CBS has cancelled long-running sitcom Mike and Molly after a 6 season run. In March, the network announced it was ordering 22 episodes for the show’s sixth season, but it was revealed this week that this season will be the show’s last and only 13 episodes will air. The series, which co-starred comedian Billy Gardell revolved around the titular couple, a cop and a teacher who met at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting and fell in love. I can’t believe they got 6 seasons out of this premise, but Billy and Melissa are quite charming, so I can possibly see it.
Melissa, who was recently nominated for a Golden Globe for Spy, tweeted on Monday, “I was shocked and heartbroken when @CBS canceled #MikeAndMolly. I would have shot this show for 50 more years. I’ll miss my 2nd family.” It’s not like the 45-year-old actress doesn’t have anything else on the horizon. She’s got 2 movies, The Boss and Ghostbusters, coming soon and she recently debuted her new Seven7 fashion line – and showed off her slimmed-down figure. On top of that, Forbes magazine declared her the third-highest paid actress in the world this year, surpassed only by Jennifer Lawrence and Scarlett Johansson. Not too shabby.
Melissa’s tweet implies that the show wasn’t cancelled because of her busy film career. The show pulled in decent ratings, bringing an average of 8.4 million viewers during its fifth season. It was no Big Bang Theory, which averaged over 16 million viewers, but it performed better than Two Broke Girls, which brings in an average of 7.8 million viewers. Melissa’s co-star, Rondi Reed, who plays Mike’s mother on the show, was also dismayed by the cancellation and wrote on her Facebook page, “We are done taping as of Jan. 27th, 2016, and I am not sure exactly when/if the episodes will all be aired. The network has its reasons, and I will not get into a debate, discussion, or campaign to get them to change their minds.”
Honestly, I didn’t even know Mike and Molly was still on. I love Melissa, but I’m really hoping she can get better scripts. I’m cautiously optimistic about Ghostbusters, but I’m definitely on the fence about The Boss. I think she’s an amazing comedienne who needs a role worthy of her talents. I mean, her physical comedy skills are on point. Her opening monologue from her 2013 hosting gig on SNL still cracks me up (especially as someone who can’t leave the house without strapping on a pair of heels). I’m sure she’ll be just fine without her sitcom.
What surprised me was that Melissa was under contract for a full 6th season. and one would think they would wrap it up at the end of the 6th (there’s no way they could have afforded to re-sign her anyway) but cutting the order down to 13 episodes seemed odd. Did CBS own the show? If it wasn’t produced in-house that would make sense, because they wouldn’t be making the same money off the show’s syndication.
Thank goodness 2 broke girls is up and running. The world needs endless bad vagina jokes.
Especially when delivered by frozen smile faces..those two have all the acting chops of mannequins.
Neither show was my cup of tea, but they both represent a lot of people’s jobs. More episodes and more seasons, even if crappy, represent more work for all those folks behind the scenes. So I guess it doesn’t bug me that much.
M&M is actually a well written show, and well acted. Kinda broad [no pun intended] but with really well constructed jokes. Maybe not Modern Family when it was good, but not totally below it.
It did struggle to come up with plot after a while, but was bold about weight struggles and bias against overweight people, and presented an interracial relationship without blinking — it wasn’t an issue for anyone, any more than Mike having a black cop partner was an issue.
The show would have been even more successful if there weren’t so much weight bias — it makes some people uneasy and they ignore it.
I never watched until recently – they have back to back re-runs locally. I love the show. It’s well written, and the cast is hugely talented. Adore the actress who plays Molly’s sister. Residuals should keep the cast comfortable for years to come.
Maybe the Network knew how expensive it would be to renew her contract when her current one expired. She’s had so much success the last few years.
That is what I am thinking. Re-negotiating with Melissa was coming up and they were seeing the writing on the wall. Her people, and rightfully so, would be asking for more money which would jump up the price of the show which the current ratings do not justify.
Given the way her career is going, she is a film star now, I can see her tweeting her overall happiness with the show and wanting to continue-it makes her sound professional and gracious (which I am sure she is) and attempts to dispel that her film success is the reason it’s over.
They probably wanted to keep her obese. There’s money in mortality. And networks like to control women’s bodies, don’t-cha-know….
I liked Melissa as Suki, on Gilmore Girls and followed her over to Mike and Molly. I likef the show and I’m not sure where it lost me. I also watched 2 Broke Girls until I saw the K girl on there. I’m like wtf! Is this your way of getting me to watch you on tv? Same thing happened with Royal Pains. Ugggh!!
Totally off topic, huh 😒
I’m with you on the 2 Broke Girls. I stopped watching that very night and have not gone back. I was really liking Mike and Molly the first two years and something changed it and I am not sure what, but I lost interest in it too.
I loved Mike and Molly until she decided to leave her teaching position and become a writer. That’s when it all fell apart.
My mom and I still still call her Suki though.
Same thing happened with Drop Dead Diva. After the K girl….yeah, the show was dead to me.
I’m not a big TV watcher. Who is the K girl?
Just googled K girl. Wow, you learn something new every day.
We stopped watching then too. The first three seasons generated a few laughs for us but then they threw it all away to go slapstick, we stopped after the first episode of series 4.
I loved her on Samantha Who? With Christina Applegate. That was a great show. Sad it was cancelled… but it gave her the opportunity to shine on her own, I guess.
I liked that show too, it was cute, had a good cast, and Samantha had a great wardrobe.
I don’t believe that. I would guess she is happy to now do more movies.
Isn’t McCarthy a film star? She’ll be fine.
Love melissa, but it was a really bad show… She will have so many better things coming up 🙂
She’s better off without it! It was usually unwatchable.
