With cancellations of everything from Agent Carter to Nashville, scripted television has experienced a bona fide bloodbath recently. The past week has seen an insane number of cancellations from all the major networks, like CBS and NBC. However, primetime cable series don’t seem exempt to this chopping block either, and we’ve just learned that after five seasons on the air, Showtime’s House of Lies will soon come to an end.
According to TVLine, House of Lies has been officially cancelled by Showtime, and will not return for Season 6. The hit comedy series ran for five seasons, and featured Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell in starring roles. Focusing on a group of coldhearted management consultants, House of Lies follows its central ensemble as they navigate their personal and professional lives while attempting to profit through ruthlessly pragmatic business practices.
For the last five years, the show has provided audiences with razor-sharp satire, and an unflinching willingness to broach some fairly touchy subject matter, such as race, police brutality, and gender disparities. In addition to its willingness to take risks, House of Lies also became incredibly popular for its frequent use of fourth wall breaks, and monologues by Don Cheadle – not unlike Netflix’s similarly titled House of Cards.
Whether you’re new to the show or a longtime fan, check out the scene below to get a strong sense of the tone and style of the popular Showtime series:
Showtime president David Nevins spoke out about the show and its cancellation. In his statement he fondly referred to it as innovative and ahead of its time in the way that series creator Matt Carnahan put the narrative together.
Of course, we do have to note that cancellation after five seasons on the air isn’t exactly a bad way to go. House of Lies leaves behind a strong legacy of high quality, and we have a sneaking suspicion that everyone involved in the series will land on their feet after this. Don Cheadle continues to play a prominent role in the wildly successful Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Kristen Bell has just signed on to the upcoming NBC comedy The Good Place, which will make its debut this fall. And Ben Schwartz should just join every other show on TV.
We will keep you up to date with any and all information related to the upcoming finale of House of Lies as it becomes available to us. The series will take a bow later next month on Sunday, June 13. To see what else you can put your peepers to in the coming months, check out our summer TV schedule.
