Thanks to Darkness for the heads up.
ABC is taking a wait and see approach with new drama series The Whispers, Not ready to make a renewal or cancellation call on the series five episodes into its run, ABC and producing studio ABC Studios are allowing the options on the cast of the midseason-turned-summer series to expire today.
Before making a decision, the network is expected to take a few more weeks to sift through ratings data for the heavily DVR-ed series, particularly the important C3 ratings, which reflect commercials consumption within 3 days of original air date. The Whispers failed to get a last-minute boost from a strong Live+same day showing last night, slipping to a season low of a 0.8 in adults 18-49.
With uncertainty over Season 2, I hear ABC and ABCS felt it was too expensive to pick up the cast options that guarantee actors a 13-episode pay, especially as the show’s producers have a creative plan for Season 2 that would expand the scope of the implications caused by the events in the first season, which would call for some tweaks and cast turnover. There had been an effort to get a short, two-week option extension but that did not pan out, with star Lily Rabe, who had been looking to leave the show full-time, as a holdout. Rabe, along with other cast members, were not happy last May when, after the pilot, shot in Los Angeles, was picked up to series, the show was relocated to Vancouver. Moving the show back to Los Angeles is considered too expensive, and I hear the producers already had put a plan in place for Rabe to only do a limited number of episodes in Season 2, which would accomodate her theater and feature schedule.
With the options expiring, the series may lose Milo Ventimiglia, who I hear has been eyed for the lead of USA pilot Shooter. The cast of the show also includes Barry Sloane, Derek Webster, Kristen Connolly, Kylie Rogers and Kyle Harrison Breitkopf, with the network and producers hoping that most of them would stick around and re-join the series in case of a second-season renewal.
Source:
So Lily Rabe wants to leave. I'm not surprised because everytime I watch the show, I have the impression that she's bored.
ReplyDeleteI have been loving this show and I really hoped it could be renewed but this sounds like a de facto cancellation. I am not really sure what would be the point i continuing with it without the two leads, that sounds really strange. Damn, this sucks
ReplyDeleteThis is a great show and I hope it gets renewed. I thought the story could be explained in one seaon but it seem considering the producer have plans for season 2 I say keep it going. I don't know how it's gonna do without Lily and Milo. Claire is a great and dveoted agent and Johns character really intrigues me. I hope everything works out well.
ReplyDeleteAw hell no! If they leave i'm done with the show!!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, so far I can do without Milo, funny because he's why I got into this show in the first place, but not Lily, so if she leaves and it get's renewed, I don't think I'll be coming back yo it.
ReplyDeleteSounds like another cancellation. Just when it was really getting good, too. What a waste.
ReplyDeleteAs far as summer shows go this is a really good one. Hope it sticks around
ReplyDeleteThe Whispers was a very likely cancellation when it went below a 1.0. When Deadline.com wrote their spin article on The Whispers, I mentioned that it seemed more like PR hope than any actual desire for ABC to renew the show. And through the spin, it still looks that way. This article stating that there was "no decision" was just deadline.com sort of admitting the obvious.
ReplyDeleteI'm more amazed that Lily Rabe actually thinks she can be a movie star. In less than three years, we'll see her back on TV. She's over inflating her ability to lead a movie.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I like her, I do, but she's not movie star material. She can do a decent job at tv shows, and miniseries, but I don't think that will translate into the big screen as a lead. I'm sure she can pull off smaller suporting roles just fine.
ReplyDeleteI think ABC is being hesitant with this series because if it does come back, it would be a summer series and that would force some budget cuts. This show was originally developed as an in-season series and I assume they were given more money. With summer being light in viewers in most cases, I think the network would force some budget cuts like they did with Mistresses.
ReplyDeleteAnd whether intentional or not, if I was a TV project and I read that Lily was holding the cast up because she wanted to leave, I would be very hesitant to cast her in anything. Now it's documented that she's willing to leave at the drop at the hat for her own ambitions and will not stick around for the good of the production. Deadline made her look like she was not a team player.
ReplyDeleteThere is no point in continuing with the show if Milo and Lily leave.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe she just did not want to have to work in Vancouver if the main reason she took the job in the first place was because it was going to film in LA.
ReplyDeleteSo disappointed that ABC didn't renew this show! I absolutely have loved it so far! I know it would be the same without Lily and Milo so hopefully ABC gets their act together and renews the show with these two actors/actresses returning!
ReplyDeletedoesn't seem to be boding well for the show... it seemed to be getting better storywise for me lately, but if the ratings are as middling as mentioned, I would think that it's fate is pretty much decided
ReplyDeleteI think this show has been getting really interesting. I like Lily but it wouldn't be the end of the world without her but not sure if I'd be as interested without Milo.
ReplyDeleteSo they getting rid of the only two cast i actually care about.Great decision ABC. Guess it's time to delete all the remaining episodes from my laptop.SMH!
ReplyDeleteAfter all this time I find a show staring Milo Ventimiglia I want to watch and it seems he is probably gonna be leaving after the first season. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteIt is such an amazing show, and as much as I'd want it to last as long as possible, I think I'd rather go with a clean season that wouldn't get renewed rather than a renewal that would end up messing around with the story. The three most important characters are Claire, Wes and Sean, and two of the actors might be on the leave...Barry Sloane might be able to take the lead, but it would require a very, very strong writing, one that they certainly can pull off, but I'm not sure that ABC cares that much about the show.
ReplyDeleteEither bored OR overacting... she seems to have no middle ground. I've been very unimpressed by her in this... and my not really liking Claire (though she was better this week) doesn't help.
ReplyDeleteThat's not comforting...
ReplyDeleteHonestly I think I might be able to do without Lily. Losing Milo would be a bigger loss for me.
(i like Sean more as a character, and I think Milo's performance shows more commitment to the show.)
She was amazing in AHS so I don't she's overacting.
ReplyDeleteI'm referring to her performance in this specifically.
ReplyDeleteI've seen her in other things, and she's been fine. Not amazing but good.
But in here? Meh... she's either not trying at all or trying too much. As I said I think the fact that also Claire, as a character, seems a bit wanting isn't probably doing her any favours.