Victor Fresco, the creator of “Santa Clarita Diet”, has recounted the poignant way he found out that the Netflix series was canceled. Premiering in February 2017 and spanning three seasons on Netflix, “Santa Clarita Diet” centered around a seemingly ordinary married couple with one extraordinary exception: the wife, Sheila Hammond (played by Drew Barrymore), developed a craving for human flesh. The horror sitcom also featured Timothy Olyphant, Liv Hewson, and Skyler Gisondo. As one of the early streaming shows, before the emergence of Disney+ and Apple TV+, it received solid initial reactions and mostly positive reviews.
In a piece for exploring TV show cancellations and creators’ responses, Fresco detailed his choice to end “Santa Clarita Diet” on a cliffhanger. He explained that he had a hunch Netflix would cancel the series and didn’t want to make it easier for them to do so. “We didn’t want to make it easier for them to cancel us. We thought ‘Why are we doing their work for them?’” he said.
Fresco also shared how he was “blindsided” by the cancellation. He was in the process of editing season 3 when an assistant producer informed him that the sets were being taken down. “That’s how I heard it was definitively not coming back,” he stated. He also discussed the uphill battle to get a fourth season, citing pay bonuses that a renewal would trigger. “It was explained to us that you don’t have to be popular with everybody. This was one of the appeals: just find a niche audience.” “You really have, at best, a three-year run [unless you’re a] monster hit. If you look closely at your deal, you’ll see that there’s a huge disincentive for them to order seasons four and five because they’re really making a big payout then.”
What Fresco’s comments reveal about “Santa Clarita Diet” and TV show cancellations in general is that it highlights a persistent issue. One common defense of streaming cancellations is that it’s not a new phenomenon; decades ago, broadcast networks would cancel shows and shelve remaining episodes shortly after a lackluster premiere. While that’s true, it disregards the significant changes in TV viewing habits.
In today’s landscape, with numerous entertainment options available, a new show has less chance to stand out. Broadcast networks have limited timeslots for shows, meaning, theoretically, each show has a relatively equal shot at finding an audience. In contrast, Netflix released over 500 new titles in 2024 alone. Looking specifically at “Santa Clarita Diet”, which had critical acclaim and a loyal fan base, Fresco argues that it still wasn’t enough to warrant a renewal and the associated pay increases. This illustrates why few streaming shows enjoy the extended runs typical of broadcast networks like CBS, ABC, and NBC. It also emphasizes that moderately successful and mid-level shows face a tough struggle, even if they’ve found their niche.
“Santa Clarita Diet’s” cancellation is worth observing what Netflix does this year. Netflix is touting the return of big hits in 2025, such as “Wednesday”, “The Night Agent”, and the final episodes of “Squid Game” and “Cobra Kai”. However, it’ll be important to see if Netflix will make room for mid-level and less high-profile series that might not grab the most headlines but have a dedicated following. Even considering the cancellation of “Santa Clarita Diet” back in 2019, the streaming giant might have missed out on its claimed advantage of embracing hits of all magnitudes rather than just favoring shows with the broadest appeal.
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