Has anyone seen the news about an “electronic threat” to LAUSD? Very frightening.
I slightly remember reports a few years back of how Melissa wanted out of the show. But was on contract. Also remember the whispers of her having an attitude with people on the set in season 2or3 after hollywood took notice of her. I think she’s pretty happy to free up her time and be a big screen actress and not a small screen one. What’s she suppose to say? “Ya I’ve been waiting for this show to end, so I can focus on movies soley.”? Then she would seem ungrateful to people and it would not go with her image.
While I
Yeah, I didn’t realize this was still on either but I highly doubt she’s upset. I also remember the rumors that she was pissed she couldn’t get out of her TV contract to focus on movies and was being a pill on set. I feel bad for the show’s crew, who suddenly found out they don’t have jobs in five weeks, but she’ll be fine so whatever.
Exactly @kimbers. Why be ungracious on the way out. Especially since she may be happy to get another sitcom in a decade or so if her movie career flames out.
I thought that show was cancelled year ago.
Oh I assumed this was done with eons ago, I also kept hearing something about them not LOOOOVVVVIIINNGG each other like that as it was
“third-highest paid actress” Go Melissa!
I think the show ending is the best thing possible for her film career, but she’s worked with the cast and crew for a long time and that has to hurt. Hopefully everyone involved can move onto better things – I like her so much I gave the show a few episodes, but it felt very, very dated, and wasn’t my sense of humor.
Side note, I ordered the skirt mentioned in the last post, and it came yesterday – nicely made, very comfortable.
When it comes to ratings, total viewers don’t matter to advertisers, only those in the 18-49 range with the 18-34 being the most valuable.
Why do you think that is? I have a lot more money now that I’m older. Maybe older people don’t need as much stuff?
It’s actually not that simple anymore. The big networks adhere to the traditional 18-54 model (because the idea is that younger audiences won’t have as much brand loyalty) and tend to go for volume. But you’re also seeing a lot of ‘niche’ audiences being valued – shows that attract a high percentage of a specific audience (apparently reality TV is a great way to advertise to young women). For example, did you know that both Scandal and the dearly departed Mad Men had incredibly valuable audiences, because they attracted more viewers of a high income? Some shows may attract what appear to be small audiences, but if they’re the ‘right’ audience (ie one that a subset of advertisers will be interested in) the show can survive.
You know, I think it’s that when people are older, it’s harder to sell to them. You know what you like in products, you know what works for you. Since our tastes change, mature and become more defined, it’s harder to WOW us with new things. In the 18-34 demographic, they’re not as defined, in a general sense.
Spy was a really good movie. I’m glad it got nominated.
I think because it was CBS who pulled the plug and not necessarily Chuck Lorre, that it may be able to get picked up by another network (like a free agent), similiar to the Mindy Project getting dropped by one (cant recall the network) & picked up by, I want to say Hulu. Anyway, heres hoping cause I love that show…the chemistry between the entire cast is amazing and there arent many good quality shows left…IMO. As far as The Big Bang Theory, well, I honestly dont get how that show has been on so long & gets such huge ratings. Ive watched it a few times & lets just say, it always ended up watching me
If the show were in it’s early seasons, maybe another network would go for it, but if it’s already had 6 seasons, so I can’t see any other platform trying to get it. Especially with the price Melissa could probably ask at this point.
I hate the Big Bang Theory. HATE IT. Like, have to run and change the channel if I hear it come on.
Fine by me. I am waiting for a sequel to Spy.
So she’ll be free for the Gilmore Girls reunion season??
Yesssss! It won’t be the same without Suki!
YES, please!
YIKES! I guess I am alone in my love for Mike & Molly – I thought it was a delightfully funny sitcom – and I am sad to see it go! Melissa is a movie star and she will be just fine, I just hope all the actors find other great gigs as well!
Oh Paige, you are SO NOT alone in your love for M & M!!! I was so sad when I heard about the cancellation because I wouldn’t get to laugh with/at the WHOLE DAMN CAST! M & M to me played the ‘straight’ people, more or less, while all of the others were delightfully crazy funny. My normal favorites are Carl, Nana (of course!) but ESPECIALLY PEGGY, Mike’s mom. Peggy was also my mom’s favorite character. We would spend HOURS recapping Peggy’s lines, expressions, eye rolls, grunts, snorts, voice tone, voice volume…sounds weird, but everything that Rondi Reed did gave my Mom and me so much laughter, joy and relief from the real world. We couldn’t BELIEVE we’d never seen an actress of such high comedic caliber before; upon research I found out she’s a major Broadway star and has won many awards. I also found out she was in “The Kiss Hello” episode of Seinfeld! She’s barely recognizable; younger of course and with blonde hair. Her character ‘Mary’ started off sweet but ended with a great, loud zinger to Jerry. Wish I could have seen it with my mom, but sadly she passed away four LONG years ago at the end of this month.
I cried for a long time when I heard about the show ending. To most people it was just a dumbed-down sitcom and no great loss, but to ME it’s just another sad link to my mom disappearing 😢😱
At least we have reruns!
M n M has started re-runs in my area also. I forget why I stopped watching it. I guess both “moms” are Broadway women. I love them all, honestly. It seems the cast has more comedic power when viewed as a whole. I hope to see them all in more shows/movies in the future. I liked “Spy” so much I bought it on DVD (which I do not buy anymore). So funny. Great female humor too…like all the hair jokes. The female British actress was unknown to me prior to the movie but was hysterically funny. I agree. I would love to see a sequel. Jason Statham was also a revelation as a comic actor. If you haven’t seen a decent comedy lately. I would recommend Spy.