‘Stumptown’ Season 2 Renewal Reversed: Can the Canceled Drama Be Saved?
Another TV show has been canceled — after being renewed — due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Stumptown will not be returning for a Season 2 on ABC, Deadline reports, but its studio, ABC Signature, is trying to find another network or streaming service to pick it up. According to the report, the cancellation is due to delays in filming and work on the scripts (related to the coronavirus) that would have meant the new episodes wouldn’t air until April.
The dramedy, based on Greg Rucka’s graphic novels and starring Cobie Smulders as private investigator and veteran Dex Parios, was originally renewed by ABC in May. Fans thought they could breathe a sigh of relief since the Season 1 finale in March had ended on quite the cliffhanger: Dex’s mother showed up at her door.
(ABC/Matthias Clamer)
That was one of several storylines teased at the show’s Comic-Con@Home panel in July with stars Smulders, Jake Johnson, and Michael Ealy, executive producers Monica Owusu-Breen (who joined for Season 2), Jason Richman, David Bernad, Ruben Fleischer, and Rucka. “For Dex, taking care of Ansel and being the rock in Ansel’s life let her put off dealing with her feelings about the abandonment,” Owusu-Breen said. “And so Mom showing up is a little bit of a kaboom into her life.”
“The nature versus nurture of it all is something we’ll get into,” Richman added. “Hopefully how she got her name. That mother-daughter story is something all the writers are anxious to get [to].” Casting had yet to be announced for Dex and Ansel’s (Cole Sibus) mother.
The first season also ended with Grey (Johnson) dealing with his previously estranged father seemingly back working with sketchy people and Miles (Ealy) handing in his badge. And there’s still the matter of the not-quite-a-love-triangle triangle with Dex, her best friend, and the former detective.
Fans have already started a #SaveStumptown campaign, and there are shows that have been picked up by another network or a streaming service and continued on for a season or more. (Just look at Fox’s previous cancellations: Lucifer, now on Netflix, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, now on NBC.) But given the pandemic, we’ll have to wait and see if it has a chance to be saved.
Stumptown isn’t the only series to have its fate decided due to the coronavirus pandemic and the necessary changes to production as a result. I’m Sorry, I Am Not Okay With This, and The Society are among those not moving forward with additional seasons.
(ABC)
The ABC series also starred Tantoo Cardinal, Adrian Martinez, and Camryn Manheim.
Conversation35 Comments
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This really stinks! "Stumptown" was a great show with good acting, plots, and writing. So what if the new episodes won't be out till spring? This has happened in past non-Covid years with other shows and it was not a big deal. I suppose time slots need to be filled. Hopefully Netflix or even Amazon Prime or Peacock will pick it up.
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keep the show going better late then never
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Need Season 2- better later than never
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I liked it and would vote for a come back
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This Virus is taking another good show from us ---
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This is terrible news and very short-sighted on the part of ABC. With today's technological capabilities of dvr, streaming, and on demand, the traditional ratings system doesn't suffice. And, the demographic should be widened to include baby boomers. This show is multi-layered with many parallel storylines and interesting, complex characters. It needs time to develop, and the fan base will grow.
Let's hope a more reliable platform like Netflix will pick it up, as they did Lucifer, and have a successful run with it. The fans will follow.
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Let Stumptown replace Ellen DeGeneres
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Bring stump town back. It had everything great cast, comedy, drama, mystery.
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😠
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Ffs! Put it back!
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It's 2021 and still want Stumptown back.
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Maybe a petition to Netflix would bring back Stumptown. Worked for Lucifer.
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I hope the show can be saved,
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I have been much more than patiently awaiting the next season of STUMPTOWN! This is really a GREAT SHOW!!! For heavensake don't just toss out such a all around well done show.
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Need Season 2 please !!
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Please bring it back . It was a great show .
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Please bring it back. It was very good.
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Bring Stumptown back!
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The show was great - perfect balance of pleasant acting, not too emotionally heavy and great vibe.
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I just found out that they aren't bringing this show back! BOOOO! I would be willing to wait till production could start again! Please don't cancel just postpone!
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BOO!!😡 I was looking forward to Season 2! Thought this show had some unique backstories, that have we never seen before or haven't seen on TV in sometime. Plus, come on...THE MUSIC...the music is its own character on the show! 🎶
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Just discovered the show. Binged watched it over the last 2-3 days. Came online to find out if it had been renewed. Im really sad to see that its been cancelled. Hopefully Hulu, Netflix, Prime CBS All Access or maybe even HBOMax will pick it up. Tbh there are a ton of profitable streaming networks now. This show was excellent. It was smartly written. I didn’t get 3 episides in seeing stupid move after stupid move done by a lead who was supposed to be highly intelligent. The lead was perfectly imperfect, but she wasn’t dumb. There aren’t enough shows out there with writers who aren’t lazy and willing to go with a script and storyline that could be controversial instead of trying to make a fast cheap buck thrill that caters to people, who lets face it aren’t very bright.
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I am sad about this, I loved all the actors on the show and was really looking forward to a new season.
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Its now 2026 get your butts in gear and pick up shows like stumptown and get season going again. Its a strong show ppl relate to and ppl crave next episode one more before sleep next thing you know it way past bedtime and tired for work. This show and others need to be looked at again by now.
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Stumptown was a great show, characters actually have character, think yah all need to rethink cancelling for certain.
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😭 I flippin' love this show and will be genuinely upset if it does not return. I honestly could not stand Colbie, the main actress, but have developed a new found respect for her through this show. She put in her dues, it's a great cast, and the story was so unique and unlike anything on television right now. Truly a great show and I hope that it is picked up by someone, anyone! I am available to write for the show free of charge!
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Netflix should take this series ..
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I really, really, really enjoy this show. Please bring it back. If production is delayed, I am more than willing to wait. I will really miss these characters if they are gone.
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I really love this show, please bring it back, I can't believe ABC is canceling the show. It was a good awesome and the actor's was great.
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Meanwhile we have to deal with a show called "Mixed-ish". Stumptown was great and now I'm pissed off.
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I'm Sorry, I Am Not Okay With This
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I wonder if this had more to do with Colby's cancer diagnosis from several years back? If that's the case, then I don't blame her. Any type of pre-existing condition makes the situation so much more deadly. unfortunately it also means the odds of it getting picked up by another network are slim. Unless they're willing to wait this out.
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I think she was fully onboard so I doubt it had anything to do with her.
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I seem to remember them saying the renewal was because ABC expected to not be able to do pilot season this year.
They picked it up to keep their schedule full. It was never about Stumptown being successful.
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I think the real shocker was that it was renewed in the first place and it seemed the real reason was that it was an ABC owned show. It's very unlikely to be picked up elsewhere, but fans are free to try. I like Cobie Smulders, but the show simply didn't attract enough viewers, especially in the demo, to warrant continuation.
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