As I reflect upon these captivating tales of resilience and redemption, it’s evident that the lives of these remarkable individuals have been marked by both triumphs and tribulations.
In simpler terms, Hollywood isn’t unfamiliar with jaw-dropping scandals or high-profile controversies that make headlines. Frequently, renowned actors and public figures find themselves in trouble due to questionable decisions, which can significantly damage their careers. Even with success and wealth, they are not exempt from making poor choices that haunt them for the rest of their careers.
2018 saw me, as a film enthusiast, witnessing some shocking events unfold in the world of television. Firstly, polarizing comedian Roseanne Barr made headlines for her racist tweets, leading to ABC cancelling the highly successful revival of her iconic sitcom, “Roseanne.” Then, beloved stand-up artist Louis C.K., once celebrated across the comedy scene, was accused by multiple women of inappropriate behavior. This resulted in his Primetime Emmy-winning dramedy “Louie” being axed from FX. Today, let’s explore 10 TV shows that faced cancellation due to their stars’ misconduct.
10 Roseanne (1988)
Twenty-one years following Roseanne’s departure from viewers after a captivating nine-season stint in the ’90s, ABC brought back the well-loved sitcom for a much-anticipated tenth season in 2018. The original cast members, including Roseanne Barr, John Goodman, and Laurie Metcalf, returned to their iconic roles from the comedy sensation. The show continued to focus on the struggles and triumphs of the Conner family, a working-class clan living in Lanford, Illinois, as they navigate their way through a rapidly evolving contemporary world.
Barr’s Offensive Twitter Tirade
The tenth season of the sitcom Roseanne premiered on March 17, 2018. This debut shattered ratings records and drew in a massive audience of 18.44 million viewers, causing the network to immediately greenlight another season, the eleventh. But the show’s triumph was short-lived when Roseanne Barr posted a series of racist and disrespectful tweets about Valerie Jarrett, a former Obama administration official. These comments were deemed “abhorrent,” “repugnant,” and incompatible with the network’s values.
The sitcom got abruptly terminated, then revamped as a follow-up series titled “The Conners“, which eliminated Roseanne’s character and went on to achieve success in the ratings independently.
9 Louie (2010)
Initially hailed for his exceptional talent and charm in stand-up comedy, Louis C.K. suffered a dramatic downfall in 2017 when accusations of inappropriate conduct towards women surfaced in the press, eventually resulting in the termination of his FX sitcom series Louie. He was the mastermind behind, starred in, and directed the semi-autobiographical show for five seasons until the network severed ties with him following the allegations.
C.K.’s Revolting Behavior Towards Women
Criticisms arose towards C.K.’s actions when fellow comedian Tig Notaro ended their professional relationship (having previously worked together on her show “One Mississippi”), stating to Vanity Fair that he should address the rumors of his inappropriate behavior towards women. Subsequently, The New York Times published accusations of misconduct from five women against C.K., who later confessed to his wrongdoings. As a result of the scandal, his popular show was canceled along with the release of his upcoming film “I Love You, Daddy,” costing the comedian an estimated $35 million.
8 Paula’s Home Cooking (2002)
Paula Deen, renowned for her distinctive southern accent and love for butter, gained fame in 2002 when she started hosting her cooking show, Paula’s Home Cooking, on the Food Network. This series showcased Chef Deen preparing a variety of traditional dishes such as fried chicken, pecan pie, and pot roast for her loyal audience over a period of ten years, resulting in more than 135 episodes on the network.
Deen’s Racist History Resurfaces
In June 2013, Lisa Jackson filed a lawsuit against Paula Deen alleging racial discrimination and inappropriate conduct. She asserted that Deen had made disrespectful remarks about African Americans while they were together.
Despite a settlement being agreed upon soon after the lawsuit, Paula Deen’s testimony ignited significant controversy when she admitted using the “N-word” in the past but claimed that attitudes had evolved since the 1960s in the South. This startling admission resulted in the Food Network choosing not to renew her contract and ultimately canceling Paula’s Home Cooking.
