USA Is Not Interested In Happy Endings

You'd look like this too if your show had just been cancelled.

Back in April Sony TV, the leading studio behind ABC's beloved yet low rated comedy Happy Endings, starting exploring the possibility of another studio network picking up the series for a fourth season if ABC did not decide to renew it. The USA network were of particular interest, wanting to branch out with adding some half-hour comedies to their programming. Having acquired the off-network comedy Modern Family, USA were said to be looking for an orignal comedy to pair with the series. And Happy Endings seemed like a logcial move, it aired behind Modern Family on ABC for two seasons, and did reasonably well in the ratings before it was moved to form a comedy block with the now also cancelled Don’t Trust The B—- At Apt. 23.

In mid-May, ABC did what most people thought they would, cancelled their beloved yet low rated comedy Happy Endings. And last Saturday it was announced that USA had opted not to pick up the show for a fourth season. Although the show was seen as doing well creatively by the cable network, its low ratings on ABC meant that it would involve a large investment in marketing and promotion by USA, and having just ordered two of their own comedy pilots, Sirens and Playing House, thought the money would be better spent on developing them.

Fans are still convinced that there is a home for Happy Endings someone though. Last year another beloved yet low rated comedy series on ABC, Cougar Town, which was also in its third season, was cancelled only to be picked up by TBS, where it has proven successful and earned itself a fifth season, and many think TBS should do the same for Happy Endings. Then's there's the online television streaming services as well. Netflix just debuted a fourth season of critical darling Arrested Development, which was cancelled by Fox eight years ago, and despite mixed reviews, has received a lot of buzz. There's also Amazon, who just ordered two comedy pilots, Alpha House and Betas, as apart of their first attempt at original programming.

There are basically any number of possible networks that could renew Happy Endings, but in my opnion, the show best bet for the show to continue was always on ABC. It's a shame that the news of USA's possible acquistion of the show was discovered before it was even cancelled. I would imagine fans would have fought harder for the show if it hadn't, but instead it seemed many were complacement to the idea that USA would pick it, and that that would be that. Do I hear a Kickstarter anyone? Insert-not-really-witty-comment-here-because-every-single-writer-does-it-relating-to-the-title-of-the-show-and-it's-newfound-irony.