ABC Cancels Single Parents, Bless This Mess and More Ahead of 2020-2021 TV Season

ABC's cancellations come as the network prepares to unveil it's 2020-2021 TV schedule.

By Chris Harnick May 21, 2020 8:00 PMTags
Watch: "Single Parents" Stars Prove They Are a Close-Knit Crew

The axe has fallen at ABC. On the cancellation chopping block? A number of fan-favorite comedies that just wrapped up their second seasons.

E! News has learned ABC has canceled Single Parents, Bless This Mess and Schooled in advance of the 2020-2021 TV season. Emergence starring Allison Tolman has also been canceled. The network has two shows on the bubble, For Life and The Baker and the Beauty, which it will decide on at a later date.

The cancellation news comes as ABC announced its line-up of new and returning shows for the upcoming season. A schedule was not announced.

NEVER MISS A TRENDING STORY - SIGN UP FOR E! NEWSLETTER

photos
All the New TV Shows for the 2020-2021 Season

The network handed out new seasons to American Housewife, The Bachelor, black-ish, The Conners, Dancing With the Stars, The Goldbergs, A Million Little Things, mixed-ish, The Rookie, Shark Tank, Stumptown, 20/20 and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Previously announced returning shows include America's Funniest Home Videos, American Idol, The Bachelorette, The Good Doctor, Grey's Anatomy, Station 19 and a Supermarket Sweep revival.

New shows coming are Big Sky from David E. Kelley and Call Your Mother with Kyra Sedgwick.

"At a time when we are physically apart and shared experiences matter more than ever, these shows will build on the strategy that has made us No. 1 this season – bringing people together, creating cultural moments, and making content that entertains and inspires across generations and demographics," Karey Burke, president of ABC Entertainment, said in a statement. "Our top priority now is to work with our studio partners to ensure a safe return to production so that we can build on the strong momentum of a winning lineup with measured bets on new series that will invigorate our air and continue to deliver the quality programming that our viewers have come to expect and love."

Fox previously revealed it is holding the majority of its new and returning scripted programming for midseason. CBS announced two new shows will join the fall line-up and anticipates getting its shows on the air in the fall. Meanwhile, The CW won't begin its premieres of new and returning shows until January 2021. All these changes and uncertainty are due to the coronavirus pandemic and the production shutdowns to ensure the health and safety of those involved with making television.

Get the scoop on returning shows below.

Canceled: Queen Sono (Netflix)

In December, Netflix canceled its first African original series after previously renewing it for season two. Series creator Kagiso Lediga shared in a statement, "We wrote a beautiful story that spanned the continent but unfortunately could not be executed in these current trying times." Netflix said, "We'll continue to work closely with South Africa's creative industry to keep producing more compelling ‘Made-in-South Africa' stories."

Ending: Black Lightning (The CW)

Black Lightning will end after its fourth and final season airs in February 2021. Showrunner Salim Akil took to Instagram to thank the show's family. "When we first started the Black Lighting journey, I knew that Jefferson Pierce and his family of powerful Black Women would be a unique addition to the super hero genre. The love that Blerds and all comic book fans around the globe have shown this series over the past three seasons proved what we imagined, Black People Want To See Themselves in all their complexities," Akil wrote. Up next? A spinoff named after Painkiller, another character in the DC universe.

Renewed: Woke (Hulu)

Hulu has renewed Woke for a season two.

Renewed: Emily in Paris (Netflix)

Netflix is keeping Emily in Paris for a season two. 

Canceled: The Order (Netflix)

Netflix has canceled the secret society drama The Order after two seasons. 

Renewed: Space Force (Netflix)

Netflix has ordered a second season of the Steve Carell and Greg Daniels comedy.

Renewed: The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)

On Nov. 10, Netflix took to Instagram to confirm that The Umbrella Academy will return for season three. According to Variety, production begins in Feb. 2021 in Toronto. Season three will include 10 hour-long episodes. 

Canceled: Castle Rock (Hulu)

In November, Hulu decided to cancel Castle Rock, the horror anthology series based on Stephen King's stories. Season two starred Lizzie Caplan along with Tim Robbins, Yusra Warsama, Barkhad Abdi and Matthew Alan as they adapted King's Misery.

Canceled: Filthy Rich (FOX)

Kim Cattrall's soapy drama about faith, wealth and hot gossip will not be returning after just one season on air. According to Variety, rising production costs amid the coronavirus pandemic contributed to FOX's decision. 

