At this point, if you were to be asked what your favorite Netflix show is, you might first need to clarify: On the air or canceled? Since 2012, Netflix has failed to renew dozens upon dozens of shows, many of which have irked fans into protests and online bashing of the streaming giant.
In a joint interview with Bloomberg, co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters discussed their partnership, where the streamer is headed, and one of the most controversial Netflix topics: the barrage of fan-favorite shows that have been canceled. In a rather bold statement, Sarandos said, “We have never canceled a successful show.” But before you go jumping down his throat, he did offer an explanation: “A lot of these shows were well-intended but talk to a very small audience on a very big budget. The key to it is you have to be able to talk to a small audience on a small budget and a large audience at a large budget.” OK, you may now jump down his throat.
Over the course of a decade, Netflix has canceled nearly 100 shows (as of publication; at this rate, it could be even higher than that!). Of course, many deserved being kicked to the curb, but that some of Netflix’s major fan favorites and/or most critically praised have been axed remains controversial.
Take GLOW, for example, which was canceled due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic despite Primetime Emmy Award nominations in each of its three seasons. The same reason was given for canceling the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. One of the shows with the most canned seasons is Greenhouse Academy, which even creator Giora Chamizer expressed confusion over. “The entire cast was so ready to shoot two more seasons this coming fall, so this came as a shock to all of us…We still don’t really understand why such an inexpensive show, with so many fans, got terminated.” There’s also Luke Cage, the axing of which star Mike Colter says offered zero closure.
And this is just a small sampling of shows Netflix has canceled. At the same time, consider how many awful shows remain on the streaming service…
What do you think of Ted Sarandos’ comment? Do you find it to be tone-deaf or out of line? What is your favorite canceled Netflix show? Let us know below!
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What’s Not Allowed