ABC canceled Last Man Standing because of business, not politics

By Esther Zuckerman  |  May 16, 2017 | 6:52pm
Aux Features TV

ABC’s cancellation of Last Man Standing sparked a petition for renewal that claims the decision was made because the show “is not constantly shoving liberal ideals down the throats of the viewers.” But when asked to comment on the assertion that taking it off the air had something to do with star Tim Allen’s outspoken conservative viewpoints during a press conference call today, ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey maintained that was not the case.

“I canceled Last Man Standing for the same business and scheduling reasons that I canceled The Real O’Neals, Dr. Ken, The Catch, and American Crime,” Dungey said. ”Last Man Standing was a challenging one for me because it was a steady performer in the ratings, but once we made the decision not to continue with comedies on Friday that was where we landed.” Now Fridays will be home to Once Upon A Time and Marvel’s Inhumans.

Allen, for his part, said on Twitter today: “Stunned and blindsided by the network I called home for the last six years.” Earlier, Wisconsin governor Scott Walker claimed ABC was “playing politics” with the series.

 
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