Not that everyone didn’t see this coming, but ABC has canceled Hank.
It’s the end of the road for “Hank.”
ABC has cancelled the freshman comedy starring Kelsey Grammer. The show is filming episode 10 and will stop production after wrapping that episode.
ABC, which has aired five half-hours of “Hank,” has no immediate plans to run the remaining five segments.
ABC plans to air repeats and specials in its place for the next few weeks.
Kelsey is on a bad run…
Update: ABC is putting Modern Family reruns on at 8pm Wednesday 11/18 and 11/25 in Hank’s old timeslot.
FINALLY!
Not surprising.
Wow, What a shock. Not really but this was expected. Bring on the Modern Family repeats. ABC should atleast burn the rest of Hank off.
I’m so glad it’s finally gone. It was such an epic trainwreck that I was compelled to keep watching.
Stinkers come and go but something this out-of-touch was special and only comes ’round every few years.
FINALLY! (2)
Yoshue, and you claim I have bad taste? At least I don’t torture myself with that sort of dreck.
Id burn Hank off through December 16, so all 10 eps air. Then Ugly Betty will liekly slide into the slot, putting the Middle on hiatus.
Well, they’re not.
for the record never saw hank and obviously never will… i trust that it’s bad but i sometimes think this site is more about hating tv than loving it based on comments i read all the time
I wasn’t enjoying it, Julia, but I could…not…stop…watching…
It was like when NBC aired Committed, probably the worst sitcom in broadcast history.
So will there be a fan excuse bingo game for this, or do you not think enough people care it’s gone to make excuses?
So I take it ABC will be modifying their schedule for November 25th?
Poor Hank…hey I know a good psychiatrist in Seattle he can call…
Why have him on The Tonight Show on Monday then? I understand canceling it now, but what’s the point of sending talent to do PR when it won’t air?
Ooooh, he’s doing The Tonight Show monday?
JUICY.
Maybe The Middle might have a decent lead in now.
ON the bright side, this shows a network will actually cancel a BAD sow.
It was this past Monday, yosh. If it were this coming Monday, that would be awesome. He could bitch and moan about the network not catering to him. I mean, don’t they know what a huge star he is?
Don’t they know he was FRASIER CRANE!
Julia – Well November 25 at 8 will probably be a half hour special as will be in the slot until December 16.
Robert – Yeah I know that now. However Eastwick is still scheduled for 11/25, 12/2, and 12/16.
Now I know why ABC aired Hank’s thanksgiving episode on November 4.
Maybe TV Land will pick it up
But that show made for such great and original comedy!
NOT!
Between Eastwick and Hank, I think we’re seeing now WHY we got the news that Ugly Betty is getting more episodes. They’re going to move the show to Wednesday night from the Friday Night Death Slot. That simple.
Well we already know that, likely this
8:00 Ugly Betty
9:00 Modern Family
9:30 Cougar Town
10:00 Lost
The Middle likely shifted to 9:30 mondays.
Well, look at the bright side. Eureka will have Zoe (Jordan Hinson) back as the daughter – I guess Harvard did not work out. And with Eastwick’s cancellation Jaime Ray Newman can come back as Carter’s girlfriend. So two cancels = double plus for Eureka.
“Kelsey is on a bad run…”
Yes, a bad run. If only the endless residuals Cheers and Frasier, and the fees from Girlfriends, The Game and Medium could cheer him up.
Sheesh.
That ‘Hank’ picture makes me want to punch him. Looks so smug.
Can you say typecast. the guy played the same role for 20 years no one will ever take him seriously as anything else. Hey don’t feel sorry for the guy, he is loaded and never needs to work again. Since he is a repubican he probably never will!
Lester, fair enough — obviously I meant with being involved with TV shows that get renewed. Or I thought it was obvious. Outside of that, he’s definitely in a better position than most.
I really hope that they work on a better lead for The Middle. Even though I don’t like Patricia I love this show and it is a shame it got paired with Hank.
