Whiskey Cavalier is one of the freshmen shows that will not be returning next season on ABC. The Alphabet Network decided to cancel the action series after one season. It stars Walking Dead actress Lauren Cohan and Scandal’s Scott Foley as the leaders of an inter-agency spy team.
The show made its initial debut during the midseason and with a considerable lead-in – the Oscars. Fast forward to May, and the network broke the news that Whiskey Cavalier will not be back. What led to the decision? ABC Entertainment president Karey Burke explained why the show got cancelled, saying:
It was a tough decision. It was the last decision we made. We thought we gave it very strong launch in spring. But we lost audience. We felt the biggest opportunity was to try something new. We looked for other time slots but did not see a real opportunity to grow.
In the end, it sounds like ratings were a vital part in the network’s decision making. Karey Burke says that after Whiskey Cavalier’s launch it lost viewers.
She also makes mention of trying “something new.” ABC reportedly opted to do just that by choosing to go with the new drama Emergence instead of greenlighting a second season of Whiskey Cavalier, per Deadline. That said, ABC was in no rush to make that decision. Karey Burke acknowledged the show's fate as the last one the network called.
She also said that ABC considered switching up its schedule for the show. Its quest for alternative time slots ended up being futile. Whiskey Cavalier currently airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET.
That puts it airing late, which is where DVR numbers from Live + Same Day ratings come in. Apparently, those numbers were not strong enough to save Whiskey Cavalier. Series star Scott Foley had some hopes for what he wanted for Will and Frankie if there was a Season 2.
While Whiskey Cavalier got cancelled by ABC, there is still reason to think it can continue. Like many cancelled shows before it, it is looking for a new home. That’s right. The action-adventure series is currently getting shopped around.
If it goes to a streaming platform, my best guess for a final destination would be Hulu. Of course, Netflix previously saved Kiefer Sutherland’s Designated Survivor. ABC cancelled that show last year before the streaming giant ultimately picked it up.
Whiskey Cavalier’s future will need to get settled sooner than later. Lauren Cohan left The Walking Dead and her character Maggie. Her storyline was ended in a way that could bring her back. Fans of Cohan and the zombie drama would undoubtedly like her to return. That is if the soon-to-be former ABC series does not get picked up.
There are two episodes left of Whiskey Cavalier’s ABC run. Here is hoping that Season 1 does not end on a massive cliffhanger. That would be tragic. However, it would give added impetus for the show to get picked up elsewhere.
The now-series finale of Whiskey Cavalier will air on Wednesday, May 22 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC. New episodes of the show air at the same time and place.
