Looks like it's the end of the road for Party Down.Despite critical acclaim and cult-like status among viewers, pay cabler Starz has cancelled Party Down after just two seasons.
Deadline's Nellie Andreeva broke the news of the series cancellation this morning, reporting that Starz had opted not to review Party Down and fellow Friday night lead-out Gravity, the latter of which aired for a single season.
"While the off-beat comedy has become an instant cult classic, I hear at the end of the day its appeal was deemed not wide enough to keep the show beyond its recently concluded Season 2," writes Andreeva, who goes on to say that Starz may make an official announcement later today about the fates of both series.
Sadly, it seems as though Party Down is in fact a goner, a decision that I believe to be myopic, foolhardy, and heartbreaking in equal measure, particularly as the series was starting to catch on with viewers thanks to Netflix's Instant Viewing function and DVD releases. But the series was, after all, developed by newly installed Starz czar Chris Albrecht's predecessor and the development exec, Bill Hamm, responsible for shepherding both series (along with breakout hit Spartacus) was let go earlier this year. (All of which I write about and presage in my Daily Beast feature from April here.)
UPDATE #1: It's now been confirmed by Starz: "After careful consideration, we’ve decided not to continue on with subsequent seasons of Party Down and Gravity,” said Stephan Shelanski, Starz's EVP of programming, in a statement. “We’re grateful to everyone involved in the shows, and are proud to have had them on the channel. Starz remains committed to aggressively expanding our original programming lineup."
UPDATE #2: I reached writer/executive producer John Enbom via email this morning to express my disappointment about the cancellation of Party Down and just received a very heartfelt reply from John as he leaves for vacation.
"What can we say? We are saddened the show won't be coming back and we won't get to spend another season with this wonderful cast and crew," wrote Enbom to me via email. "It's like being told your summer camp has been closed. But at the end of the day, we're still proud of our two seasons and grateful we had the chance to make them."
All I can say is: John, we're right there with you. For those of us who knew and loved the series, Party Down is going to be missed intensely.
What do you think of the news? Is Starz making a terrible mistake, even with several of the cast members now unavailable to film more than a handful of episodes? Should Party Down have gone on for a third season? Head to the comments section to discuss.
Comments
I will completely miss this show and would of like to see if go one more year even if we lose a few more characters.cru
I do know Party Down is one of my favorite shows and I'm going to miss it terribly. I would have happily watched the show with the remaining cast, and any new characters.
What a bummer.
The show was a gem.
I will miss Party Down. I could have imagined a 3rd season.
@Smitty, It had to be a business decision. The show was a creative injection, in otherwise somewhat stale network. Spartacus is a hit=sex and violence sells. It's not a knock at Spartacus (the season finale was shocking).
I wish all the best to the cast, creator and crew of Party Down. I look forward to their next projects.