7 Wisdom of the Crowd (2017)
Jeremy Piven, formerly of “Entourage,” starred in the brief 2017 drama series titled “Wisdom of the Crowd.” In this show, he played Jeffrey Tanner, a prominent tech innovator from Silicon Valley who develops an innovative digital platform to help people worldwide gather evidence for criminal investigations. Tragically, his own daughter was murdered, which inspired him to create this tool. Unfortunately, the series, despite not receiving poor reviews, failed to gain traction and lasted only 13 episodes because it wasn’t renewed for a full season due to Piven’s conduct off-set.
Women Come Forward with Assault Allegations
On October 30th, 2017, Ariane Bellamar, an adult film star and reality TV personality, accused Jeremy Piven of inappropriately touching her. Piven strongly denied these allegations. Later, Cassidy Freeman (an actress) and Tiffany Bacon Scourby (an advertising executive) made similar claims against Piven, accusing him of predatory behavior and inappropriate actions. Anastasia Taneie, an extra on the show “Entourage,” also alleged that Piven forcibly groped her. As a result, CBS decided to cancel “Wisdom of the Crowd” due to these accusations and low viewership. Despite this, Piven continued to claim his innocence.
6 Charlie Rose (1991)
For over two decades (from 1991 to 2017), Charlie Rose, a well-known journalist and television host, ran his program “Charlie Rose” on PBS. In this series, he had insightful conversations with authors, performers, politicians, and influential figures from around the world. Unfortunately, the show was unexpectedly halted in November 2017 after 26 years of hosting notable personalities such as Barack Obama, George Carlin, Roger Ebert, and Quentin Tarantino.
Rose’s Television Reign Ends in Disgrace
Previous workers at Charlie Rose, Inc. alleged that journalist Charlie Rose engaged in inappropriate behavior and harassment from the late 90s to 2011. This led CBS to terminate their partnership with him, and his self-titled TV show was subsequently canceled. Additionally, Rose lost his co-anchor position on CBS This Morning. In May 2018, 27 additional women made accusations against him, claiming instances of groping, lewd comments, and harassment. Despite this, he tried to dispute the lawsuit, arguing that his accusers were capitalizing on the #MeToo movement.
5 The Wonder Years (1988)
1988 saw the arrival of the heartwarming, nostalgic comedy series “The Wonder Years” on television screens nationwide, quickly becoming a favorite due to the relatable Arnold family, particularly teenager Kevin (played by Fred Savage) and his unique siblings. As they navigated the ups and downs of growing up in suburban America during the ’60s and ’70s, the show captured audiences’ hearts. A significant aspect of the series was the charming romance between Kevin and his neighbor Winnie Cooper (Danica McKellar), which drew fans in deeply as they followed their adorable relationship.
A Coming-of-Age Classic’s Troubling End
Known for its enduring popularity and numerous awards such as a Peabody and a Primetime Emmy, this highly-acclaimed comedy series ended its broadcast on May 12, 1993, completing six extraordinary seasons. However, many viewers might be unsure about why it chose to wrap up at that specific time in its history.
During the final phase of its television run, costume designer Monique Long brought forth a harassment claim against co-stars Fred Savage and Jason Hervey, generating undesirable public attention for “The Wonder Years.” The case ultimately ended with a private settlement. In 2018, Alley Mills (portraying family matriarch Norma) expressed that the lawsuit significantly contributed to the show’s termination.
4 House of Cards (2013)
After winning an Academy Award, Kevin Spacey was once highly respected as one of Hollywood’s top actors, but in 2017, he faced numerous criminal investigations which led to his industry reputation taking a significant hit. During this time, Spacey was portraying the cunning political figure Frank Underwood in Netflix’s political drama “House of Cards,” a role that won him a Golden Globe and garnered both critical acclaim and fan adoration on the streaming platform.