Promoting him did nothing. Jimmy Kimmel should have given Stana Katic double time in Grammer’s place. Just saying.
marenamoo:
Yes, it does look like Eureka is going to get Zoe and Tess back sooner than expected. However, I don’t think they are going to give Zoe the boot from Harvard. Something can be worked out — distance learning, special projects supervised by mentors and visitors from the college, a simple reduction in her role so that she appears somewhat infrequently (holidays, summer break), or a compression of time passed in episodes. Several episodes of Eureka this past “3.5″ season (primarily dealing with the object from space) took place in just a few weeks, so the show can fudge that for Zoe to be around over the summer or something.
As for Hank… well, better luck next time, Kelsey… and, you, too, Jordan Hinson. I had suspicions this show was in trouble when the pilot was bought but retooled. When “retooled” enters into the conversation, things are not good — and often lead to cancellations.
I hear ya Robert…I know what you actually meant, I’m just a little envious of the guy.
Awww… Is there no disturbingly obsessive love for “Hank?”
Oh, I forgot. It’s not a sci-fi/vampire/fantasy show.
Harold…
Or a medical/criminal investigation procedural… or a Whedon show… or a hot reality show…
or Chuck (which is a category unto itself)…
Yoshue,
Re your comment earlier…
I actually kinda liked Committed a few years back…
Just got off the phone with Ted Turner. TNT is interested in picking the show up.
The problem with the show is that the 1st episode was the worst one.
Also, the young boy is a waste of a character.
Not too many shows will comeback to haunt a network but Hank will. This show was treated with no fair chance from day one. ABC seems to think that The Middle, Modern Family, and Cougar Town will lead them to promninence when in fact, 2 out of 3 will be gone by the end of the 2010-11 season. Call me back after it happens folks!
I’m not sure Kelsey Grammer has a post-Frasier career. I think he’s too identified with Frazier after playing him so long. He should do what David Hyde-Pierce did and go to Broadway.
Not shocking. Hopefully Kelsey can get a new sitcom that’s actually good.
Kelsey doesn’t need to work another day in his life. The man was in Cheers and Fraiser plus produced great black sitcoms like Girlfriends and The Game. Not to forget he was the voice of the great Simpsons character Sideshow Bob.
I would like to see Kelsey produce some more shows or get his acting career back in the right direction and get in a new comedy. Kelsey should try CBS who is the only network who seems to know how to handle their comedies now in days.
the commercials for it were enough
Who’s Hank?
PatPrez says:
November 11, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Not shocking. Hopefully Kelsey can get a new sitcom that’s actually good.
I don’t see that ever happening again.
After watching a handful of Frasier episodes, I don’t even know how that show became a success. His character was so annoying on Cheers…
so long hank…..
Update: ABC is putting Modern Family on at 8pm Wednesday 11/18 and 11/25 in Hank’s old spot.
Really, it was a mercy killing for both the actors and the audience. The show was so bad one needed a full body shot of Novocain just to get through one. And poor Jordon! Her character and lines were terrible; her character was worse in attitude than Zoe originally was in Eureka except that Zoe had better dialogue.
I can hear Saturday in June-July.
Kelsey Grammer needs to just take time off to enjoy life
Update to Bill’s update: they are putting ENCORES of Modern Family on in Hank’s spot.
ARE YOU NUTS! HANK WAS CANCELED! IT WAS THE WORST SIT-COM ON ABC, BUT IT WAS BETTER THAN ‘TIL DEATH AND THAT’S STILL ON!
You know, ABC, not Hank messed this up. Yes the show was never funny, yes the show had a family that’s been done a million times before (stupid dad, understanding wife, rebellion teenager, weird son). But the network failed to capitalize on the MARKETING.
NOT ENOUGH KELSEY GRAMMAR FANS KNEW HE WAS IN THE SHOW! OMG! THE SHOW WOULD HAVE BEEN BIG THEN!
JOIN MY PETITION TO SAVE HANK!
(The following post was obviously not serious. In case you thought it was, your name is Hank.)
Hank who?
Put Ugly Betty in its place!
I hope Kelsey Grammer doesn’t end up on Modern Family.
Oh no, he’s going on Leno? That’ll make TWO networks no one will see him on!
