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EXCLUSIVE: USA Network‘s Fairly Legal won’t return for a third season as the network has opted not to continue with the series starring Sarah Shahi. Meanwhile, I hear USA is finalizing a deal for a 13-episode seventh-season pickup of veteran Burn Notice.
USA’s decision to cancel Fairly Legal comes after the network tried revamping the series after its ho-hum first season. USA brass gave the show a second-season renewal based on its appealing star, Shahi, and its potential but stressed that the show needed to get better. There was a showrunner change and casting tweaks on the show, but in the end, the improvements proved not enough to warrant another renewal. Paired with the final season of In Plain Sight, Fairly Legal started its second season with 3.5 million viewers, dropping to 2.5 million by the end of its run. Meanwhile, Shahi just booked a recurring role on freshman NBC drama Chicago Fire. “Sarah Shahi is undoubtedly a star and we’re thrilled she’ll be joining our sister network NBC on Chicago Fire, USA said in a statement to Deadline. “We are proud of Fairly Legal and thank the very talented cast and crew for two fantastic seasons.”
Fairly Legal joins USA freshman Common Law, which also has been cancelled. The future of Necessary Roughness is still up in the air. Meanwhile, Burn Notice is the latest USA summer series to get a renewal, along with recently picked up Suits, Royal Pains, White Collar and Covert Affairs. Its 13-episode pickup is smaller than the 16-episode Seasons 2 and 3 and 18-episode Seasons 4,5 and 6. USA also recently gave a 26-episode renewal across 2 seasons to veteran Royal Pains after several supersized seasons.
USA’s renewed shows will be joined next summer by Graceland, the new series from White Collar creator Jeff Eastin. Production on that series, starring Daniel Sunjata and Aaron Tveit, is starting this week in Fort Lauderdale, Fla with Serinda Swan joining in a recurring role.
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Any news on Political Animals?
Yeah, that’s the show I care about. Canceling both “Common Law” and “Fairy Legal” should be good for “Political Animals” renewal. But I have a weird gut feeling USA decided to cancel all the bubble shows. It sucks cause I wanted to see more of Elaine Barrish and her family.
Political Animals was never intended to be a series. I was always promoted as a mini-series and had very low ratings. Considering the cost of the cast, don’t even think it will come back.
With the upcoming Modern Family reruns, success of Psych, past success of Monk, and upcoming comedy show (most likely Paging Dr. Freed), USA seems to be headed for a more comedy based lineup, something Political Animals definitely did not fit. Would have been better off as an AMC show.
You don’t know what you’re talking about. USA did it as a six episode order, with the idea always being that if it did well, they’d renew it for a larger order. Similar to what Sci-fi originally did for Battlestar. But it’s ratings were a disaster, especially for a high profile (Sigourney) project.
COMMON LAW was way too soft and the writing was bankrupt. Not funny enough, not exciting enough. It incited neither love nor scorn. USA needs to bring in some experienced auteurs, gifted and original voices, to take their formulas and reinvigorate them. If that happens, they could have the same prestige of AMC to match their great ratings. I personally find COVERT AFFAIRS far too generic.
It was never a miniseries. The limited thing only referred to its short season.
is USA going away because all the good shows are leaving ???
I just learned that Fairly Legal was cancelled as well as Common Law. I am so disappointed. It seems that the good shows get cut and shows that have no morals stay on. So disappointed in USA!
Common Law surprised me; it was so much more entertaining that we thought it would be and I’m sorry it’s canceled. I like the cast of Fairly Legal, but think that people are so sick of anyone or anything that reminds them of the kartrashians and this show paid the price, despite the fact that Shahi is nothing like them, she’s just a gorgeous brunette who can act and is engaging. I also love that it had Gerald McRainey on the show. oh well.
You keep Covert Affairs that is just garbage and you don’t give the new shows a chance I would watch Fairly Legal and Uncommon Law any day of the week I thought the Guy were great you just had to come out of hte box as a viewer. The Closer wasn’t that great the first year but I kept watching Brenda was an aquired taste so were these shows. I am a Big Fan Of USA but I am really disappointed.
I agree with these comments. Fairly Legal and Common Law were great TV!
so sad that one of my favorite shows will not be returning “Fairly Legal”. I looked forward to it every week.
I feel the same way too, especially Fairly Legal. I loved that show! I hope USA changes their mine and bring the shows back!
I agree with you whole heatedly! The good shows don’t last but yet they continue with lousy ones like Burn Notice, Suits, reality shows etc.
BURN NOTICE and SUITS are caliber quality shows, so you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. Fairly Legal shortly became a badly written mockery with Kate acting over the top and that horrible ass Ben character they brought on. It deserved to be cancelled. Burn Notice and Suits sticks with what works for them.
I agree! Fairly Legal is just a great show!!!
I loved Fairly Legal!! It supported strong women and yet the love triangle was exciting. I don’t understand why they didn’t at least wind the show up, if they were thinking about taking it off the air last year. We are left hanging!! They should have at least put it on one more year and put a good ending on it. Instead they are leaving us never wanting to watch another series, in fear it will be cut off like this great show. I guess the 2.5 million that watched the show are not important!!
