'Samantha Who?' renewal unlikely - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 05-18-2009, 02:03 PM

It will indeed be "Samantha Who?" next season as the sophomore series will likely not return for a third year.

Sources said ABC made the decision after it couldn't reach a deal with producing studio ABC Studios that would've cut $500,000 per episode from the show's budget for next season.

The amnesia comedy starring Christina Applegate was looking to add a third camera to its shoots, keeping the single-camera look but trimming its production schedule.

In the end, the savings through that proved not to be enough for the network.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...d26e49998686bf

robyrob · 05-18-2009, 03:25 PM

pretty bad when ABC can't crunch the numbers to make a deal work with ABC.

Pavan · 05-18-2009, 03:33 PM

It's harder than you think. To make a show from single camera to a hybrid is pretty difficult. The budget would have been cut big time. Plus they had 7 left over episodes. Not sure how they would have transitioned it to the "new version." Everyone has to be on board, and I doubt Christina was. It is too bad. They saved Scrubs this way. I'm sure ABC has plans for Christina in an exisiting or new project.

Superstar · 05-18-2009, 03:57 PM

Seems that it's definitely been cancelled

From Ausiello:

Multiple sources confirm that ABC has pulled the plug on Samantha Who? after two seasons.

The news comes as a bit of a surprise considering ABC and the show's producers appeared to be close to compromising on a cost-cutting measure that would have shifted the comedy from its current single-camera format to the more traditional (and cheaper) multi-camera model.

On the bright side, at least there will be closure: Per an ABC insider, seven unaired episodes remain in the network's arsenal and the last one "feels like a series finale." Of course, there's no telling when or where those eps will be shown.

McGillicuddy · 05-21-2009, 06:48 PM

I liked this show. It was original and kind of clever. Oh well, it least we'll have it on dvd.

robyrob · 05-21-2009, 09:15 PM

how can it be cheaper to kill off an established show with an known audience and gamble on a half-dozen or so pilots (none of which may actually make it to air) to try and find one to replace it - than to just revamp it ?

05-18-2009, 02:03 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	'Samantha Who?' renewal unlikely It will indeed be "Samantha Who?" next season as the sophomore series will likely not return for a third year. Sources said ABC made the decision after it couldn't reach a deal with producing studio ABC Studios that would've cut $500,000 per episode from the show's budget for next season. The amnesia comedy starring Christina Applegate was looking to add a third camera to its shoots, keeping the single-camera look but trimming its production schedule. In the end, the savings through that proved not to be enough for the network. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...d26e49998686bf
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05-18-2009, 03:25 PM	#2
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,214	pretty bad when ABC can't crunch the numbers to make a deal work with ABC.
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05-18-2009, 03:33 PM	#3
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,821	It's harder than you think. To make a show from single camera to a hybrid is pretty difficult. The budget would have been cut big time. Plus they had 7 left over episodes. Not sure how they would have transitioned it to the "new version." Everyone has to be on board, and I doubt Christina was. It is too bad. They saved Scrubs this way. I'm sure ABC has plans for Christina in an exisiting or new project.
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05-18-2009, 03:57 PM	#4
Superstar Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 08, 2003 Posts: 63,316	Seems that it's definitely been cancelled From Ausiello: Multiple sources confirm that ABC has pulled the plug on Samantha Who? after two seasons. The news comes as a bit of a surprise considering ABC and the show's producers appeared to be close to compromising on a cost-cutting measure that would have shifted the comedy from its current single-camera format to the more traditional (and cheaper) multi-camera model. On the bright side, at least there will be closure: Per an ABC insider, seven unaired episodes remain in the network's arsenal and the last one "feels like a series finale." Of course, there's no telling when or where those eps will be shown.

05-21-2009, 06:48 PM	#5
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	I liked this show. It was original and kind of clever. Oh well, it least we'll have it on dvd.

05-21-2009, 09:15 PM	#6
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,214	how can it be cheaper to kill off an established show with an known audience and gamble on a half-dozen or so pilots (none of which may actually make it to air) to try and find one to replace it - than to just revamp it ?