Spacey’s Fall From Grace
Spacey debuted as a cunning politician in 2013, acting alongside Robin Wright and Michael Kelly for five seasons. However, the actor from American Beauty faced allegations of inappropriate behavior towards actor Anthony Rapp during a 1986 party when Rapp was only 14 years old.
A day following the disclosure of allegations, Netflix declared that the sixth season of “House of Cards” would be its final one and temporarily halted production. Following Rapp’s accusations, Spacey was subsequently dismissed from the series, with Wright stepping in as the main character for the remaining eight episodes. The jury in Spacey’s civil trial recently determined he wasn’t guilty, but this hasn’t prevented more questionable stories about the actor from emerging.
3 The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003)
For close to twenty years, Ellen DeGeneres, an actress and comedian, charmed audiences worldwide by hosting her highly successful talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which initially aired on September 3, 2003. Quickly gaining popularity, DeGeneres was dubbed the “queen of daytime,” and her beloved series garnered an impressive 63 Daytime Emmys and 17 People’s Choice Awards. Famous personalities eagerly joined her for a delightful mix of wholesome humor and enjoyable antics.
A Toxic Workplace Environment
Ellen DeGeneres’ image as an approachable daytime talk show host suffered significantly in 2020 when allegations questioning her friendly persona surfaced following an investigation by Buzzfeed News. The articles, based on claims from unnamed former employees, suggested that the show and DeGeneres themselves fostered a hostile work environment, with executive producers reportedly harassing staff members. Furthermore, they alleged that the atmosphere was tainted by subtle discriminatory remarks and microaggressions, as well as racist comments.
As a movie enthusiast, I’d put it like this: After acknowledging my unawareness and apologizing, WarnerMedia initiated an investigation regarding some issues on my show. Subsequently, three executive producers were let go. Given the recent events and public outcry, I decided to bring the series to a close following its nineteenth season, with the final episode set to air on May 26, 2022.
2 The O’Reilly Factor (1996)
Bill O’Reilly, a straightforward conservative journalist and commentator, debuted his cable TV news talk show “The O’Reilly Factor” in 1996. This program covered global current events and provided commentary from the media figure on various political controversies and popular topics. From 2004 onwards, each episode commenced with the phrase, “Beware! You are entering the No Spin Zone. The show starts now!
O’Reilly’s Misconduct Comes to Light
In the year 2017, the talk show “The O’Reilly Factor” was terminated by Fox News and its host was let go following reports by The New York Times about five instances of sexual misconduct allegations against him. The newspaper disclosed that Fox had settled five lawsuits dating back to 2002 on behalf of the host, with two accusers being former producers of “The O’Reilly Factor,” Andrea Mackris and Julie Huddy, who claimed they were harassed. Additional hosts from the network subsequently spoke up, culminating in the final episode of the show airing that same year.
1 Grace Under Fire (1993)
1993 saw Brett Butler receive two Golden Globe nominations for her portrayal of Grace Kelly in the sitcom titled “Grace Under Fire”. This series centered around the character of Grace, a divorced single mother and recovering alcoholic, who embarks on a new journey after leaving her abusive husband. Her aim was to offer her three children a brighter future by avoiding the same mistakes she had made, and starting anew for their sake.
Butler’s Personal & Professional Struggles
The making of the series faced turmoil due to off-camera conflicts involving Butler, who struggled with drug addiction during seasons four and five of the sitcom. This struggle eventually led her to seek professional help. Notably, Jon Paul Steuer, who portrayed Butler’s on-screen son Quentin, was removed from the show by his mother following its third season due to accusations that Butler had exposed herself to the then twelve-year-old Steuer at some point.
Although Butler managed to stay sober before the fifth season, unfortunate events such as his damaged reputation and turbulence on set led to the cancellation of “Grace Under Fire” in 1998.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-10-27 02:02