ABC has pulled the plug on its reboot of The Wonder Years.
Deadline reports that ABC has officially axed The Wonder Years after two seasons. It’s noted that the decision comes after the reboot series ranked as both the lowest-rated and least-watched scripted program on the network this past summer with its second season. Season 2 also reportedly came with a drop in ratings to the tune of 50% with the key 18-to-49 demo, while total viewership was down 25%. Meanwhile, other ABC shows that remain on the bubble with their fates still unknown include The Rookie: Feds and Home Economics.
Saladin K. Patterson developed this new take on The Wonder Years, which is inspired by the original TV series of the same name created by Neal Marlens and Carol Black. The reboot shifts the focus to a new cast of characters, following a Black middle-class family in Alabama during the late 1960s. Elisha “EJ” Williams leads the cast as Dean Williams while Don Cheadle served as the adult Dean and series narrator. The show also starred Dulé Hill, Saycon Sengbloh, Laura Kariuki, Amari O’Neil, Julian Lerner, and Milan Ray.
Fred Savage Was Involved Before Controversy
Fred Savage, who starred as young Kevin Arnold in the original Wonder Years, had personally been very involved in getting the reboot series off the ground. He served as an executive producer (alongside Patterson, Lee Daniels and Marc Velez). Savage had also directed many of the first season’s episodes. However, last year it was announced that Savage had been fired from the production following allegations of in appropriate behavior on the set. The series scored its Season 2 renewal just one week after Savage’s firing.
Season 2 had also been scaled back significantly compared to the show’s freshman season. While Season 1 had 22 episodes, there were only 10 for Season 2. The second season was also originally set for a midseason premiere before getting pushed to the summer, which likely contributed to the show’s falling ratings. It’s commonplace for shows to be pushed to the summer when they’re expected to be canceled, so perhaps many of those involved had already seen the writing on the wall.
In any case, it will be disappointing for the show’s fans to learn that there won’t be a third season in the works. Both seasons of the new version of The Wonder Years can be streamed on Hulu, as well as on Disney+.
Source: Deadline