Another day, another NBC Universal cable network axing a promising freshman. Whereas yesterday saw Syfy get rid of dystopian thriller Incorporated, today finds USA parting ways with crime anthology Eyewitness. Per Deadline, the cancellation stemmed from the fact that USA executives wanted Eyewitness to hold a bit more of its Law & Order: SVU repeat lead-in than it did, with lukewarm retention overriding solid reviews, a strong leading performance from Julianne Nicholson, and impressive fan engagement through social media.
From Adi Hasak (Shades of Blue), the first season of Eyewitness followed teenage boys Lukas (James Paxton) and Philip (Tyler Young) as they witnessed a murder and barely escape with their lives. Not only do they have to live with the PTSD from having seen the murder, they must watch their backs when the possibility of the perpetrator spotting them at the crime scene and coming to find them arises. Had the show been renewed, the second season would have focused on another eyewitness to another crime.
In addition to Young, Paxton, and Nicholson, Eyewitness starred Gil Bellows (Ally McBeal), Warren Christie (Alphas), and Matt Murray (Kevin From Work).
With the cancellation of Eyewitness, USA’s drama slate now includes Suits, Colony, Mr. Robot, Shooter, Queen of the South, and Falling Water. The latter is currently also on the bubble, though a recent Amazon streaming deal it procured could be enough to get it a second season.
