‘Legends of Tomorrow,’ ‘Magnum P.I.’ & More of the Most Painful Cancellations of the 2021-2022 TV Season
Eventually, all good shows must come to an end (not all can last 20 or more seasons, like Law & Order: SVU and NCIS). But some cancellations are more painful than others, especially when you take into account where the series left characters.
Such was the case for the 2021-2022 season, which saw the Arrowverse on the CW cut down to two, and Magnum P.I. ending just as it seemed its will they/won’t they couple could be getting together. Plus, other first season dramas ended on cliffhanger, leaving lives and relationships in the balance.
Scroll down as we take a look at the cancellations that hurt us the most at the end of the 2021-2022 season. (Note: This doesn’t include shows for which we knew well in advance they’d be ending, such as black-ish, Bull, and This Is Us.)
Batwoman (The CW)
The good news is that the CW series didn’t end with too much up in the air for its characters, putting Ryan (Javicia Leslie) and Sophie (Meagan Tandy) together and Alice (Rachel Skarsten) on the path to her next chapter. Sure, there was that bloody ending to consider, introducing a new threat, and we would have loved to see what came next for everyone, but with this one, it’s more a matter of seeing more of this part of the Arrowverse versus being left with so much unanswered.
Legacies (The CW)
It’s almost hard to imagine the CW without a show from the Vampire Diaries Universe as part of its lineup. The Vampire Diaries aired eight seasons from 2009 to 2017, The Originals consisted of five seasons from 2013 to 2018, and Legacies premiered in 2018. (There were only about three months between the end of The Originals and the beginning of Legacies.) The finale is set to air on June 16, and creator Julie Plec promised fans on Twitter that not only does it work as both a season- and series-ender, but also that it would feature “a couple surprises for long-time #TVDU fans that may just blow your mind,” so it sounds like there should at least be some closure.
Legends of Tomorrow (The CW)
We did get seven seasons of what ended up being the weirdest, wildest, and most fun of the Arrowverse series, yes, and it certainly had its ups and its downs, but it is disappointing that we didn’t get at least some sort of wrap-up, especially after that finale cliffhanger. (We would’ve gotten more of Donald Faison as Booster Gold!) Right now, all we can hope is that some of our burning questions are answered on one of the few remaining Arrowverse shows (The Flash and Superman & Lois).
Magnum P.I. (CBS)
The Season 4 finale was clearly setting up a future in which fans would see what would come next for Magnum (Jay Hernandez) and Higgins (Perdita Weeks) after they admitted their feelings and kissed. Instead, we got all of the build-up and their future unclear. After all, before that kiss, they acknowledged the concerns of crossing that line.
Ordinary Joe (NBC)
All three versions of Joe (James Wolk) were at a crossroads when the first season of the drama ended: Nurse Joe proposed he and Jenny (Elizabeth Lail) renew their vows after he and their son Christopher (John Gluck) flew to see her, only to find her sharing a drink with her friend and coworker Barrett (Brandon Sutton ). Cop Joe proposed to Amy (Natalie Martinez) as she talked about moving back to Miami. And Musician Joe expressed regrets to Jenny. All three Joes could have ended up with anyone after that!
Our Kind of People (Fox)
Who shot Leah (Nadine Ellis), in the back, through a chair, thinking she was Teddy (Joe Morton)? And will she survive? Based on where she was shot, it looked like it could go either way for her. But now, we’ll never see how that plays out next, including whether that person tries to take out the intended target.
Conversation29 Comments
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R
Bad move canceling Magnum!!!! Show had a large following!!
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O
Bring magnum pi back!
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O
Magnum PI should never have been cancelled. I hope someone picks it up, it's ratings were better than so many shows still being broadcast and on a Friday night no less.
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C
The ratings were still decreasing from previous years. CBS wasn't willing to pay the licensing fee to NBC Universal for a show who is losing viewers. It was too expensive. All the networks are doing this now. They're not willing to pay expensive licensing fees for shows that are losing viewership. If CBS didn't want to pay what NBC was asking, it's unlikely a cable network (which makes less money) or streaming platform (which also makes less money) will be willing to. A streaming platform might use it to attract subscribers, but that's a gamble. CBS hasn't even suggested moving it to Paramount Plus, unlike what they did with SEAL Team. They wanted to save the show, but they really don't want to pay the licensing fee. If NBC Universal had lowered the fee, they could have reached a deal.
