Brian
12-16-2003, 12:20 AM
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - MTV found itself wishing it was "Punk'd" when Ashton Kutcher (news) announced Friday he was discontinuing the hit series.
The news stunned the teen-targeted cable network, which had ordered a third season of "Punk'd" to begin in March. The current season has ended after an eight-episode run.
"This was something that came out of the blue," an MTV spokeswoman said.
But unlike the pranks he pulls on TV, Kutcher's decision is no hoax. In a statement he released with co-producer Jason Goldberg of Katalyst Prods., the 25-year-old actor said he wanted "Punk'd" to go out on top.
"We have had an incredible time doing the show and have decided to stick with the old adage of 'leave 'em wanting more,"' he said in the statement.
Still unclear is whether MTV announced the third season without obtaining a commitment from its star or whether Kutcher backed out of the agreement. Regardless, both sides still declared their intent to work together on future programing projects as part of a development deal Kutcher has with the network.
"Ashton will always be a member of our family, and he won't be gone from MTV for long," Lois Curren, executive vp series, music and movie development at MTV, said in a statement. "We have a number of projects in development, and we're looking forward to his next big MTV hit."
Sources within MTV suggested that Kutcher pulled the plug because "Punk'd" was becoming a victim of its own success: The exposure the series received was making it more difficult to fool its celebrity subjects. The network is unlikely to continue "Punk'd" without his involvement.
The loss of "Punk'd" leaves a gaping hole in "Sunday Night Stew," MTV's powerhouse programing block between 9-11 p.m. along with lead-outs "Viva la Bam" and "Wildboyz," which also received new episode orders.
Last month, they comprised three of the four highest-rated series on cable, with the exception of wrestling and kids programing, all averaging well over 2 million total viewers per episode. "Punk'd," which anchored the Sunday schedule, ranked highest with 2.8 million.
The network has not yet determined what will replace "Punk'd" in "Stew." A fourth series in the block, "One Bad Trip," is not expected to return.
MTV found itself in a similar situation in 2001 when Johnny Knoxville (news), star of the network's then-reigning hit series "Jackass," suddenly declared the series over after two seasons. Knoxville later signed a new deal with MTV that paved the way for a hit theatrical version of "Jackass."
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
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This is just great. :rolleyes: I saw the first episode of this series and really liked it. Now I see that the series is ending.
Thoughts?
The news stunned the teen-targeted cable network, which had ordered a third season of "Punk'd" to begin in March. The current season has ended after an eight-episode run.
"This was something that came out of the blue," an MTV spokeswoman said.
But unlike the pranks he pulls on TV, Kutcher's decision is no hoax. In a statement he released with co-producer Jason Goldberg of Katalyst Prods., the 25-year-old actor said he wanted "Punk'd" to go out on top.
"We have had an incredible time doing the show and have decided to stick with the old adage of 'leave 'em wanting more,"' he said in the statement.
Still unclear is whether MTV announced the third season without obtaining a commitment from its star or whether Kutcher backed out of the agreement. Regardless, both sides still declared their intent to work together on future programing projects as part of a development deal Kutcher has with the network.
"Ashton will always be a member of our family, and he won't be gone from MTV for long," Lois Curren, executive vp series, music and movie development at MTV, said in a statement. "We have a number of projects in development, and we're looking forward to his next big MTV hit."
Sources within MTV suggested that Kutcher pulled the plug because "Punk'd" was becoming a victim of its own success: The exposure the series received was making it more difficult to fool its celebrity subjects. The network is unlikely to continue "Punk'd" without his involvement.
The loss of "Punk'd" leaves a gaping hole in "Sunday Night Stew," MTV's powerhouse programing block between 9-11 p.m. along with lead-outs "Viva la Bam" and "Wildboyz," which also received new episode orders.
Last month, they comprised three of the four highest-rated series on cable, with the exception of wrestling and kids programing, all averaging well over 2 million total viewers per episode. "Punk'd," which anchored the Sunday schedule, ranked highest with 2.8 million.
The network has not yet determined what will replace "Punk'd" in "Stew." A fourth series in the block, "One Bad Trip," is not expected to return.
MTV found itself in a similar situation in 2001 when Johnny Knoxville (news), star of the network's then-reigning hit series "Jackass," suddenly declared the series over after two seasons. Knoxville later signed a new deal with MTV that paved the way for a hit theatrical version of "Jackass."
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
______
This is just great. :rolleyes: I saw the first episode of this series and really liked it. Now I see that the series is ending.
Thoughts?