Time has run out for NBC’s cult favorite series ‘Timeless’. After weak ratings, the network has axed the Eric Kripke/Shawn Ryan series for a second time. NBC actually cancelled ‘Timeless’ after its first season, also due to poor ratings, but after fan outcry, they reversed that decision, but ratings actually dropped for the second season, so NBC was forced to pull the plug on this ambitious and expensive time travel series. ‘Timeless’ averaged 4.2 million viewers in its second season.
‘Saturday Night Live’ regular Leslie Jones previously announced that she would protest naked if NBC axed ‘Timeless’. So get ready for that.
Season Two ended in a cliffhanger, which tends to be a sci-fi show tradition. But NBC is at least interested in airing a two-hour ‘Timeless’ movie in order to resolve that cliffhanger and send the show off with a proper ending.
‘Timeless’ starred Abigail Spencer as Lucy Preston, Matt Lanter as Wyatt Logan and Malcolm Barrett as Rufus Carlin, as a trio of adventurers that were tasked with preserving the timestream. Goran Višnjić co-starred as Garcia Flynn, who was initially their enemy but became their ally in the second season. ‘Timeless’ also starred Paterson Joseph, Sakina Jaffrey, and Claudia Doumit.
Ryan and Kripke took to Twitter to break the news to their fans:
1. This is a sad day for the writers, actors, crew and especially the viewers of Timeless. We are all extremely proud of what we made and know that it was more than just a show for so many of our fans. It became a passion and a cause for many of them. https://t.co/FPbySi7LXZ
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) June 22, 2018
2. We’re proud of the impact @NBCTImeless had on so many people – the students who embraced history as a result of our show, the people who were inspired by our stories of inclusion and acceptance. We saw your tweets and were inspired by you.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) June 22, 2018
3. If NBC is sincere in wanting a 2 hour movie to give much needed closure to our amazing @NBCTimeless fans, we are ready to make it. We don’t want the journeys of Lucy, Wyatt, Rufus and the others to end yet. #ClockBlockers
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) June 22, 2018
Gutted by this, guys, I know you are too. Behind the scenes, Sony has been trying hard to set it up elsewhere, but no luck so far. I think this 2 hour movie is our best shot. We’re ready to make it if @nbc really wants it. Let ’em know how you feel. #clockblockers https://t.co/arNi9iS9GF
— Eric Kripke (@therealKripke) June 22, 2018
THANK YOU cast, writers, crew and most all all, the #clockblockers for your brilliance & passion. I love you all. I was proud to bring a little positivity & inclusion into this f-d up world. I will keep my personal thoughts about network TV private until we get this movie made. https://t.co/DQc8corGGM
— Eric Kripke (@therealKripke) June 22, 2018
Amazon recently picked up ‘The Expanse’ after Syfy cancelled it while Netflix salvaged FOX’s ‘Lucifer’. Could a streaming service or even another network rescue ‘Timeless? It’s possible, but for now, it appears the option of a two-hour movie seems to be the fate of this series.
Are you a fan of ‘Timeless’? Are you sad to see it go?
Source: Entertainment Weekly