The hammer came down on a couple summer shows on Friday. ABC cancelled its long-running cop drama, "Rookie Blue," after six seasons and SyFy nixed the dystopian series, "Defiance," after three seasons.
"Rookie Blue" was able to wrap up its series and give fans a wedding between favorite couple Sam and Andy. Shaw Media, the Canadian producers of "Rookie Blue," made the cancellation announcement.
"The success of 'Rookie Blue' is a testament not only to the extremely talented team of Ilana Frank, Tassie Cameron, David Wellington and studio Entertainment One (eOne), but the electrifying cast that has resonated with legions of fans that have followed the show since Season One," said Christine Shipton, Senior Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, Shaw Media.
"Defiance" performed poorly in the ratings for its third season after strong runs in seasons one and two. The show made history in 2013 when it premiered simultaneously with its video game launch.
"'Defiance' was a truly groundbreaking series, delivering an immersive, cross-platform experience that transcended the television screen in a way that viewers had never seen before," SyFy said in a statement (via The Hollywood Reporter). "We are incredibly proud of the work of the extraordinary cast, writers, artists and designers - and especially showrunner Kevin Murphy - who together brought the rich world of 'Defiance' to life over its three season arc."
Continue reading for more of today's television news:
CBS Refuses To Run "Truth" Ads
CBS is refusing to run advertising for the upcoming film "Truth," which chronicles the discredited news report about President George W. Bush's military service record by former CBS News anchor Dan Rather. The network believes the film, starring Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford, does a disservice to the public and journalists, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
"It's astounding how little truth there is in 'Truth,'" said Gil Schwartz, chief spokesman for CBS Corp. (via The Hollywood Reporter). Schwartz is also a character in the movie. "There are, in fact, too many distortions, evasions and baseless conspiracy theories to enumerate them all. The film tries to turn gross errors of journalism and judgment into acts of heroism and martyrdom."
"H.R. Pufnstuf" Characters Returning To TV
The beloved characters of "H.R. Pufnstuf' are returning to television. The creators of the 1960s cult show, Sid and Marty Krofft, will bring back H.R. Pufnstuf, Cling and Clang, and Freddy the Flute in their new live-action series "Mutt & Stuff" on Nickelodeon.
"'H.R. Pufnstuf' was the first TV show my brother and I created, so it has always held a special place in our hearts," Marty Krofft said in a statement. "Our fans constantly ask us to bring back Pufnstuf, and we feel the vibrant world of 'Mutt & Stuff' is the perfect setting to revitalize these colorful characters and build excitement for new fans."
Julie Berman Joins "Chicago Med"
"Chicago Med" has cast "General Hospital" alum Julie Berman as a talented surgeon, according to TVLine. She will play Toni Zanetti, "a brilliant, self-assured attending surgeon who does not suffer fools. Sexy in scrubs and high heels, she confidently turns heads wherever she goes." Berman will first appear in episode three.
The third installment of Dick Wolf's "Chicago" franchise will premiere on Nov. 17 at 9 p.m. on NBC.
Ryan Seacrest Developing New Comedy, "Squad Goals"
Capitalizing on the popular #squadgoals, Ryan Seacrest is developing a multi-camera comedy for CBS called "Squad Goals," according to Variety. The ensemble comedy will focus on a group of late 20-something friends who met in college and realize it's time to start growing up.
The writers of the script, Lindsey Rosin and Aaron Karo, got the idea when they witnessed their friends coming to a crossroads in their life, "either balancing marriages and mortgages - or margaritas," according to Variety.
