When TV drama Manhattan first aired in 2014 on WGN America, it was received to critical acclaim for its deep plot, engaging cast and originality. The show was based on the real-life project that produced the first-ever nuclear weapons during World War II.
However, WGN America president Matt Chermiss recently broke the news that the show had been canceled after two seasons, consequently upsetting many critics over the decision. This has now prompted Chermiss to come out and explain why he had to make the difficult decision despite the show’s critical acclaim.
“It’s the least pleasant part of the job, especially for a show as good as Manhattan,” he explained to The Hollywood Reporter. Despite its loyal following, Manhattan simply could not build the necessary ratings to sustain it over a long period. The first season, for example, pulled an average of 417,000 viewers and the second season managed to receive even less than that.
It wasn’t an easy decision, expressed Chermiss, whom had reportedly gone through great lengths to give the show the momentum it deserved. Chermiss moved the show to the fall, a time when television viewership is typically higher, and removed it from a notoriously competitive Sunday time slot. In addition, the network also secured coverage to air the show in previously unavailable Comcast markets such as Chicago and Seattle, where season one was not yet available. Furthermore, he also adjusted the overall marketing strategy to attract potential new viewers.
At the end of the day, however, his efforts failed to pan out. “As we got to mid-season of season two, reality for me had started to set in that it was going to be very difficult to bring the show back for a third season,” he stated, as it simply did not make much economic sense.
Other WGN America shows, on the other hand, have performed much better by comparison. One notable example includes newcomer Outsiders, which broke network records with 3.9 million viewers when it premiered in January 2016.