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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.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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Boo, USA. So sad to see Fairly Legal go. Mediation may not be the most exciting world but Fairly Legal managed to make it fun, particularly the 2nd season. Sophisticated wit and talented cast. Can’t wait to see what Michael Trucco and Ryan Johnson do next.
This is not a surprise. I hope it happens to Necessary Roughness. Most of the USA shows that female leads for some reason aren’t as well written as the male lead shows (Common Law notwithstanding). From comments I can see that these shows have ardent fans but to me they were not as good as the other shows. That said, USA generally has good taste in casting and professional production values. I look forward to the Sunjata show despite Swan being added to the cast. Though ‘beautiful’, she comes across as an acting lightweight… she’s no Sarah Shahi that’s for sure.
USA Network has to be more carefull when they gave a new directions to a show. THey have to think in old and new viewers. When they introduce Ben in Fairly Legal, it was a great idea. And I was so happy. But after that, they try that all love Ben and they forgot your old viewers. I agree that they were bias with Ben and left behind the old viewers that loved Justin. THis show had a lot of potential. They can tell a lot of histories. But they do not take care one side of their viewers and tey lost them. A great example how to do the same in a better ways is ACkward. I am a JAke fan, and instead she choose MAt in the second season. I was happy with the season finally. Because MTV take care of both group in consideration and gave us a great season finale. US Network have to be more careful, we do not want to lose more great series for that type of mistake. I loved this show.
I loved Fairly Legal. I though it was a great idea when they introduce to Ben. But I think the problem is as someone said, they were so bias with Ben that when the season end only the Ben fan were happy and the Justin fan were angry. A lot did not see the season finale, because it were so obvious what will happen. I think the problem is that the writer forget the old viewer when they changed direction. I am so angry because Fairle Legal was cancelled. It had a lot of potential and great characters. The producer or writer had to be more careful when they do a change in a TV serie such as they take care all their viewers. One great example is Ackward, she choose one in the season finale, but both fans: Jake and Matt were happy with this. Really, when a show had lower number of viewer the channel had to take care all, in opposite case happen as here, we lost a great TV show.
I think Burn Notice is without a doubt the best show on TV. It is action packed, has catchy lines in the right places, has family ties and love for a devoted girlfriend all combined.I like the way someone to who was so hardened in beginning episodes is peeling away his hard shell and showing emotions while still doing what he is horned to do. Jeffrey Donovan is a superb actor in any of the roles he plays.
Fairly Legal was a great show. I cannot understand why it was cancelled.
I really do hope you decide to bring it back because the show was really worth
watching. So tired of all the reality shows taking away good shows. There
are too many reality shows and they need to get rid of some of those. Those are
pretty much the same old thing. There is excitement and it is a very interesting
show along with In Plain Sight and a few other programs.
Please try and bring back Fairly Legal. Thank you just for taking the time to read this and really do want the show Fairly Legal back.
From what I see and read comments nobody is happy that this series was cancelled everybody was wtaching this show and everybody liked this I mean each one with his reasons to watch the show but watched SO WHY THEY CANCELLED THE SHOW??? WHY?? The Tv Networks allways do the same old s***t thing they are canceling the good and new fresh with new lines and new storys SHOWS and the are give chances to the OLD AND BORING AND you know THE SAME STORY when you watch at the tv and you have the feeling that you know what`s going on in the near future and it`s no more excitement in your heart because you already know whats going on…pffff
I liked both common law and fairly legal. I especially liked sarah shahis character on faily legal. I am sad it is not coming back. If they would have put on different night it may have done better.
I loved Fairly Legal especially the 2nd season!! Ryan Johnson was a great addition to the show.. It was just nice to watch something without blood and guts and gore..
Just like to say i am not a happy bunny fairly legal brilliant show all the cast are amazing so to cancel it was so uncalled 4r.
After reading all your comments I must really be small minded but I really enjoyed tne show and would have been one of the 2.5 million viewers still watching. I was looking forward to Season 3. Oh well. ….
“In plain sight”, “political animals”, and “fairly legal”, are/were shows my husband and I looked forward to…reconsider.PLEASE.
canceling fairly legal sucks. The show had a good sence of humor.
how could you cancel the two shows with strong women? you all make
me sick
linda
I only watched Fairly Legal because Michael Trucco was on it; when his role was made practically invisible in season 2, I couldn’t watch the show because I didn’t like any of the other characters. I’m glad he’s available for other roles—gotta love him on HIMYM
and I’m looking forward to him on Revenge.
