CBS Cancels ‘True Lies’ & ‘East New York’ After One Season
After news dropped late last night that CBS had un-cancelled ‘SWAT’ for a final season, they quickly snuck out two cancellations of freshman shows ‘True Lies‘ and ‘East New York‘, which will not be back for second seasons.
Based on James Cameron’s hit 1994 action-comedy, ‘True Lies‘ saw an unfulfilled suburban housewife who is shocked to discover that her seemly bland and unremarkable computer consultant husband is actually a skilled international spy, and finds herself propelled into a life of danger and adventure when she’s recruited to work alongside him to save the world as they try to revitalize their passionless marriage. The series was led by Steve Howey (‘Shameless’) as Harry, and Ginger Gonzaga (‘I’m Dying Up Here’, ‘She-Hulk’) as Helen.
The decision to cancel the series has not come as a huge shock. ‘True Lies’ has been the lowest-rated scripted series on CBS this season, and just failed to find an audience. The drama came from Matt Nix, McG, and James Cameron and was produced by Disney’s 20th Television. The first (and only) season can be found on Disney+ in the UK.
‘East New York‘ followed Regina Haywood (Amanda Warren – ‘The Leftovers’, ‘Dickinson’), the newly promoted deputy inspector of East New York, a working-class neighbourhood at the edge of Brooklyn. She leads a diverse group of officers and detectives, some of whom are reluctant to deploy her creative methods of serving and protecting in the midst of social upheaval and the early seeds of gentrification. The series also starred Jimmy Smits, Kevin Rankin, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Richard Kind, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Lavel Schley and Olivia Luccardi.
The cancellation of ‘East New York’ is quite possibly a direct result of the decision to pick up ‘SWAT’ for a final season. Both shows had similar numbers in terms of total viewers, but ‘SWAT’ did slightly better in the key 18-49 demographic. Whilst ‘SWAT’ is a more expensive show to make, CBS opted to quell the fan outrage and stick with the more established show, meaning it was “one and done” for ‘East New York’. The series didn’t have a broadcaster in the UK.
‘East New York’ was written and exec produced by William Finkelstein (‘NYPD Blue’, ‘The Good Fight’) and Mike Flynn (‘Big Sky’, ‘Power Book III’). Warner Bros. Television was the studio.
‘True Lies‘ is currently airing on Disney+ in the UK. ‘East New York‘ does not have a UK broadcaster.
