Why was Taxi cancelled after it's 5th season? From what I've heard, Taxi was, and still is, a popular TV show. It had multiple Emmy wins and nominations. From all the episodes I've seen, I think it could have gone on for at least another year or two.

Did Andy Kaufman's illness have something to do with it?

Originally posted by WingsFan
Why was Taxi cancelled after it's 5th season? From what I've heard, Taxi was, and still is, a popular TV show. It had multiple Emmy wins and nominations. From all the episodes I've seen, I think it could have gone on for at least another year or two.

Did Andy Kaufman's illness have something to do with it?

Falling ratings led ABC to cancel Taxi after its 4th season. NBC decided to pick it up for a 5th season. Despite critical acclaim for the ensemble acting, the wit and charm of the writing, and the faith of a new network, Taxi received the same low ratings on NBC as it had in its last season on ABC. Taxi got cancelled for good after its 5th season. I think maybe that Andy Kaufman didn't get sick untill after Taxi went off the air.

I agree. A while back I read Judd Hirsch talking about the poor ratings in an interview. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter how excellent a TV show is, if the ratings are poor, it won't stay on the air. Same thing happened to St. Elsewhere, and I'm sure there are many others.

Thanks for the info, guys. I didn't even know about the low ratings.

In regards to the statement above, Andy was just finding out about his cancer as the show was going down.

I'm sure the show prepared for a Taxi without Latka Gravas. Not that the producers knew that Kaufman was ill, but that Kaufman was miserable on the show and was planning to leave it once his contract was up. So even if the show had #1 ratings and lasted another 5 years, they'd probably have to do it without Andy.

If Taxi had such low ratings, how come it did so well in terms of awards, nominations, springboards for the stars' careers, etc? That's kinda strange.

A show can win awards without being a top rated show. I just think the humor was too sophisticated for some people to enjoy.