Omg…. I loved fairly legal!!!! I wished I knew what could have happened, or at least ened it well!!!! Is there a book out from this show, so I can at least read about what happened after the show raped it up???:-(
I cannot believe the networks canceling Fairly legal and common law! These were shows that got me to the USA channel. Now I will only see 2 shows on this network!!
bring back fl
great show
I hate seeing that Fairly Legal has been cancelled. I really looked forward to the new season. Please bring it back!!
I agree, bring Fairly Legal back please.
Me too! And bring back Common Law while canceling Burn Notice, covert Affairs and Suits.
Had been looking forward to the 3rd season of Fairly Legal. Must have been sleeping when the show was cancelled. It was enjoyable to watch the chemistry between Kate and Ben. Would have liked to see their characters evolve. Sorry that it is gone.
I join to these comments, bring Fairly Legal back please!!!
why is it the viewers never get to vote on keeping or canceling a show? I really liked watching the women on that show…..
I think Burn Notice’s future is shaky because of what’s going on with the Burn Notice set down in Miami.
Wish they had a permanent structure for them down there, that way they can get the full renewal deal. Burn Notice isn’t done telling stories about Michael Westen & his friends yet, too many unanswered questions STILL!
As for Fairly Legal, I stopped watching after the pilot and never went back, won’t miss it, never watched Common Law, glad I didn’t. I’ve been irky with USA since they let go of Monk, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, & In Plain Sight.
That, plus renewing those contracts after six seasons can get very expensive. I want this show to continue, but I don’t want anyone in that awesome cast to get short changed either. It’s a catch-22.
The second season of Fairly Legal was SOOOO much better!! You should’ve keep watching.
Fairly Legal ended up with one of the most unlikable leads I’ve ever seen in a show; I don’t mean the actress, I mean the way the character was written which was horrific
I tried to give this show a chance; but everything you and others have said is true.
My thoughts exactly. I love Shahi, LOVE her, especially after her stint with Damien Lewis on NBC’s “Life,” but her character was difficult at best in the pilot, and by the end of season two, it was impossible to sympathize or identify with her. The writers royally ruined this one, and it will most likely be remembered as such, much like Common Law, which had some of the worst dialogue of any modern show.
I agree. I watched the first two episodes but quit. I didn’t like Shahi’s at all. I think if I somehow managed to continue watching, I would have been rooting against her all the time.
Agree! Couldn’t stand her and her sense of entitlement. Stopped watching after the pilot.
Not at all surprised about Fairly Legal. I slogged through the first season, but the lead character was just awful. She was a spoiled, self-entitled brat with no redeeming qualities. I only kept watching for Michael Trucco, who I loved on BSG.
I agree completely. I like Shai but her character was awful. And instead of making it better the second season, they made her even worse and hooked her up with another character just as immature. I should have been paid for sticking with the show.
I hope Michael Trucco goes on to a better series soon.
The Kate character became a mockery over the top character throughout season 2 so they can put her with that horrible Ben.
Justin brought balance to her character, and he adored her with his whole heart. Sarah Shashi and Michael Trucco made a sexy combo match. After season 1 everything was crapped over, so no big loss that it went off the air.
Such a shame about Fairly Legal. Shahi is undoubtably a star. The ratings were fine during the first season. They tanked during the second due to the night, the break between seasons, an the retooling the network thought it needed. I know lots of fans were not happy with that. Oh well Graceland looks good. It’s a shame they can’t get a good female led show other than Covert Affairs.
Season 1′s ratings were poor and they revamped the series in hopes it would save it. It didn’t, so it is gone. I liked the show and hope to see Shahi in something else real soon, but the show never really took off.
The removal of Creator Michael Sardo proved to be the death knell. Sardo is a great writer with a great voice and I have no idea why Bonnie Hammer and Jeff Wachtel didn’t just get out of the way and let him rip. Sarah’s a star and the show was right in the USA wheelhouse. Classic case of over managing and not letting the Creator find his footing to deliver the show. It’s all that’s bad with the process.
What’s up with the set?
In short, the city of Miami (read: a few angry politicians that do not represent most of the city) wants to demolish where they’ve filmed most of the non-location shots for a park. There’s nothing people can do about it–the city’s hellbent on getting rid of it despite it being, for instance, where Jim Morrison was arrested for supposed indecency. They think the park, and not the studio, will generate revenue to the city. (It’s silly!) I’ve heard production and the city were talking about a deal to allow them to film a little bit longer at their studios.
Meanwhile, the city has no problems with the Kardashian, Real Housewives and Basketball Wives shows, as well as countless music videos, filming in the city. You’d think the city would be kinder to a top-rated network show that doesn’t feature only rich people doing rich people things in Miami, but alas.
So let me get this straight: the city of Miami wants to build a park, which will benefit all its citizens… and you’re saying they should instead keep an aging studio there that produces a TV show relatively few people watch or care about.
actually nearly 7 million people like burn notice so i wouldnt say “only a few”!
Fairly belonged on Cinemax… for all the right reasons.
