Hulu Axes ‘How To Die Alone’ After One Season: What’s Next for the Beloved Comedy?

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Hulu persists in ending popular shows before they can fully bloom as blockbusters, and their recent decision is no exception. The captivating series “How to Die Alone“, written and performed by the scene-stealing actress Natasha Rothwell, who gained fame from “Sonic the Hedgehog”, has been terminated by the streaming platform after only one season. Despite receiving critical acclaim, with reviews garnering a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes, it appears that Hulu did not see sufficient justification to commission additional episodes for “How to Die Alone“.

On Tuesday, it was announced that Hulu will not renew “How to Die Alone” for another season (as reported by Deadline). The reason behind this decision remains unknown, but it’s worth mentioning that Hulu has previously ended series prematurely. In response to the surprising news, Rothwell, the creator and lead actor of the show, issued a statement expressing her shock and dismay. Here’s what she said:

I’m genuinely stunned, deeply saddened, and left in disbelief that Onyx has chosen not to proceed with another season of “How to Die Alone“. It’s a harsh pill to swallow since the series has been praised for its critical acclaim, creativity, and awards.

It’s fortunate that Rothwell intends to market the show to other networks, which means “we’re determined to find ‘How To Die Alone’ a new place to thrive“. She clarified this by saying, “We believe stories like this deserve to continue”. Although it remains uncertain about the final outcome for “ How to Die Alone “, it’s reassuring to see such an effort being made to keep it running.

‘Alone in the World of the Living’ tells the story of Mel (Rothwell), a financially struggling, overweight Black woman working at JFK airport who has never experienced love and lost touch with her dreams. However, an unexpected near-death experience propels her on a life-changing journey, inspiring her to break free from her routine and embrace living in whatever way she can.

Why Streamers Keep Canceling Our Favorite Shows

Hulu is just one example of streaming services that don’t hesitate to cancel original series, particularly comedies. Unlike in the past, where shows had time to build an audience over several seasons on traditional TV, the tolerance for ratings failure seems surprisingly low in the streaming world. However, there are shows that are met with mixed reactions and may not be popular enough to warrant more funding, but many of them receive positive reviews if not outright love. Thankfully, when fans show enthusiasm for additional seasons, canceled series can sometimes find new life on other platforms, although this isn’t always guaranteed.

More recently, the revival of Kelsey Grammar’s show, “Frasier,” met an unfortunate end on Paramount+ after just two seasons, leaving many devoted fans disappointed. Despite managing to air two seasons, the series was cut short, despite showing significant improvement during its second season. In contrast, Netflix, notorious for canceling their original productions, regardless of quality, has a knack for ending shows after only a few seasons. Even shows rescued from cancellation on other platforms like “Girls5Eva,” starring Busy Phillips, were swiftly canceled by Netflix shortly afterward. It appears that instant success is the new norm for streaming services when it comes to new programs.

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2025-02-05 00:03