News

Mar 27, 2023

“S**tshow Formerly Known As HBO”: TV Show Cancellation Has Social Media Fuming

Following the cancellation of an Emmy-nominated drama series, social media is

Following the cancellation of an Emmy-nominated drama series, social media is calling out HBO and its leadership in blunt and mocking terms.

HBO's cancellation of Perry Mason is drawing a strong response online, as social media offers a wide range of disapproval. With the Emmy-winning Matthew Rhys as the titular character, his first main cast member role since The Americans, the Perry Mason reboot took place in 1930s Los Angeles and centered around Mason's personal and professional life as he moves from his job as a private investigator to a lawyer. Perry Mason season 3 received an initially optimistic update, but now HBO has confirmed that the courtroom drama has been cancelled.

The news has been met with derision online, with both television critics and general viewers calling out the network for the decision. Several commentators specifically called out Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav and mocked the new, high-profile HBO drama The Idol, which was met with negative reviews. Check out the tweets, some of which contain strong language, below:

In a statement, HBO lauded the work of Rhys, in addition to the Perry Mason cast and crew, and noted the network was excited to continue to work with Team Downey, the show's production company co-founded by Robert Downey Jr., on other projects. That would include the upcoming dark comedy The Sympathizer, in which Downey will star. The network did not offer a reason for the cancellation. But in recent remarks, HBO's drama Francesca Orsi chief said that Perry Mason season 3 and other potential renewals came down to the question of "viewership relative to budget." Orsi cited other factors, such as positive reviews and buzz.

Perry Mason season 2 was met with critical acclaim. Based on 27 reviews, the HBO Original has an 85% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus mentions that the show's second outing is more "cohesive" and satisfying on the whole, with particular praise going to the performances of the cast. In its first installment, the reboot received four Emmy nominations, which included an Outstanding Lead Actor nod for Rhys. It could be the case that the series, originally meant to star RDJ, slipped in the ratings.

Related: Perry Mason: Why Matthew Rhys Replaced Robert Downey Jr. In HBO's Reboot

Perry Mason season 2, which concluded in April, well over two years since the first installment premiered, saw a decline in its linear ratings of more than 50 percent. But those numbers do not take into account the show's streaming viewership, which is unknown. As some on social media mentioned, it also doesn't account for how the show could have performed given the benefit of better scheduling and promotion. The Idol is receiving that, debuting at a time when major competition like Succession, Barry, Yellowjackets, and Ted Lasso have all ended.

Source: Various / Twitter