Redevelop and undress the star and you’ve got a hit.
Got to love USA. Taking over half a year to cancel a show.
Almost as bad an SyFy, who renews a show, and then quickly cancels it after it’s too late for the cast and crew to sign of for other gigs before production season starts. Seems like every branch of Universal has a knack for treating it’s people like garbage.
I have no problems with a 13 episode season for Burn Notice (related to the show’s studio problems or not, since the showrunners have thrown out seven seasons as an ideal length for the show). The story has gotten repetitive as of late for myself, and if the show ever did get past seven seasons, I would’ve fled in a heartbeat. Hopefully a 13 episode season, as opposed to the 18 seasons the show has been working with for a few seasons, will feel tighter and hopefully lead towards a happy ending for the characters.
I offered the producers a chance to blow up the building for their finale, but they passed on it. So I just doubled their rent, hoping they’d leave faster so I can demolish their set and turn it into a park for my people. but can you believe these hollywood types? they caved faster than a Chilean mine
There will NEVER be a better role for Sarah Shahi – and possibly for Ryan Johnson – than the roles they played on Fairly Legal. They WERE Ben & Kate. And the characters had just gotten to the point where they were becoming likable as people. God, I how I HATE talking about this show in past tense! I loved ALL the characters on that show, but those two in particular – they were my favorite TV (non) couple of all time. I just can’t believe it.
I can’t believe USA Network cancelled Common Law…It was one of the funniest shows I’ve ever watched…I am so sad to see it go…:-(
Burn Notice should be cancelled.
Amen.
You should be cancelled.
Burn Notice is clean fun that doesn’t take itself overly serious. I love it for those reasons.
UEA RIGHT youre just sad your pathetic crappy shows cant make it through 2 seasons!!!
Hope they stick with “Necessary Roughness.”
I love common law i am really sad about it being axed
Burn Notice – one of the best shows on TV. More episodes! More seasons!
“Fairly Legal” is a show about conflict resolution. Call me crazy, but last I heard, conflict is the key to good storytelling. Kind of a no brainier on this one.
Conflict may be the key to good storytelling (although I think good storytelling is the key to good storytelling) but likable characters is the key to keeping the audience watching your show. Kate and Ben were two of the most unlikable characters on TV.
In the webpage of Necessary Roughness in Facebook, US Network publish that they will renew this and come back in January, good news.
I am sad for Common LAw and Fairly Legal. I loved both. I think the big mistake of Fairly Legal was how they add the new character of Ben (great actor, but I prefer Trucco). Because they were very bias with Ben again Justin. Instead of to remain in a even score such as both fans (Justin team and Ben team) would be happy. They try to sell so much Ben, that the most of Justin fan finally was so dissapointed with the serie. The final season were to obvius that a lot of Justin fan did not watch this. When I saw what happen I will afraid they left the TV serie and this affect the viewer and the renovation. I am so sad I was rigth about that.
I hope they don’t cancel Burn Notice way going we may find out this season why Michael Westen got burn I think was CIA did it
Something about Michael didn’t want kill human right activist head of Chechen orphanage back in da day something about Chechen Warlord with CIA ties
Daniel Sunjata, very cool. But just as I got excited, along comes .. Serinda Swan. Seriously?
You guys are ridiculous. Fairly Legal got even better on season two and Kate was a fantastic character!! I’m going to miss it and I’m very upset with USA Network for canceling this. 2.5M is still a lot of viewers and that’s how many that are pissed!
I agree. I am very disappointed to hear that Fairly Legal was cancelled. I really enjoyed the show. All of the characters were great! I just hate when you start to get involved in a show and then they just pull it off the air without giving the viewers an ending the show and viewers deserve.
Burn Notice has gotten way too serious and should be canned right now without reservation. It’s a show that has collapsed under the weight of its serious aspirations to become an absolute farce. This is coming from a fan who loves its tone from the first 3-4 seasons.
All the writers who think conflict is key to good storytelling is GRAVELY MISTAKEN. There’s a fair percentage of viewers who’ll always switch off a show precisely because of intentionally thrown-in, excessive conflict that aren’t exactly natural to the storyline. USA probably needs to have a good think about this because they’ve been destroying the tone of several shows.
Loved Fairly Legal! It seemed to just be getting better and better. Nothing to watch USA for anymore.
Burn Notice by far, an excellent prograam Top cable show! Huge Fans! Yes there are many more seasons of storylines So they must relocate after S7 Start doing it gradually during S7 @ no one will have any notice of when 8 starts. Pls relay my comments to USA NETWORK, MATT NIX AND CAST/CREW. LET florida continue massive tourissm, etc received from revenues from Bburn Notice. And as I’ve read, stale matefrom a cast membeR, boo money doesn’t have to be an issue, unless you’re golable @ hhate your job @ huge fan ccluster.
cant believe burn notice still exists all it turned into is EXPLOSIONS-> relationship drama -> incredibly unrealistic storyline -> EXPLOSIONS -> mommy daddy issue -> EXPLOSIONS its total crap cancel it should of ended 2-3 seasons ago befor it turned into a low budget Michael bay movie