FOX has opted to cancel critically praised freshman comedy The Grinder, per a tweet by series star Rob Lowe.
#TheGrinder was not renewed by @FOXTV It was unapologetically original, smart, funny and had a murder’s row of talent. #GrinderRests.
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) May 12, 2016
The move isn’t much of a surprise, given that The Grinder had struggled in the ratings for the majority of the season and had a premise that made itself nearly impenetrable to casual viewers. However, given the show’s (appropriately) strong reviews and the fact that it was owned by the network, there had been murmurings that The Grinder had a chance for a miracle second season.
The Grinder starred Rob Lowe (Parks & Recreation) as Dean Sanderson, an actor who portrays a lawyer on a legal procedural called The Grinder. However, Dean grows tired of his life in Hollywood and moves to Boise, Idaho to work at his family’s law firm. Though Dean doesn’t have his law license, he convinces himself (and all those around him, except his brother Stewart, played by Fred Savage) that his experience playing a lawyer on television qualifies him to practice law. The show was never shy about playing up Dean’s roots on television, as there were frequent meta jokes about the show’s status through cold opens, with entire episodes dedicated to focus groups and retooling.
In addition to Lowe and Savage, The Grinder starred Mary Elizabeth Ellis (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Natalie Morales (Trophy Wife), William Devane (Knots Landing), Hana Hayes (The Last of Us), and Connor Kalopsis (Bad Words).
The series finale of The Grinder aired this past Tuesday on FOX.
Will you miss The Grinder? Do you think the show should have been given another shot? Would this have been the right show for FOX to move to FX or FXX?
