Why Was 'The Good Place' Cancelled?
Making a successful television show is difficult for even the biggest creators and networks, as there is simply no guarantee that a series can thrive on the small screen. Some shows, like The Office, become classics, while others can be canned by the network shortly after airing their pilot episode. It’s tough, but the shows that find a large audience are rewarded handsomely.
The Good Place was a fantastic series during its run on television, finding legions of fans and earning acclaim in no time. While the show certainly could have kept going, it came to an end sooner than most were expecting, leading many fans to wonder why the creators and the network chose to pull the plug so early.
Let’s take a closer look at The Good Place and learn why the series was ended after just four seasons on NBC.
‘The Good Place’ Was An Immediate Success
Debuting back in September of 2016, The Good Place proved to be a welcomed addition the the lineup being offered by NBC, and the series brought in a large audience in no time. This was thanks to not only having excellent previews, but also having massive talent, as well.
Michael Schur, the series creator, has a remarkable track record on the small screen, with few creators in history coming close to matching what he has done during his time in Hollywood. Schur was a writer and producer on The Office, he co-created Parks and Recreation, and he even co-created Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Yeah, the man is a writing genius, and he brought his ‘A’ game to The Good Place back in 2016.
With Schur being the creative mind behind the show, he needed the right cast to bring it to life, and the casting of performers like Kristen Bell and Ted Danson proved to be a stroke of genius for the show. Jameela Jamil and William Jackson Harper were excellent additions, as well.
The immediate success of The Good Place certainly caught the buzz of mainstream audiences, who helped spread excellent word-of-mouth for the show. This, in turn, helped the show thrive in what can usually be an unforgiving medium. As such, there was hope that the series would be around for the long haul.
It Could Have Kept Going
Normally, a successful show will look to keep the ball rolling, as there is a considerable amount of money that can be made when something really takes off with fans. It certainly seemed like The Good Place was going to be a show that could remain fresh and relevant while moving along, but things weren’t meant to last for long.
For four seasons, the show continued to deliver big on the small screen, and it managed to take home some truly impressive awards along the way. It was even nominated for a number of Primetime Emmy Awards, though it was unable to secure a win at the coveted event.
Fans were hopeful for a fifth season of the show, but Michael Schur was adamant that a fourth season was going to be its last.
According to Schur, “At times over the past few years we've been tempted to go beyond four seasons, but mostly because making the show is a rare, creatively fulfilling joy, and at the end of the day, we don't want to tread water just because the water is so warm and pleasant.”
The Ending Was Planned Early On
So, why just four seasons? Turns out, this was in the cards for quite some time.
Creator Michael Schur talked about this, saying, “After The Good Place was picked up for season two, the writing staff and I began to map out, as best as we could, the trajectory of the show. Given the ideas we wanted to explore, and the pace at which we wanted to present those ideas, I began to feel like four seasons—just over 50 episodes—was the right lifespan.”
Fans were caught off guard by the announcement, as most shows will overstay their welcome in the name of reaching the coveted 100-episode mark for mass syndication. Nevertheless, the entire fandom tuned in to each episode of the final season, giving the series a proper sendoff. Unlike many of the shows that came before it, The Good Place managed to stick its landing, which the fans appreciated.
The Good Place had an incredible run on the small screen, and while it was short, the team behind the show made the most of their moment in the sun.
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