CMT Interested In Picking Up Canceled Tim Allen Sitcom ‘Last Man Standing’

The Country Music Television network has showed interest in picking up the canceled ABC sitcom Last Man Standing.

CMT IN TALKS TO PICK UP LAST MAN STANDING

Fans were shocked and upset by the sudden cancelation of the conservative Tim Allen comedy that many signed a petition to keep the show going. With both ABC and 20th Century Fox unable to sign on, CMT is the latest channel to show interest.

The studio has been in talks with the show’s writers, who have already begun to scramble to find new work. The cast, however, has just two weeks before their option to extend the contract expires. Actors would begin to get involved if the studio and CMT were on the brink of a deal.

CMT made a similar move last year with ABC canceled series Nashville. CMT and streaming service Hulu shared the cost in exchange for the latter receiving next-day streaming rights. The issue lies in the cost of creating Last Man Standing, which resides in the upper end of the broadcast multi-camera comedy series.

The attempt to save the show became a rallying cry for conservatives. Republican Allen plays a conservative, devout Christian father who adheres to so-called traditional American values. The majority of viewers are the same group that helped elect Donald Trump. Prior to its cancelation, the show had one of its strongest seasons yet in terms of viewership, ranking second-most watched comedy on ABC after Modern Family.

“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 Fridays, that was where we landed,” ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey explained. Many criticized the network for supposedly ending the show due to Allen’s political affiliations. “There are many factors that go into the decision-making process: ratings, critical acclaim… of course we look at ownership structure,” she said, confirming that politics did not play a role. “I wouldn’t say that was the deciding factor,” she said.