I hope they change thier mind about canceling Fairly Leagal (doubt it thought). I like Ben and Kate. I was hoping they would get to hater in the next season. I’m so mad that they cancelled the show, this was one of my favorite shows. I really hope they don’t cancel Neccesary Roughness. As for Burn Notice go for it I use to watch it but now it’s gotten to the point where it is boring. I also hope the cancel Psych this I also watch a little but it’s pointless, boring and one of the you knew-that-already shows( the mentalist is better )
Oops ment to say I was hoping Ben and Kate would get togater in the next season.
I really really don`t understant why ”Fairly Legal” was cancelled because it was a great show with such an amazing actors I mean…really? Kate? Justin, Lauren Reed?? or Ben?? This series has much to show…the relationship between Ben and Kate now that they are neighborhood and etc….I am sooo sooo sad for this news
( I was in love with this show with Kate and now…its gone….here Romania
Loved fairly legal, got better each show, was funny,cute,serious all in one. Only reason to watch USA, others boring!
Finally, a review thoughtful enough to respond to and agree with completely!! Especially as “Fairly Legal” continued to evolve considerably throughout Season 3, equal parts intelligence and intrigue and charm and heart…and unlike any other show preimise… I don’t understand how anyone (who REALLY watched “Fairly Legal”) can say it was anything but highly enjoyable and engaging, exploring more and more interesting charactor arcs for all cast, and never lacking for interesting storlines.
The addition of Ryan Johnson was a particularly savvy choice as the new attorney/romantic interest for Sarah Shahi (who I loved since the (unfortunately titled) series “Life,” another “too soon to be cancelled.”)
What really gets me is that USA did not appear to stick with it with more promotion (as it does so well with so many other USA shows I love) and try better time slot(s) beyond following the waning/ending final season of “In Plain Sight” (which I loved most of the time, for all the right reasons of story and character quality and brilliant performances and production… as I also feel about Burn Notice (since day one), and now Suits, Covert Affairs, and Necessary Roughness).
I AM a true USA fan. So much so that I just really don’t want to believe it’s killing off “Fairly Legal” largely judged by its ratings following the laggingly final season of IPS…flag on the play!!
Anyway, I have been SO looking forward to the return of Fairly Legal, SO many loose ends in plot and characters that could go in so many
different directions (!!) I can hardly stand that it is now just going to stop abruptly when it had SO much more to give!!! It’s so hard to get quality drama on the air as it is…when so much of a show is working, why can’t The Powers That Be give it more time, more of a chance, to do even better of what they want, instead of starting over with who-knows-what, gambling the next show will be more than half as good, if that. Why go the trouble, not to mention upsetting loyal viewers. Nothing about “Fairly Legal” is broken, it surely could get better ratings if allowed the effort and opportunity. How unfortunate for those who love TV when a great quality show is killed off way too soon to be fair. As in Fairly Legal. Especially with what’s happening to all TV, all broadcasting, all media, everywhere.
—To the Fairly Legal people, bravo to all who made it GREAT television, which is not something easily made or rated or reviewed. And, though perhaps but small comfort, but I’m just one of millions who feel the same, and will miss every new episode that could have been.
Very disappointed I loved both of those shows… it’s like everytime you find a show you like it gets cancelled
I agree with you about fairly legal it was starting to get even better and then it got cancelled? I cant believe it -im crushed-episodes on usa are few and too far apart
I love Fairly Legal. That is so sad that they are cancelled for season 3.
Loved Fairly Legal and its characters. Whats with all the cancellations of show this season? Like any program with humor gets axed. Not just USA but all networks. They keep the cheesy mindless reality crap.
Hate to hear they chose to cancel “Fairly Legal”
Loved Common Law and Fairly Legal.Not watching Covert Affairs. Didn’t care for it.So disappointed in USA.The good shows always seemed to get axed. However,a watcher of all the others coming back so glad for that.
Sara Shahi was (is) fantastic. Conflict resolution was refreshing.
It’s a shame that so many “good” shows disappear and are replaced with so called “reality shows” with people appearing on them with
absolutely no brains (thought up by people with no shame) Just another taste of how rotten and unenlightened audiences have become. Loved Fairly Legal Still enjoy Burn Notice, think Covert Affairs is excellent and think Necessary Roughness is quite good. Very sad that the producers and/or writers are so obtuse. Maybe a reailty show would reveal their strange thought processes!!!