and the network bloodbath continues!!!
ABC Cancels 'Happy Endings'
ABC has canceled Happy Endings after three seasons. Despite a loyal and vocal following, the Sony Pictures Television comedy will not continue on at the network.
The ensemble comedy was moved in its third season to be part of ABC's Tuesday comedy block, however, the lineup was the first to crumble against similar efforts on Fox and NBC. ABC shifted to reality on Tuesdays and moved Happy Endings to Fridays, where it most recently finished its run with a back-to-back episode burn-off.
STORY: THR's Complete Upfront Scorecard
Its May 3 season finale scored a 0.8 and 0.7 rating among adults 18-49, a modest uptick. Season-to-date it's averaged a 1.5 rating among adults 18-49 in Live+Seven Day returns, posting more DVR growth after moving to the little-watched Friday hour.
Sony TV has committed to shopping the critical darling to cable, with USA Network among those expressing an interest in continuing on with the series, which ABC recently marketed with a "Save Happy Endings" tag line.
"We love those two shows. They're incredibly distinctive, and they’re water-cooler shows," ABC boss Paul Lee said in January, also referring to the now-defunct Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23.
PHOTOS: 'Cougar Town' and 12 Other TV Series Saved by a Network Switch
Still in Happy Endings' corner is a particularly aggressive studio in Sony TV. The producers previously facilitated the move of struggling Cougar Town from ABC to TBS and have been instrumental in keeping perpetually on-the-bubble Community on NBC.
A midseason entry in 2011, Happy Endings finishes its ABC run having produced 57 episodes. It was created by David Caspe, who serves as co-showrunner with fellow eps Jonathan Groff and, until recently, Josh Bycel. The latter inked an overall deal at NBC/Universal TV in March.