Canceled But Not Forgotten: Forever, The Muppets, and More One-And-Done ABC Shows That Are Popular Today

 

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Parrot Analytics reports the success of a show compared to the average. For example, if Parrot Analytics gives a show an audience demand of 2.0x, that means the show is performing double that of the market average in the United States. These numbers are reported on a rolling average of the past 30 days, and the numbers used here are reflective of those reported on January 7, 2021. Here is a look at some shows recently canceled by ABC that are still performing significantly better than the market average. 

Marvel’s Inhumans
Difference from market average: 5.5x

After multiple speculated high-profile time slots, Marvel’s Inhumans was tasked with airing on Friday nights on ABC and received less-than-stellar reviews. It was on the air for barely more than two months, and despite ABC and Marvel both being owned by Disney, was seen as an obvious cancelation the entire season. 

It would appear unfathomable why the show is performing so well in January 2021 given its poor initial performance. The answer appears to lie in streaming: Marvel’s Inhumans can be streamed on Disney+, Disney’s wildly popular streaming service that launched in late 2019. 

The Muppets
Difference from market average: 8.9x

Like Marvel, The Muppets is a staple in Disney’s brand. The much-hyped series led off ABC’s Tuesday night schedule in 2015, and the premiere was beyond well-sampled. However, The Muppets quickly collapsed in the ratings from there. Over the course of the season, the show took a lengthy hiatus in a retooling and was given a different time slot, neither of which had a positive effect on the ratings. 

With The Muppets now being on Disney+, it appears to have found a new audience. The audience demand is nearly nine times that of the market average, far above those of ABC’s other recently-ill-fated comedies. This probably won’t lead to a revival on ABC, but it does help explain Disney’s consistent output of the Muppets Universe. 

Time After Time
Difference from market average: 2.3x

Time After Time wasn’t a hit on ABC by any means. In fact, the network pulled the show from their schedule after airing just five episodes, all over the course of the same month. It did so bad that ABC didn’t even burn off the remaining seven episodes in the summer. Rather, the Sony-owned AXN had the honors. 

It appears, however, that Time After Time has found a new following on the streaming service CW Seed, which added the show in early 2019. While CW Seed is no Netflix, it appears to have saved Time After Time from fading into complete irrelevancy. 

Forever
Difference from market average: 8.3x

CW Seed also appears to have done wonders for the one-and-done Forever, canceled by ABC in 2015 after enduring marginal ratings. Given Forever was objectively a much stronger show than Time After Time, this higher variance in audience demand from the market average makes sense. Additionally, a trip down memory lane will remind some of fan attempts to have ABC reverse their cancelation decision, indicating there was at least a passionate base at the time of airing. 

Curious for more? Below are tables of the vast majority of shows cut loose by ABC since 2015. They are organized by year, with the final table including only shows which were announced to be ending far in advance of the finale. 

Show	Year Canceled	Audience Demand (x)
Bless This Mess	2020	0.9
Schooled	2020	2.0
Single Parents	2020	2.2
The Baker and the Beauty	2020	0.7

Show	Year Canceled	Audience Demand
For the People	2019	< 0.1
Grand Hotel	2019	0.4
Reef Break	2019	1.3
Speechless	2019	3.0
Splitting Up Together	2019	0.7
The Fix	2019	0.9
The Kids Are Alright	2019	0.5
Whiskey Cavalier	2019	1.4

Show	Year Canceled	Audience Demand
Alex, Inc.	2018	0.1
Deception	2018	1.3
Designated Survivor*	2018	11.4
Marvel’s Inhumans	2018	2.7
Kevin (Probably) Saves the World	2018	0.5
Once Upon a Time	2018	14.4
Quantico	2018	4.6
Roseanne	2018	5.8
Take Two	2018	0.4
Ten Days in the Valley	2018	< 0.1
The Crossing	2018	0.9
The Mayor	2018	0.5

Show	Year Canceled	Audience Demand
American Crime	2017	0.4
Conviction	2017	0.1
Downward Dog	2017	0.1
Dr. Ken	2017	1.1
Imaginary Mary	2017	< 0.1
Last Man Standing*	2017	10.8
Notorious	2017	0.5
Secrets and Lies	2017	0.8
Still Star-Crossed	2017	0.4
The Catch	2017	0.6
The Real O’Neals	2017	0.1
Time After Time	2017	2.3

Show	Year Canceled	Audience Demand
Agent Carter	2016	5.5
Castle	2016	14.2
Galavant	2016	1.3
Mistresses	2016	0.4
Nashville*	2016	3.3
The Family	2016	0.5
The Muppets	2016	8.9
Wicked City	2016	0.1

Show	Year Canceled	Audience Demand
Cristela	2015	0.3
Forever	2015	8.3
Manhattan Love Story	2015	0.2
Mistresses	2015	0.4
Resurrection	2015	0.4
Revenge	2015	5.0
Rookie Blue	2015	1.8
Selfie	2015	0.5
The Astronaut Wives Club	2015	0.3
The Whispers	2015	1.0

Show	Year Ended	Audience Demand
Agents of SHIELD	2020	22.5
Fresh Off the Boat	2020	4.4
How to Get Away with Murder	2020	11.9
Modern Family	2020	21.8
Scandal	2018	8.4
The Middle	2018	5.8

Author : The Ratings Junkie

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