No surprise here. I always felt Hank was a below average sitcom. Although last week’s Thanksgiving episode was actually pretty good.
Melinda MacGraw was the only positive thing about this shitfest. Bobbi!
All right, let’s see….I hope y’all are right about “The Middle” getting a post-DWTS slot or something. That would be wonderful.
I hope until then, “The Middle” is preceded by “Modern Family” repeats or something? I think….
Where does “Lost” go, I wonder….
to bad I really liked Hank but i new it was doing badly in the ratings so i’m not surprised.
I feel bad for Kelsey, I love Frasier and watching Hank was painful, Back to You was miles better.If he wants to still act again, he should try drama, he will always be identified as Frasier.
A Modern Family repeat, i wonder how it will do? Maybe a 1.5? a 2.0 for a repeat would be great
Man, now the show is ending abruptly with Hank in the middle of some “juicy storylines.” This is so unfair to the fan(s?)!
—
Think the Modern Family reruns at 8 will turn to premieres in the midseason? Pairing up Modern Familiy with The Middle for the first hour and then Cougar Town with Romantically Challenged for the second hour makes some amount of sense to me, as you’ve got the “family” hour and the “relationship” hour, but breaking up Modern Family and Cougar Town is probably too much of a risk.
Mumbo, there’s no chance of Modern Family moving to 8pm, at least this season.
X-R-G: That’s maybe my favorite thing I’ve ever read ever. That put a smile on my face.
Yeah I’m not surprised about this news either. Modern Family reruns would work, and possibly boost new episodes of The Middle, which is almost as good as Modern Family. Friday reruns of Modern Family were low rated, but as long as it’s on the same night, people might not know which one is new and just watch both. I don’t know, does that logic make sense?
It would probably still do fine, the Wednesday 8pm competition isn’t much. Mercy wins every week with less than 7.5 million viewers.
And they cancelled Samantha Who to bring in this dreck. BRING BACK SAMANTHA WHO, BRING BACK SAMANTHA WHO!
It would have fit in well with Cougartown.
Good, that show was weird from the start.
I think ‘My Name Is Earl’ can come back probably to this timeslot. Then again, I’m probably dreaming.
Really they should create a new sitcom to take it’s place.
>”Update: ABC is putting Modern Family on at 8pm Wednesday 11/18 and 11/25 in Hank’s old spot.”
Fingers crossed that will help Modern Family. It is a– well, family oriented show (even though its humor is smart and sharp), so hopefully it will do better at 8.
While we are digging up sitcoms from the past to bring back, I vote to bring back Rosanne, or Perfect Strangers!
“Fingers crossed that will help Modern Family. It is a– well, family oriented show (even though its humor is smart and sharp), so hopefully it will do better at 8.”
It’s doing just fine at 9, it doesn’t need help.
So does this mean that romantically challenged will take over at 8? I would assume that abc wants to keep a comedy block and not move the middle.
That’s what I think will happen Josh, but a lot people think that ABC will break up the block and put Ugly Betty on at 8. I don’t think that’s a good move, but it could happen I guess.
When is ABC going to relese there mid-season schedeule?
Kelsey needs to do a makeover ala Ted Danson. Find a smart dramatic role in an HBO mini or somesuch.
Tommy, my vote is for a 10th season of Seinfeld in that 8pm slot!
Now THERE is a show ABC should never have cancelled.
lol
I truely think if FOX would have given “Back To You” a chance it had the possibility of becoming a hit. “Hank” was just bad from the start first off Kelsy is a little old to be playing the part of a dad to young wife and kids. Secondly it just feels like he was just off his game big time on this character. Plus they looked bored with each other why would we want to watch them. It’s amazing though looking at the credits they had 4 exective producers, including Kelsy plus 4 asst. exective producers and 4 consulting producers. Are you tell me that a dozen top brass saw those eppisodes and thought they were funny or that anyone else would?
Ultimately, it’s ABC’s fault for greenlighting this turd in the first place. Poor Kelsey; like Bill Cosby, he just doesn’t know when his time is up.
I like the idea of Kelsey going to CBS or HBO. Those are the only networks that can handle a smart man like him.