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O
I understand there are talks to save Magnum. So it’s possibly moving over to NBC.
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O
Watch Magnum with my spouse every week. We loved it. Magnum had better ratings than many of the survivors too. Someone needs to pick them up. Greed between the production company and the broadcasting company did Magnum and Higgins in. Boo 🙁
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C
Licensing fee. For a show deteriorating in ratings, CBS wasn't willing to pay the licensing fee NBC Universal wanted. They couldn't reach a deal, because NBC didn't lower the fee.
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C
Licensing fee aren't the only thing that's a factor, the cost of filming and putting up actors in Hawaii just filming there costly. Why Hawaii 5-l0 was cancel. Not that ratings don't effect things.
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B
Bring magnum pi back please!!!
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P
Mad about Magnum being cancelled!! It was a feel good show in the end! Need more of that in these unsure times!
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J
I'll definitely miss Legends of Tomorrow-- wish they'd at least get a 3-episode wrap-up-- but for me the big disappointment/painful cancellation is Magnum.
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B
Magnum P.I was one of my favorite show I looked forward to watching on Friday night. I hope another network or streaming service picks it up.
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G
Loved Magnum! Very disappointed in CBS decision!
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G
I so looked forward to the magnum pi/ blue bloods block on Friday nights. So bummed that it’s now only blue bloods. Will really miss that mini vacation in Hawaii- esp with the ending of Hawaii 5-0. Never watched the original magnum pi but thoroughly enjoyed this one. Very sad to see it go.
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G
Magnum PI should not be cancelled! #SaveMagnumPI
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G
No more "Legacies" or "Legends of Tomorrow"? Why do I even bother to get hooked on TV series anymore?
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A
I watch a number of network shows (although none of this batch) but aside from 60 Minutes, I doubt I would feel more than a momentary pang at their cancellation. TV has a shelf life. Just acknowledge this, and prepare for what’s coming next. However, I do wish the networks would do us the courtesy of providing a satisfying wrap-up.
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C
Streaming is never going to be as profitable as broadcast television is, no matter how many subscribers they get. Broadcast television isn't going anywhere.
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G
Maybe CBS thinks their OTHER Hawaii show will benefit by throwing Magnum and his team under the bus. There’s always an agenda. Boo!
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G
The other Hawaii show is boring with the the suastpporting female cast members not very strong.
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C
It has nothing to do with NCIS: Hawaii. It has to do with the licensing fee. NCIS: Hawaii is fully owned by CBS, just like Hawaii Five-0 was. Magnum is a co-production between NBC Universal and CBS. They couldn't reach a deal on the licensing fee, because CBS wasn't willing to pay the licensing fee NBC Universal wanted for a show that was deteriorating in ratings week to week. All the networks are like this now. The ratings didn't justify the cost.
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O
I loved Ordinary Joe. It was so different.
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O
Gutted about legends show was before it’s time.
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C
I loved ordinary Joe too bad
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G
Since Magnum PI returned around I think end of Sept. 2021 I watch the ratings from several reports and they all except twice were right along with Blue Bloods on weekly ratings per episode. CBS had a good series. The viewership expanded even larger before it's ending as more and more people watched. Their cancellation was strictly money issue with license fees. People always voted per episode and they ranged between 9.3 and up. So when people say their ratings fell they are wrong, as I went back again and looked. This was one of the series that help CBS be #1 in network broadcasting viewership. It is sad that it has to end without closure on TM and JH beginning.Looking at it inside networks don't want but a minimum of scripted series but the past is a look into the future. When it works you keep that success and build on it. While in the long run and time one finds taking the short cut always leaves one looking back at what they flopped up and trying to find ways to compensate for what they now know isn't working or growing into their perceived success. It's like buying a car, you get one seemingly good to find it costing you more than what you paid for rather than spending a little more and avoiding the misery.
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M
No great loss.
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G
Magnum moet blijven super serie
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P
Wow, seems odd I won't miss any of those
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C
Magnum PI's cancellation came down to the licensing fee. Ratings were steadily falling, and CBS wasn't willing to pay what NBC Universal wanted. It's a co-production between NBC Universal and CBS. The only way Magnum PI gets saved, is if NBC Universal lowers their licensing fee or another network is willing to pay the expensive licensing fee for a show that was deteriorating in the ratings in the last weeks of the show.
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