Showtime has pulled the plug on its star-studded anthology series The First Lady.
As first reported by Deadline (opens in a new tab), Paramount's affiliate network has opted not to renew the political drama for a second season. The move comes just three months after The First Lady premiered on Showtime Anytime and Paramount Plus.
Set in the East Wing of the White House, the 10-episode series focuses on the lives and influence of three prominent First Ladies of the United States: Eleanor Roosevelt (Gillian Anderson), Betty Ford (Michelle Pfeiffer), and Michelle Obama ( Viola Davis). ).
“Showtime can confirm that The First Lady anthology series will not continue for another season,” a Showtime spokesperson said in a statement provided to Deadline.
“We would like to applaud the artistry and commitment of our showrunner Cathy Schulman, director Susanne Bier, their fellow executive producers, our incredible cast, led by executive producers Viola Davis, Michelle Pfeiffer and Gillian Anderson, and our studio partner Lionsgate for your dedication. to work to tell the unique stories of three extraordinary leaders.
Despite applause for its costumes, set design, and performances by its three leads, The First Lady took a beating from critics upon its release, with many pointing to the series' seemingly messy narrative structure and reluctance to offer a new twist. .
As of this writing, The First Lady has a low review score of 41% on Rotten Tomatoes (Opens in a new tab). Its viewership score isn't much better, at just 58%, though its IMDb rating (opens new window) is a slightly more respectable 6.8/10.
An expensive cancellation
Given the less than warm reception from critics and audiences, then, it's not too surprising to see Showtime (read: Paramount) call time on The First Lady after just one season. Still, the show's high production costs (Anderson, Pfeiffer and Davis don't come cheap) and positioning as a major UK launch title for Paramount Plus is sure to leave a sour taste in the mouths of studio execs.
Also, the cancellation of The First Lady is undermining the appeal of Paramount Plus globally. As stated above, the series, being a Showtime title, is automatically included in the UK version of the burgeoning streamer (as Showtime Anytime is not available in the UK), although US subscribers can add Showtime's library, which includes the likes of Billions, Yellowjackets, and Dexter, into your existing Paramount Plus packages for one low fee.
Of course, the one season of The First Lady will remain available to watch, but it's disappointing that those who enjoyed the star-studded series won't be able to enjoy a follow-up season in the future.
Instead, Paramount is likely to double down on its Halo TV series and a myriad of Star Trek properties, not to mention its library of stellar movies, in an effort to attract and retain Paramount Plus subscribers.
A major key to near-platform success could also be Top Gun: Maverick, which remains exclusive to theaters but looks set to hit Paramount Plus before the end of the year. For more details on that, check out our report on when we think Top Gun: Maverick could hit streaming services.