ABC is a horrible network right now and Hank getting canceled is just a reflection on how horrible this network has become when a unfunny comedy like Modern Family all the sudden is treated like royalty.
BlueLick, Modern Family is treated like royalty because the ratings warrant it! And if you thought Hank was a good show that deserved to stay on the air, well I don’t even know what to say to that.
Tommy, Hank was a terrible show and I’m glad its been put out of its misery but its amazing how ABC seems to building its network around a show that doesn’t get over 10 million viewers and a better demo number. Rather I like Modern Family or not doesn’t matter but what does matter is the fact that unless Modern Family is getting Two and a Half Men or Big Bang Theory ratings then they can build around it.
My problem with ABC right now is that seem to be thinking little and not big like CBS does. They just picked up a crap reality show and are planning on using DWtS to give it a boost. How sad this network has gone.
I never watched the show. Never even heard of it until I read about the cancellation on this website. Kelsey Grammar was in talks to bring back “Back to You” on CBS, but declined because of his commitment to ABC for “Hank.” Should have zigged instead of zagged.
I don’t agree with the notion that ABC is “thinking little”, this fall they launched several new shows, they even have the ambitious FlashForward and V. They are trying to produce hits again but to mix results. Of all the networks they were the one who was determined to find new hits.
Modern Family gets a 3.5 demo which in this broadcast climate is already good enough, and ABC launched an all new Wednesday line up again with four new sitcoms, given the failure rate of ABC with sitcoms, the numbers they are getting consistently with Modern Family so far is a success with them. We can’t blame ABC if they give MF that treatment because they are seeing a potential long term hit for this show. It’s the best performing among the four so its makes sesne that would build around it. And Modern Family’s ratings is on par with How I Met Your Mother, which is also considered a hit in CBS, and they just trail behind 2.5 Men and Big Bang.
Unlike CBS that have several hit and stable shows to boost or build around shows ABC only has Grey’s, DH, DWTS and Lost to consider hits. DWTS is already used to boost Castle and forgotten. Private Practice only worked with Grey’s and Brothers & Sisters seems also dependent with DH. They have fewer options and they are really in a vulnerable state and they are counting on with their new shows for the network’s long term success and IMO they are agreesive.
Lost of passion for ABC executives has grown me to lose ABC as a network as I’ll be only watching a few things on this network from here on out. ABC I’m done!
The encores of Modern Family is what I expected all along. I guessed Hank would be pulled after the November 18th airing but it seems the only reason they aired the Thanksgiving episode now is because they were planning on axing Hank. And Modern Family and Cougar Town bothg work at 9 and 9:30 so I dont think ABC would mess with that. If Ugly Betty burns its remaining eps off at 8 then The Middle could temporarily be put on hiatus and return 9:30 post Dancing in March. Or ABC could put The Middle at 9:30 creating a family hour and air Cougar Town post Dancing.
ABC must have thought the dog episode they just taped was a, well, dog.
Can’t say I thought the show was anywhere near as bad as the general consensus, though it wasn’t anywhere near as good as it could have been. But the writing was on the wall last week with that 5th place demo finish… behind “America’s Next Top Model.” Ouch.
Regarding the production halt, didn’t hear about that — although I will take Whoa Nellie’s word for it.
LOVE Kelsey. Did NOT like this show. He should have higher standards and better taste.
Here’s hoping the double whammy of ABC cancelling Hank & Eastwick will mean that Ugly Betty will get one last shot on Wednesdays to save itself.
As some have said FINALLY!! it seems like if ABC was just waiting to have The Middle murdered by Hank but, no way, at least two crap shows on ABC are gone Esatwick and Hank just The Forgotten is missing
Hank is done after its 10th but hopefully it doesnt give Kelsey another Heart Attack.
See now, I didn’t find it THAT bad. It really wasn’t good/great/wonderful by ANY MEANS, but there are worse shows on the air on ABC and other networks. All well, not heart broken about this one…Looks like Scrubs might need to add more episodes and have 2 a week
Has Kelsey ever done anything good? I like the man and his acting too, but he’s never done anything worth watching.
