Variety reported on Thursday that the conservative sitcom Last Man Standing might still have a pulse. ABC cancelled it this week, despite strong ratings and a loyal fan base. However, Variety explained, “Studio 20th Century Fox Television is looking for a new home for canceled Tim Allen comedy Last Man Standing.”
The article quoted 20th Century Fox TV President Howard Kurtzman as shocked by ABC’s cancellation: “That’s the one that’s really an open sore right now.... We were really were expecting a pickup. The fact that we didn’t get a pickup was a surprise and a disappointment. I think no one was more disappointed than Tim Allen, such a huge star with such a huge following.”
Of taking the show elsewhere, Kurtzman added, “We’re starting to explore that. If it’s not going to go forward at ABC... I are hopeful that we can find another home for it.”
Regarding the cancellation, star Tim Allen responded on Twitter:
The MRC’s Brent Bozell and Tim Graham explained that ABC certainly cannot argue ratings as a justification for axing the show:
The show didn’t have a ratings problem – it averaged 6.4 million viewers this season on Friday night, and that should be graded upward on a curve, since the overall Friday audience is typically smaller than other weeknights. [ABC entertainment President Channing] Dungey said the job of a programming executive was “managing failure,” but this wasn’t a failure. “It was a steady performer,” she admitted. But “Once we made the decision not to continue with comedy on Friday, it was just kind of that’s where we landed.”
Instead, they’re moving in the drama “Once Upon a Time,” which this year drew... 3.2 million viewers, or half of Allen’s number. In the second hour, they’re eventually placing their show “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”, which this season averaged...2.3 million viewers.
Maybe a network or streaming service more interested in actually having a popular show will show some interest.
To see some of Last Man Standing's most famous zings of liberals, go here.
