‘Last Man Standing’ Canceled Or Renewed? Fans React Negatively After ABC Reveals Tim Allen’s Series Fate
It’s been on the bubble for a few years when it came to whether or not it would be renewed for a new season. But after several years of continuing to be pushed through on ABC, the Tim Allen led sitcom “Last Man Standing” has officially been canceled by the network and will not return for a seventh season.
According to Deadline, ABC opted not to renew the series, which has been featured in the 8 p.m. on Fridays slot throughout its run, a change from the long negotiations period that the show usually endures each year while ABC and 20th Century Fox TV battled over the series’ licensing fee. It is currently unclear if the same issue may have popped up again, only earlier, and led to the decision to cancel the series.
In the past, the disagreement over whether ABC or 20th Century Fox would cover the licensing fees for the show often came from Allen’s commanded six-figure per-episode paycheck, which specifically led to tense negotiations when it came to whether or not the show be renewed for a fourth season.
However, the decision to cancel the series now has led to some accusations from angered fans who believe the show was given the axe because it has a more conservative message that fell in line with the beliefs espoused in a post Donald Trump presidency America, something that seemed to bode well for it due to the ratings it has recently posted. Deadline reports that the sixth season has averaged a 1.2 Live+same day rating in adults 18-64 and 6.4 million viewers, often making it the winning show in that 8 p.m. time slot. Most other returning shows went down year-to-year 20-30 percent, while “Last Man Standing” remained virtually flat, only off by 5 percent in total viewers.
The show starred Allen in the role of a politically conservative and devout Christian man who adhered to traditional American values. The show was also a blue-collar comedy, which followed the story of Mike Baxter, a director of marketing for an outdoor sporting goods store chain that was based in Denver. It also starred Nancy Travis as Vanessa Baxter, Alexandra Krosney (season one) and Amanda Fuller as eldest daughter Kristin Baxter, Molly Ephraim as middle daughter Mandy Baxter and Kaitlyn Dever as youngest daughter Eve Baxter.
Since the initial news of the show’s cancellation broke, the story has been picked up by conservative news outlets like Alex Jones’ “Info Wars” and Breitbart, where it was indicated that Allen’s comments a few months ago where he admitted it was hard to be a Conservative in Hollywood played a role in ABC’s decision. Angry fans have also taken to social media to express their rage over the news, begging other networks to consider grabbing the rights to the show, and also berating ABC for the move.
It is unclear if other networks will engage in potential bids on the show.
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