@Ken,
You’re right, Hank wasn’t that bad, it suffered from something even worse on TV than being bad, it was boring. In a comedy that is deadly. It wasn’t even bad enough that it was entertaining how bad it was.
Cucumber Jones, you may not have found Frasier watchable (me either), but plenty of other people did.
I’m just curious, I read the comments on the board and I am wondering why some people seem so happy when a show gets cancelled. If you are not a fan of the show, just don’t watch it. Why does it matter if the show is on the air or not. I was not a fan of the show Hank, but I didn’t jump for joy when I heard it was cancelled, I didn’t care either way.
I would just like to know from the people who are usually happy when a show gets cancelled the reason why they are happy or care for that matter.
Thanks
Jimbo Jones,
When a bad show is occupying a time slot, and not making a profit, it is taking away money that could be better used to develop new shows and space that could be used to try out new stuff. TV money, and landscape are not infinite. Every show that is not turning a profit is actually robbing money that could be otherwise be spent in ordering more pilots, and diminishing the odds of a really good show getting a chance air.
So, yes it is appropriate to celebrate the cancellation of poor performing crap. Not to mention that a cancellation is freeing studio space, and talent for newer, even if not always better, stuff.
On a possitive note, Nathan (Henry, Hank’s son on the show) got to keep the puppy from the show they just taped. He is an eleven year old kid with a big heart and he justs loves his new puppy.
I’m just curious, I read the comments on the board and I am wondering why some people seem so unhappy when a show gets canceled. If you are a fan of the show, just watch it. Why does it matter if the show is on the air or not.
I would just like to know from the people who are usually unhappy when a show gets canceled the reason why they are unhappy or care for that matter.
? If a fan can be unhappy, then nonfans can be happy.
S.,
Let me ask you this. Would shows like Cheers and Seinfeld be given a chance to succeed in todays television market. Both shows had horrible ratings in their first seasons. Cheers was the lowest rated show in its first season, but was given a chance to build an audience. Now both of those shows are the most successful sitcoms ever.
I’m just saying Hank has been averaging between 5 and 6 million viewers a week. It’s not like no one is watching the show.
It’s times like these I wish Cheers and Seinfeld never existed.
Jimbo Jones,
Cheers and Seinfeld were, at their time original, and had critical acclaim to back the patience the network had with them. The same happened with Better off Ted. It got a stay of execution when last season all pointed to it’s demise. ABC was patient with Pushing Daisies, that had critical acclaim, and gave it 2 seasons.
In the case of Hank, besides being a waste of time, a waste of money, and a numbing the taste buds of the 5M people that watched it, what were it’s redeeming qualities? No critical acclaim, no originality, no good writing, no plot besides the initial premise. Why would ABC waste more money with something that is going nowhere creatively, and in viewership? It’s a network, they operate for profit.
Even if they were a foundation for the protection of the arts, Hank would have been caned, because it has no artistic merists. Hell, it wouldn’t even have been aired, if ABC was a foundation for the arts…
I’m not sure what you mean J.R; Cheers and Seinfeld were funny shows. And Frazier was fun to watch also. I also didn’t have a lot of hope for Hank right from the start, but like Jimbo said, some shows just take longer to get into their groove.
The main reason I hated to hear it was cancelled is because my daughter is a costumer on the show and this was her big break to get into television. She’s been in the business four years paying her dues and we were hoping she could finally have a shot at a half-ways long term job. Yes, Kelsey can afford to never work another day in his life, but you people don’t even think about the people behind the scenes that really need that job.
Well I could have told everyone Hank would have been axed. It wouldnt matter how many people watched the series, the show wasnt meant to last. I would have rather had ABC keep Samantha Who to lead off the night at 8 but ABC opted for the much cheaper Hank.
Jimbo Jones writes, “Let me ask you this. Would shows like Cheers and Seinfeld be given a chance to succeed in todays television market. Both shows had horrible ratings in their first seasons.”