 

Canceled: Next (FOX)

Starring John Slattery, Next followed an intelligence team in charge of stopping a rogue AI. FOX gave it the boot in November.

 

Renewed: Narcos: Mexico (Netflix)

In October, Netflix confirmed that Narcos: Mexico will return for season three without Diego Luna. The official description for the new season reads as follows:

"Set in the 90s, when the globalization of the drug business ignites, season 3 examines the war that breaks out after Felix's empire splinters. As newly independent cartels struggle to survive political upheaval and escalating violence, a new generation of Mexican kingpins emerge. But in this war, truth is the first casualty—and every arrest, murder and take-down only pushes real victory further away."

The cast will include Scoot McNairy, José  Maria Yazpik, Alberto Ammann, Alfonso Dosal, Mayra Hermosillo, Matt Letscher, Manuel Masalva, Alejandro Edda and Gorka Lasaosa.

Canceled: Away (Netflix)

Hilary Swank's space mission series Away was given the chop just weeks after its Sept. 4 premiere. Following the news, Swank took to Instagram to thank fans for watching. "Love and hope will always remain my ‘North Star," she wrote. "And thank YOU to all my extraordinary followers who watched and supported our beautiful show. Wish we were showing you Mars! Until the next one."

Ending: Last Man Standing (Fox)

Four years after it was canceled on ABC and three years after it returned on Fox, Last Man Standing will end after nine seasons in 2021. 

Canceled: On Becoming a God in Central Florida (Showtime)

Though it was initially renewed for season two in September 2019, Showtime gave Kirsten Dunst's show the ax in October.

"Last year, Showtime renewed On Becoming a God in Central Florida but unfortunately, due to the pandemic, we were unable to move forward with production on the new season," Showtime said in a statement to E! News. "The pandemic has continued to challenge schedules across the board, and although we have made every effort to reunite the cast and crew for a second season, that has become untenable. It is with great regret that we are acknowledging On Becoming a God will not return."

Canceled: Glow (Netflix)

Despite having been renewed for a fourth and final season, Glow won't be returning after all. A Netflix spokesperson said that the streaming site decided not to do a fourth season "due to COVID, which makes shooting this physically intimate show with its large ensemble cast especially challenging." 

Canceled: Teenage Bounty Hunters (Netflix)

Teenage Bounty Hunters was canceled after one season at Netflix—another casualty of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ending: Supergirl (The CW)

Supergirl will come to an end after season six, which will premiere midseason in 2021. 

Canceled: The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (Netflix)

Netflix has canceled its Dark Crystal adaptation after one season. 

Canceled: Stumptown (ABC)

Despite a renewal in May 2020, Stumptown has become a casualty of the pandemic and will not be returning to ABC for a season two. 

Canceled: United We Fall (ABC)

ABC introduced the new comedy in July, but it was given the ax after one season and eight episodes on air. 

Renewed: Selena + Chef (HBO Max)

Selena Gomez will be cooking with more chefs in her home kitchen in a second season on HBO Max. 

Canceled: Altered Carbon (Netflix)

Netflix has said goodbye to the drama after two seasons. 

Canceled: The Society (Netflix)

Netflix renewed the teen drama in July 2019, but no new scripts had been finished. Due to the pandemic and the uncertainty of production dates and cast availability, the streamer had to let go to the popular show. 

Canceled: I Am Not Okay With This (Netflix)

The Netflix drama was quietly renewed for a second season and then canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, which would have made filming complicated and costly. 

Canceled: High Fidelity (Hulu)

Hulu has said goodbye to the Zoe Kravitz-starring adaptation after one season. 

Renewed: Taste the Nation (Hulu)

Padma Lakshmi will be back to make us all hungry in a season two! 

Renewed: Love, Victor (Hulu)

Hulu has ordered a second season of the Love, Simon follow up. 

Canceled: Siren (Freeform)

Freeform has canceled the mermaid drama after three seasons. 

Renewed: Stargirl (The CW)

Not only has Stargirl been renewed for a second season, but it's officially making the move from DC Universe to The CW. 

Renewed: The Boys (Amazon)

The anti-superhero drama will return for a season three on Amazon Prime Video. 

photos
View More Photos From Renewed and Canceled TV Shows 2020 Guide
For the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic and for tips on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19, please visit The Center for Disease Control and Prevention at https://www.cdc.gov. To plan your vaccine, head to NBC's Plan Your Vaccine site at PlanYourVaccine.com.