply to CommentWell thats crummy news. I liked this show a great deal, and thought it was a starmaking show for Holt. Hopefully he will turn up in some more shows. But between this and FNL coming to an end, are there any good sports shows left on TV? (Cowherds CBS show in the Fall DOES NOT count!)
Hans
March 24, 2011 at 4:55PM EST Reply to CommentGreat, they air an episode one day that finally made me really care about the show and cancel it the next. It´s like they are going out of their way to make me feel bad. Thanks FX.
Randolph Cleaver
March 24, 2011 at 4:56PM EST Reply to CommentBoxing drama KO'ed after one season due to low ratings...And dumb writing.
I am actually relieved.
Mark
March 24, 2011 at 5:29PM EST Reply to CommentI was in on Lights out for about 4 or 5 episodes, then forced myself to watch another two, then dropped it completely.
The story just wasn't horribly compelling, and as Sepinwall pointed out, the acting of Leary's family was just off the charts awful.
Too bad though, because McCallany was good, and I quite like Stacy Keach.
John W
March 24, 2011 at 5:34PM EST Reply to CommentThat sucks. I really liked the show.
DB Cooper
March 24, 2011 at 6:12PM EST Reply to CommentOkay, here's the question: I've been piling episodes up on the ol' Tivo. I have them all -- are they worth watching?
The cancellation is actually irrelevant to me - I'm perfectly content with a short-run, high-quality show like Terriers.
But as I've avoided the substantive posts for the show, this is my first chance to ask: Is this worth 10 hours of my time?
March 24, 2011 at 6:24PM EST Reply to CommentIsn't this an unusual move for FX? Announcing the cancellation of a show before it's over? I think that's a first for FX.
Blake
March 24, 2011 at 9:08PM EST Reply to CommentPowers! Don't know what the SFX budget will be for that, but it's one of the best 5 American comics still running. I don't like boxing enough to watch a show about it, so I'm happy about your silver lining.
lztouchthedream
March 24, 2011 at 9:08PM EST Reply to CommentPretty much expected, especially after Terriers. I can't help but think if FX got their on demand shit together (i.e. putting the previous weeks episode up before the next one airs) their numbers would be more solid. I missed one episode, and now I'm forced to see each over a week after they air.
Dezbot
March 26, 2011 at 7:31PM EST Reply to CommentWell, this news bums me out. Still going to watch the rest of the season to see what happens, though.
March 29, 2011 at 10:22PM EST Reply to CommentWhat is with those People? Can't they let good programming run it's course???!!!
Smitty
December 9, 2012 at 1:55AM EST Reply to CommentGreat show...good strong acting, good dialogue. This isn't the first time a station didn't know what to keep. Another sad day.
Smitty
December 9, 2012 at 1:56AM EST Reply to CommentGreat show...good strong acting, good dialogue. This isn't the first time a station didn't know what to keep. Another sad day.Write a comment...