Allow me, if I may, to take you all the way back to the Fall of 1983. There was a sitcom on ABC that I and about 9 other people watched called “It’s Not Easy.” It had a pretty long and tragic gestation period as it had gotten pushed from the previous season due to a number of casting setbacks — first when one actor who was second position in the original pilot found out that their low-rated show which everyone had expected to get cancelled had gotten a surprise renewal (and, with thanks to a better time slot, went on to become a huge hit), and later when a second actor in the original pilot was killed in a car accident. When “It’s Not Easy” was finally recast and finally went on the air, it was dead on arrival. ABC didn’t beat around the bush. They cancelled it after all of 2 episodes had aired and took it off the air completely after 4. It was the first show cancelled in the ‘83-’84 season. (The lead-in that helped take it down, third-season show “9 to 5,” was dumped with it.) The irony? One of the time-slot competing shows that had run it over in the ratings was “Cheers.” “Cheers,” the show that had infamously finished dead last in the prime-time Nielsens one week and wasn’t even watched by the comatose in the Fall of 1982. The other was “Simon & Simon,” the aforementioned low-rated show in the Fall of 1981 everyone had expected to get cancelled but got a surprise renewal, forcing star Gerald McRaney to pull out.
Just remember that for every “Cheers” or “Simon & Simon,” there’s 20 “It’s Not Easys.”
And as for “Hank,” no, I’m not “happy” about its cancellation (that emotion is reserved for the disgusting “Dollhouse”), but neither am I an ostrich with its head buried in the sand, oblivious to the world around me.
It’s been noted that show cancellations like “Hank” have an affect on the people behind the scenes, but I was wondering how it affects the cast, especially those whose careers are nascent such as Jordon Hinson’s. Does being cast in such a production (in this case a pretty awful prodcution) damage their credibility and thus their marketability for future projects?
I don’t think so. I think casting agents (or whoever) can recognize good (or bankable) actors in bad roles or shows. Look at Firefly — failed series, failed movie, yet most if not all of the cast is still working steadily, many as series regulars.
Jimbo Jones: “I’m just curious, I read the comments on the board and I am wondering why some people seem so happy when a show gets cancelled.”
A psychologist could probably explain it. It’s like the way some people get enjoyment when celebrities die. I don’t believe the freeing up of a 30 minute TV network timeslot can be the true cause of such celebrations.
This show was doomed before it came off the drawing board. Grammer’s not to blame. With all the ‘brass’, as was stated above, he most likely thought others would do their job if he showed up to do his.
PRODUCTION PROBLEMS:
Hank… does Kelsey Grammer even look like a ‘Hank’? bad character developement.Nothing felt right about this character. The only good thing was grammers’ acting that outshone the rest of the show.
Mrs. Hank…how did she go from uptight society to redneck sister?
bad character developement
Teenage daughter…you’re kidding me, right? She’s gotta be thirty or so…bad character developement.
Grade school son…just too complicated…bad character developement.
OBNOXIOUS BROTHER-IN-LAW…need I say more?…bad character developement.
Hysterical Swoozie Kurtz mother-in-law guest star…give her an emmy!I wasn’t expecting much, but I’d watch this character weekly. Put her with Grammer, and ditch the rest of the cast and you’ve got a winner!
GOOD SHOW DEVELOPEMENT:
Grammer inherits a ‘Branson’ type hotel/ restaurant from his estranged wealthy father. Seeing he has otherwise been left out of the will, he decides to make a go of the business…only thing is, he has to keep employee Earline,(Swoozie Kurtz-type character from the Thanksgiving ‘Hank’)on as a condition of the will. Now…go make that show!
It just can’t be that hard to write a show for an emmy winning actor.
The Middle is unwatchable. I think anybody sticking up for it is only doing so because it has the illusion of being good when you place it next to Hank. They’re both awful. The Middle is a super bad Malcolm in the Middle rip off.
I find THE MIDDLE quite watchable, but each to his own and all that. The littlest kid is straight out of MALCOLM – other than that there’s not much beyond it being about a family.
HANK is too dumb for my tastes. As with ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE and BROTHERS, it seems to me the producers are going for the ‘low intelligence’ demographic. (Is there an industry term for that? There should be.)
Studio audience and laugh tracks seem passe now. Are there any half-decent half-hours left with a studio audience or laugh track?